Forum 2026 Speakers

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By-Invitation-Only

Talk Topic

Lisa Reynolds

VP of Brand & Communications
75th Anniversary Co-lead
World Vision, Inc.

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Talk Topic

Jane Sutton-Redner

Communication Officer
to the President
75th Anniversary Co-lead
World Vision, Inc.

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Talk Topic

Jenny Hudak

Director, Strategic Communications
100th Anniversary lead
University of Miami

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Talk Topic

Natalie Ipson

Director of Digital Communications
150th Anniversary lead
Brigham Young University

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Talk Topic

Lisa Alonge

Founder
Anniversary University®

Making Milestones Matter

Anniversaries are more than a celebration—they’re an opportunity to reflect on past achievements and set the stage for future success. Whether you’re celebrating a 25th anniversary or a bicentennial, milestone events allow leaders and communicators to incorporate these moments into strategic growth plans.

Anniversary University offers guidance and the definitive resources to ensure you maximize this opportunity by accelerating and elevating the planning, starting with attending The Anniversary Forum.

As the founder of Anniversary University®, Lisa Alonge has gathered insights from hundreds of executives who’ve successfully navigated planning milestone anniversary campaigns. Across sectors, sizes, and budgets, certain best practices remain consistent. In her talk, Lisa will outline key strategies from her comprehensive guide, Milestone Anniversary Planning, and share how the “Anniversary Effect” can unlock transformative, lasting results for your organization.

Speaker Bios 2026 Agenda

Attendees Learn To:

Optimize budgets for outstanding outcomes.
Leverage the powerful “anniversary effect.”
Create experiences fitting to the occasion’s significance.
Deploy actionable strategies and creative tactics.
Leverage the anniversary to drive organizational change and brand purpose.
Turn the anniversary into a high-ROI business decision.
Use anniversary as transformational catalyst.
Engage your CEO/President in the significance of the anniversary.
Design with clear strategic purpose, focusing on “why” over “what.”
Mobilize leaders, identify global stewards, and lead boldly.

Widely Regarded as The Must Attend Masterclass for Anniversary Planning

Testimonials

The Anniversary Forum was absolutely invaluable to jump start our planning!
LAURA HOLLINGSWORTH
Chief Marketing Officer
Opry Entertainment

The Anniversary Forum is essential for learning how to leverage your anniversary. Regardless of the industry or planning stage you are in; the information is incredibly pertinent and the knowledge sharing invaluable!
STEVE STOUT
Chief of Staff
DePaul University

The Forum is the best conference I’ve been to. Every attendee is tasked with planning and learning from others, and collaborating, is extremely important.
KEVIN BISHOP
VP Global Brand Systems
IBM

The Forum is the ideal masterclass for planners seeking to deliver a meaningful, memorable anniversary. A significant advantage saving us time, money, and stress!
SHELLIE FREY
Chief Communications & Branding Officer
Golden State Foods

The Anniversary Forum is a love virtual event

The Anniversary Forum is a (2) half-day live virtual event that brings together those in the early stage of planning with your experienced peers who have executed exemplary anniversaries. Presenters, who are Milestone Masters, pull back the curtain and share planning strategies that work, pitfalls to avoid, indispensable insights, and signature programs that engage stakeholders.

Established in 2014 as the only gathering of its kind. The Forum continues to be the definitive masterclass.

Testimonials

Learning from other’s experiences at The Anniversary Forum is invaluable! Gaining knowledge before an intensive process like this pays dividends, allows you to avoid costly mistakes, and advance your ideas further.

David French

SVP Marketing and Centennial lead
National Park Foundation

Anniversary University is the ideal masterclass for planners seeking to deliver a meaningful, memorable celebration. AU will save you time, money, and stress! A significant advantage during your planning process.

SHELLIE FREY

Chief Branding & Communications Officer
75th Anniversary lead
Golden State Foods

Lisa Alonge understands the real purpose of an anniversary. Lisa’s book will help you develop a sound strategic plan and get you there faster and smarter.

Kevin Bishop

Head of Global Brand and Centennial lead
IBM

Milestone Anniversary Planning is an exceptional handbook that every cross-functional leader on the team must read!

Dan Hasler

EVP Communications and 150th Anniversary lead
Purdue University

Our thanks to Lisa and her crew for a valuable Anniversary Visioning Workshop, which opened our eyes to the unique possibilities for our 50th Anniversary and helped us align our thinking. We had no idea this resource existed!

Senior Managing Director and 50th Anniversary lead
Southwest Airlines

I devoured the playbook and cited it over 30 times in our Centennial strategic planning meeting with our CEO.

Laura Hollingsworth

CMO and 100th Anniversary lead
Opry Entertainment

Attending The Anniversary Forum is essential for learning how to leverage your anniversary regardless of the industry or stage in the planning process.

Steven Stout

Chief of Staff
DePaul University

Finally, the most informed expert on anniversaries shares all she knows to master the challenge. Lisa’s playbook is a game changer, so much more than benchmarks. It has proven structures and tools to create a successful, one-time program.

Michael Merk

Director Corporate Communications and Centennial lead
Steelcase

The Anniversary Forum was time very well spent. It helped us “look around the corner” and shift mindset to “it’s much more than a party.” Collaborating with others was invaluable.

Kristin Calcagno

Director Corporate and Employee Communications
Charles Schwab

Partnering with Anniversary University®️ was an exceptional experience! They skillfully designed and conducted a planning workshop for our 250th Anniversary. Their knowledge with planning anniversaries was extremely valuable.

Paul Patrick

Chief Financial Officer
College of Charleston

Lisa Alonge was a godsend as we began planning for our 100th Anniversary. She inspired us to “think big” and “lean in” with confidence. Her connections to vendors were invaluable. More than that, Lisa’s fun and just the right “coach” I needed.

Tammy Robbins

Sr Dir. Marketing Communications and Centennial lead
Shriners Children’s

The Anniversary Forum exceeded our expectations by exposing us to valuable insights and great connections. We took away actionable plans and strategies to implement.

Eric Haman

Director Global Communications
West Pharmaceuticals

The Value of Attending

EDUCATION

Learn from your peers, avoid pitfalls, and gain valuable insights.

CONNECTION

Network with peers and creative partners for strategic collaboration.

INSPIRATION

Discover how to use your anniversary as a legacy gift for societal good.
One day = a year of ideas!

Who Attends

Members of the anniversary planning committee including Communications, Marketing, Brand, HR, Chief of Staff, Institutional Advancement, Executive Directors, Historians, and CSR leaders.