NACAS East CX - NACAS

Venue & Lodging

The Hilton Richmond Downtown is our venue for the 2026 NACAS East CX. Discover the timeless character of a downtown Richmond, VA hotel located in the historic Miller & Rhoads building, directly across from the Richmond Convention Center and near the Virginia State Capitol. The hotel features marble floors and high ceilings, along with three on-site dining options, an indoor pool, a fitness center, and flexible event space.

Upon registration for the conference you will receive an email with the link to book your stay at the group rate of $203 per night plus taxes.

The deadline to reserve your stay at the group rate is May 13, 2026.

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Dr. Vijay Pendakur

Opening Keynote Speaker

Dr. Vijay Pendakur is a leadership advisor and executive coach who helps organizations strengthen trust, resilience, and execution during times of constant change. He works with senior leaders and teams to build the everyday habits that improve clarity, decision-making, and performance under pressure.

Vijay spent nearly two decades in higher education, serving in leadership roles at five universities, including as Dean of Students and Presidential Advisor at Cornell University. He later moved into the corporate sector, where he held VP and C-level HR roles at Zynga, VMware, and Dropbox. Today, Vijay is the founder of Vijay Pendakur Consulting and the bestselling author of The Alchemy of Talent.

Joel Mier

Dr. Joel Mier

Monday General Session Speaker

Bio coming soon

Dr. Garret Westlake

Tuesday General Session Speaker

Dr. Garret Westlake is the inaugural Vice Provost for Innovation and Strategic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University and a professor of product and healthcare innovation in the VCU School of Business. A nationally recognized leader in applied innovation, he builds strategic partnerships and delivers human-centered training in design thinking, change management, and entrepreneurship to academic institutions, health systems, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies.

Dr. Westlake is the co-founder and executive leader of Shift Labs, an interdisciplinary network of innovation labs recognized twice by Fast Company, including the 2023 Innovation by Design Award for Education. Through Shift Labs, he has designed and delivered transformational programming for clients such as Allianz, Capital One, the LEGO Group, and the Medical Society of Virginia. He teaches and mentors graduate and doctoral students across business, education, engineering, and healthcare disciplines, with a focus on real-world impact and interdisciplinary problem solving.

Prior to joining VCU, Dr. Westlake served as Associate Dean of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Arizona State University—ranked #1 in innovation by U.S. News & World Report—and held faculty appointments in technological entrepreneurship and management. A former tech entrepreneur, he was founder and CEO of a pioneering social impact company that employed individuals with autism using biofeedback-based workforce solutions. He remains a dedicated advocate for inclusive innovation and a volunteer with organizations that serve individuals with disabilities.

A passionate evangelist for creativity and human-centered design, Dr. Westlake is a TEDx and international keynote speaker, Clinton Global Initiative mentor, and Ashoka U Change Leader Emeritus. He serves as an advisor, consultant, and board member for venture-backed startups and Fortune 500 companies. Ventures and founders he has mentored have raised over $100 million in capital and gained entry into the world’s leading accelerators and incubators.

East CX: Bridging Campuses, Communities, and Commerce

Join us June 14-17 in Richmond, VA for the 2026 NACAS East CX conference. The NACAS East CX provides the premier exchange of campus-centric ideas, solutions, and connections to your regional area. Designed and delivered by your own professional peers, this event gives you the best opportunity to isolate your needs and nurture your relationships. At East CX, you can easily seek out other campus service leaders that have similar interests, requirements, and visions for how to empower campus communities.

Member Registration

Early Bird Rate: $425

Early Bird Deadline: April 4

Regular Rate: $525

Non-Member Registration

Early Bird Rate: $525

Early Bird Deadline: April 4

Regular Rate: $625

Retiree Registration

Regular Rate: $250

One-Day Registration

Regular Rate: $250

Guest Registration

Regular Rate: $250

Call For Programs

We are pleased to open the Call for Programs for the 2026 NACAS East CX Annual Conference! This is your chance to share your expertise, showcase innovative ideas, and highlight success stories that can inspire colleagues from across the region.

We welcome program proposals that support professional growth, strengthen operational excellence, and address the evolving landscape of auxiliary services. Sessions should engage attendees, spark meaningful discussion, and encourage collaboration across campuses.

