By Nathan Penrod, ACA Connects Director of Digital and Social Media
I’ve been at ACA Connects for a little over four years, during which time I attended two Summits—one in 2023 and another in 2024. I started at ACAC during the pandemic, so no in-person events were held. However, in 2023, we held our annual event while celebrating our 30th anniversary. And in 2024, it was an impactful Summit, as it was a Presidential election year.
I want to share with you why your attendance matters (from my perspective). As you may know, I take photos at ACA Connects events, among other things. So, I get to stand in the distance and document by photography the events that take place. On the first full day of the Summit, the day is loaded with guest speakers from Members of Congress, the FCC, and other industry leaders. The topics they cover are explicitly curated for ACA Connects operator members. Plus, you have ample opportunity to create connections with industry colleagues and vendors and chat with ACAC staff. I could share much more about this day, but I want to describe what I think is even more important.
The second and final day of the ACA Connects Summit is when we head to Capitol Hill. This is the day that you get the opportunity to speak with your Congressmen or Senator and tell them your story! I’ve witnessed first-hand from a number of meetings I attended (as a photographer) that this opportunity is one you don’t want to miss. Because a small number of ACAC members are in the same room as the Member of Congress, you have their attention. On a similar note, I’ve attended meetings at some of your facilities when a Member of Congress visited, and they remember you! It’s an invaluable experience, and if you haven’t attended the ACA Connects Summit, or maybe it’s been a while, make it a priority to attend in 2025.
I look forward to seeing everyone there. If you see me off to the side taking photos, don’t hesitate to stop by and say hi!
#Summit20205 registration is open for ACA Connects members, sponsors, and exhibitors – https://acaconnects.org/aca-summit/.