Sat, May 2nd – Wed, May 6th, 2026

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Nashville, Tennessee

2026 Annual Convention & Exhibitor Showcase

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Convention Speakers

Learn From the Best

Jimmy Yeary

Award-winning Songwriter

Ryan Avery

Organizational Psychologist

Jason Schenker

President of Prestige Economics

Crystal Washington

Futurist, Author & Hall of Fame Speaker

Joe Mull

CSP, CPAE & Hall of Fame Speaker

Connor Lokar

Senior Forecaster, ITR Economics

John O'Leary

Accomplished Speaker, Author and Podcaster

Dan Chuparkoff

AI & Innovation Expert

Brittany Hodak

Customer Experience Keynote Speaker

Steve McClatchy

Keynote Speaker & New York Times Bestselling Author

Rebecca Butao

Founder of About the Rack

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Jimmy Yeary

Award-winning Songwriter

Jimmy Yeary is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and dynamic speaker known for his powerful storytelling and emotional insight. With nine Billboard number-one hits and more than two thousand songs—including the CMA and ACM Song of the Year “I Drive Your Truck”—his music has inspired millions and earned multiple gold and platinum honors. A former lead singer of the Grammy Award–winning group Shenandoah, Jimmy has written for many of country music’s biggest stars.

On stage, he translates decades of industry experience into practical lessons on communication, leadership, and authentic connection. His blend of heart, humor, and real-world wisdom leaves audiences inspired and equipped to make a lasting impact.

Five Strategies to Songwriting: Building Valuable Relationships
Monday, May 4 from 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Ryan Avery

Organizational Psychologist and Keynote Speaker

Ryan Avery, Organizational Psychologist and Keynote Speaker, has spent over a decade studying what sets top performers apart, helping leaders go from being A to THE in their industries. A former marketing director and founder of his own firm, Ryan has keynoted over 1,000 events in 33+ countries, broken nine world records, and authored two best-selling books—sharing practical strategies and powerful stories to inspire leadership excellence.

Go From A to THE®: Leading and Motivating in Our Shifting Market
Monday, May 4 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

The Language of Leadership: How Words Shape Performance
Tuesday, May 5 from 9:45 am – 11:00 am

Jason Schenker

Futurist, Economist & Bestselling Author
Jason Schenker is a futurist, top-ranked economist, and bestselling author who helps leaders prepare for what’s ahead. He is President of Prestige Economics and Chairman of The Futurist Institute, and has been ranked by Bloomberg News as the #1 forecaster in the world in 30 categories. Schenker has written 37 books, including 16 bestsellers, and nearly 1.5 million learners have taken his LinkedIn Learning courses on finance, economics, and emerging technologies. He is a Board Leadership Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors, an Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and adjunct faculty at the Joint Special Operations University. He also holds three master’s degrees and is recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice.

Navigating the Geopolitics and Economics of Cold War Two
Monday, May 4 from 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm  

Crystal Washington

Futurist, Author, and Hall of Fame speaker

Crystal Washington helps organizations become “future-proof.” As a technology strategist and certified futurist, she simplifies complex topics like artificial intelligence, social media, and app tech for everyday professionals. Her clients include Fortune 100 companies such as Google, Pfizer, and American Express. A globally sought-after keynote speaker, Crystal was named one of Forbes’ 50 Leading Female Futurists. She appears weekly on the Emmy-nominated show Life 2.0 and has been featured in Entrepreneur, Bloomberg Businessweek, and on major networks as a trusted tech expert.

The Competitive Edge:
Spot Trends and Thrive in the Future of Work
Monday, May 4 from 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm

Joe Mull

CSP, CPAE & Hall of Fame speaker

Joe Mull, CSP, CPAE, is an employee commitment expert and dynamic speaker who helps leaders build workplaces where people genuinely want to stay and succeed. He is the founder of Boss Hero School™, creator of the Employalty™ framework, author of the Publisher’s Weekly Top Business Book Employalty, and host of the top 1% podcast Boss Better Now.

With nearly two decades of experience—including leading learning and development for a major U.S. healthcare system—Joe has guided leaders at organizations like State Farm, Siemens, and Choice Hotels. A Certified Speaking Professional™ and 2025 Hall of Fame inductee, he lives near Pittsburgh with his family and their Dalmatian, Flash.

Employalty: How to Ignite Commitment and Keep Top Talent in the New Age of Work
Tuesday, May 5 from 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Connor Lokar

Senior Forecaster, ITR Economics
Connor Lokar delivers economic insights with authority, accuracy, and humor, engaging audiences from executive retreats to standing-room-only keynotes. Since joining ITR Economics in 2014, he has educated thousands of business leaders with actionable forecasts, practical strategies, and his signature storytelling style. As a senior forecaster and trusted advisor, Connor helps companies across industries—especially construction and industrial markets—align their strategic plans with the economic outlook to grow revenue and remain profitable.

