SESSIONS

9:30 am - 10:30 am

Amy Van Dyken

Don't Let Anyone Or Anything Determine Your Path In Life

She was told she couldn’t swim due to asthma. She didn’t listen. She was told she wouldn’t make her high school team. She did. She was told she wouldn’t make the Olympic team. She won 4 Gold Medals, the most of any female Olympian in one Game. She was told she wouldn’t make the next Olympic team. She won 2 more Gold Medals becoming the most decorated female Olympian ever. She was on the cover of the Wheaties box living a great life. Married to a 2-time Super Bowl champion, Tom Rouen, who played for the Broncos. Then she gets in an ATV accident. As she’s wheeled into surgery she’s told she may not live. But she comes out smiling and has been happy and upbeat and positive and is living life. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something!

10:45 am - 11:45 am

Matt DeWolf | CEO | FRONTSTEPS

Leading the Charge: Vision, Innovation, and the Future of Community Management

In a world where community management is evolving faster than ever, visionary leadership isn't optional, it's essential. Join the CEO of FRONTSTEPS, Matt DeWolf, as he explores what it takes to lead unapologetically in times of rapid transformation. This keynote will spotlight how innovation, operational discipline, resident experience, and future-ready strategy are converging to redefine excellence.

In this session, we will invite some of our strategic partners, SmartStreet, AvidXchange, EdenRed, and TechCollect, to share how their solutions are driving change across the pillars of compliance, automation, engagement, and intelligent technology. Together, we’ll examine how bold thinking and fearless execution are reshaping the role of management companies and empowering communities to thrive.

12 pm - 1 pm

Emily Wigdale | Director of Marketing | FRONTSTEPS

Michael Kim | VP, Business Development & Commercial Programs | Thumbtack

Seth Ellison | Director of Partnerships | Thumbtack

Built Like the Apps They Love: Consumer-Inspired Tools for Community Engagement

From personalized notifications to sleek mobile experiences, consumer apps have changed what people expect from digital tools and HOA platforms are catching up. In this session, discover how FRONTSTEPS is closing the gap by applying the same engagement strategies used by the world's most adopted technologies. Hear how community managers are using these tools to increase participation, reduce complaints, and build trust at scale.

12 pm - 1 pm

FRONTSTEPS Team

FRONTSTEPS Community in Action: Tips, Tools, and Open Q&A

Join the FRONTSTEPS product team for an interactive open forum focused on FRONTSTEPS Community. This session offers a chance to explore how other management companies are using the platform and learn practical ways to get more out of its features.

Through live discussion and demonstrations, you will hear real questions from your peers and gain insights directly from the experts who support and build the platform. Topics may include resident engagement strategies, making the most of bulletins and announcements, and other tools that help strengthen communication within your communities.

Bring your questions and ideas. This is an open, collaborative session designed to help you walk away with practical tips, best practices, and new ways to maximize the value of FRONTSTEPS Community.

12 pm - 1 pm

Craig Lee Huntington | Senior Managing Director | Western Alliance Bank

Lisa Frisch | COO | APM

Hospitality Meets HOA: Elevating Service Through Systems and Mindset

The most memorable hospitality experiences are rooted in thoughtful systems—and the same is true in community living. This panel features voices from across the industry, including Alliance Association Bank, to explore how intentional design, modern financial tools, and responsive service culture can transform resident satisfaction. Learn what it takes to move from transactional to exceptional in your community experience model.

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12 pm - 1 pm

FRONTSTEPS Team

Private 1:1 Product Demo Sessions

FRONTSTEPS Forward attendees have the opportunity to reserve private 1:1 demo sessions with FRONTSTEPS product experts during the event.

These sessions are designed as personalized working consultations, giving you the chance to explore the FRONTSTEPS platform in a focused setting with direct access to the team behind the product. Bring your questions, workflows, or challenges and receive tailored guidance on how to get the most value from the platform.

Each session includes:

A personalized walkthrough of the FRONTSTEPS ecosystem
Practical tips to improve day-to-day workflows
Best practices used by leading management companies
Direct access to FRONTSTEPS product specialists
Sessions are limited and reserved for one company per time slot.

After you reserve a session, our team will reach out to ask if there are specific topics or questions you would like to cover so we can ensure the right experts are prepared for your meeting.

Appointments must be reserved in advance and will appear in your personal event agenda once confirmed.

1:45 pm - 3:15 pm

Matt DeWolf | CEO | FRONTSTEPS

Jim Maggio | VP of Engineering | FRONTSTEPS

David Bradley | VP of Product | FRONTSTEPS

Sarah Pierce | VP of Operations | FRONTSTEPS

Louie Wollenweber | VP of Sales | FRONTSTEPS

Unfiltered and Unstoppable: A Leadership AMA on What’s Next

Powerhouse leadership. Unmatched innovation. Relentless ambition. This AMA session pulls back the curtain on FRONTSTEPS’ industry-shaping vision, as the executive team shares how they’re not just responding to change, they’re driving it.

