The Engaging Retreat 2026

Click the BLUE Read More! Discover the secrets of Engagement at The Engaging Retreat 2026 For Speakers, Meeting Professionals and Leaders. When was the last time you left a professional event more energized than when you arrived? Not just inspired. Not just informed. Energized. The kind of energy that makes ideas fly, conversations spark, and possibilities suddenly feel within reach. That’s CHENERGY. And from October 20–22, 2026, you’re invited to experience it firsthand at The Engaging Retreat. Hosted by engagement expert John Chen, CSP, this immersive, three-day experience brings together speakers, facilitators, meeting planners, trainers, emcees, entrepreneurs, and event professionals who believe audiences deserve more than another slide deck and a polite round of applause. Here, you won’t just hear about engagement. You’ll experience what happens when creativity meets participation. When strangers become collaborators. When fresh perspectives turn familiar problems into unexpected possibilities. When a room stops acting like an audience—and starts acting like a community. Expect meaningful connections, creative breakthroughs, practical ideas, and the contagious momentum that comes from being surrounded by people who care as deeply about engagement as you do. Whether you lead from the stage, behind the scenes, on-screen, or across a conference table, you’ll discover new ways to create experiences people remember—and put them to work long after the retreat ends. Because real engagement isn’t about having more energy than everyone else. It’s about knowing how to create energy with everyone else. That’s the magic. That’s the momentum. That’s CHENERGY. Your next audience deserves it. Your next event demands it. And honestly? You could probably use some, too. Join us October 20–22, 2026, for three days designed to recharge your creativity, strengthen your connections, and transform how you bring people together. Don’t just attend. Plug into the CHENERGY. Register for The Engaging Retreat 2026. What do you get with an IN-PERSON ticket? • Over 18 top speakers on engagement • 5-Minutes on stage with 4-camera footage • 3 Meals a day including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages • Expert speaker coaching and hotseats • Exclusive networking Speakers Include (CPAE means National Speakers Association Hall of Fame speaker 1 of 275, CSP means Certified Speaking Professional 1 of 700) • Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE, Cavett • Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE • Marilyn Sherman, CSP, CPAE • Alvin Law, CSP, Hall of Fame from the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers • Jim Spellos, Named one of MPI's 50 Most Influential People in their 50-Year History • Elizabeth McCormick, CSP and 1 of the first 100 women Blackhawk Pilots • Scott Cooksey, CSP • Jim Harris, AI Disruption and Innovation • Jacques Martiquet, creator of JoyCamp • Adam Bacher, NSA Oregon Photographer • Bruce Hill • Ivy Meadors, Past President NSA Northwest • Luam Wersom, champion of Food Dignity, owner of Mojitos • Dr. Robin Nussbaum • Kathy Klotz-Guest • Ming-Ming Tung Edelson • Theresa Francomacaro • Virtual Emcee JO Welch • Emcee Lady In Red, Devon Montgomery-Pasha • and me John Chen, CSP, #1 Amazon Author of Engaging Virtual Meetings and your host The first 50 IN-PERSON attendees get a 5-minute 4-camera fully edited video of themselves speaking! Engage, empower, and evolve together. Your unique story is our collective strength. 