• The Community Rec Leadership Summit is an exclusive peer collaboration event that brings together YMCA, JCC and community recreation leaders for three days of roundtable discussions, networking and unique experiences.

  • With a commitment to educating and empowering community recreation professionals, the Leadership Summit provides expertise, insights and experiences that will be an invaluable part of your rec center now and in the future.

  • 60 community recreation leaders will come together alongside limited sponsors for open discussion and activities in a fun and relaxing environment.

  • The Leadership Summit will be held at the Omni Amelia Island Resort, a four-star hotel with ocean views located in Northern Florida.

  • The cost to attend is $595 and includes all food and beverage during event times, all activities, and inclusion in all roundtables. Hotel rates are $279/night plus taxes and resort fees. Rates are offered three days pre and post event, pending availability. To attend as a vendor, contact rico@peakemedia.com for sponsorship pricing.

Interested in Attending?

Tell us more about yourself and a member of our team will follow up with availability for our 2026 Community Rec Summit

Registration Pricing

Best price

  • Early Bird Special

  • $595/mo
  • October 15 deadline

  • General Admission

  • $699/mo
  • December 10 deadline

  • Last Chance Pass

  • $749/mo
  • January 17 deadline

The Itinerary

7 – 9 pm • Welcome Reception + Networking Dinner — Sponsored by DynaDome

Come and break the ice with drinks, dinner and more during the first evening of the event, courtesy of DynaDome.

7:30 – 8:30 am • Networking Breakfast — Sponsored by NinjaZone

8:30 – 9:45 am • Roundtable 1: Growth Strategies and Expansion, Capital Campaigns and Financing — Sponsored by Keiser

9:45 – 10:45 am • Demo Time: Learn about sponsors’ products and services

11 am – 12:15 pm • Roundtable 2: Innovative Programming and Trends — Sponsored by InBody

12:15 – 1:15 pm • Networking Lunch — Sponsored by Arly

1:15 – 2:15 pm • Demo Time: Learn about sponsors’ products and services

3:15 – 9 pm • Amelia Island River Cruise + Dinner — Sponsored by ROR
We will make our way to downtown Fernandina Beach to board a boat heading toward Cumberland Island. On the two-hour cruise, learn history about the local area and try to spot wild horses, dolphins and more. After, we will head to dinner before returning to the Omni.

7:30 – 8:30 am • Networking Breakfast — Sponsored by Founder’s Mark

8:30 – 9:45 am • Roundtable 3: Attracting and Retaining Future Members — Sponsored by upace

9:45 – 10:45 am • Demo Time: Learn about sponsors’ products and services

11 am – 12:15 pm • Roundtable 4: AI & Tech Integration for Impact — Sponsored by Active Network

12:15 – 1:15 pm • Networking Lunch — Sponsored by EGYM

1:15 – 2:30 pm • Roundtable 5: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders

2:30 – 3:15 pm • Sponsor Social: Have a lingering question for one or two of our sponsors? Then you’re in luck! Continue the conversation with our valuable sponsors during this relaxed networking session complete with drinks.

3:30 – 6:30 pm • One-on-One Meetings: Set up a time to connect with fellow attendees and sponsors for continued networking at your leisure, or enjoy the resort!

7 – 9 pm • Networking Dinner — Sponsored by Arly

Ocean views complete with drinks, dinner and some palm-chic surprises, all courtesy of our premier sponsor Arly!

Thank you for coming!

What they're saying ...

  • I love being able to connect with my peers, people I haven’t had a chance to see in a long time from all over the country. The leaders here are the right leaders to be able to have some really deep conversations about what’s happening in our current environment and landscape, so I found it extremely beneficial to hear what others are doing and bounce ideas off each other.

    Louis Lopez, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater San Antonio

  • I’m someone who thrives on relationship development and networking, and the amount of diverse leadership that was present at this summit was awesome. My top takeaway from this event was it’s not about competition, it’s about collaboration.

    Adam Shilling, CEO, Buckeye Valley Family YMCA

  • Sales is all about getting to know people and building relationships, and the summit fostered an environment that allowed us to really make those connections. It’s invaluable.

    Kevin Williams, EGYM, Senior Sales Executive

  • Being part of a likeminded group with others and other organizations has been really impactful and beneficial to me, as a leader, but also as someone in a community to be able to get new ideas.

    Sabrina Smeltz, CEO, Wakeman Boys & Girls Club

  • It’s been great connecting with the different vendors, as well as the other peers from around the country. I really appreciated the full day where we leaned into probably some atypical topics around DNI and mental health. I think those are really important topics for leaders in this sector to really lean into because it’s facing all of us.

    Todd Tibbits, President and CEO, YMCA of San Diego County

  • One of the things I appreciated the most was the format – these roundtable discussions with some of the most innovative thinkers around the country. The discussion was really high level. Working for the JCC, I’m fortunate to be surround by a lot of great contacts and colleagues, and now that network has only expanded. I’m really grateful for the takeaway of a whole new group of colleagues.

    Raychel Reilly, COO, Binghamton JCC

  • I really didn’t know what to expect coming in and was pleasantly surprised Day One that not only was there dedicated time to talk to all the attendees but that we were going to be involved in all the sessions. We’ll be back next year.

    Cody Norton, Daxko, VP, Sales

  • You gave us great exposure as a sponsor. You did some special touches that really allowed a sponsor to feel very proud to be a sponsor of this event, especially since it’s the first. That says a lot, and I know it’ll be even better in the future.

    Antonio Battaglia, Arly, President & COO

  • I had an amazing experience and I really appreciated the format. I’ve been to bigger trade shows which are Vegas-like in quality, and in terms of value, the value I received from being at this conference far exceeds anything I’ve been to before.

    Hailee Bland-Walsh, Fit Truk, Co-Founder

Premier Sponsor

Diamond Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Community Rec Magazine

Community Rec Magazine is a business resource for YMCA, JCC and Community Rec professionals.

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