Six Regions, One Community: APPA's 2026 Regional Conference Season

Six regions, six themes, one community. A look back at APPA's 2026 regional conference season, told through the posts our members, Business Partners and regional leaders shared.

From the desert heat of Tempe to the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, APPA's six regions spent September and October bringing educational facilities professionals together. Each region put its own stamp on the season, with new themes, new board leaders, campus tours and a few unforgettable evening events. What stayed the same across all six was the reason people showed up: to learn from each other and bring better ideas home to campus.

Rocky Mountain Region of APPA (RMA): Thriving in the Heat in Tempe

RMA kicked off the season September 6 to 10 at Arizona State University in Tempe, and the theme "Thriving in the Heat" fit the setting perfectly. ASU Facilities served as host, and attendees even cooled off with ice skating at ASU's Mullett Arena.

The education program leaned into sustainability and smart campus operations. Sessions covered the University of Denver's decarbonization journey, a zero energy case study of Wecker Hall at the U.S. Air Force Academy, AI enabled spaces in Colorado State University's new engineering building, and lessons from ASU's roofing program. Attendees also reported strong interest in how campuses are putting GIS and AI to work.

The conference marked a leadership milestone as well. Christopher Kopach, Executive Director of University Facility Services at the University of Arizona, was sworn in as RMA President, and University of Arizona colleagues Luis Rocha and Renee Cota were elected to the board. Rocha was also recognized with an award for his dedication to professional development.

Eastern Region of APPA (ERAPPA): 75 Years of Revolutionary Ideas in Providence

ERAPPA celebrated its 75th annual meeting September 20 to 23 in Providence, Rhode Island, under the fitting theme "Revolutionary Ideas." Facilities leaders from colleges, universities, K to 12 schools and museums across the Eastern region and Eastern Canada came together for education sessions, building tours and plenty of conversation. Attendees also got a taste of the city, from PVDFest to a first quahog for more than one visitor.

A highlight was "A More Perfect Union: Revolutionary Leadership Through the ERAPPA Community," a Past Presidents Panel moderated by Beth Clark of the Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute. Eleven former ERAPPA presidents spanning multiple generations shared stories about leadership, mentorship and the value of getting involved. Other sessions included Penn State's transformation of a former laundry building into a training facility for custodial and floor care staff.

Members gave special thanks to conference co-chairs Melissa Bergeron and Jessica Pepoy and the planning committee. Maria Morrissey of UMass Lowell received an ERAPPA Education Scholarship to attend APPAU in 2027, and Penny Dude was recognized for her commitment to her ERAPPA chapter. The ERAPPA Board continued the conversation on November 5 with its Second Annual Business Partner Townhall.

Central Region of APPA (CAPPA): Shaping Campuses, Shaping Tomorrow in Branson

CAPPA gathered September 27 to 30 at the Chateau on the Lake in Branson, Missouri, hosted by Missouri State University. The theme, "Shaping Campuses, Shaping Tomorrow," set the tone for three days of learning in the heart of the Ozarks.

Attendees heard an energizing keynote from Shannon McKain on keeping going when things get hard (pom poms included), along with an update from APPA President Lalit Agarwal. Sessions covered Oklahoma State University's phased energy management program, UTEP's first hour water damage response strategy, and integrating capital and maintenance priorities. The week closed with a behind the scenes tour and ice cream social at College of the Ozarks, where students work on campus to cover their tuition. Many attendees are still talking about the dairy and that ice cream.

CAPPA also honored colleagues across the region. Rick Barry of NorthWest Arkansas Community College received the 2026 Newsletter Award for his article on practical AI applications in facilities and operations. Next year, CAPPA heads to Sioux Falls.

Midwest Region of APPA (MAPPA): On Track for Excellence in Indianapolis

The same week CAPPA met in Branson, MAPPA welcomed Midwest facilities leaders to the Sheraton City Centre in Indianapolis from September 27 to 30. The theme, "On Track for Excellence," focused on moving from theory to practice, with sessions on strategic planning, sustainability, workforce development and capital renewal.