From platform evolution to bold strategic bets, this is your chance to engage with the leadership team setting the pace for the entire industry. Ready to get ahead? Start here.

3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

Amy Damone | President | Community Association Services (NC)

Craig Summers | Owner | Montage Community Services LLC

Trevor Broersma | General Manager | Cordillera Metro District

The New Threat Landscape: How to Protect Your Community in 2026

Cyberattacks. Physical security breaches. Operational disruptions. The threats facing communities are evolving rapidly and the stakes are higher than ever. This session unpacks the top risks CAMs and boards must understand in 2026, from data security to on-site access control. Learn how to protect your homeowners, staff, and operations with the latest tools, processes, and protocols built for modern communities.

3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

Dianne Braswell | CEO | Artemis Lifestyles

Dean Asher | President & CEO | Don Asher & Associates, Inc

Gary Van Der Laan | SVP | Leland Management

Peer Exchange: What’s Working and What’s Next

This isn’t a lecture, it’s a conversation. In this structured roundtable session, facilitators will guide groups through the most pressing topics in community management: homeowner engagement, board relations, time-saving tech, and more. Bring your wins, challenges, and what you're still figuring out. Collaborate with peers, trade insights, and leave with new strategies to test in your communities.

3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

Louie Wollenweber | VP of Sales | FRONTSTEPS

Mark Thatcher | Co-Founder, Managing Partner | HOA Invest

Connected Communities: Tech + Finance That Works Together

Most associations are juggling disconnected tools, manual processes, and uncertainty around long-term financial health. When your technology platform and your banking/reserve partners work in sync, everything gets clearer—and easier.

In this session, SouthState Bank, HOA Invest, and FRONTSTEP will break down how an integrated ecosystem supports smarter operations across payments, accounting, and resident engagement while also strengthening reserve planning and long-term financial strategy. Learn how unified data, modern banking tools, and transparent reserve investment options come together to save time, reduce risk, and help communities plan confidently for the future.

9:30 am - 10:30 am

Louie Wollenweber | VP of Sales | FRONTSTEPS

David Bradley | VP of Product | FRONTSTEPS

Powered Up: How AI Is Rewiring the Future of Community Management

Last year at FRONTSTEPS Forward, one thing was clear. AI was rapidly changing every industry. Yet in community management, the question wasn’t just how AI would appear. It was how it could actually help managers do their jobs better.

In this session, Louie Wollenweber sits down with David Bradley to explore how that moment sparked the creation of ALLi, FRONTSTEPS’ proprietary AI initiative designed specifically for community management teams.

Together they will unpack the thinking behind ALLi, the real challenges it was built to solve, and how AI can support managers as portfolios grow, communication demands increase, and expectations continue to rise.

Through real-world examples and a live walkthrough, attendees will see how AI can assist with everyday tasks such as resident communication, summarizing information, responding to inquiries, and surfacing operational insights that help managers stay ahead of their work.

More importantly, this session will tackle the biggest questions many professionals still have about AI. Is it trustworthy? Is it replacing people? And what does adoption actually look like inside a management company today?

This conversation is designed to move beyond hype and focus on practical application. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how AI is already reshaping the industry and how community managers can begin using it as a tool to work smarter, communicate more effectively, and lead stronger communities.

AI isn’t here to replace community managers. It’s here to power them up.

10:45 am - 11:30 am

David Bradley | VP of Product | FRONTSTEPS

Bob Brencic | President | Trestle Community Management

Joey Fay | President | Stonegate Property Management

Future-Ready Communities: Scaling Leadership and Technology

Community management is evolving and success depends on your ability to evolve with it. In this panel, hear from CAM leaders, tech innovators, and operational experts as they unpack the real-world challenges of scaling teams, adopting new tools, and staying resilient through constant change. You'll walk away with proven strategies to grow your portfolio, lead your team through disruption, and deliver a best-in-class homeowner experience.

10:45 am - 11:30 am

FRONTSTEPS Team

FRONTSTEPS Manager + ALLi

Join the FRONTSTEPS product and AI teams for an interactive open forum focused on FRONTSTEPS Manager and ALLi. This session is designed to give you the opportunity to explore the platform in more depth and ask questions directly to the team behind the technology.

See firsthand how ALLi integrates within your FRONTSTEPS environment, and gain a deeper understanding of how AI can support your day-to-day workflows. The session will include practical demonstrations, real use cases, and open discussion with the experts building and supporting the platform.

