Thursday, October 9
9:00 AM - 6:00PM

Loft 214 - Stillwater, MN

As summer ends, it’s time to reconnect! Join us to celebrate our successes, and start looking ahead as we plan and budget for 2026. This full-day gathering will kick off with coffee and networking in the morning. The main program includes five engaging educational sessions and lunch. Extend the fun at happy hour in downtown Stillwater.

Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and grow with fellow industry professionals! 

Virtual Option Available
Can’t join us in Stillwater? Attend the full Fall Focus experience online! All five educational sessions will be livestreamed so you can learn, engage, and grow from anywhere.

Make a Night of It in Stillwater!
Extend your MNFEA Conference experience with a cozy fall getaway in beautiful downtown Stillwater. With the leaves changing along the St. Croix River, it's the perfect time to stay and explore.

Enjoy 20% off your room at Water Street Inn on October 8th or 9th.  Use promo code MNFEA when booking.

Don't miss this chance to unwind and soak in the charm of Stillwater in the fall!

Interested in being a sponsor or vendor? We’re currently seeking partners to showcase their brand and connect with event professionals, reach out to get involved!

Schedule

9:00AM	Registration & Networking
10:00AM	Welcome & Sessions Begin Session 1 - AI Essentials Session 2 - Economic Impact of Events & Festivals
	Lunch & Learn  - Training Staff to Run Safer Events Session 4 - Charitable Gambling in Minnesota: Session 5 - Winter Event Panel
4:00PM	Happy Hour & Networking

** Subject to Change 

Educational Sessions

KNOWLEDGE VERSUS SKILLS: Training Staff to Run Safer Events

Steven Adelman, Adelman Law Group, Vice President of the Event Safety Alliance, and Deputy Chair of the Global Crowd Management Alliance
In this session, you will hear pro tips about running safe festivals and events – you will forget most of them instantly. You will also do things to engage with the material – this engagement will enhance your skills in ways that, if you practice them, will become automatic. Most people struggle in an emergency because the situation is scary and new for them. This session will demonstrate how you and your team can identify hazards sooner and perform better if something goes wrong. Which you know it will.

Measuring the Economic Impact of Festivals and Events

Brigid Tuck, University of Minnesota Tourism Center 

This session will introduce the fundamentals of measuring the economic value of festivals and events. Participants will learn best practices for collecting attendee spending data and estimating attendance figures. The session will also explore how mobile analytics are being used to enhance economic impact studies, providing new insights and greater accuracy.

Operations & Logistics of Winter Events

Panel of Winter Event Professionals:

Planning events in cold climates comes with unique challenges, from unpredictable weather and safety concerns to equipment, staffing, and guest experience. This session will explore best practices for organizing seamless winter events, with a focus on logistics, risk management, contingency planning, and operational efficiency. Whether you're planning a holiday market, outdoor festival, or winter sports event, you'll walk away with practical tools and strategies to keep your event running smoothly, no matter the forecast.  

Charitable Gambling in Minnesota: What Every Event Organizer Needs to Know
MN State Gambling Control Board Representative 
From raffle tickets to meat raffles and bingo nights, charitable gambling can be a fun way to raise funds and engage your community—but it comes with strict regulations in Minnesota. Whether it’s a one-time giveaway or a full pull-tab operation, knowing the difference between games of chance and skill, what requires a permit, and how to stay compliant is essential. Join us for a session that breaks down Minnesota’s charitable gambling laws for event and festival organizers. Whether you’re a seasoned producer or first-time fundraiser, this session will help keep your event both fun and legal.

AI Essentials: What Event Professionals Need to Know Now
Elizabeth Sherry, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships for the MN Chamber of Commerce
Elizabeth leads the Leaders Lab program for the chamber, which helps shape the future leaders of the state's business community. Elizabeth is also a sought-after speaker on AI best practices for event professionals, driven by her passion for efficiencies and automation. Join us for a session

Speaker Bios 

Steven Adelman is a nationally recognized sports and entertainment lawyer and event safety expert, and he is Vice President of the Event Safety Alliance. He led the creation of the American National Standards for Crowd Management, Event Security, and the soon-to-be published standard for Parade Safety, and he leads NFPA-compliant crowd manager training. Mr. Adelman has served as an event safety expert in lawsuits arising from the 2011 Indiana State Fair stage roof collapse, the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, and the 2021 Astroworld festival crowd crush, among many others.

Brigid Tuck has been leading the University of Minnesota's Economic Impact Analysis (EIA) program since 2008. Since then, her team has issued studies covering numerous economic sectors in Minnesota—including tourism, education, manufacturing, retail, infrastructure, and local foods. Recently, she has been working on studies related to the economic impact of festivals and events. Events studied include Grandma's Marathon, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, The Great Northern festival, and the Henderson Classic Car Roll-In.

Robin Anthony: has served as the President of the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and its Foundation since April of 2016. Prior to that, she worked 12 years in local and state government, 8 years in global consulting, and 6 years as a small business owner. In her prior life, she instructed marching bands for 15 years across the State of Minnesota, hoping to make a difference in young adults.  

Sara Jespersen: Sara earned her degree in Exercise Science at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She serves as the Chair for the Discover Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce. Over the years she has volunteered her time for many community efforts, a few closest to her heart include reimagining Union Art Alley, maintaining the stairs on the bluffs of Stillwater and Co-Chairing the World Snow Sculpting Championship.

Randy Dewitz: Owner of Fanfare Attractions started the Company in September,1994. As an Event Producer, he has managed services for the Festivals and Events industry for over 42 years. His company has managed the operations for many high profile events. He also teaches Site Planning and Risk Management for the University of Minnesota Tourism Center on-line course.