Discover in-depth information on planning, constructing, renovating, and operating recreation sports facilities at the NIRSA Facilities Institute, presented by Mondo and in partnership with Athletic Business, November 16-19, 2022 in Orlando. As just one track of the greater AB Show, attendees have an unparalleled opportunity to explore additional sessions focused on fitness, programming, leadership, aquatics, and more.
Scores of your campus rec peers are heading to Orlando, November 16-19, for the NIRSA Facilities Institute, presented by Mondo, and Athletic Business Show. The AB Show is on track to see its largest attendance ever – yes, EVER!
Make the most of your 2022 AB Show/Facilities Institute experience
Joining the event for the first time or returning to in-person professional development after a few years away and not sure where to start? This attendee roadmap will help you navigate your first show experience or dust off the conference cobwebs! Here are some top picks to best enjoy the NIRSA Facilities Institute and AB Show:
Tuesday, November 15
- Arrive in Orlando (expected temp: 75°F) and check into your hotel
- Stop by the registration desk at the convention center to pick up your badge and other goodies!
- Things to do:
- Cocktail hour at Pointe Orlando
- Dinner on Restaurant Row
- Ride the 400-foot-tall observation wheel at Icon Park
- Explore other fun recommendations
Wednesday, November 16
- 7:30am-8:00am – Hop on a bus to tour incredible NIRSA-member institutions University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, and The University of Tampa – among other amazing facilities! Tour information is available on the AB Show website.
- Tours aren’t for you? Dig in deep and learn from the experts at a preconference workshop:
- 9:00am-11:30am – How to Hire, Onboard and Retain Talent
- 9:00am-11:30am – Innovation Lab! You, Your Facilities and the Metaverse: Hands-On Experience Exploring the Incredible Tools and Possibilities of the Metaverse
- 1:00pm-4:30pm – You’re Thinking About a New Building: What is YOUR Role When Planning and Designing a New Facility?
- 5:00pm – Are you a first-time attendee? Be sure to stop at the first-timers’ reception to enjoy food, beverages and get to know your peers!
Thursday, November 17
- 8:30am – Our extensive educational seminars begin; explore the full list of sessions
- 9:00am – Session recommendation: “Technology: the final frontier for fitness” with Brittany Baldwin, Assistant Director of Fitness, Florida International University
- 10:30am – Panel recommendation: “Making the case for the wholistic person. Combining physical health and mental health services in your recreation facility” with panelists from RDG Planning & Design and Montana State University
- 11:25am – Go “Bananas” for keynote speaker Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas, who takes the stage to kick off the AB Show
- 4:00pm – Session recommendation: “Embezzlers, swindlers and thieves, oh my!” with Maureen McGonagle, Director of Campus Recreation, Centers LLC at DePaul University
- 12:00pm – Grand opening of the expo hall! See the full list of exhibitors
- 2:00pm – Test your skill at the popular free throw shooting contest in booth #1143
- 8:00pm – Make your way to Ole Red Orlando as we kick off the conference at our highly anticipated welcome reception, sponsored by Woodway
Friday, November 18
- 6:30am – Early morning workout. Kick-start your day and test out the equipment on the show floor during the early morning workout.
- 8:30am – Seminar sessions start back up
- 8:30am – Session recommendation: “Renewed futures: Bringing your recreation center back to life” with Yvette Kell, Director of Campus Recreation, Centers LLC at University of Missouri, St. Louis, and Jim Gabel, Vice President, CannonDesign
- 4:00pm – Session recommendation: “Leadership for a new generation” with Ryan McNicholas, Director, Campus Recreation, Youngstown State University
- 12:30pm – Visit with exhibitors and build your vendor network before the expo closes at 4:30pm!
- 7:00pm – Network with NIRSA members and NIRSA Facilities Institute track attendees at the NIRSA Facilities Institute Social, presented by Mondo. Invitations for this exclusive social will be distributed via email before the event.
Saturday, November 19
- 8:30am – The final seminar sessions
- 8:30am – Session recommendation: “Recreation and wellness master plans: A roadmap for student success” with Moody-Nolan’s Mason Johnson, Project Architect, and Troy Sherrard, Partner-Practice Design Leader
- 10:00am – Don’t miss the NIRSA Roundtable: Recreation Facility Staffing, facilitated by NIRSA Director of Professional Development Brittany Rejda.
Fly (or drive) home with new ideas, connections, and knowledge that you can apply right away. If you haven’t already signed up for the NIRSA Facilities Institute and AB Show, register today!
See what previous attendees have to say about their experience
“It was a very productive trip for me. I ended up meeting with a total of 24 vendors and have already done business with a few, have demo models being shipped from a couple, and intend to do business with a few others.” – Joe Cassidy, Executive Director of Campus Fitness & Recreation at Wake Forest University
“The sessions that were offered far exceeded my expectations and the knowledge of the presenters made for some fantastic presentations. Seeing as this was my first AB Show, I was pleasantly surprised at how applicable I found many of the sessions to be for my position in Campus Recreation.
It’s my first time attending the AB show, but I certainly hope it’s not my last. Great educational sessions and extremely knowledgeable presenters. I look forward to returning in the future!” – Andrew Havrisko, Assistant Director of Recreational Programs at Ashland University
“This was an amazing conference, and it was really great to meet with the vendors and have some deeper conversations with them, especially as a VIP Hosted Buyer and having 15-20 minutes of their uninterrupted time.
Being able to attend the seminars was helpful because I learned about the latest fitness trends that we can incorporate into our programs, and as a result, we’ve added TRX and more yoga classes. What I learned from the seminars has also helped to guide us as we plan for our building project.
The expo was huge and filled with innovations that I didn’t even know existed. It was great to be able to learn about the latest trends in the seminars and then head into the expo hall to meet with the people who can help you meet those needs.” – Taylor Kent, Wellness Coordinator at St. Ambrose University
- For more information, please contact NIRSA Director of Professional Development Brittany Rejda.
Kelley Hungerford is currently the Assistant Director of Expo & Corporate Relations at NIRSA.
Rachel Lesczynski is currently the AB Show Director; you can reach her by email at rachel@abshow.com.
