2026 SPARC National Conference

2026 SPARC National Conference

October 4-7, 2026 | Scottsdale, AZ, USA | Conference Website | Accommodations | Contact us
Please note the schedule is subject to change. Details are updated regularly to reflect the latest information.

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6:30am MST

Coffee Walk Lobby Sunrise Fun Run Lobby Sunrise Yoga Sky Line Rooftop

7:30am MST

Breakfast Main Place Courtyard

8:30am MST

Excellence in Auxiliary Awards SoHo 1 and 2

9:00am MST

Ignite General Session SoHo 1 and 2Nat Saltonstall • David Sullivan • Homeroom

10:15am MST

Refreshments with Sponsors Main Place Courtyard

10:45am MST

Beyond the Gates: Cultivating High-Impact Community Partnerships TropicanaKevin Babuder Budget Quest: Dollars, Decisions, and Dream Teams Valley Ho 2Kristi Jacobi • Kate Vizen From Data to Decisions: Systems That Save You 10 Hours a Week SoHo 1Mike Evans From Good to Exceptional: Elevating the Parent Experience Through Intentional Systems SandsJulie Gomez • Keri Packman People, Policies, and Protection: Employment Law Essentials for Auxiliary Leaders SoHo 2Grace H. Lee The AI Jumpstart: Proven Models and Real Examples from Across the Auxiliary Community Valley Ho 1Nick Riotto • Miles Smolarczyk

12:00pm MST

Lunch on the Lawn Palm Court

1:00pm MST

A Strategic Pivot: Maymester Pop Ups Valley Ho 1Jana Blackwell • Caitlin Hampton Camp Hiring- A Full Cycle Journey SandsNick Tosh • Sabrina Harris Pardon the Interruption: Auxiliary Edition SoHo 1Dan O'Neil • Bob Rojee The Dumpster Fire Theory: Creating Containers for Staff to Learn through Failure Valley Ho 2 The Dynamic Duo: Director of Summer & Auxiliary and CFO TropicanaDanielle Tripp • Andrea Newman The Fine Print Matters: Legal Essentials for Auxiliary Agreements SoHo 2Grace H. Lee

2:15pm MST

"Party of One": When After-School and Summer Camp Programs Land on Your Plate TropicanaLiz Anglin • Ashley Scott Boots On The Ground Leadership: Culture. Commitment. Connection. Valley Ho 1DeBorah Henry Mapping the Camp Marketing Year Valley Ho 2Aubrey Bursch Too Cool for Camp: Summer Offerings for 7th-9th Graders SoHo 2Kat Yorks • Jim Patterson What’s Your Threshold to Change? SoHo 1Ryan Rosen • Caitlin Hampton • Chuchi Arevalo • Kristi Jacobi • Julie Gomez • Lee Biear • Weston Outlaw Your Programs, Their Language: Communicating Auxiliary Value to Senior Leadership SandsEuan Oswald

3:15pm MST

Ice Cream Break with Courtyard Games Main Place Courtyard

3:45pm MST

Leading from the Middle: Influence, Legacy, and the Future of Auxiliary Leadership Valley Ho 1David Sullivan After School Programs - Balancing Free Play and Structure SoHo 1 and 2Dan Gilson • Zakia Vanhoose Benefits of Camp Partnerships Over Competition SoHo 1 and 2Trisha Gordon • Sophie Rothman Cost Per Camper: How Your Schedule Really Drives Your Costs SoHo 1 and 2Jake Andrus • Marcie Glad Designing for Connection: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community in Gen Alpha SoHo 1 and 2Alyssa Thomas Does Size Matter? Measuring Success in Auxiliary Programs SoHo 1 and 2Jenny Alario Don't Forget About Me! SoHo 1 and 2Lindsay Quinn Don't put Auxiliary in the corner! Making enrichment programming part of school culture SoHo 1 and 2Nathan Renstrom • Brian Turk Lead the Way & Join the Party: Camp Assistant Program Launch & Summer Bash Open House SoHo 1 and 2Cherie Dioguardi Lessons Learned from Sleep Away Camp SoHo 1 and 2Colleen Borst • Christopher Malicky Maximizing Impact Without Burnout: Rethinking Teacher-Led vs. Vendor-Led Programming SoHo 1 and 2Scott Zimmerman • Jessica Fisher Operational Excellence in Facility Rentals: Coordinating Calendars, Staff, and School Systems for Success SoHo 1 and 2Carlos Rivera • Bruce Miller Put Down the Phone, Pick Up a Knife: One School's Answer to the Anxious Generation SoHo 1 and 2Michael J. Hagan • Jordan Burnham-Bialikj Scaling Training and Support for Campers with Diverse Needs SoHo 1 and 2Ismael Cisse • Isabelle Tambascio School Safety in a Complex World: A Coordinated Approach for Campus and Beyond SoHo 1 and 2Michael Dawson • Bobby Brasher Stop Prompting, Start Doing: Practical AI for Program Directors SoHo 1 and 2Cassandra Stewart The Advantages of Opening AfterSchool (and Summer Camp) to All SoHo 1 and 2Amy Pichette • Kerry Leavenworth The Art of Play SoHo 1 and 2Nomi Hershman • Staci Beese The Captain’s Log: Turning Daily Chaos into Actionable Program Insight SoHo 1 and 2Amanda Jerido-Katz The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Student Transportation: What Independent School Auxiliary Leaders Need to Know SoHo 1 and 2Leah von Eichel-Streiber • Heather Murphy Work Smarter: Making Your Registration System Work for You SoHo 1 and 2Jenny Doherty • Rachel Crosscombe

5:00pm MST

Sponsor Reception on Main Place Courtyard Main Place Courtyard

6:00pm MST

Dinner on Your Own Scottsdale

8:00pm MST

Campfire Hour: Evening Connection & Reflection TropicanaDavid Sullivan • Nancy Hartmann • ACTIVE Network Game Night & Good Vibes Citrus Grove