Schedule
The Midwest Multifamily Conference is back, and this season is one you won’t want to miss. With a sitcom‑themed twist, MMC 2026 delivers standout moments, smart laughs, and serious learning. Join thousands of apartment professionals for two fast‑paced days of education, networking, and a surprise‑filled trade show floor.
No matter your role, MMC 2026 is your place to grow, connect, and take center stage in the industry.
Register Now
- All
- Leasing
- Marketing
- Maintenance
- Property Manager
- Regional Supervisor
Select a Conference Day Below
7:30 a.m. - Thursday Registration Opens - Receive your badge at the registration desk outside of Hall H.
8:00 - 8:45 a.m. - Morning Networking Session - Connect with your peers by selecting from several networking rooms.
Anne Bonney
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Sagamore Ballroom
Keynote | PUNCH IT MARGARET! Dancing Through Discomfort, Change and The Messy Middle
Change can be intimidating. Whether it’s a bold new idea, organizational transformation, evolving industries, rapidly modernizing technology (AI anyone?), or personal transitions, the uncertainty of change can leave us freaking out and paralyzed. But here’s the truth: change ain’t going away. Shoot, it’s the only thing we can count on in today’s lightning-fast world. The question is, how do you find the courage to face it head-on and get through it with maybe an ounce of grace?
In this dynamic and energizing keynote, Anne will empower you to step boldly into the unknown. Drawing from her acclaimed book, GET OVER IT! and her personal experiences and accomplishments, Anne delivers practical tools, high-energy insights, and a whole lot of fire to help build the confidence and resilience to navigate change like a pro. This isn’t just a keynote; it’s a rallying cry to embrace the challenges of transition with courage and resilience.
Josh Hinchley
10:15 - 11:15 a.m. | Rooms 233-235
The Hidden Tax on Your Property: How Operational Friction Quietly Impacts Occupancy and Revenue
Many performance challenges do not originate in market conditions or pricing strategy. They begin as small, persistent points of operational friction that quietly accumulate over time. This interactive session examines how operational friction develops, how to identify it through performance indicators and team feedback, and how to eliminate it through greater structural clarity and stronger communication. Attendees will leave with a practical framework to reduce internal drag, improve alignment, and drive more consistent and measurable results.
Paul McClain
10:15 - 11:15 a.m. | Rooms 137-139
The Digital Front Door: Turning Resident Feedback Into Operations Excellence
In an era where 70% of prospects will skip a community with a rating below 3.5 stars, your digital front door is often more important than your physical curb appeal. This session explores the critical trust gap between community-led marketing and peer-validated content, drawing on the latest industry data to show why modern renters prioritize online reviews over traditional websites. Attendees will move beyond the basics of reputation management to learn a proactive framework for operational excellence.
Kara Rice
10:15 - 11:15 a.m. | Rooms 231-232
Preventative Management: How to Lead So Your Team Stays
What if we managed people like we maintain properties - proactively? Half of our employees say they've left a job to escape from a bad boss. That means much of our employee turnover could be preventable. In this session, we'll explore "preventative management" - a strategy rooted in real employee feedback. You'll uncover what apartment associates truly value in a leader, what drives them away, and how to avoid common missteps. Walk away with a practical blueprint for building trust, boosting engagement, and creating a workplace your team wants to grow with.
Dana Duckworth
10:15 - 11:15 a.m. | Rooms 140-141
It Could Have Been An Email: Maximizing Productivity
Learn how to prioritize tasks, streamline workflows, and manage your time effectively to achieve more in less time. Discover strategies for reducing unnecessary meetings and creating a work environment that fosters focus and efficiency. Gain insights into balancing team collaboration with individual productivity, and explore techniques for ensuring that every team member, including introverts, can contribute meaningfully.
