2026 MMANC Annual Conference

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite | September 27-30, 2026 | Proposals Due April 26

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

A Conference Built Differently

We've been thinking about this conference for a long time. Not just the logistics — the feeling. What does it feel like when 250 local government professionals put down their crisis playbooks for three days and actually breathe?

The 2026 MMANC Annual Conference isn't another conference. It's the reset. Everything about it was built from scratch — tracks organized by career stage, sessions held to a single test, keynotes drawn from practitioners who've actually lived it. And all of it happens at Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite, a setting that does half the work of connection for you.

After COVID, the fires, flooding, staffing crises, and budget uncertainty, local government professionals have been in survival mode. This conference says: stop surviving. Come to Yosemite. Be around people who understand.

That's who we're looking for proposals from — the practitioners who have lived this work and have something real to share. You don't have to be a professional speaker. You have to have something true to say.

Theme — Navigating Change, Leading with Purpose

Local government leaders advancing their career journey through equitable leadership and organizational resilience. The theme isn't aspirational — it's a recognition that the people in the room have already been navigating change. They just haven't had the space to do it with purpose and community around them.

The test for every session: Will the person in the seat walk away with something they can use Monday morning?

TRACKS

Four Tracks. One Journey.

The 2026 conference is organized around four stages of the local government career path. Sessions are designed with a primary audience in mind, but attendees can — and should — attend sessions across all tracks. At every time slot, at least one session from each track runs concurrently.

EARLY CAREER

🥾 Trailhead

Every great journey starts where the path begins.

For early-career professionals and those new to local government. Content builds the foundation — how organizations work, core skills, and finding your footing in public service. Trailhead isn't "basic." It's where the most important lessons happen.

Sample topics:

Navigating your first years in local government
Career foundations and professional development
Mentorship, networking, and building your path
Transitioning into local government from other fields
Understanding organizational culture and structure

MID-CAREER

⛰️ Half Dome

You've made the climb, but the summit is still ahead.

For mid-career managers, analysts, and department leads, navigating increasing complexity and growing responsibility. Content focuses on leading teams, advancing your career, and building the expertise that sets you apart.

Sample topics:

Managing teams and organizational complexity
Career advancement and building political acumen
Cross-departmental collaboration and influence
Strategic planning and project leadership
Developing executive presence and visibility

EXECUTIVE

🧗 El Capitan

A benchmark of mastery for those who have reached the top.

For directors, city managers, assistant/deputy city managers, and senior executives leading organizations through change. Content focuses on executive leadership, community trust, and the unique challenges of the highest levels of public service.

Sample Topics

Leading organizations through change and uncertainty
Working with elected and appointed officials
City management strategy and organizational culture
Crisis leadership and community trust
Executive transitions and succession planning

EQUITY TRACK - ALL LEVELS

🌲 Sequoia

Deep-rooted and resilient, the giant sequoia thrives when the entire ecosystem is strengthened.

For practitioners at every level working to advance equity in their organizations and communities. Sequoia makes this work a permanent fixture of the annual conference — woven throughout the program, not siloed away. Equity is everyone's work.

Sample Topics

Equitable leadership and organizational culture
Inclusive community engagement practices
Advancing equity through policy and programs
Building belonging in local government workplaces
Equity data, accountability, and reporting

Track placement is a guide, not a gate.

Tracks reflect the primary audience, not a requirement for the speaker. A City Manager presenting to early-career staff belongs in Trailhead. A mid-career analyst with a compelling equity case study belongs in Sequoia. Explain your reasoning in the proposal — the Program Committee considers track fit as part of their review.

SESSION FORMATS

Choose How You Show Up

Select the format that best fits your content. Format preference is noted in your proposal and considered by the committee, but is subject to adjustment based on program needs.

Expert Presentation

45–60 minutes

A speaker or small group shares expertise, case studies, and insights. Best for deep-dives where the speaker's direct experience is the primary value. Use this when your content is strongest delivered through a structured talk with Q&A.

Workshop

60–90 minutes

Structured, participatory learning where attendees leave with a skill, tool, or framework they can apply immediately. Your proposal must describe what attendees will do — not just hear. Workshops without clear learning activities aren't workshops.

