May 20-23, 2024

INDEPENDENTS CONFERENCE & EXPO

Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Registration Rates
AFSA Member $1,760
AFSA Non-Member $2,760
First Time Attendee (Members Only) $850
Committee/Board Member $1,430
Outstanding Employee $850
Spouse $850

Join AFSA’s independent members for a content-rich experience, engaging in strategic, thought-provoking discussions on issues affecting the industry.

AFSA is pleased to announce that the 2024 Independents Conference & Expo will be held May 20-23 at the beautiful Marriott Harbot Beach in Fort Lauderdale. Each day will feature fast-paced and informative keynotes sessions, thoughtful committee meetings, and engaging networking opportunities.

Explore  business strategies and insights from industry leaders and colleagues.

Participate  in thought-provoking keynotes, panels and committee meetings.

Network with attendees along the beautiful Florida coast.

Featured Speakers

Conference Keynote

Lt. Col. (ret.) Scott Mann

Lt. Col. (ret.) Scott Mann

High-Impact Leadership Expert; Retired Green Beret

Described as the “Warrior Storyteller,” Lt. Col. Scott Mann is a retired U.S. Army Green Beret who specialized in unconventional, high-impact special operations missions in do-or-die environments across the globe.

In a distinguished 23-year military career, Lieutenant Colonel Mann operated at the highest levels of the Special Operations Community, widely recognized for his successful leadership of teams in complex situations.

He grabbed global headlines when, alongside fellow Green Beret veterans and other volunteers, he led “Pineapple Express” — a grassroots leadership campaign using Rooftop Human Connection Skills to honor a promise and save more than 1,000 Afghans from a life-threatening situation amid America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Mann brings an innovative approach to problem solving — one that has empowered people from all walks of life to get surrounded on purpose to achieve something much greater than themselves.

Following his military service, Mann founded Rooftop Leadership, a professional training and coaching program designed to help high-performing, servant leaders forge deeper connections with the people they serve to create more powerful outcomes in business and life. His training program incorporates leadership and rapport-building principles to organizations in any industry and outlines how today’s leaders can make better human connections in high-stakes, low-trust environments.

Lt. Col. Mann advocates on behalf of our troops before Congress and on national media outlets, including CNN, Fox, and ABC. In addition to his speaking, Lt. Col. Mann channels is a playwright and actor in “Last Out,” his recent play-brought-to-film illustrating the unforeseen costs of war on our veterans — available on Amazon Prime.

 

Champions Club

Kenny Smith

Kenny Smith

Two-Time NBA Champion; Award-Winning Broadcaster

Known throughout his basketball career by the nickname “The Jet,” Kenny Smith today co-hosts the top-rated “Inside The NBA,” alongside Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal, and is recognized as one of the top basketball analysts in the industry.  

Prior to his media career, Smith had a decade-long playing career in the NBA, winning two World Championships with the Houston Rockets, following a stellar playing career under legendary Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina.

AGENDA

*subject to change*

Monday, May 20
8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Registration Center Caribbean Lobby
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Law Committee (by invitation)

Ocean 3/4

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Operations & Regulatory Compliance Committee Ocean 1/2
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Independents Board Meeting (by invitation) Grand Ballroom
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Law/SGA/ORCC Joint Dinner TBD
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. AFSAPAC Event Beach

 

Tuesday, May 21
7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Registration Center Caribbean Lobby
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. State Government Affairs Committee Ocean 3/4
8:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. Independents Auto Finance Executives Breakfast/Meeting (by invitation) Ocean Patio/Ocean 1
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Leadership Development Program Steering Committee Ocean 2
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. EDGE Advisory Board Ocean 2
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. HR Networking Group Grand D
10:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Law Committee (by invitation) Ocean 3/4
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. AFSAEF Board Meeting/Lunch Ocean 2
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Executive Committee Meeting/Lunch (by invitation) Ocean 1
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Ancillary Product Working Group Grand D
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Business Partner Board Ocean 2
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. AFSA Board of Directors Ocean 3/4
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Women’s Leadership Council Ocean 1
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Welcome Party with Exhibitors Grand Ballroom
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Welcome Dinner/AFSAPAC Auction Caribbean Ballroom

 

Wednesday, May 22
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Registration Center Caribbean Lobby
8:00 a.m.- 8:45 a.m. Breakfast with Exhibitors Grand Ballroom
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Opening General Session: Opening Remarks, Outstanding Independents Awards, and Keynote Address

KEYNOTE SESSION with Lt. Col. Scott Mann (ret.): Join us for compelling and dynamic storytelling, with lessons learned from critical combat missions that demonstrate transformative relationship-building techniques and decision-making skills that are key to establishing high-trust organizations.