10:45 am - 11:30 am

Sarah Pierce | VP of Operations | FRONTSTEPS

Kelly Thompson | President | A.R.K. HOA Management, LLC

Liz Stedry | Vice President | Community Association Management

Lisa Frisch | COO | APM

Diane Braswell | CEO | Artemis Lifestyles

Women in Tech: Real Stories, Real Growth, Real Impact

This is more than a panel. It’s a conversation about what it really takes to thrive as a woman in the tech sector. Join a diverse group of professionals as they talk candidly about their career journeys, the mentors who made a difference, the roadblocks they’ve faced, and the systems they’re helping to change. Walk away with tools to support equity and innovation in your own organization.

10:45 am - 11:30 am

FRONTSTEPS Team

Private 1:1 Product Demo Sessions

FRONTSTEPS Forward attendees have the opportunity to reserve private 1:1 demo sessions with FRONTSTEPS product experts during the event.

Each session includes:

A personalized walkthrough of the FRONTSTEPS ecosystem
Practical tips to improve day-to-day workflows
Best practices used by leading management companies
Direct access to FRONTSTEPS product specialists
Sessions are limited and reserved for one company per time slot.

After you reserve a session, our team will reach out to ask if there are specific topics or questions you would like to cover so we can ensure the right experts are prepared for your meeting.

Appointments must be reserved in advance and will appear in your personal event agenda once confirmed.

11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Sarah Pierce | VP of Operations | FRONTSTEPS

Rachel Rowley | SVP, Specialty Banking Relationship Manager | Enterprise Bank & Trust

Borrowed Brilliance: Lessons in Service and Scalability from Other Industries

The HOA world is unique but it’s not alone. Industries like tech, retail, and logistics have been forced to reinvent how they serve people at scale. This session explores service models, tech stacks, and leadership frameworks from outside the HOA space that could unlock smarter, more human-centered ways of working. Walk away with fresh ideas and a renewed sense of what's possible.

11:45 am - 12:30 pm

FRONTSTEPS Team

FRONTSTEPS Caliber in Action: Tips, Tools, and Open Q&A

Join the FRONTSTEPS product team for an interactive open forum focused on FRONTSTEPS Caliber. This session offers a chance to explore how other management companies are using the platform and learn practical ways to get more out of its features.

Through live discussion and demonstrations, you will hear real questions from your peers and gain insights directly from the experts who support and build the platform.

Bring your questions and ideas. This is an open, collaborative session designed to help you walk away with practical tips, best practices, and new ways to maximize the value of FRONTSTEPS Caliber.

11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Jim Maggio | VP of Engineering | FRONTSTEPS
Jonathan Cushard | Director of Software Engineering & IT | FRONTSTEPS

Tech Stack Makeover: Smarter Systems, Less Stress

Feeling overwhelmed by a patchwork of platforms? You're not alone. In this FRONTSTEPS-led session, see how integrated systems can eliminate burnout and bring your tech into alignment. Through real-world examples and live product demos, discover how community managers are reclaiming their time, improving workflows, and delighting residents.

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Vanessa Tilberg | Operations Director | Trestle Community Management

Bob Brencic | President | Trestle Community Management

Managing Up: Building a Board Relations Playbook That Works

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to boards but there are tools and techniques that work. In this candid session, top CAM professionals break down the templates, scripts, meeting prep strategies, and escalation protocols that have helped them keep boards focused, not fiery. You’ll leave with actionable takeaways to create or refine your own board relations playbook.

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Dawn Bauman | Chief Strategy Officer | Community Associations Institute

Legislative & Regulatory Update: What CAMs Need to Know for 2026

Join industry leaders Dawn Bauman for a comprehensive briefing on the legislative and regulatory changes shaping community management in 2026 and beyond. From federal policies to emerging state-level trends, this session will provide actionable insight into compliance, risk mitigation, and how to best prepare your communities for what’s ahead.

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Dianne Braswell | CEO | Artemis Lifestyles

Craig Finck | President Association Banking | Centennial Bank
Jason Schwabline | Executive Vice President of Revenue and Growth | Check Alt

Payments & Cash Flow Optimization: Smarter Systems, Stronger Communities

When dues are late and payables pile up, even great communities suffer. In this sponsor-supported session, Check Alt and Centennial Bank walk through actionable strategies for improving your financial workflows, from automated AP and AR systems to better reserve planning. Learn how CAMs and boards are optimizing cash flow, minimizing risk, and freeing up time with tech-forward tools.

2:45 pm - 4 pm

Matt DeWolf | CEO | FRONTSTEPS

Closing Keynote - Industry Vision 2030

We’ve explored innovation, tackled challenges, and sparked bold ideas. Now, we close by looking ahead. In this closing keynote, FRONTSTEPS’ executive leadership unveils a vision for what the next 5–10 years hold for the industry and how today’s community managers can prepare to lead it.

From AI and automation to evolving homeowner expectations, we’ll chart the trends and transformation set to redefine community living. This isn’t about adapting, it’s about setting the pace.

SESSIONS

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