The program was packed with practical topics. Presenters tackled mold prevention and moisture management, emergency readiness and getting critical building information to teams faster, and Northern Arizona University's smart campus digital transformation. Indiana University Bloomington, Kent State University and the University of Wisconsin Madison shared work on leadership, sustainability and representation in facilities.

MAPPA also welcomed new board leadership. Matt Yunker, CEFP, Senior Director of Facilities Operations at Oberlin College, was named Vice President of the MAPPA Board of Directors.

Southeastern Region of APPA (SRAPPA): Leading Today, Designing Tomorrow in Greater Charlotte

SRAPPA brought the Southeast together October 27 to 30 in Concord and Charlotte, North Carolina, under the theme "Leading Today. Designing Tomorrow." The week opened with Technical Tuesday at UNC Charlotte's Dubois Center, where FM Associate Vice Chancellor Owen Cooks welcomed attendees for a hands on start. The welcome reception at the NASCAR Hall of Fame was a crowd favorite, and the Expo at the Concord Convention Center kept the conversations going.

Dr. Kenston Griffin's keynote on the difference between a manager and a true leader resonated with many in the room. Sessions ranged from facility condition assessments as a starting point for capital renewal to Georgia Tech's relocation of its Public Policy Department within the historic D.M. Smith Building. The week closed Friday with the Women in Facilities program, "Embracing and Empowering," featuring Kafi London and a panel of leaders sharing lessons on knowing your value and lifting others up.

SRAPPA celebrated new leadership with Solomon T. Franklin as President and Priti Bhatia, CFM, CEFP, as Vice President, and recognized this year's newly certified CEFPs. Next year, SRAPPA heads to Huntsville, Alabama.

Pacific Coast Region of APPA (PCAPPA): Crossing Borders in Vancouver

PCAPPA closed out the season October 28 to 30 at The Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, British Columbia, bringing together facilities professionals from Canada and the U.S. The region's range is one of its strengths, spanning K to 12 schools, colleges, universities, libraries, medical centers, research facilities and museums.

Keynote speaker Chris Koch left a lasting impression with his "If I Can" message: many things that seem impossible are not, and when something doesn't work, you find another way. Emcee Troy kept the energy high all week. Sessions included a "Creating Facilities That Perform" panel on operational readiness and lifecycle value, Simon Fraser University's energy management lessons, a long running service partnership with Langara College, and a candid roundtable on capturing knowledge before experienced staff retire. AI was a recurring thread, from robotics in daily operations to turning building data into decisions.

The conference also marked a leadership transition, with Mia Love stepping into the role of PCAPPA President. Attendees credited Mike Devolin and the PCAPPA Board for a well run event.

What We Heard Across the Regions

Six conferences, six themes, but the hallway conversations sounded remarkably alike. Members and Business Partners in every region kept coming back to the same pressures:

• Aging buildings and growing backlogs, with deferred maintenance outpacing the budgets behind it.
• Better data for better decisions, from condition assessments and space utilization to making the funding case to leadership.
• AI moving from buzzword to practice, in work orders, building analytics, GIS and daily operations.
• Energy and decarbonization, with campuses sharing real savings and zero energy results.
• People and knowledge, including mentorship, succession and capturing expertise before it walks out the door.

That shared experience is exactly why the regions matter. Wherever you work, someone in your region has faced the same challenge and is ready to share what worked.

Looking Ahead to 2027

Planning for next season is already underway. Here is where each region heads in 2027:

• MAPPA: St. Paul, Minnesota, September 13 to 15
• RMA: Boulder, Colorado, September 26 to 30, hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder
• CAPPA: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 27 to 29
• SRAPPA: Huntsville, Alabama, October 5 to 8
• ERAPPA: Niagara Falls, Canada, October 17 to 20, hosted by OAPPA and OCAPPA
• PCAPPA: Las Vegas, Nevada, October 19 to 21

ERAPPA's call for presentations is now open at erappa2027.org. Find details for every region on APPA's regional conferences page.

Thank you to every host campus, volunteer, speaker, board member and Business Partner who made the 2026 season possible.