CEX 2026 is over and it was another year of connections, collaboration, and conversation … all centered around how can we build community for contribution and co-creation?
Guiding us through the day was Mariner’s own Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE who shared her own insights while keeping us on our toes. Here are some highlights:
Connections & Challenges Accepted:
The day kicked off with what we do best … connect and re-connect with people who just get us. Peggy then got to it by challenging us to rethink community not just as the space where your components operate, but as the engine that drives engagement and belonging.
She also challenged us to change our perception of value noting that the latest benchmarking study showed that volunteers want to have impact, but to have impact, we must collectively shift to from a value-in-exchange mindset to value-in-use (see sidebar).
p.s. same goes for members!
Sharing Stories:
We then settled into our morning session, 5 Strategies to Energize Your Components, where we heard from five CRPs who shared how they implemented new strategies around the 5 CTAs that came out of the 2025 Chapter Performance & Benchmarking Report:
- Data‑Driven Decisions – Move beyond counting activity to understanding belonging, activation & impact.
- Portfolio Over Silos – Think beyond geography as the default.
- Re‑scoping Chapters – Shift from monthly‑meeting machine to dynamic hubs focused on outcomes, not calendars.
- Leadership Redesign – Move leaders from operators to community builders.
- Centralized Infrastructure – Streamline finance, data, training and other heavy lifts so volunteers can focus on connection not paperwork.
Concept of Value…
Value‑in‑exchange is what happens when we create and deliver a product or service to members in return for dues or time—this is a transaction that offers potential value.
Value‑in‑use, by contrast, is where real value is created: when members actively engage with our content, connect with one another, and participate in the community. Until that engagement occurs, value exists only as a possibility; it becomes real only through use, interaction, and participation.
The conversation highlighted how data-driven decisions, culture change, and people power reinforce each other. The key takeaway was to treat data as a driver of culture change—not just compliance. The discussion also emphasized the role of leadership and people power in generating a “return on engagement,” defining success around the value members actually experience.
After the panel, we split into groups to put what we learned to the test by participating in interactive roundtables to talk about challenges, exchange ideas, and consider the next practical steps to take. The session wrapped with a highlight of takeaways from each group (because sharing is what it’s all about!)
Community and belonging don’t emerge from activity—they emerge from design.
After a delicious lunch, we settled in for Practical Ideas You Can Steal: RapidFire Edition, where 19 pros (from on earth and in space) shared one idea that has worked for them … and we were invited to steal! And of course, anyone that wished got the chance to share an idea that resonated with them and how they might implement it into their plan.
Here’s two that we’d like to steal…
🧘 A bit of selfcare from Arianna Rehak, CEO, Matchbox: Daily Vitamin D walks + AI voice conversation – Arianna started taking daily walks while having conversations with ChatGPT to help work through planning the coming weeks/days. It’s making her workdays MUCH more intentional.
🏆 Volunteer appreciation from Colleen McMahon, Chief Member & Volunteer Services Officer, Residential Real Estate Council: Website Pop-up: Volunteer Recognition – During National Volunteer Week, RRC launched a website pop-up to celebrate its volunteers. It’s a small token of appreciation for the dedication that strengthens the Council and brings the community together.
Finding Solutions:
What would CEX be without a 2nd round of small-group conversations? In this session, we had a chance to tap our peers for tips and advice on one component challenge that needs help. From the buzz in the room this session got people talking and one attendee said they were going to use the session model for their next leadership program!
We ended the day with a group picture of our Earth & space peeps … Now go out and make change happen!
Final tidbits from our presenters and attendees:
- Use Return of engagement vs Return of investment!
- Failure is just a data point (agree!)
- Normalize how long it takes.
- Words matter – 1) No more us/them … make it we; 2) Don’t use quit … use pivot, realign, ect; 3) Governance? Think Engagement volunteers!
- Be flexible – allow your volunteers build what they need to build.
- Don’t focus too much on the initial end goal … circumstances may change that goal so be willing to shift as needed.
See you in 2027!
*CEX is co-hosted by Mariner Management and re:Members.
