There’s something about the NRPA Annual Conference that’s hard to fully put into words. It’s one of the coolest experiences in our field. Honestly, it feels a little magical. It’s where you go to grow, to learn, to connect and to be inspired.
And all of that is true.
But if I’m being real — and I think that’s where the value is — my first conference in 2024 in Atlanta didn’t just feel magical. It also felt overwhelming.
My wife would say I’m an extrovert based on the amount of conversations that I had during our 14-day honeymoon leading up to the conference. And I am… as long as I feel comfortable. Put me in a room where I don’t know anyone, and it’s a different story. Walking into the conference felt less like a professional event and more like the first day at a new school. You’re surrounded by people already in conversation, already connected, and you’re just hoping you don’t say the wrong thing — or worse, say nothing at all.
If I’m honest, it took me right back to being a kid. I went to six different elementary schools growing up. My mom was a Department of Defense teacher and my stepdad was in the military, so that “new kid” feeling was something I knew well. There were days in Atlanta when I sat by myself at lunch or just walked around outside because I didn’t know anyone.
But this isn’t a sad story — it’s a turning point.
At some point during that conference, I made a decision. I thought about that idea from Find Your Yellow Tux — that willingness to step into something uncomfortable, to embrace a little bit of “reckless” energy and just go for it. I gave myself what I’d now call five seconds of courage.
I reached out to Tyler Agee, a park and recreation professional I had connected with the year before on LinkedIn, and met him in the exhibit hall. Later, I saw someone who looked familiar, introduced myself, and it turned out to be Shane Mize (who is now a professional work friend, IYKYK).
What neither of them probably realized is that those small moments mattered. A quick conversation. A simple welcome. That was enough to shift my entire experience.
And here’s the coaching perspective I keep coming back to:
Connection doesn’t have to be complicated. But it does have to be intentional.
That experience taught me that the barrier I felt wasn’t the conference itself. It was the story I was telling myself when walking into it.
Fast forward to now, heading into the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference, and it feels completely different.
Not because the conference changed, but because I did.
Since that first experience, I’ve been more intentional. I started listening to the Recless Podcast (and have been on it a couple of times now as well), and I’ve connected with people on LinkedIn who have been featured. I’ve completed year two of NRPA Directors School and built relationships with people I now genuinely consider friends. I’ve gotten involved with CAPRA, the NRPA Conference Program Committee and the CPRP Exam Committee, collaborating with professionals across states.
Pictured: Brandon and colleagues at various events - NRPA Directors School, the Arizona Park and Recreation Association Conference, and NRPA Annual Conference.
So no — I don’t feel alone walking into conference anymore.
And if you’re heading into your first (or even your fifth) conference, here’s what I’d offer from a coaching lens:
- Give yourself five seconds of courage.
That’s it. You don’t have to work the whole room. Just introduce yourself to one person. Then do it again later. Momentum builds faster than you think. - Get involved — don’t just attend.
NRPA is what you make of it and extends way beyond just the conference. Committees, schools, volunteer opportunities, NRPA Connect, the Leadership Development Network — they’re all pathways to deeper connection and growth. - Lean into your state association.
Those relationships matter. They give you a home base at conference and people who want to see you succeed. - Give yourself permission to be both inspired and tired.
As Heather Buller said after the 2025 conference, “It’s okay to come back inspired and tired. Growth happens when we learn to balance both.”
That might be the most honest takeaway of all.
Conference is still magical. But now I understand why. It’s not just the sessions or the speakers.
It’s the people.
It’s the moments.
It’s the decision to lean in.
I’m looking forward to connecting with all of you this fall at the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference in Philadelphia.
Brandon Washington, MPA, CPRE is the recreation superintendent for City of Casa Grand, Arizona.