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MAFN Conference: New Frontiers in Facilitation

When
04/17/2026
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location
Mason Fuse Center - 3401 Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA 22201

Registration

Last Minute Member Registration (March 30th - Day of Event) – $159.00
Last Minute Member Fee: $159 March 30 - Day of registration welcome!~
Membership + Conference Registration – $259.00
Join or renew a membership with MAFN and pay for the conference registration at a reduced rate.
Non - Member Registration Until Day of Event – $159.00
Non-Member Fee: $159
Y) MAFN Board | Conference Volunteers | Partners
Z) Current/Active Student – $79.00

Register

MAFN is hosting a one-day conference Friday, April 17, 2026, taking us into the future of facilitation in our fast-moving environment with thanks to our sponsors The Bridge Badge, StratSimple, George Mason University, and Trainer's Warehouse.

Programming

TIME	ACTIVITY
8.00-8.45	Registration, Coffee
9.00-10.00	Plenary- Rae Ringel (The Fuse) - Rupture & Renewal, How Facilitation Evolves in a Polarized AI-Driven World
10.00-10.15	Break & Transition
10.15-11.00	Workshop - Mike Burns (The Fuse) - AI and Facilitation: Asking Not What It Can Do, But What It Should Do	Workshop - Nikki Frias (Van Metre 308) - Building Bridges in Conflict and Uncertainty with Applied Improv
11.00-11.15	Break & Transition
11.15-12.00	Workshop - Carly Chomer & Kim Fredrich (The Fuse) - Make Your Business Development Meaningful Not Mechanical	Workshop - Christine Gerson & Eboney Dixon-Crump (Van Metre 308) - Clarity, Curiosity and Connection: Coaching Through Polarization & Communicating Across Differences
12.00-1.00	Lunch
1.00-1.15	Transition & Networking
1.15-2.00	Workshop - Bola Audena (The Fuse)- Scaling with Purpose: Building a Thriving Facilitation Brand in the Age of AI	Workshop - Jennie Toner-Algin (Van Metre 308)- Find the Beat: Using Musical Techniques to Reduce Polarization and Navigate Group Conflict
2.00-2.15	Break & Transition
2.15-3.30	Knowledge Cafe (The Fuse): Join table hosts for skills-based learning (opportunity to join TWO tables) Lauren Green - AI and Facilitation—A Human/Robot Partnership (How AI and facilitation work together) Maggy Sterner - Get Hired with a One-Sentence Pitch Sharon Kniss - Block, Shift, or Embrace: Tools for Polarization Susan Borke - Negotiate Better Now! Gina Barber - Exploring the Human-Technology Relationship in Facilitation (Focus on ethics & emphasizing the human) Eduardo Villavicencio-Vizcaino - Close the Listening Gap	Open Space (Lounge Area): This Open Space formatted session will provide dedicated time for participants to reflect on learnings that happened throughout the day, collaboratively explore emerging questions, and engage in self-directed dialogue with peers.
3.30-4.00	Closing Session (The Fuse)
	Informal Happy Hour & Networking

What’s Included:

In addition to the incredible programming led by your peers, mentors and new leaders in the field, snacks, lunch and plenty of hot beverages throughout the day.

Our sponsors will also provide you with some exciting tools, more information coming!

Travel Support:

Virginia Square-GMU station on the Orange/Silver line is the nearest Metro stop

Paid parking is available in the garage. Cost is $19 or the Ballston mall parking garage at

627 N Glebe Road is less than a 15 minute walk. Cost $1.

REMINDERS

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.

For registration or membership questions, contact info@mafn.org.

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