New Year, New National President

As we step into 2026, I wish you and your loved ones a year filled with happiness, health, and success. Thank you for your continued membership with NACE. The NACE community is the catalyst for meaningful relationships, professional growth, and the shared success that makes this association and industry stronger together.

As an entrepreneur, I can say without hesitation that while education and leadership development helped shape my career, my business truly exploded because of the relationships I built through NACE. Trust means everything to me, and within NACE, I found it. Words cannot fully capture the depth and impact of the professional and personal relationships I’ve formed over the years. Colleagues became trusted partners, dear friends, and ultimately, an extension of my family.

I’m sure many of you can relate to my Just One Year story. My journey began in 2010 when I agreed to chair the Houston Chapter’s Wedding Trends program, now an award-winning event. What I thought would be Just One Year quickly turned into Just One More Year, then several board positions, and ultimately serving as Houston Chapter President. That same  Just One Year philosophy continued to open doors and led to opportunities to serve as a National Committee Chair, CLC Mentor, and Board Member…….bringing me to today, in 2026, serving as your NACE National President. The lesson of this familiar story is simple: Just One Year can change everything.

Enough about me, let’s talk about NACE.

Nationally, the past five years have been defined by intentional rebuilding and meaningful growth. Restoring our financial security was paramount, enabling us to reinvest directly in our members and chapters and strengthening the foundation of our association for the future.

We implemented a technology platform that allows all chapters to connect in a truly collaborative space, strengthening communication and delivering on our promise to bring our community closer together. As we look ahead, we will continue to build upon this platform to better include and engage members through virtual community offerings, expanding access to education, connection, and networking beyond geographic boundaries.

One of our most exciting milestones came in 2025 with the successful launch of five new chapters. Expanding into strong markets and thoughtfully rebuilding chapters that may have lost momentum during challenging times will remain a key focus of our strategic plan. Through continued participation in CaterSource and the Events Industry Council, NACE will continue to grow our role as a respected and influential voice within the broader events industry.

As we look ahead, 2026 is filled with opportunity, purpose, and ambitious goals. I am incredibly proud of what NACE has accomplished and deeply grateful for the passion, guidance, and support of our National Board of Directors, our Executive Director, Lawrence Leonard, our Deputy Executive Director, Anne Harper and the partnership with our NACE Foundation Board of Directors.

I look forward to serving as your trusted leader in 2026, championing our members, strengthening our chapters, and continuing to build a community rooted in connection, collaboration, and trust.

With gratitude and excitement,

Jill Vidal-Raines, CPCE
NACE National President