NOVA Chapter Members,
With a focus on creating meaningful, in-person connections and professional development experiences for our members, we are planning a one-day fall Professional Development Conference (PDC) on October 22, 2026, to be held in the Reston Town Center area – please save the date!
This will be the first-ever solo NOVA Chapter PDC, and we are excited about the opportunity to build something truly valuable for our community. Our thought is to create a conference that goes beyond the traditional technical focus and dives into “all the other stuff” that makes us more effective safety professionals. We are considering topics like leadership, communication, workers’ compensation, coaching and feedback, legal documentation, serving as an expert witness, and more.
But to ensure we deliver the highest possible value, we need your input. Please take a few minutes to complete our brief survey by April 15, 2026. Your feedback will directly shape the content, themes, and overall experience of the conference. The survey also includes an opportunity for you to suggest additional topics you’d like to see covered.
What to expect:
- One-day conference in Reston, VA
- Likely hybrid format (in-person + virtual option)
- CEUs available for attendees
- Estimated cost: $25 for NOVA Chapter members / $50 for non-members
We are also looking for volunteers to help bring this event to life. There are many ways to get involved, including:
- Reviewing speaker proposals
- Serving as session liaisons (introducing speakers)
- Assisting with conference planning and logistics (food, scheduling, swag, etc.)
If you’re interested in contributing, we would love your help!!
In addition, we will have opportunities for sponsors and vendors, including a vendor expo area. Preference will be given to NOVA Chapter members due to limited space. If you are interested in sponsoring or participating as a vendor, please reach out to Julie Sobelman at huntersv@erols.com.
A formal call for speaker proposals will be coming in the months ahead – please keep an eye out if you’re interested in presenting.
Thank you in advance for your input, your support, and your willingness to help us make this a meaningful experience for our community. Our leadership team is looking forward to working with many of you on this conference and seeing you there in October!
Best regards,
Josh Russell, CSP
President, NOVA Chapter of ASSP