Wed, July 23rd – Thu, July 24th, 2025

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Chicago, IL

Emerging Leaders Conference

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Hours
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Event Overview

Why Attend

Join us for a fast-paced, fun, and interactive leadership experience designed for material handling professionals on their leadership journey. 

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Insight

Participate in interactive roundtable discussions about key industry topics.

Expertise

Discover the latest leadership strategies to lead with confidence and innovation.

Knowledge

Master communication techniques for both individual and team interactions.

Network

Connect with industry peers to gain insights and expand your network.

Event Speakers

Learn From the Best

Brittany Neish

Career Strategist & Founder of What You Do Matters

Ryan Avery

Organizational Psychologist and Keynote Speaker

Pamela Barnum

Trust Strategist & Nonverbal Communication Expert

What's New?

This year’s conference features new opportunities to enhance your experience before, during, and after the event. Kick off with a Pre-Event LinkedIn Masterclass to grow your network and online presence, join Leadership Lessons & Roundtables during the event for peer insights and collaboration, and wrap up with a Post-Event Virtual Session to share how you’ve applied key takeaways in the real world.

Get Experience

Join us in Chicago, IL for this valuable leadership conference!

Join the Emerging Leaders Conference to unlock the transformative power of effective communication in leadership. Designed for aspiring leaders, this dynamic event offers engaging sessions, expert keynotes, and interactive roundtables focused on building the skills to articulate vision, inspire teams, and foster meaningful connections. Discover how mastering communication can elevate your leadership journey and empower you to lead with confidence and clarity.

AGENDA

Featured Sessions

Tue, Jun 24
11:00 am - 12:15 pm
Webinar
LinkedIn Masterclass: Building Your Network & Expertise
New in 2025! Your conference registration now includes a pre-event virtual session via Zoom, presented by Brittany Neish, Career Strategist and Founder of What You Do Matters. This session offers additional leadership tools and a chance to connect with fellow attendees, with a focus on LinkedIn strategies—including profile optimization, strategic networking, content creation, and personal branding—to help you stand out and lead in the digital space.
Wed, Jul 23
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Networking Event
Pizza & Pub Trivia Networking Event (Optional)
Kickstart your Emerging Leaders experience with a fun and casual evening of pizza and pub trivia! Indulge in Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, then have a few laughs with fellow attendees with trivia that celebrates pop culture and camaraderie.
Thu, Jul 24
7:00 - 8:30 am
Registration
Breakfast & Registration
Stop by the registration desk for your name badge then enjoy a healthy breakfast fueling you for a day of leadership learning.
Thu, Jul 24
8:30 - 9:30 am
Presentation
Communication Strategies for Impact & Influence
Presented by organizational psychologist and keynote speaker Ryan Avery, this dynamic session equips motivated leaders with practical communication, leadership, and personal growth strategies to excel within their organizations.
Thu, Jul 24
9:45 - 10:45 am
Presentation
Leadership Tools for Long Term Success
Presented by organizational psychologist Ryan Avery, this session provides actionable tools to enhance your leadership presence, empower your team, and drive strategic career growth.
Thu, Jul 24
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Roundtable Disscussions
Roundtable by Role: Discuss Material Handling Business Trends
Participate in roundtable discussions with your industry peers. Tables will be organized by different roles and careers in the industry.
Thu, Jul 24
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Lunch
Lunch
Enjoy a delicious lunch and continue the conversations with fellow attendees.
Thu, Jul 24
1:00 - 1:15 pm
Membership
Maximize Your Association Membership
Learn about MHEDA, MHI and WERC Member programs, resources and more during this information packed presentation.
Thu, Jul 24
1:15 - 2:15 pm
Presentation
The Power of TRUST: A Blueprint for Excellence
Presented by Pamela Barnum, former undercover officer and federal prosecutor, this session explores five key traits of trusted leaders and how building trust can reduce risk, enhance culture, and foster innovation in uncertain times.
Thu, Jul 24
2:30 - 3:15 pm
Presentation
Strategic Negotiations: Innovative Approaches to Enhance Trust
Presented by Pamela Barnum, former undercover officer and federal prosecutor, this interactive session teaches advanced communication and negotiation techniques—using body language, emotional intelligence, and neuroscience-backed strategies—to build trust, detect deception, and influence outcomes.
Thu, Jul 24
3:30 - 4:30 pm
Roundtable Discussions
Leadership Lessons & Roundtables
Join us for an engaging roundtable at the Emerging Leaders Conference, where future leaders exchange insights on resilience, relationships, and overcoming challenges to grow with confidence in a rapidly changing world.
Thu, Jul 24
4:30 - 5:30 pm
Happy Hour
Happy Hour Networking Reception
End your experience with a fun Happy Hour networking reception. After a busy day of learning, relax with your industry colleagues by enjoying drinks, appetizers and beautiful views of Chicago.
Thu, Aug 28
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Webinar
Applying What I Learned in the Real World
New in 2025! Your conference registration includes a post-event virtual session via Zoom—an opportunity to reconnect with fellow attendees and share how you’ve applied what you learned to real-world situations. Facilitated by Ryan Avery, Organizational Psychologist and Keynote Speaker.
DOWNLOAD AGENDA

Pricing

Register to Attend

Included in the registration fee is admittance to the event, handout material, welcome breakfast, lunch, and refreshment breaks. Does not include optional networking dinner, travel or hotel accommodations.

Early Bird

$795

Per Person Rate Expires
June 16, 2025

Register

Member

$895

Per Person Rate After
June 16, 2025

Register

Non-Member

$1,095

Per Person Rate For
Non-Members

Register

Event Sponsors

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our event sponsors for their generous support. Their commitment helps make this event possible and ensures a valuable experience for all attendees. Please join us in recognizing their contributions.

What People Are Saying

“All very engaging speakers, appreciated the interactive parts of each session.”
“We had tangible take away that we could implement immediately upon return to the day-to-day activities of our job.”
“This was my first time attending a MHEDA conference, I had a wonderful experience and cannot wait to attend more in the future.”

Conference Location

Viceroy Chicago Hotel

In the heart of the historic Chicago Gold Coast, on the cusp of the city’s best luxury shopping and dining, Viceroy Chicago is your doorway to the best part of the city. A special discounted group rate of $289 per night is available through July 1, or until the room block is full.

Address

118 N State St
Chicago, IL 60610

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Not a Member?

To complete the application, you will need to first login or create a MHEDA account. Click below to get started with your account and application.
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Brittany Neish

Career Strategist and Founder of What You Do Matters

Brittany Neish is the founder of What You Do Matters, a leadership and career development company that guides individuals through personal and professional growth using the Hero’s Journey framework. With 15 years of marketing experience, a Master’s in Positive Organizational Development, and certifications in emotional intelligence and change management, Brittany delivers dynamic workshops and keynotes for organizations like YETI and UKG, helping people overcome challenges, drive meaningful change, and grow stronger as leaders.

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.

Pamela Barnum

Trust Strategist & Nonverbal Communication Expert

Pamela Barnum, a former undercover police officer and federal prosecuting attorney, is now a trust strategist and nonverbal communication expert. Drawing on her 20-year career in law enforcement and the courtroom, she shares real-world techniques for building trust, detecting deception, and enhancing communication—skills honed while working undercover and refined through advanced study in corporate negotiation.

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.

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