Steve Matre
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Rooms 233-235
KPI Conversations: Making Metrics Into Habits
The multifamily talent landscape is shifting, creating a wild and uncertain terrain for professionals stepping into new roles - whether through a promotion or joining a new company. The first 90 days are like entering uncharted wilderness, where every step shapes your future path. Will you blaze a trail toward success, or will you find yourself lost, questioning the journey?
In this session, we'll equip you with the compass and survival tools needed to navigate this critical transition period. Learn how to establish trust, deliver early wins, and avoid common pitfalls that can leave both you and your company wondering if the risk is worth it. With the right strategy, you can turn the first 90 days into a defining adventure - one that leads to lasting success. Don't wander aimlessly - discover how to confidently chart your course and make your mark in the multifamily landscape!
Danielle Brockman
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Rooms 137-139
The Agentic AI Era in Multifamily - Leasing, Maintenance, Marketing, and What Comes Next
Multifamily is entering a new phase of technology adoption, where systems don't just automate tasks, but actively assist teams by anticipating needs, coordinating workflows, and supporting decision-making across departments. This extended session explores how this shift is beginning to impact leasing, maintenance, and marketing, and what operators should realistically expect in the next several years. Through real-world examples and cross-functional scenarios, attendees will examine how more advanced AI tools are changing workflows, redefining team roles, and influencing resident expectations. This session focuses on preparation and strategy, helping leaders understand how to adopt new capabilities responsibly while maintaining strong operational foundations and team trust.
Shelly Steitz
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Rooms 140-141
You Don't Have a Lead Problem. You Have a Friction Problem
Before you sign another advertising contract, take a hard look at what happens after the inquiry. In this session, we'll share insights from hundreds of customer journey audits to uncover where friction most commonly slows leasing down across your digital presence, the handoff between tech and onsite teams, and follow-up that quietly falls apart. You'll leave with clear, actionable fixes you can apply immediately, plus a simple framework to audit your own processes so these breakdowns don't keep happening.
Jen Piccotti
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Rooms 231-232
The Leadership Moments That Matter
When the market softens and uncertainty looms, it's your leadership that makes the difference. Economic pressures, shifting budgets, and changing expectations have left many rental housing professionals feeling stretched thin and unsure of what's next. In this session, we'll dig into what's driving stress and burnout among multifamily teams today, and how those challenges directly impact performance and retention. Through industry data and proven leadership strategies, discover how to reignite motivation, build resilience, and create a sense of stability even in seemingly unstable times. You'll leave equipped with practical tools to lead with empathy, maintain high performance, and strengthen your team's commitment to both residents and results.

12:45 - 1:40 p.m. | Sagamore Ballroom
Lunch
Take a well‑earned break during Day 1 Lunch—a laid‑back opportunity to refuel, reflect, and reconnect. There’s no presentation during this luncheon, giving you time to debrief on the morning’s sessions, collaborate with your team, and make plans for the rest of the conference. Plus, it’s prime time for networking before the excitement continues with afternoon sessions and the grand opening of the trade show.
1:45pm - 5:00pm | Hall H
MMC Trade Show Opens
Step onto the trade show floor where everybody knows your name and your next great solution. Meet 200+ suppliers showcasing the latest products and services for apartment communities, all set against a high‑energy, sitcom‑inspired backdrop.
This season, the vibes are big, the competition is friendly, and the booths bring the laughs—decked out like classic TV moments you know and love. From Friends‑level connections to Fresh Prince‑style flair, every aisle is packed with standout ideas and surprise wins. So grab your crew and step into a new season of opportunity. This is one episode you’ll be quoting all year.
Audience:
- A All

Steve Matre
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Rooms 140-141
Work/Life, by Your Rules: A Practical Framework for Right Now
In the high-burnout world of multifamily property management, work/life balance isn't one-size-fits-all. Whether you like firm boundaries, a blended mix, or something in between, this session gives you honest insights, flexible strategies, and a decision-making model to help you find your fit. From rookies to execs, walk away with tools to balance ambition, well-being, and life on your terms, no matter what season you're in.
