The Community Rec Leadership Summit is an invite-only experience designed for C-suite and senior leaders who are responsible for guiding their organizations through increasing complexity — workforce challenges, financial pressure, evolving community expectations and the need to innovate without losing mission alignment.
This is not a trade show.
It’s a peer-driven leadership environment built to help you think strategically, learn from those facing the same realities and return with ideas you can act on immediately.
Community recreation leaders today face a unique set of challenges:
Leadership at this level can feel isolating — and the stakes are too high to figure it out alone.
The Community Rec Leadership Summit exists because great leaders grow faster when they learn from other great leaders. Everything about this Summit is intentional — from the venue to the agenda to the people in the room.
• Invite-only attendance to ensure peer alignment
• Facilitated discussions led by experienced moderators
• Integrated networking through meals and shared experiences
• Strategic vendor engagement designed to add value, not distraction
This is a space built for honest leadership dialogue.
The Leadership Summit will be held at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, a four-star hotel located in California.
This Summit is designed specifically for:
• CEOs, Executive Directors, and Presidents
• COOs, CFOs, and senior operational leaders
• Department heads and division leaders preparing for enterprise-level responsibility
• Decision-makers responsible for growth, culture, and community impact
Attendance is intentionally limited to 60 to preserve the quality of discussion and connection.
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 $319/night plus taxes. Rates are offered three days pre and post event, pending availability. To attend as a sponsor, contact rico@peakemedia.com for sponsorship pricing.
Share a few details to let us know you’re interested. This invite-only Summit is designed for senior leaders from YMCAs, JCCs and community recreation organizations.
A member of our team will personally follow up to confirm availability, answer questions and ensure the Summit aligns with your role, organization and current priorities.
If accepted, you’ll receive a formal invitation to join a highly curated group of community recreation executives focused on sustainable growth, leadership and community impact.

5:30 – 8:30 pm PT • Welcome Reception + Dinner
Meet your fellow peers over drinks and dinner, breaking the ice on the first evening of the Summit.
7:30 – 8:30 am • Networking Breakfast
8:30 – 9:45 am • Roundtable 1
9:50 – 10:55 am • Demo Time
11:10 am – 12:25 pm • Roundtable 2
12:25 – 1:25 pm • Networking Lunch — Sponsored by Arly
1:25 – 2:30 pm • Demo Time
3 – 6:30 pm • Group Activity
7 – 9 pm • Networking Dinner — Sponsored by Arly
7:30 – 8:30 am • Networking Breakfast
8:30 – 9:45 am • Roundtable 3
9:50 – 10:55 am • Demo Time
11 am – 12:30 pm • Roundtable 4
12:30 – 1:30 pm • Networking Lunch
1:30 – 2:45 pm • Roundtable 5
3 – 6 pm • One-on-One Networking: Set-up meeting with other attendees or sponsors, and/or enjoy the resort!
7 – 9 pm • Networking Dinner
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

Interested in attending or sponsoring the 2027 Community Rec Leadership Summit? Email heather@peakemedia.com for more details.
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