🌍♿️🏳️‍🌈Note: Accessible formats & captioning are readily available. Attend virtually! Attend in-person! Attend what a PhD called, "The Best HYBRID E.V.E.R!" Click "FOLLOW" for speaker announcements and agenda updates! See speaker videos below. Tuesday 10/20/2026 - The 6th Anniversary of Publishing the #1 Amazon "Engaging Virtual Meetings" 7:30 am Doors Open, hosted by Virtual Emcee JO Welch 8:00 am The Engaging Conference Opening Ceremony hosted by John Chen, CSP 8:50 am Fast Interaction with Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE, Cavett 9:40 am Break 10:20 am Front-Row Success - Marilyn Sherman, CSP, CPAE 11:10 am From Noise to Nuance: Making Today’s AI Tools, Workflows and Agents Work for You - Jim Spellos 12:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm THE CREDIBILITY DEFICIT: How to Build Authority, Reduce Decision Friction, and Increase Recommendations - Elizabeth McCormick, CSP 1:50 pm The Art and Science of JoyCamp - Jacques Mariquet2:40 pm Break 2:40 pm Break 3:20 pm Hotseats hosted by Devon Montgomery-Pasha, (Audience speaks, Speakers coach) 4:10 pm - The Engaging Debrief by John Chen, CSP 5:00 pm Dinner/Networking, end of virtual (In-Person Only) 7:00 pm Optional Evening Activity (In-Person Only) Wednesday 10/21/2026 7:30 am Doors Open, hosted by Virtual Emcee JO Welch 8:00 am 6 Ways For More Engaging Hybrid Keynotes by John Chen, CSP 8:50 am Step Into Your Greatness(tm) - Alvin Law, CSP, HoF 9:40 am Break 10:20 am The LEADOUT Advantage - Scott Cooksey, CSP 11:10 am Disruptive AI - Jim Harris 12:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm Stitch. Care. Rise - Ming-Ming Tung Edelson 1:25 pm We Do HR Solutions - Dr. Robin Nussbaum 1:50 pm The SPARK Method - Devon Montgomery-Pasha 2:40 pm Break 3:20 pm Super Engaging Panel moderated by Devon Montgomery-Pasha 4:10pm - The Engaging Debrief by John Chen, CSP 5:00 pm Dinner/Networking, end of virtual (In-Peson Only) 7:00 pm Optional Evening Activity (In-Person Only) Thursday 10/22/2026 7:30 am Doors Open, hosted by Virtual Emcee JO Welch 8:00 am Hybrid Chenergy with John Chen, CSP 8:50 am Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE 9:40 am Break 10:20 am JO Welch 10:45 am Kathy Klost-Guest 11:10 am Bruce Hill 11:35 am Ivy Meadors 12:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm Food Dignity - Luam Wersom 1:25 pm Why Story Works - Theresa Francomacaro 1:50 pm Expanding Engagement with Curiosity and Wonder - Adam Bacher 2:40 pm Break 3:20 pm Hotseats hosted by Devon Montgomery-Pasha, (Audience speaks, Speakers coach) 4:10pm The Engaging Retreat Closing Ceremony with John Chen, CSP 5:00 pm End of Virtual, Dinner/Networking (In-Person Only) 7:00 pm Optional Evening Activity (In-Person Only) In-Person Hotel Suggestions McMenamins Anderson School 18607 Bothell Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011 To book by phone - Call 425-398-0122 To book online - Visit https://reserve.mcmenamins.com/mcmenamins/availability.asp Comfort Inn & Suites Bothell - Seattle North 1414 228th St SE, Bothell, WA 98021 (425) 402-0900 Your Speakers: John Chen, CSP He’s the author of the #1 Amazon Hot New Book Release, Engaging Virtual Meetings. He’s been meeting virtually for over 38 years. He has produced over 4,000 virtual meetings including an EIGHT language meeting and the only 100% LIVE virtual conference in the training industry. He’s 1 of only 400 Certified Speaking Professionals designated by the National Speakers Association. Let’s WELCOME your speaker, John Chen, CSP! Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE, Cavett Brian Walter is a communications consultant and corporate humorist with Extreme Meetings. He uses customized infotainment to help companies put more buzz in their biz. He is recognized by the National Speakers Association as a Certified Speaking Professional, Hall of Fame and Cavett Award winner, 1 of only 47, the highest honor of NSA. Brian is a unique hybrid of internal and external communications expertise. He has been an advertising creative services director, an award-winning TV and radio commercial producer, a freelance copywriter and video producer, a marketing director, management trainer, a university adjunct professor, a corporate internal communications director, and for two weeks before he quit…a telephone survey operator. He’s even in the Guinness Book of World Records for producing the world’s shortest TV commercial. Marilyn Sherman, CSP, CPAE is a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, author, and founder of UpFront Presentations. She has spent her career inspiring people to get out of their comfort zones and claim their "Front-Row" seat in life and leadership.