Thriving in a Changing Economy
Tuesday, May 5th from 11:15 am – 12:15 pm

John O'Leary

Accomplished Speaker, Author & Podcaster

John O’Leary is a bestselling author, top-rated podcast host, and internationally acclaimed speaker whose remarkable life story has inspired millions. After surviving a childhood explosion that burned 100% of his body and left him with less than a 1% chance to live, John has turned his experience into a powerful message of hope, resilience, and personal transformation. He now speaks at more than 100 events each year and is consistently praised as one of the most impactful speakers organizations have ever hosted.

John is the author of two #1 national bestsellers—On Fire, which has sold more than 200,000 copies and been translated into 12 languages, and In Awe, published in 2020. His Live Inspired podcast has surpassed 2 million downloads, and in 2025 his life story was brought to the screen in the acclaimed film Soul on Fire. Through emotional storytelling, humor, and authenticity, John challenges audiences to live more boldly, lead with purpose, and stay awake to the gifts in their lives.

The Power of One
Tuesday, May 5th from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Dan Chuparkoff

AI & Innovation Expert
Dan Chuparkoff is one of the world’s leading experts on AI, innovation, & the future of work. As a technology leader at Google, McKinsey, Atlassian, and more; Dan led transformations for teams in every industry as the world navigated three decades of technological change. Known as the understandable technology speaker, Dan’s superpower is making complex things simple and useful. With his skill as an AI-educator combined with his formula for harnessing the power of innovation, he helps audiences to escape disruption and find growth and success. Dan shows teams how to make sense of AI, how to harness the Power of Technology, and how to combine that with the Power of Human Expertise. With this powerful blend, teams will learn to leverage AI & other technological advantages to thrive in the exponential future ahead.

AI & the Future of Everything
Tuesday, May 5 from 9:45 am – 11:00 am

Brittany Hodak

Customer Experience Keynote Speaker
Brittany Hodak is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and customer experience speaker who helps businesses turn customers into superfans. She’s delivered keynotes to hundreds of organizations around the world, including American Express, Benihana, and Keller Williams. Her trademark SUPER Model™ framework has empowered teams in every industry to transform customer apathy into advocacy. A former Chief Experience Officer at Experience.com and co-founder of The Superfan Company, Brittany has worked with beloved brands and entertainers like Walmart, Katy Perry, and Dolly Parton. When her debut book, Creating Superfans, was released, Forbes declared: “If you have customers, you need this book. Period.”

From Commodity to Category of One: How to Immediately Boost Your Reputation, Referrals, and Revenue
Tuesday, May 5 from 9:45 am – 11:00 am

Steve McClatchy

Keynote Speaker & Author

Steve McClatchy is a keynote speaker and author of the award-winning New York Times Bestseller Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress & Lead by Example. Decide has enjoyed global success and has been translated into 11 languages. For over 20 years Steve has worked with the most prominent organizations in the world including Google, Disney, Microsoft, and many teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. He speaks frequently at Harvard, Wharton, and Chicago Booth. He has appeared on CNBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, WSJ TV, and NBC’s The Today Show. Steve’s passion is for continuous improvement. 

Community Conversations: Industrial Truck
From Silos to Collaboration: Driving Dealership Success

Tuesday, May 5 from 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm

Rebecca Butao

Founder of About the Rack
Rebecca Butao is a material handling leader with more than 15 years of experience specializing in high pile storage, rack systems, and permit management. She built her expertise through key roles at Catalina Material Handling and Hannibal Industries before founding About The Rack, a boutique consultancy that supports distributors with permitting, submittals, and customized training. Known for turning complex compliance requirements into smooth, on-time installations, Rebecca is committed to elevating safety and operational excellence across the industry. Her guiding philosophy: “We’re in the business of material handling, but more importantly we’re in the business of safety.”

Community Conversations: Storage & Handling
The Business of Permits: A Customer Centric Approach
Tuesday, May 5 from 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

John Doe

Director of Awsome, ABC Corporation

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Gene Marks

CPA, National Business Columnist, Author & Speaker

Gene Marks is a past columnist for both The New York Times and The Washington Post. Gene now writes regularly for The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Washington Times, and The Guardian. Gene is a best-selling author and has written 5 books on business management. Gene appears on Fox Business, MSNBC, as well as CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor and SiriusXM’s Wharton Business Channel where he talks about the financial, economic and technology issues that affect business leaders today. Gene helps business owners, executives and managers understand the political, economic and technological trends that will affect their companies and provides actionable insights.

2025 and Beyond: Strategic Moves for Business Growth and Sustainability
Tuesday, April 29 from 9:45 am to 11:00 am

Key Takeaways from MHEDA’s DSC Report
Tuesday, April 29 from 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm