2025 Board Professionals Conference: Schedule
March 30–31, 2025
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
Chicago, IL
Schedule
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Optional Pre-Conference Convenings
Saturday, March 29
Time TBA | Registration Open
Time TBA (afternoon) | Optional Activity: Local Campus Tour
Join us for a tour of a local Chicago institution campus, hosted by a fellow board professional. Details will be announced at a later date.
Time TBA (afternoon) | New Attendee Welcome
Join us in kicking off the Board Professionals Conference as we get to know our fellow attendees and learn a bit about one another. During the New Attendee Welcome, you will have a chance to meet your fellow board professionals and gather in small groups to ask seasoned attendees questions about the conference. Ideally, you will develop a plan to depart Chicago with an arsenal of information that will directly enhance your work as a board professional.
Time TBA (evening) | Optional Activity: Dinner Groups
Join colleagues for an evening of good food and stimulating conversation. All restaurants are near the conference hotel, and a board professional host will lead the way. First-time attendees are encouraged to participate. Participants are responsible for their own meal expenses.
Sunday, March 30
Time TBA | Optional Morning Activities
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM CT | Registration and AGB Experience Open
7:30 AM – 8:15 PM CT | Breakfast
8:15 – 9:30 AM CT | Welcome and Opening Plenary
Program details will be announced at a later date.
9:30 – 9:45 AM CT | Break
9:45 – 10:40 AM CT | Professional Development Sessions – Speed Networking
Participate in quick, small group discussions with new and seasoned conference attendees alike for an opportunity to forge peer connections, share ideas and resources, and discuss best practices. This activity is open to all and is especially recommended for first-time attendees. Bring your best tips and greatest challenges.
10:40 – 10:55 AM CT | Break
10:55 – 11:50 AM CT | Concurrent Sessions I
11:50 AM – 1:20 PM CT | Luncheon Plenary and Distinguished Board Professional Award
Affinity Groups: Lessons Learned the Hard Way (BPs in the Hot Seat Reimagined) – Passing the Baton
1:20 – 1:35 PM CT | Break
1:35 – 2:35 PM CT | Best Practice Mini Sessions I & II
These best practice mini sessions are designed to zero in on subjects across the spectrum of the board professional’s responsibilities. Each 25 minute class, presented twice during this session, begins with a capsule review of solutions from an experienced board professional colleague, followed by time to pose questions and explore strategies.
2:35 – 3:15 PM CT | Break and Networking
3:15 – 4:15 PM CT | Best Practice Mini Sessions III and IV
These best practice mini sessions are designed to zero in on subjects across the spectrum of the board professional’s responsibilities. Each 25 minute class, presented twice during this session, begins with a capsule review of solutions from an experienced board professional colleague, followed by time to pose questions and explore strategies.
4:15 – 4:30 PM CT | Break
4:30 – 5:15 PM CT | Unpack Your Day
5:15 – 6:45 PM CT | Structured Reception – Ideas Exchange
Join your peers, event speakers, AGB staff, and AGB partners for an informal exchange of ideas on a list of curated topics. Share creative solutions and pain points, and brainstorm with other board professionals. Use the time to follow up with a concurrent session speaker, delve deeper into a topic with a peer, and talk about the latest challenges. Feel free to stay with one presenter for the full duration or to move about as conversations shift and flow. Refreshments will be served.
Monday, March 31
7:00 AM – 7:00 PM CT | Registration and AGB Experience Open
7:15 – 8:45 AM CT | Breakfast Plenary
Hitting Refresh on the Enrollment Cliff: What Every Board Professional Needs to Know
The long-anticipated decline in traditional college-age populations is finally in effect. What is happening now, what’s around the bend, what are institutions doing about it, and which are the more promising opportunities to mitigate its impact? Join the nation’s foremost scholar on this topic for an update on trends, followed by an interview of him by a seasoned board professional whose board is experiencing these issues in real time.
Speakers:
Nathan D. Grawe, professor of economics, Carleton College; author, Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education and The Agile College
Katie Herschede, vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff, Widener University; former executive assistant to the president and secretary to the board of regents, Northern Kentucky University
8:45 – 9:00 AM CT | Break
9:00 – 9:55 AM CT | Concurrent Sessions II
9:55 – 10:10 AM CT | Break
10:10 – 11:05 AM CT | Concurrent Sessions III
11:05 – 11:20 AM CT | Break
11:20 AM – 12:05 PM CT | Closing Keynote
12:05 PM CT | Conference Concludes
Register now to reserve your spot in Chicago.
Early Bird Rate*
$750
Regular Member Rate*
$895
Special Dual Registration Offer for Foundation Board Professionals
Foundation Leadership Forum and Board Professionals Conference*
Foundation board professionals who register for the 2025 Foundation Leadership Forum will receive a $300 discount when registering for the 2025 Board Professionals Conference. To take advantage of this bundled rate, members should register for the Foundation Leadership Forum first; or contact the AGB registrar for assistance.
Save $300
Dual Registration Offer
National Conference on Trusteeship and Board Professionals Conference*
Nonmember Rate
$1,250
*Member exclusive pricing.
Key Dates
- Early bird deadline: December 2, 2024
- Deadline for cancellation: February 17, 2025
- Deadline to receive discounted hotel rate: February 28, 2025 (provided space is available)
Cancellation Policy
This program is available only to registrants who are serving a higher ed institution or foundation. Please contact registrar@AGB.org with any questions.
All cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to cancellations@AGB.org and will be processed after the meeting. Requests for refunds must be received by close of business on February 17, 2025, to receive a full refund minus a $25 cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued for registrants who cancel after February 17, 2025. If you are unable to attend, a substitute is welcome in your place at no additional charge. AGB is not responsible for cancellations due to airline disruption, inclement weather, COVID-19, or schedule changes.
Group Discounts: If a cancellation causes the group to fall below the required three registrations, the refund will be issued minus the discount benefit received by the original group.
Hotel Information
AGB has secured a room block for Board Professionals Conference attendees at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile at the group rate of $229 per night, exclusive of 17.4% taxes. Once you have registered for the conference, you will receive a hotel reservation link in your meeting registration confirmation. To receive the group rate, reservations must be made online through the reservation link received. Reservations should be made in the name of the person registered for the 2025 Board Professionals Conference. Multiple reservations under the same name will not be accepted.
The deadline for reserving a room at the group rate is February 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM CT.
With thanks to our 2025 sponsors.
View our 2025 sponsors and see how you can support the Board Professionals Conference.
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Registration
AGB is committed to excellence in member service. Should you have questions about registering for the Board Professionals Conference, contact the AGB registrar.
Become a Member and Save
If you currently are not an AGB member but want to take advantage of member pricing, contact Matt Stevens, director of membership outreach.
Sponsorship
To learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Steve Abbott, director of partnerships.
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