Call For Programs Timeline:

February 2026: Submission Period Opens

April 30, 2026: Submission Period Closes

Submission Categories:

Leadership & Professional Development – Strategies for building teams, managing change, and advancing careers.
Operational Excellence – Best practices in facilities, technology, finance, and service delivery.
Student Experience & Engagement – Enhancing student success and satisfaction through innovative programs and partnerships.
Innovation & Emerging Trends – New ideas, data-driven decisions, and creative approaches shaping the future of auxiliary services.

Sessions should be designed to engage attendees and inspire collaboration across campuses. Areas of focus should include (but are not limited to): Housing & Residence Life, Campus Bookstore/Retail, Campus Recreation, Conference & Event Services, Vending, Parking & Transportation, Card Services, Dining Services, Mailroom, Conference Services, and Laundry.

We encourage both first-time and returning presenters to participate, your insights make NACAS East stronger and more connected.

Diamond Level Sponsorship $10,000

Admittance to all educations sessions and events including the Opening Reception, NACAS Town Hall, Hospitality events, Closing Event, as well as Entrance to the Business Partner Exchange and Exhibits (with one 6' table), Breakfast and Lunch meals both Monday and Tuesday and abundant networking opportunities.
Up to 8 company representative conference registrations
Named sponsor at the conference of one of the following: Sunday Opening Event, Tuesday Closing Event, Keynote Sessions, Annual Business Meeting Luncheon
Opportunity to speak at events where business partner is a named sponsor
Upgraded to “Feature Status” with recognition in conference materials, and/or app
Sponsorship of events at conference, including educational sessions and/or breaks (may co-sponsor)
Opportunity to speak at events where business partner is a named sponsor
Sponsorship of events at conference, including educational sessions and/or breaks (may co-sponsor)
Display space in Business Partner Expo Hall
Listing on NACAS East website with link to business
Listing in conference materials, and/or app
Recognition in on-site signage
Access to list of attendees prior to the conference (pre and post)
Business Partner Showcase Package - (one (1) 6' table, two (2) chairs)

Platinum Level Sponsorship $6,000

Admittance to all educations sessions and events including the Opening Reception, NACAS Town Hall, Hospitality events, and Closing Event, as well as Entrance to the Business Partner Expo and Exhibits (with one 6' table), Breakfast and Lunch meals both Monday and Tuesday and abundant networking opportunities.
Up to 6 company representative conference registrations
Sponsorship of events at conference, including educational sessions and/or breaks (may co-sponsor)
Opportunity to speak at events where business partner is a named sponsor
Sponsorship of events at conference, including educational sessions and/or breaks (may co-sponsor)
Display space in Business Partner Expo Hall
Listing on NACAS East website with link to business
Listing in conference materials, and/or app
Recognition in on-site signage
Access to list of attendees prior to the conference (pre and post)
Business Partner Showcase Package - (one (1) 6' table, two (2) chairs)

Gold Level Sponsorship $4,000

Admittance to all educations sessions and events including the Opening Reception, NACAS Town Hall, Hospitality events, Closing Event, as well as Entrance to the Business Partner Expo and Exhibits (with one 6' table), Breakfast and Lunch meals both Monday and Tuesday and abundant networking opportunities.
Up to 4 company representative conference registrations
Sponsorship of events at conference, including educational sessions and/or breaks (may co-sponsor)
Display space in Business Partner Expo Hall
Listing on NACAS East website with link to business
Listing in conference materials, and/or app
Recognition in on-site signage
Access to list of attendees prior to the conference (pre and post)
Business Partner Showcase Package - (one (1) 6' table, two (2) chairs)

Silver Level Sponsorship $3,000

Admittance to all educations sessions and events including the Opening Reception, NACAS Town Hall, Hospitality events, and the Closing Event, as well as Entrance to the Business Partner Expo and Exhibits (with one 6' table), Breakfast and Lunch meals both Monday and Tuesday and abundant networking opportunities.
Up to 2 company representative conference registrations
Display space in Business Partner Expo Hall
Listing on NACAS East website with link to business
Listing in conference materials, and/or app
Recognition in on-site signage
Access to list of attendees prior to the conference (pre and post)
Business Partner Showcase Package - (one (1) 6' table, two (2) chairs)

Non-Exhibiting Business Partner $1,100

Access to the conference limited to all general sessions, keynote(s), education sessions, and evening networking events only (inclusive of the opening and closing events).

Does not include access to the Business Partner Showcase and sponsorship fee grants registration for one person only.

The 2026 NACAS East CX begins in...

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