RMA 2026 Regional Conference
Annual regional conference
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
to Thursday, September 10, 2026
Mark your calendars for the RMA 2026 Conference to be held in Tempe, AZ.
The Omni Tempe Hotel at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona will host the RMA 2026 Annual Conference, Thriving in the Heat. The theme reflects our joined commitment to sustainability, resilience, innovative solutions, and best practices for managing facilities in a challenging and changing environment. Mark your calendars for September 8-10, 2026 as educational facilities management leaders from across the Rocky Mountain Region will gather to participate in excellent educational sessions, panels, networking, and collaborations.
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
RMA Member
|
$500.00
Price will increase to $625.00 on
7/25/26 12:00 AM EDT
|
|
Business Partner Non-Sponsor
|
$1,200.00
Price will increase to $1,750.00 on
7/25/26 12:01 AM EDT
|
|
RMA Non-Member
|
$1,200.00 |
|
Business Partner - Additional Attendee
|
$500.00
Price will increase to $625.00 on
7/25/26 12:00 AM EDT
|
|
Companions
|
$110.00 |
|
RMA Board & Committee
|
$350.00 |
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Saguaro (Platinum Sponsor)
|
$15,000.00 |
|
Prickly Pear (Gold Sponsor)
|
$10,000.00 |
|
Cholla (Silver Sponsor)
|
$7,500.00 |
|
Barrel Cactus (Bronze Sponsor)
|
$5,000.00 |
2026 RMA Conference – Details
Conference Schedule at a Glance
- RMA Board travel
- Conference registration open
- RMA Board meeting (all day)
- Conference registration open
- Travel day for some attendees
- Travel day for attendees
- Business Partner booth setup
- Activities and optional events
- First-Timer Meeting (evening)
- Opening Reception & Networking Event (evening)
| Time | Track 1 | Track 2 | Campus Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00–8:00 | Breakfast | ||
| 8:00–9:30 | Introductions & Keynote | ||
| 9:30–9:45 | Break | ||
| 9:45–10:30 |
Both Tracks
Beyond the Built Environment: A Panel Discussion on Leadership in Higher Education
Tim Smith, Vice President & Chief Facilities Officer, ASU
|
||
| 10:30–11:00 | Tradeshow | ||
| 11:05–11:55 |
Track 1
TBD
|
Track 2
Strive to Thrive in the Heat – Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges with Client Direct Procurement
Caryn Becker, PE, SourceBlue, LLC
|
Utilities Building: TDUP and Cold Storage |
| 12:00–1:00 | Lunch / Tradeshow | ||
| 1:05–1:55 |
Both Tracks
CORE – AI Presentation (Seth Beer)
|
||
| 2:05–2:55 |
Track 1
The Cost of Doing Nothing
Joshua Spear, NAU · Jesse Pruitt, PBG · Sam Robertson, ASU
|
Track 2
Laboratory Decommissioning: Managing Risk, Ensuring Safety, and Enabling Seamless Transitions
Kathryn Peacock, Strategic Director, Partner Engineering and Science, Inc.
|
Student Life Building: Mill Avenue |
| 2:55–3:30 | Break / Tradeshow | ||
| 3:30–4:20 |
Track 1
Achieving Building Electrification Without Increasing Electrical Demand
Ely William LaBerge, PE, CDP, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate Principal Engineer
|
Track 2
Fast Builds Fast Failures – In a World of Collaborative Project Delivery, Why Do Many Buildings Fail Shortly After Completion?
Gerard Lee, Courtney Wladyka, Rena Russ — Marx|Okubo Associates, Inc.
|
University Gateway |
| Time | Track 1 | Track 2 | Campus Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00–8:00 | Breakfast | ||
| 8:05–8:55 |
Both Tracks
Practical, Actionable Strategies for Managing Facilities in Extreme and Arid Environments
Chuck Hink, Pueblo Mechanical
|
||
| 9:00–9:45 | Break / Tradeshow | ||
| 9:45–10:30 |
Track 1
Decarb Through the Decades: The University of Denver's Journey to 2030 – Era by Era
Chad King & James Rosner, Johnson Controls · Lynn Bailey, University of Denver
|
Track 2
From Building Performance Standards to Business Case: RCx That Delivers ROI on Higher Ed Campuses
Ryan Shepherd, Colorado Mountain College · Michael Brubaker, Colorado College · Matt Wakulchik, McKinstry
|
|
| 10:35–11:25 |
Track 1
Building Connections for a Sustainable Future: Pathways to Securing Tomorrow's Workforce for Facilities Management
Alexandria Tannehill & Vimol Mitchel, University of Colorado Anschutz
|
Track 2
Designing an AI-Enabled Interdisciplinary Engineering Hub
Benjamin Strain, DLR Group · Steve Johnson, Colorado State University
|
The Walton Center |
| 11:30–1:00 | Lunch / Tradeshow | ||
| 1:05–1:55 |
Track 1
Recalibrating, Not Replacing: Turning Aging Buildings into High-Performance Assets
Rachel Rasmussen, Architekton · Todd Reust, Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (AEI)
|
Track 2
Risk Management and Safety in Occupied Campuses
Matt Gilliland, Safety Director, CHASSE Building Team
|
|
| 2:05–2:55 |
Track 1
Retro-Commissioning a Medical Campus Chiller Plant: Restoring Efficiency Through Automation and Control Strategies
Erik Jeannette, PE, Director of Engineering, Iconergy
|
Track 2
Zero Energy Case Study – U.S. Air Force Academy
Katie Willemarck, USAF Academy · Amanda Occhi & Corey Chinn, Farnsworth Group · Kevin Gould & Christine Costa, RTA Architects
|
Wilson Hall |
| 2:55–3:15 | Break | ||
| 3:30–4:30 | Keynote TBD | ||
| 6:00–8:00 | Awards Banquet | ||
Additional schedule details, session descriptions, and speaker information will be posted closer to the conference date.
- Travel day
Sponsorship OpportunitiesFlexible sponsorship options offer brand visibility throughout the event and meaningful engagement with the higher education facilities community. |
|
 |
$15,000 – Saguaro (Platinum Sponsorship)
|
 |
$10,000 – Prickly Pear (Gold Sponsorship)
|
 |
$7,500 – Cholla (Silver Sponsorship)
|
 |
$5,000 – Barrel Cactus (Bronze Sponsorship)
|
Discounted Hotel Rooms through Room Block
Stay onsite at the conference hotel with special rates starting at $169/night. Book your room now!
Omni Tempe Hotel at Arizona State University
7 E University Drive
Tempe, AZ 85281
