SHIFT AGENDA
Learn more about each session by clicking the time and title for a drop-down description.
Sunday, December 7th
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Head to Broadmoor Hall early to check-in, pick up your name tag, and connect with the HINGE Advisors team behind this incredible conference!
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Join your SHIFT hosts and fellow attendees in The Broadmoor's International Center. Complimentary food and drink will be provided. Sponsored by Essential Properties.
Monday, December 8th
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Make your way to The Broadmoor’s Main Ballroom each morning before breakfast for a revitalizing yoga session led by the one and only Beth Cannon!
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Check-in (if you haven't already), grab some brain food, and network with your fellow conference attendees! Breakfast is complimentary and will be out and available in Broadmoor Hall A until 9:00 AM.
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Join SHIFT host Kathy Ligon as she welcomes you to an energizing and purpose-driven week. In this opening session, Kathy will cover key housekeeping details and set the tone for what's ahead. She’ll also share fresh insights on the latest advancements, pressing challenges, and emerging opportunities shaping the early education industry today.
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What’s driving investor interest in early education? Join EY-Parthenon’s Phil Vaccaro and Malavika Dhawan as they share the latest data and analysis on private investment trends shaping the childcare landscape. Explore what’s attracting capital, how market dynamics are shifting, and what this means for owners, operators, and stakeholders across the sector. Whether you're looking to grow, sell, or simply understand the evolving financial terrain, this session will equip you with a clearer picture of what’s ahead and how to position your program for long-term success.
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Take 30 minutes to have a good stretch or refill your SHIFT water bottle before the next session.
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Topic to be announced soon…
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Session topic to be announced soon…
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Find out which industry leaders you’ll have the chance to hear from in our afternoon breakout sessions. You’ll be able to choose from engaging topics in four powerful tracks: KNOW, GROW, LEAD, and GLOW.
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Re-energize with a complimentary lunch in Broadmoor Hall A and free time for networking! Sponsored by KinderCare Learning Companies.
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KNOW Breakout: ECE Business Fundamentals with HINGE Advisors
Topic to be announced soon…
GROW Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
LEAD Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
GLOW Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
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Take a 30-minute brain break before the next sessions.
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KNOW Breakout: ECE Business Fundamentals with HINGE Advisors
Topic to be announced soon…
GROW Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
LEAD Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
GLOW Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
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Start your evening with laughter and libations at our Cocktails & Comedy Kick-Off! Enjoy a half hour of hilarious entertainment from Vernon Mason while sipping on cocktails and mingling with fellow attendees. It’s the perfect way to loosen up and get in the spirit before the fundraising fun begins! Sponsored by Kangarootime.
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Saddle up for a wild west-themed evening of giving and grit in The Broadmoor’s International Center! This BOOST fundraiser will feature both a live and silent auction, all in support of preschool teachers facing financial hardship. Kick up your boots, raise your paddles, and help us wrangle the resources needed to make a lasting impact in ECE. Sponsored by Kids ‘R’ Kids.
Tuesday, December 9th
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Make your way to The Broadmoor’s Main Ballroom each morning before breakfast for a revitalizing yoga session led by the one and only Beth Cannon!
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Start your second day off right with a complimentary breakfast and a bit of networking with fellow attendees. Breakfast will be out and available in Broadmoor Hall A until 9:00 AM.
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Topic to be announced soon…
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Topic to be announced soon…
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Take 30 minutes to have a good stretch or refill your SHIFT water bottle before the next session.
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With federal relief funds ending and state policies evolving, what’s next for early education funding? In this timely session, the Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) unpacks the current funding landscape and offers expert insight into what providers can expect in the year ahead. Learn how national and state-level decisions are shaping public investment, where new opportunities may emerge, and how to prepare your program for financial shifts. Whether you're navigating subsidy changes or advocating for increased support, this session will help you plan with confidence and strategy.
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Find out which industry leaders you’ll have the chance to hear from in our afternoon breakout sessions. You’ll be able to choose from engaging topics in four powerful tracks: KNOW, GROW, LEAD, and GLOW.
-
Re-energize with a complimentary lunch in Broadmoor Hall A and free time for networking!
-
KNOW Breakout: ECE Business Fundamentals with HINGE Advisors
Topic to be announced soon…
GROW Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
LEAD Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
GLOW Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
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Take a 30-minute brain break before the next sessions.
-
KNOW Breakout: ECE Business Fundamentals with HINGE Advisors
Topic to be announced soon…
GROW Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
LEAD Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
GLOW Breakout: TOPIC TBD
Topic to be announced soon…
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Before returning to the main ballroom for our keynote speaker, make sure to stop in the Broadmoor Hall Foyer for an afternoon pick-me-up of beer and an energizing snack. Sponsored by FunnyDaffer.
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This keynote explores how purpose-driven practices can transform early childhood education by raising standards of excellence and infusing deeper meaning into our work. Focusing on six key elements—curriculum, assessments, research, exceptionalities support, professional development, and government advocacy—it aims to elevate every aspect of the educational experience. Rather than settling for the status quo, this session challenges educators to pursue measurable improvements through a strong commitment to quality. It’s a call to move from aspirational ideas to intentional design, crafting learning experiences with purpose. Grounded in evidence and shared values, this approach aligns daily practice with theory, data, pedagogy, and policy to create better outcomes for every child and greater confidence in the future we build together.
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Join fellow attendees for our final evening cocktail hour in the International Center complete with complimentary food and drinks.
Wednesday, December 10th
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Make your way to The Broadmoor’s Main Ballroom before breakfast for our final revitalizing yoga session led by the one and only Beth Cannon!
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Start your final day off right with a complimentary breakfast and a bit of networking with fellow attendees. Please note the change of venue for today’s breakfast which will be out and available in the International Center until 9:00 AM.
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Topic to be announced soon…
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If you’ve been denied insurance or fear non-renewal, you’re not alone. Carriers are pulling out of childcare, but the real story isn’t just about claims or compliance. It’s about how you tell your story. In this high-impact session, insurance expert Sam Phillips, author of The Childcare Insurance Playbook, reveals what underwriters are really looking for and how to avoid common red flags. Learn how to shift from risky to irresistible in the eyes of insurance companies and take control of your coverage, even in today’s volatile market.
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Take 30 minutes to have a good stretch or refill your SHIFT water bottle before the next session.
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Topic to be announced soon…
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Kathy Ligon will wrap up the conference and send everyone on their way to explore beautiful Colorado Springs!