Join MSBOA for a game show-themed Winter Conference at River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud on January 27 – 28. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with vendors, discuss legislative updates, and learn from experts in the industry. Programs include a vendor show on Friday and a series of educational sessions on Saturday that cover topics like recruitment, stop-arm camera regulations, and contract negotiations.

REGISTRATION CLOSES AT NOON ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 26. REGISTRATION AT THE DOOR WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR $200 PER ATTENDEE.

Read a welcome letter from President Bethany Bertram!

Meet the Speakers

Kristen Brown

Kristen Brown is a professional speaker, research nerd, and holistic wellness coach. She spent 15 years in corporate leadership roles and holds a master's degree in Integral Theory. She loves to work with groups on positive ways to attract and energize employees. Kristen grew up on a farm in western Minnesota and has a special place in her heart for local groups that focus on helping children. She has been seen on over 500 media outlets, including Inc., CNN, BBC, HLN, Live with Kelly & Michael, Psychology Today, Working Mother, First magazine, and many more. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, boating, traveling, and spending time with her dog and daughter. 

Josh Rock

Josh Rock is an industry veteran in the Talent Acquisition and Recruiting strategy space, using his 20+ years of relevant experience to partner with business leaders to find, attract, and retain talent across a broad spectrum of industries. Josh got his start in the HR space working for JobDig before the industry was called "Recruitment Marketing." He has served executives and leaders their teams at CentraCare, Fairview Health and more recently, Nuss Truck & Equipment. Josh is extremely passionate about connecting people and ideas and supporting individuals in their career journey. As the lead moderator of @JobHuntChat, the oldest weekly job advice chat on Twitter, you can also find Josh lending his voice to announce for youth hockey games or plotting his next sports adventure.

Jim Kath

Jim works as a Behavior Intervention Specialist for the Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative. He has worked in the field of special education since 1998, specializing in working with individuals with various behavioral difficulties. He is a licensed special education teacher with certification in Emotional Behavior Disorders (E/BD) and Mild Moderate Impairments (M/MI). He received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from St. Cloud State University in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis respectively. Jim has worked as a Special Education Case Manager, an E/BD Consultant, and a Level 4 Program Coordinator prior to serving in his current role. He consults and provides training regularly with special education, regular education, transportation and school related staff to manage difficult behaviors and teach appropriate replacement skills. He lives in Nisswa with his wife Sarah and their 2 children, Finley and Fisher.

Agenda

Friday, January 27

• 2:00-4:00 PM - Board Meeting
• 5:00-7:00 PM - Vendor Show
• 7:30-9:00 PM - PAC Fundraiser

Saturday, January 28

• 7:30-8:30 AM - Breakfast with the Vendors 
• 8:30-9:45 AM - Up Your Game! Welcome Keynote by Kristen Brown
• 9:45-10:00 AM - Break 
• 10:00-11:00 AM - Hiring Hat Trick: Sourcing, Interviewing & Landing Great Talent with Josh Rock  
• 11:00-12:00 PM - SPED Students and Bus Behaviors with Jim Kath 
• 12:00-1:15 PM - Lunch
o 12:00-12:30 PM - 2023 Legislative Session: Big Bucks, No Whammies with Scott McMahon
o 12:30-1:15 PM - Red Light, Green Light: Q&A on Stop Arm Cameras with Rahya Reisler, DTS
• 1:15-1:30 PM - Break
• 1:30-2:15 PM - Making A Game Plan with Lt. Brian Reu & Sgt. Kelly Johnson, DPS
• 2:15-3:30 PM - Let's Make a Deal: Contract Negotiations Panel with MSBOA lawyer Tom Revnew, John Benjamin, Ann Casey, Doug Grisim and Lyle Hicks
• 3:30-4:00 PM - General Business Meeting

Sponsorship

We have several sponsorship opportunities available. Perks include being able to promote your company or service before a session, your logo featured on conference promotions, and complimentary vendor booths or attendee registrations. To learn more or register as a sponsor, click here.

Thank You to our Platinum Sponsor, I-State Truck Centers!

Lodging

MSBOA has booked a block of rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott in St. Cloud, across the street from the convention center. To lock in our group rate, book your room by Tuesday, December 27.

Room rate: $132-$142 per night
Block dates: Jan. 26 - 30
Check-in: 3 PM
Check-out: 11 AM
Parking fee: $4 per vehicle per night
Bus parking: Please contact sales office at (320) 654-1661

Book Your Room Now

FAQ

How do I register?

Click "Register" at the top of this page. Enter the information requested on the form as it relates to yourself. If you are registering as a vendor exhibitor, enter the name of your second staff person in the bottom line. On the next screen, select one of the required options: "Winter Conference -- Ticket," "Vendor Booth," or "Vendor Booth with Bus." To continue to payment, select "Save & Finalize Registration."

How do I register and pay for multiple people from my company?

After registering yourself using the steps above, select "Save & Add Another Attendee." Enter their information in the form. Do this for as many people as you are registering and paying for.

Why does it say "more" next to some attendee options?

Click on "more" to see a short description of that option and what it includes or does not include.

What if I register and then decide to sponsor?

MSBOA Operations Manager Emily Bostic is available to answer any questions related to sponsorship. If you register and then select a sponsorship tier with complimentary registration options, we will arrange a refund for the amount of your complimentary offerings. If you sign up as a sponsor before registering on this page, we will email you with coupon codes to get your complimentary perks.

What does a vendor booth come with?

A booth consists of a skirted table and two chairs.

What if I have other questions?

Please contact Emily Bostic with any questions not addressed here.