Sponsored by

Caribbean Ballroom
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Refreshments with Exhibitors Caribbean Ballroom
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. General Session: CEO Roundtable Caribbean Ballroom
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. General Session: TBD Caribbean Ballroom
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Luncheon with Exhibitors Grand Ballroom
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Public Policy Update Caribbean Ballroom
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Road to 2024: The Election Outlook

Speakers:
Jeffrey Horwitt, Partner, Hart Search
Micah Roberts, Partner, Public Opinion Strategies

Sponsored by

Caribbean Ballroom
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Refreshments with Exhibitors Grand Ballroom
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. RSM Survey Caribbean Ballroom
3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Solutions Showcase Caribbean Ballroom
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Marketing & Communications Committee Grand B
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Independent Accounting Committee Grand C
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Operations Networking Group Grand D
5:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Receptions with Exhibitors Grand Ballroom

 

Thursday, May 23
8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Registration Center Caribbean Lobby
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast Ocean Ballroom Foyer
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Breakfast & Breakouts: TBD Ocean 1
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Breakfast & Breakouts: TBD Ocean 3
9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Breakfast & Breakouts: TBD Ocean 1
9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Breakfast & Breakouts: TBD Ocean 3
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Coffee Break Caribbean Foyer
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Champions Club

Speaker:
Kenny Smith, Two-Time NBA Champion & Award-winning Broadcaster

Sponsored by

Caribbean Ballroom
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Luncheon for All Attendees Ocean Terrace
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Fun in the Sun Beach Activities Beach

 

Speakers

Danielle Arlowe

Danielle Arlowe

Senior Vice President

AFSA

Bill Himper

Bill Himper

President & CEO

AFSA

Jeffrey Horwitt

Jeffrey Horwitt

Partner

Hart Research

Micah Roberts

Micah Roberts

Partner

Public Opinion Strategies

Celia Winslow

Celia Winslow

Senior Vice President

AFSA

Hotel & Travel

Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa

3030 Holiday Drive
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
(954) 525-4000
www.marriottharborbeach.com

Click here to make a reservation or call 954-525-4000 or1-800-222-6543 to speak to a group reservation agent: https://book.passkey.com/e/50663125

Breathe in the crisp ocean air and immerse yourself in the warmth of the Sunshine State at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa. Situated along a quarter-mile of private beach, the hotel provides tropical tranquility while also offering easy access to Fort Lauderdale Airport.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Deadline Monday, April 29. Please contact the hotel directly to reserve your guest room at the discounted AFSA rate of $259 + plus tax, single or double occupancy and a discounted resort fee of $20. The resort fee includes:

  • Resort-wide high-speed wireless internet access, including Guest rooms, public space, meeting space, and restaurant outlets
  • Two (2) beach chairs per day
  • Two (2) resort Welcome Beverages per stay
  • One-hour rental of non-motorized water sports equipment per day for up to two people (weather permitting) – select from skim board, paddleboard, boogie board or kayak, age restrictions apply.
  • Two (2) fitness classes per day (visit the Spa for class schedule. Reservations required)
  • $25 discount off any spa treatment excluding hair and nail services
  • 90 minutes tennis court use, includes rackets and balls, per day
  • One hour use of beach games daily (Giant Jenga, Connect 4, Bocce Ball, Horse Shoes)

You must mention you are with AFSA to receive this special room rate. The room block always fills up before the registration deadline so call as soon as possible to ensure availability.

Hotel reservations at the discounted AFSA rate are only available to AFSA conference registered attendees. The hotel will move your room outside the AFSA block and back to the prevailing room rate at the hotel if you are not registered for this meeting.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION FROM FORT LAUDERDALE (FLL) AIRPORT

Fort Lauderdale International Airport is located approximately 20 minutes from the Hotel.
UBER is available in Fort Lauderdale and the cost of UBERx to the hotel from the airport ranges from $15-$19.Taxicabs are also readily available outside of the Airport and the cost of a taxi to the hotel is approximately $28. Town cars can also be arranged by contacting the hotel concierge in advance.

If you are interested in renting a car, AFSA is happy to announce a partnership with Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company that gives members a 10% discount on rental cars. For reservations, go to www.enterprise.com and enter 16AH072 for the discount corporate code.

Parking is $45 for self parking or $50 for Valet per night.

TRAVEL

AFSA is pleased to offer discounted airfare to the 2024 Independents Conference & Expo.

  • United Airlines offers a discount with flights booked via their website using the promotional code ZNVG806912.
  • Delta Airlines offers a discount booked via their dedicated booking website or calling 1-800-328-1111 and using the promotional code NM35Z.