What a week! The 2026 Annual Meeting was held in Virginia Beach, where members from across the country came together to learn, celebrate, and elect our next national team for 2027. Read on for the recap, and a sneak peak at next year’s conference.
By the Numbers:
- Total Conference Attendees: 178
- Total Gala Attendees: 212
- Number of Trainings Held: 7
The Sessions
Skills Development Competitions had a packed audience, as members took to the stage in novice and masters levels of Speak Up. Jimmy McCoy, California State President, took the top spot and is now eligible to represent the United States at Conference of America in the spring!
Members attended a variety of workshops and presentations, with resources for their own professional development along with strategies and opportunities for their chapter’s growth. Members learned about the Twinning program, member recruitment, and tech-forward marketing strategies.
Our keynote speakers, Julian Riveria & Mike Little, left us feeling inspired with their message to “get in the room” and “be tenacious.” We also had two special Virginia Beach guests on our advocacy panel. Olga Torres Baker shared her experience advocating for others in her work as an interpreter, and Andrea Dixon-Schesventer shared thoughtful and actionable insights on how to get involved in advocacy work in our communities.
Also in the Advocacy session, members put pen to paper as part of our national partnership with Vote Forward, participating in a letter writing campaign to encourage young people to vote in midterm elections this fall. This partnership didn’t end with Annual Meeting, so check out our other blog post for all the details!
For members who are new to the organization, or just new to national events, the First Timers session provided an opportunity to connect with new members, our current National President, and a knowledgeable group of Past National Presidents. We covered how to make the most of your weekend, and even issued a challenge to get first timers mingling at the Welcome Party that followed.
The Elections
Elections are an important part of Annual Meeting, with an in-person candidate caucus and states casting their votes during the General Assembly session. This year’s slate included 5 candidates for the National Vice Presidents, 2 candidates for Deputy National President, and 1 candidate for National President.
During the Candidate Caucus, nine Past National Presidents were brought to the stage to ask questions of the candidates for National President and Deputy National President. The questions covered a variety of topics, from growing membership, to technology, to strategic planning. There were also plenty of references to Past National Presidents’ themes from their years in office!
Because the Bylaws dictate that JCI USA have six National Vice Presidents, and the National President race was also uncontested, those members were elected by acclamation, without needing a roll call vote. The members elected were as follows:
2027 National President: Aaron Gauldin
2027 Deputy National President: Eric Hiatt
2027 National Vice Presidents: Briyell Schriver, Jessica Anderson, Megan O’Brien, Nick McNew, and Sean Brady
The Celebrations
In addition to professional development opportunities, there were plenty of opportunities to celebrate this year. The Welcome Party kicked off Annual Meeting with food, drinks, and a conga line on more than one occasion! On Friday, the Star Spangled Celebration gave members the chance to talk to the candidates up for election, and to try lots of snacks and drinks from states in attendance. Some favorites included Faygo sodas from Michigan, huckleberry flavored candy from Montana, and string cheese from Wisconsin.
At the formal Gala on Saturday night, we celebrated this year’s Ten Outstanding Young Americans. Emceed by JCI Senator Jocelyn Bernal, we heard inspiring stories from the honorees with expertise ranging from mental health advocacy, to impactful nonprofit leadership, to military excellence. The gala wrapped up with the official passing of the chain, from current National President Josh Hoveln, to the National President Elect, Aaron Gauldin.
Commemorating 9/11
While there was much to celebrate, JCI USA also took time during the week to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. Multiple sessions began with a moment of silence; veterans and emergency personnel were recognized with gratitude. This year also continued the Mental Health Committee’s suicide prevention awareness walk. A group of Jaycees gathered by the beach for some thoughtful time together. Donations were collected for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, many contributing $9.11 in honor of the date.
See You Next Year!
As 2026 starts to come to a close, we are looking forward to seeing everyone again at the 2027 Annual Meeting! Next year, we will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 28th – October 3rd. The conference will take place in the Embassy Suites Grand Rapids Downtown, the perfect location to relax and explore the city’s vibrant arts and craft beer scenes. Make sure you’re following JCI USA and JCI Michigan on social media for the latest updates!