Dana Duckworth
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Rooms 231-232
Attract & Retain Talent: The Art of Employee Retention in Multifamily
In the competitive world of multifamily property management, attracting, retaining, and training top talent is essential for organizational success. This session will cover best practices for attracting high-caliber professionals, empowering employees through comprehensive training programs, and retaining them as they grow within your organization. Designed specifically for multifamily professionals, this workshop will provide actionable strategies and real-world examples to help you build a motivated, skilled, and loyal team.
Paul McClain
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Rooms 233-235
Paint Your Success: A Creative Guide to High-Impact Property Marketing
In a competitive multifamily landscape where floor plans often look identical, how do you differentiate a "unit" from a "home"? This session challenges property professionals to stop viewing marketing as a checklist and start seeing it as an art form. By treating your community as a canvas and your team as the artists, you can create a narrative of quality that justifies price points and drives leasing velocity. The session explores the psychology of the modern renter, explaining how small details like pristine curb appeal or "shoppable" interior finishes signal management's precision and care. Participants will walk away with a toolkit for transforming residents into an "unpaid marketing department" and a clear strategy for leaving a unique "signature" on their brand.
Josh Hinchley
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Rooms 137-139
Average Service is Expensive: Why Exceptional Experiences Drives Occupancy and Retention
In a competitive multifamily landscape where floor plans often look identical, how do you differentiate a "unit" from a "home"? This session challenges property professionals to stop viewing marketing as a checklist and start seeing it as an art form. By treating your community as a canvas and your team as the artists, you can create a narrative of quality that justifies price points and drives leasing velocity. The session explores the psychology of the modern renter, explaining how small details like pristine curb appeal or "shoppable" interior finishes signal management's precision and care. Participants will walk away with a toolkit for transforming residents into an "unpaid marketing department" and a clear strategy for leaving a unique "signature" on their brand.
8:00 a.m. - Friday Registration Opens - Receive your badge at the registration desk outside of Hall H.
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. - Morning Networking Session - Connect with your peers by selecting from several networking rooms.
Johnny Quinn
9:15 - 10:15 a.m. | Sagamore Ballroom
Keynote | PUSH WHAT’S POSSIBLE: The Olympic Formula for Breakthrough Performance in Any Season
Every high-achieving team faces unexpected moments that test everything they’ve got—their discipline, their focus, and their self-belief. When the stakes are high and the outcome uncertain, how do you not just survive the season, but stay ready for what’s next?
From NFL locker rooms to the Olympic starting line, Johnny Quinn learned that readiness isn’t luck. It’s built through the right mindset and daily disciplines that prepare you for opportunity before it even arrives at your door. In this relatable and instantly applicable talk, he reveals the P.U.S.H. framework that turns great teams into unstoppable ultra performers.
Zach Howell
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Rooms 140-141
Project Management Pitfalls
Large projects often look straightforward on paper - but in reality, even small missteps in planning, communication, or contractor coordination can derail timelines and drive up costs. This session will break down the core components of effective project management and highlight the most common pitfalls that cause projects to stall, exceed budget, or create operational headaches. Attendees will learn practical strategies, real-world language used by contractors, and simple tools that help ensure alignment from kickoff to completion.
Josh Hinchley
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Rooms 231-232
Pressure is Inevitable. Panic is Optional: Leading with Composure in a High-Pressure Industry
Multifamily is a high-pressure industry. Occupancy fluctuates, owner expectations shift, budgets tighten, and technology continues to accelerate change. While pressure is unavoidable, how leaders respond to it directly shapes culture, clarity, and performance. Pressure is inevitable. Panic is optional.
Leaders who operate reactively often create instability, short-term decision-making, and unnecessary stress within their teams. Leaders who model composure create confidence, accountability, and consistent execution, even in volatile environments. This session explores how disciplined, steady leadership becomes a competitive advantage. Attendees will gain practical tools, to lead through uncertainty without lowering standards, sacrificing accountability, or compromising culture.
