NAFCD + NBMDA Announce Speakers for 2026 Convention

Chicago, IL, October 1, 2026—NAFCD and NBMDA have announced the keynote and general session speakers for the 2026 NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention, taking place from November 3 to 5 in Dallas, Texas.

Opening Keynote: Justin Forsett

Justin Forsett, former NFL running back and current CEO of personal care company Hustle Clean, will open the convention with his presentation, “Greatness Grows Best in the Shadows: A Playbook for Building Resilient Teams.”

Drawing on personal experiences, Forsett will share a story of perseverance and hope. Through his presentation, he will show how you can get “knocked down” and still be at the top of your professional game.

Wednesday General Session: Meridith Elliott Powell, MBA, CSP, CPAE

Meridith Elliott Powell, MBA, CSP, CPAE, researcher and thought leader, will conclude Wednesday programming with her presentation, “Thrive: Turn Uncertainty to Your Competitive Advantage.”

Through quantitative and qualitative research, Powell will go over the “PROVEN Methodology.” During her presentation, you will gain the secrets to staying highly flexible and focused to strike the delicate balance of maintaining progress and seizing opportunity.

Thursday General Session: Grace Schatz

Grace Schatz, economic consulting managing director for ITR Economics, will conclude the last day of the convention with her presentation, “Setting Expectations for 2027 and Beyond.”

Like previous ITR Economics sessions at the NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention, Schatz will provide key macroeconomic drivers that will take hold next year or carry over from 2026. She will focus especially on the top economic drivers impacting your business—such as inflation, interest rates, labor and geopolitical uncertainty – and their implications for overall cost structure, workforce strategy, the risk of profitless prosperity and the timing of resource allocation across an organization.