Panel Discussion

60 minutes

Moderator and up to three panelists with genuinely different perspectives explore a common topic. Strong panels have a clear moderator, real range of experience, and prepared questions. The value is in the dialogue, not any single presentation.

Fireside Chat

30–45 minutes

A moderated conversation between one or two speakers and an interviewer, with audience Q&A. Works especially well for executive-level reflections, personal career journeys, and candid discussions that don't fit a formal presentation format.

EVALUATION

How We Review Proposals

We're being transparent about our process because we believe knowing the criteria produces better proposals — and a better conference. Read this section before you write your abstract.

1. Blind Scoring

Five independent evaluators score your proposal on a 1-10 scale across five criteria. No names, no organizations - just the strength of your idea.

2. Baseline Cut

Proposals are ranked by their trimmed mean score. Those above the threshold advance to final review. Those below are set aside.

3. Co-Chair Review

Conference co-chairs review all qualifying proposals with full context - speaker background, track balance, and session variety - to build the final program.

For the full evaluation rubric, scoring criteria, and what evaluators look for, see our Evaluation Guide.

Evaluation Guide

OUR COMMITMENT

Inclusiveness Is a Core MMANC Value

MMANC is committed to inclusiveness — in our organization, at our events, and in the communities our members serve. We believe that local government professionals have a direct ability to advance equity, and that the conference program should reflect that commitment at every level.

That's why we ask every submitter — regardless of track — to reflect on how their session contributes to an inclusive conference experience. This isn't about checking a box. It's about making sure that the perspectives you center, the communities your content serves, and the environment you create in the room are intentionally welcoming to attendees across backgrounds, career stages, and lived experiences.

In the proposal form, you'll be asked:

"Describe how your session reflects MMANC's commitment to inclusiveness — whether through the perspectives you center, the communities your content serves, or how you'll create a session environment where attendees across backgrounds, career stages, and lived experiences feel included and able to engage."

This question is not scored in the blind review. It provides context for the Program Committee co-chairs as they finalize the program — alongside your content, qualifications, and track fit.

To learn more about MMANC's public commitments, visit mmanc.org/our-voice.

Ready to Submit?

Proposals are due April 26, 2026. Every submitter will hear back by the end of May.

Submit Your Proposal

KEY DATES

CFP Opens: March 26, 2026

CFP Closes: April 26, 2026

Notifications: End of May 2026

Conference: September 27–30, 2026

QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked

Can I submit more than one proposal?

Yes. Each proposal requires a separate submission.

Do I need to be an MMANC member to submit?

No. MMANC Corporate Partners, non-members, and practitioners from outside Northern California are all welcome to submit.

My co-presenters aren't confirmed yet. Can I still submit?

Yes — you can submit with placeholder co-presenter information, but all speakers must be confirmed before we issue an acceptance. Unconfirmed panels are a common reason proposals fall apart late in the process. Secure your co-presenters early.

Can I propose a session for a track that doesn't exactly match my career level?

Absolutely. Tracks reflect the primary audience, not a requirement for the speaker. Use your judgment and explain your reasoning in the track fit question — the committee takes that into account.

Is the Sequoia equity track only for equity practitioners?

No. Sequoia is for anyone working to advance equity in their organization or community — regardless of title or specialty. If equity is central to what you're proposing, Sequoia is likely your track.

Will keynote proposals be considered from this open call?

No. Keynote speakers are identified and recruited directly by the conference co-chairs. This Call for Proposals is for breakout sessions only — Expert Presentations, Workshops, Panel Discussions, and Fireside Chats. If you're interested in being considered for a keynote, contact us at conference@mmanc.org.

Does MMANC provide speaking fees, honorariums, or travel reimbursement?

No. The MMANC Annual Conference is a practitioner-driven event — our speakers are local government professionals sharing their expertise with peers, not paid presenters. Accepted speakers receive a complimentary one-day conference registration. Speakers are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and any additional registration days. The conference hotel room block will be available to speakers at the group rate.

I submitted in 2025 and wasn't selected. Should I resubmit?

Yes, if your content is a good fit for the 2026 theme and tracks. Update your proposal to reflect the new theme, and incorporate specific experiences or case studies you've developed since. A resubmission should feel current, not recycled.

When will I hear back?

Notifications will be sent by end of May. Every submitter will receive a response — we don't leave proposals in limbo.

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