Steve Matre
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Rooms 137-139
Customer Experience Constitution: Things We Need to Succeed with Prospects and Residents
Your company's customer experience is much more than promises on the website and requirements in your operations manual. It's the decision making frameworks your teams use when things get busy. Many multifamily companies haven't revisited their full prospect and resident experience expectations in a while, even as prospect and resident expectations keep shifting. In this session, we'll pinpoint the moments and encounters that matter most, then build a practical Customer Experience Constitution: clear non-negotiables, measurable standards, and what empowerment really means (and it's probably not what you think). You'll learn simple, repeatable habits that make follow-through easier for employees, not harder. We'll cover strong service recovery, consistent communication across channels, and community-building rhythms and traditions that help prospects convert and residents stay.
Shelly Steitz
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Rooms 233-235
Marketing as a Revenue Driver
Too often, marketing is only brought in when performance slips, instead of being used strategically to drive revenue. This session focuses on how to integrate marketing as a proactive growth function. We'll share a practical road map for aligning marketing with business goals, using the right metrics to guide decisions, and moving from reactive problem-solving to intentional revenue planning. Attendees will leave with clearer ownership, better alignment, and more strategic approach to using marketing to support growth.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Sagamore Ballroom
Lunch & Awards
Celebrate excellence at the Day 2 Lunch, where we recognize the professionals who earned industry credentials this year and kick off the MMC Awards in style. With the presentation of several Midwest Prodigy Awards, this luncheon offers a preview of the excitement and recognition awaiting attendees at the MMC Awards Dinner.
12:45 - 3:30 p.m. | Hall H
Trade Show Open
Step onto the trade show floor where everybody knows your name and your next great solution. Meet 200+ suppliers showcasing the latest products and services for apartment communities, all set against a high‑energy, sitcom‑inspired backdrop.
This season, the vibes are big, the competition is friendly, and the booths bring the laughs—decked out like classic TV moments you know and love. From Friends‑level connections to Fresh Prince‑style flair, every aisle is packed with standout ideas and surprise wins. So grab your crew and step into a new season of opportunity. This is one episode you’ll be quoting all year.
Audience:
- A All

Zach Howell
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. | Rooms 137-139
Understanding Team Dynamics
Communication between the management staff and the maintenance staff is critical, and many times these two parts of the machine seem to be speaking different languages. This session will help cross that divide. Discussing how maintenance staff think, how to best organize communication daily among the team, techniques for conflict resolution, and maintaining a unified front no matter what is happening.
Jen Piccotti
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. | Rooms 140-141
Beyond the Repairs: Tackling the Half-Billion Dollar Maintenance Turnover Gap
For the first time, over 1,000 maintenance technicians and supervisors have spoken, and the results are reshaping how we think about efficiency, effectiveness, and employee and resident retention. This groundbreaking study reveals what's working, what's not, and how turnover can be influenced more directly than what you might think. One theme stands out: technology, when implemented thoughtfully, can transform the maintenance experience. In this session, discover how leading operators have successfully introduced tech tools to streamline processes, boost technician satisfaction, and ultimately improve resident outcomes. Forget on-size-fits-all solutions - the real story is how technology is chosen, adopted, and embraced by teams.
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. | Rooms 133-136
Maintenance Executive Social Hour (MESH)
Celebrate the great work of our maintenance professionals at MESH. Enjoy food, beverages, door prizes, and laid‑back networking with industry peers. With more than 200 maintenance professionals attending last year, this popular event is one you won’t want to miss.
6:00 - 9:30 p.m. | Marriott Ballroom
MMC Awards Reception & Dinner
Come celebrate the best in the Midwest and close out MMC 2026 with a bang! Attend this highly anticipated awards show and recognize the outstanding properties and professionals in the multifamily industry.
Location: Indianapolis Marriott Downtown - Marriott Ballroom (350 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis, IN 46225)











































