THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

LUNCH & OPENING GENERAL SESSION (1.0 PDCs) 

Lunch & Opening General Session  
Step Further: A New Opportunity for Employers
Location: Tampa Bay Salons 1-3

Join fellow CHROs for lunch and peer networking before hearing from John Kirtley, Founder and Chairman of Step Up For Students, as he explores how the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) enables employers to make a lasting difference in the lives of low income students in Florida’s public schools. Learn how the Step Further initiative empowers employees to expand educational opportunities through payroll deduction at no cost to them, creating meaningful community impact while strengthening an organization's purpose-driven culture.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS (1.0 PDCs) 

Breakout 1:
Talent Acquisition, Development & Succession Strategies
Sponsored by Right Management
Location: Pasco

The labor market has shifted - but competition for top talent has not eased. This breakout session brings together CHROs to share what is actually working in talent acquisition, internal mobility, and succession planning in the current environment. From AI-assisted recruiting to building internal talent pipelines that reduce external hiring dependency, participants will exchange strategies, challenge assumptions, and pressure-test approaches in a candid peer setting. The goal is to leave with at least three ideas you can implement before the end of Q4.

Breakout 2:
Organizational Design in the Age of Agentic AI
Sponsored by Right Management
Location: Hillsborough

Agentic AI is already reshaping organizations - changing work, redefining roles, and creating new ways of operating. This CHRO-led breakout explores how leaders are redesigning organizations to harness AI while maintaining trust, culture, and employee engagement. Through real-world scenarios and discussion, participants will share lessons learned and practical approaches to leading organizational change in the AI era.

ACTIVITIES 

Sommelier Wine Tasting
Sponsored by Chubb
Location: TBA

Discover the world of wine, one glass at a time! One of our expert sommeliers will guide you region by region, explaining the different climates, grape varietals and wine styles. By the time you’re finished, you’ll know all the lingo, and you’ll be able to converse about wine like a pro!

Insider's Tour of Benchmark International Area
Home of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Location: Benchmark International Arena

Go beyond game day and step inside the inner workings of one of the NHL’s most dynamic venues. This exclusive experience at Benchmark International Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring both elite sports and world-class entertainment to life.

NETWORKING RECEPTION, EVENING GENERAL SESSION, & DINNER (1.0 PDCs) 

Evening General Session & Dinner
Mastering Leadership: Lessons from CHROs
A Fireside Chat with Fortune 500 Leaders
Location: Tampa Bay Ballroom Salon 1-3

The best leadership lessons don't come from textbooks - they come from the people who have lived them. In this candid general session, distinguished CHROs from Florida's leading companies share the experiences that shaped them, the decisions that tested them, and the strategies that have driven lasting organizational impact. The conversation goes beyond theory into the real challenges of leading people through transformation, building cultures that perform under pressure, and earning influence at the highest levels of an organization. Leave with fresh perspective, honest insight, and a sharper vision for your own leadership path.

Nightcaps & Connections
Location: TBA

Close out the evening in a relaxed, elevated setting designed for meaningful conversation and new introductions.

FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 

NETWORKING BREAKFAST & GENERAL SESSION (1.25 PDCs) 

Morning General Session Part I
Beyond Faster: Turn AI from Commodity into Your Competitive Advantage
Featuring Julie Holmes, AI & Innovation Speaker, SmarterHQ
Location: Tampa Bay Ballroom Salon 1-3

While most organizations are just using AI to do things faster, the real winners are using it to do things differently. In this session, we’ll dive into why AI is much more than just a tech tool: it’s a talent and culture revolution. Designed specifically for CHROs and People Leaders, Julie will share how to move from AI chaos to strategic collaboration using the Second Story Strategy. We'll get practical and specific about how to align your team, protect your culture, and turn AI into a true asset. AI is raising the floor. It's time to build your Second Story.

Morning General Session Part II
Beyond Firewalls: People, Culture, and Cyber Risk
Location: Tampa Bay Ballroom Salon 1-3

As cyber threats become more sophisticated, organizations are realizing that risk management begins with people. This conversation will explore the CHRO's role in strengthening organizational resilience, preparing leaders and employees for evolving threats, and partnering with technology and security teams to reduce risk while maintaining an engaging workplace culture.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS (1.0 PDCs) 

Breakout 1:
Talent Acquisition, Development & Succession Strategies
Sponsored by Right Management
Location: Pasco

The labor market has shifted - but competition for top talent has not eased. This breakout session brings together CHROs to share what is actually working in talent acquisition, internal mobility, and succession planning in the current environment. From AI-assisted recruiting to building internal talent pipelines that reduce external hiring dependency, participants will exchange strategies, challenge assumptions, and pressure-test approaches in a candid peer setting. The goal is to leave with at least three ideas you can implement before the end of Q4.

Breakout 2:
Organizational Design in the Age of Agentic AI
Sponsored by Right Management
Location: Hillsborough

Agentic AI is already reshaping organizations - changing work, redefining roles, and creating new ways of operating. This CHRO-led breakout explores how leaders are redesigning organizations to harness AI while maintaining trust, culture, and employee engagement. Through real-world scenarios and discussion, participants will share lessons learned and practical approaches to leading organizational change in the AI era.

LUNCH, CLOSING GENERAL SESSION, & CLOSING RECEPTION (1.0 PDCs) 

Lunch & Closing General Session
Change Management When the Playbook Doesn't Exist
Sponsored by EY
Location: Tampa Bay Ballroom, Salon 1-3

The pace of organizational change has outrun most change management frameworks. In this fireside chat, two CHROs who have led their organizations through significant - and very different - transformations share what they wish they had known, what surprised them, and what they would do differently. The conversation goes beyond theory into the real emotional and strategic challenges of leading people through uncertainty, AI disruption, restructuring, and cultural reinvention simultaneously.