Speaking

Rich Vallaster, General Session Speaker at MASAE

I don’t show up to speak.

I show up to make your audience think differently and leave with ideas they can actually use.

My sessions are built for association leaders, event organizers, AMCs, and industry professionals navigating real challenges.

Rich Vallaster and Mary Connor of SMG co-presenting at ASAE Annual

Signature Topics

For associations, AMCs, nonprofits, and event organizers.

Membership Growth & the Engagement Pipeline
- Solving the Pipeline Problem: How Events Drive Next-Gen Engagement
- Why Members Renew (and Why They Quietly Leave)
- Turning Attendees into Members, and Members into Leaders
- What the Next Generation Expects Before They’ll Join
Event Strategy & Attendance
- Closing the Intent-to-Attendance Gap
- From First Click to the Show Floor: Registration as Strategy, Not Software
- Understanding the Real Barriers to Participation
- Designing Events That Actually Deliver Value
Revenue, Sponsorship & Exhibitors
- Sponsorships That Sell (and Deliver)
- Beyond the Booth: Elevating the Exhibitor Experience
- Booth Staff Boot Camp: Training the People Who Sell for You
- Finding Hidden Revenue in Your Event
Learning, Certification & Career Growth
- Your LMS Is Not a Library. It’s a Revenue Engine.
- Certification and Credentials as a Retention Strategy
- Professional Development as a Staff Retention Play
- Bridging the Gap Between Events and Year-Round Learning
AI Readiness & Organizational Change
- The Four Stages of Organizational AI Readiness
- Practical AI for Associations, AMCs and Event Teams
- Where AI Actually Fits (and Where It Doesn’t)
- When AI Moves Faster Than Your Organization Can
Volunteers, Chapters & Community Leadership
- Your Volunteer Pipeline Is Your Leadership Pipeline
- Micro-Volunteering: Rethinking the Ask for a Time-Poor Membership
- Volunteer-Led Programming That Doesn’t Burn People Out

Formats

Keynotes
Breakout sessions
Workshops
Panel moderation
Webinars and online sessions

Let’s talk about your audience and what they actually need. Contact Me.

Upcoming & Recent Talks

Rich Vallaster and Dan Cole at Expo! Expo!

2026

Your Revenue Footprint Should Match Your Conference Footprint | Expo! Expo!
Accelerating AI Thinking & Readiness at AMCs | AMCI Regional
Win Younger Attendees or Lose Your Future | VSAE
From “What Is AI” to “Now What?” A Strategic AI Playbook for Association Executives | Aggregate and Concrete Executives Summer Meeting
AI HOV Lane: Fast-Track Sponsorship Revenue Across Every Client | AMCI Engaged
From Transactions to True Partnerships: Building Sustainable Non-Dues Revenue | VSAE
Click to Convention Floor: Association Research Insights on Event Attendance | ICON
Practical Applications of AI in Associations, AMCs and Events | IAEE Small/Mid-Size Show Organizer Forum
Larger Margins Is the Mission: Rethinking Your Association Event Revenue Model | ASAE Revenue Summit
One Shot to Get It Right: Why Your Annual Meeting Must Win Over Younger Attendees | MASAE
Crafting Event Success with AI with Rich Vallaster | NYIAEE
Solving the Association Pipeline Problem: How Events Drive Next-Gen Engagement & Show Me the (Non-Dues) Money: Financial Wins for Association Events | GASAE Annual
Click to Convention Floor: Association Research Insights on Event Attendance | DFWAE Association Day
Event Scenarios to Strategies: Crafting Association Event Success with AI | IAEE SE Chapter Luncheon Speaker
Cash In, Cut Costs: Winning Revenue Tactics for Your EXPO and Sponsorship Programs | Professionals for Association Revenue

2025

Exploring AI in Associations: Practical Insights from an AI Explorer in the Association Space | Mid-Atlantic Society for Association Executives
The Pipeline Problem: Fixing Your Event’s Future By Focusing On Young Attendees | IAEE Expo!Expo!
AI, Meet Rolodex: New Rules Of Booth & Sponsor Sales | IAEE Expo!Expo!
Event Scenarios to Strategies: Crafting Association Event Success with AI | FSAE Education Expo
Accelerating AI Thinking & Readiness at AMCs | AMC Regional
Transform Your Events with AI – Practical Strategies for AMCs | AMC Institute
How Meeting Planners Can Use AI to Work Smarter | Virginia Society of Association Executives
Navigating the Four Stages of Organizational AI Readiness | ASAE Annual 2025
From Scenarios to Strategies: Crafting Event Success with AI & Cash In, Cut Costs: Winning Revenue Tactics for Your EXPO and Sponsorship Programs | 34th Annual Southeastern Classic
Cash In, Cut Costs: Winning Revenue Tactics for Your EXPO and Sponsorship Programs | EventTastic 2025
Maximizing Non-Dues Revenue: Why Events Are Your Growth Engine | ICON 2025
Cash In, Cut Costs: Winning Revenue Tactics for Your EXPO and Sponsorship Programs | ASAE mmc+tec 2025

The older (yet post-COVID) sessions can be found here.

“Rich is a heavy hitter.
We can put him in any time slot since he can attract and hold an audience.”

ASAE Education Team Member

“Highest session ratings at our entire event.”

ISAE Executive

“Rich is a sought-after speaker.”

Marsha Flanagan, CEO IAEE

“I always walk away with actionable findings from Rich’s sessions!”
Expo! Expo! Attendee

Recent Webinars

Beyond the Booth: Elevating the Exhibitor Experience for Real Results | Webinar
Association AI Leadership: The Four Stages of Readiness and Organizational Management | Webinar
From First Click to the Onsite Experience – What You Can’t Ignore | Webinar
Engagement in a Post-Pandemic World | Webinar
Secrets Revealed: Exhibitors Tell All | Webinar