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NAED LEAD CONFERENCE

Charlotte, NC |  The Westin Charlotte

OCTOBER 12-14, 2026

 

Late registration fees apply after September 21, 2026

 

 


REGISTER


CONFERENCE INFORMATION

Overview
Leadership doesn't stop developing at any level. The LEAD Conference brings together first-time managers and 20-year executives alike, because the strategies that build strong leaders don't expire once you've made VP. Through expert keynotes, hands-on workshops, and peer-driven collaboration, you'll build a personal leadership playbook you can put to work immediately, whether you're leading your first team or reshaping how your entire organization leads.
Who Should Attend
LEAD is built for leaders at every stage, not just the ones starting out. That includes high-potential employees stepping into their first leadership role, mid-level managers scaling their impact, and senior executives and directors sharpening how they lead through change. If you influence people, whether that's a team of three or a division of three hundred, this conference has strategies built for where you are right now. LEAD also celebrates tED Magazine's 30 Under 35 Award winners with a dedicated awards ceremony, one part of a conference built for leaders across every career stage.
Agenda (pdf download) Agenda (Link)

Event Pricing

Distributor Members
 

$1,325
Regular Rate
* Late Rate (after 9/21/26) - $1,525

Non-Distributor Members

$1,425
Regular Rate
* Late Rate (after 9/21/26) - $1,625

Industry Non-Members**

$1,425
Regular Rate
* Late Rate (after 9/21/26) - $1,625

Non-Members
 

$1,850
Regular Rate
* Late Rate (after 9/21/26) - $2,150

* To ensure you receive member pricing, log into your NAED account prior to registering.
If you don’t remember your credentials, please use the forgot password link available on the login page.

 

** This pricing applies to members of industry associations such as NEMA, NECA, NEMRA that are not members of NAED.

 

Pre-Conference Workshop

Metrics, Benchmarking, and Goal-Setting:
Driving Operational Excellence in Distribution Management

Monday, October 12, 2026, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Cost: $150 per person (non-refundable, non-transferable)
 
Led by Steven Ebel of Texas A&M University, this workshop will teach participants how to drive operational excellence in distribution management by focusing on meaningful metrics, benchmarking, and strategic goal-setting. Key operational areas covered include Safety, Employee Engagement, Quality, Productivity, Customer Service, Social Responsibility, and Financial Results.
 
This workshop is designed for distributors currently working in operations, distributors who want to better understand operational leadership, and manufacturers who want to learn which metrics matter most to their distributor partners.
 

HOUSING

The Westin Charlotte

601 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

  • Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. Check-out time is 11:00 a.m.
  • The group rate is $259 per night, not including taxes and fees.
  • Requests for housing must accompany conference registration. The hotel will not directly accept reservations at the conference rate. 
  • The deadline for the room block discount is September 21, 2026, though rooms may fill up sooner. 
  • NOTE: The housing link to book your room will be in the confirmation email you’ll receive after your registration has been processed.

 

 

Westin-Charlotte_guest-room

TRAVEL

GETTING THERE

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is approximately 7.3 miles from the hotel.

An Uber/Lyft is approximately $32 with an average travel time of 21 minutes.

 

 

Parking

Parking

Valet Parking: $55.00/night
On-Site Parking: $35.00/night

 Weather

Weather

In October, temperatures will range from highs in the mid 70s and lows in the 50s.

Attire

Attire

Recommended attire for NAED events is business casual.

NAED POLICIES

EVENT CANCELLATION POLICY:

  • Cancelations received by NAED 21 days prior to the conference will be charged a processing fee of $250 per registrant canceled. There will be no refunds after this time. To cancel, registrants (or their delegates) would select “My registrations” from their profile page, select the event and person they wish to cancel, and select “Cancel”.
  • Substitutions received in writing will be accepted at any time at events@naed.org.
  • NO SHOWS (registrants who do not attend the conference and have not canceled 21 days prior to the conference) WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND.
  • Optional activity purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable.

 

HOTEL CANCELLATION POLICY:

  • Up to 30 days prior to arrival there is no cancellation charge. 
  • From 29 to 14 days prior to arrival attendees will be charged one (1) night’s room and tax. 
  • From 13 to 0 days prior to arrival attendees will be charged two (2) nights’ room and tax.  
  • Those who fail to cancel will be charged two (2) nights’ room and tax. 

 

MEETING & SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY POLICY:

NAED is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all meeting attendees. Therefore, NAED has zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment by participants or our staff at our meetings. No concern is too small – if you see something, say something. The full policy is available at https://www.naed.org/meeting-safety-responsibility

 

 

UPCOMING NAED EVENTS

2026 Events:


2027 Events:


2028 Events:

  • NAED 2028 Western Region Conference: Jan. 10-12, 2028 (San Diego, CA)
  • NAED 2028 Eastern Region Conference: Feb. 7-9, 2028 (Houston, TX)
  • NAED 2028 National Meeting: May 9-11, 2028 (Hollywood, FL)
  • NAED 2028 Women In Industry Forum: June 5-8, 2028


2029 Events:

  • NAED 2028 Western Region Conference: Jan. 22-24, 2029 (Palm Desert, CA)
  • NAED 2028 Eastern Region Conference: Feb. 12-14, 2029 (Austin, TX)
  • NAED 2029 Women In Industry Forum: June 18-21


2030 Events:

  • NAED 2030 Eastern Region Conference: Feb. 11-13, 2030 (Atlanta, GA)
  • NAED 2030 Women In Industry Forum: June 10-13, 2030


2031 Events:

  • NAED 2031 Eastern Region Conference: Feb. 24-26, 2031 (Orlando, FL)

 

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Show your support for NAED and the industry by becoming a corporate partner.

All corporate partnership opportunities are customized to meet the goals and objectives of your organization. Your custom package will be designed to meet those goals and your budget. Submit your email address for more information.