2026 Education Forum

Forms of Address Fundamentals: Invitations, Place Cards & Name Badges

Every protocol professional needs to be knowledgeable about forms of address – on letters, invitations, place cards, name badges – and in conversation. This session will include information on use of the Honorable, former and retired office holders, ranks in the armed services, and titles in academia. This session will be of interest not only to members new to their job, but to advanced members who have questions no one has thus far been able to answer in a clear, concise way. 

Robert Hickey, Author of Honor & Respect: The Official Guide to Names, Titles and Forms of Address

Wellbeing for Professionals

Hope Laman, Founder, Hope Filled Solutions, LLC 

Staging Formal Photography 

Melissa Goitia, 

Diplomacy at the Board Table: Meeting Management & Etiquette 

Successful meeting management begins with a plan and a strategy. Deploying your protocol and diplomacy skills along with understanding meeting management best practices, such as Roberts Rules of Orders, can pave the way for the important work to be done. Learn how to set an approachable agenda and steward a meeting to success for you and your principal.

Darin Pfeifer, University Secretary, Drexel University 

Invitations, RSVPs, & Ticketing - Building a Seamless Guest Management Process

Fashion and diplomacy are a powerful pair. Learn how fashion has been used as a diplomatic tool throughout history, how you can better brief the principals you work with about dressing for the occasion, and how to harness the power of colors, fabrics, and designers to advance your own protocol career.

Mackenzie Wasilick, Social Secretary, Office of the Governor Kathy Hochul

Confidence and Presence in Every Moment 

This lecture examines how etiquette and protocol cultivate true confidence and a commanding presence in every interaction. It reveals how posture, tone, timing, and awareness communicate authority and poise long before words are spoken. Attendees will gain practical tools to move through each moment with intention, elegance, and self-assured grace.

Christine Glick, Etiquette & Protocol Coach, The Bold Protocol

Knowing protocol rules is not enough for Protocol officers. International knowledge of geography, history, culture, languages, traditions, politics, and religions is very important for the Protocol Officer role and the success of all events. There is a lot of misinformation, and to avoid any mishap, a Protocol Officer should seek knowledge about all field in the international arena.

Ragda Kurdy, Executive Director & CEO, Protocol, Translation & International Services Inc.

Ethical Leadership and Intercultural Protocol in the Converging Era" refers to the practice of leading with integrity, cultural intelligence, and global awareness in a world where political, technological, and social systems are increasingly intertwined. It emphasizes that ethical principles—such as dignity, fairness, accountability, and transparency—must guide decision-making even as leaders navigate diverse, and sometimes conflicting cultural norms. Intercultural protocol provides the behavioral framework that enables leaders to demonstrate respect, build trust, and communicate effectively across borders. Together, these disciplines equip leaders to act with clarity and credibility while fostering cooperation in a complex, interconnected global environment.

Dr. April Ripley, Founder and CEO, The Premiere Image Inc. 

Leading high-powered protocol teams begins by putting the right pieces in place according to the dynamic you are trying to create. Hiring with purpose, a program with goal alignment, driving accountability, and dynamic leadership. High-powered teams are built intentionally, on a foundation made up of carefully designed leadership pillars. We will address how to build this foundation as well as how to manage a change toward a high-powered work environment.

Kyle Helvey, Co-Founder & CEO, Global Center for Protocol Development

How to Create Service-Hearted Experiences

Protocol is the way we do business and engage with people. It’s also the art of making people feel welcome, secure, and valued. It can be a thankless and challenging practice, becoming a checklist at best and a hindrance at worst. This session challenges protocol officers to move beyond the checklist and adopt a service-oriented mindset that elevates a standard visit into a world-class experience, even with limited resources.

Pamela Eyring, President & CEO, The Protocol School of Washington

Onsite Operations - Executing Events with Precision & Control 

As a continuation of Part 1’s focus on invitations, RSVPs, and ticketing, this session shifts from planning to execution—examining how pre-event decisions directly shape onsite
success of guest operations. Designed for protocol professionals operating in high-visibility, high-pressure environments, the program explores best practices for onsite registration management, credentialing systems, printed name support (including name tags, table tents, and seat signs), staffing plans, seating logistics, and event activations. Participants will gain practical insights to support security, manage access, guide dignitaries and principals seamlessly, and ensure onsite operations reflect professionalism, accuracy, and respect for protocol at every touchpoint.

Mackenzie Wasilick, Social Secretary, Office of the Governor Kathy Hochul

African Traditional Protocol Precedence: Nigeria as a Case Study 

The focus is on historical African systems of traditional protocols and precedence that governed social interactions in African societies. - The presentation specifically pertains to African societies with a focus on Nigeria and its unique customs. - It explores how these traditional practices shaped hierarchy, authority, and social order. - It underscores that these dynamics predates colonial influences.

Chuks Josiah, CEO, De-Ivy League School of Protocol and Diplomacy 

Protocol and Professional Growth: Applying Protocol Skills for Career Development

Join us to identify strategies for parlaying your protocol skills and experience into related fields. Consider how you assess building your professional portfolio and join a discussion of deciding when it is time to take the next step.

Hope Laman, Founder, Hope Filled Solutions, LLC ; Darin Pfeifer, University Secretary, Drexel University 

Protocol & Fashion 

Mary Guido, Founder, Mary Guido Atelier

The New Soft Power: Strategic Presence and Protocol in an Age of Acceleration 

In today’s fast-moving diplomatic and organizational environments, protocol professionals must operate with precision, agility, and strategic awareness. This session reframes etiquette and protocol as instruments of modern soft power, which are tools that shape perception, stabilize high-pressure interactions, and influence outcomes under accelerated timelines. Participants will explore how strategic presence functions as an invisible architecture of authority in complex, cross-cultural settings. Practical frameworks will equip attendees to apply protocol dynamically without sacrificing dignity or precision.