2026 CARVC Conference Agenda
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2026
7:00 AM - 10:30 AM Coastal Grill
Breakfast Buffet (Included in room rate).
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Myrtle Beach Travel Park
Registration: NFPA 1194 Training (must provide your own transportation).
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Myrtle Beach Travel Park
NFPA 1194 Training and Facility Tour, includes lunch. ($, additional enrollment required).
Instructor: Al Johnson.
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Coastal Lounge
Evening Reception (Drink tickets included in room rate).
7:00 PM Black Drum Brewery
Dinner (Dutch treat). Restaurant located at Embassy Suites.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2026
7:00 AM - 10:30 AM Coastal Grill
Breakfast Buffet (Included in room rate).
9:30 AM Pembroke Room
CARVC Board Meeting.
12:00 PM - 5:30 PM Westminster Hallway
Registration Desk Open / Auction Item Drop-Off.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Kensington G
Campground Development Case Study.
Jayne Cohen, Founder & CEO, Campground Consulting Group; Emeka Nnadi, Founder & CEO, The Nadi Group; and featuring The Lakes RV & Cabin Resort, NC.
Jayne and Emeka take us on a journey for building, expanding, or redeveloping an RV park and/or campground. Step by step details from a piece of dirt or a run-down campground or your dream vision to when the RV park opens for business. Follow along with their case study of an actual RV resort in Maysville, NC for practical tips, recommendations, lessons learned and a wealth of insights from doing it yourself. Learn from their practical advice and proven development process and experience. This session promises to equip attendees with actionable strategies for navigating the complexities of campground development and expansion and gives attendees an understanding of the intricacies involved. Attendees will also gain insight into the latest trends in the RV and camping industry, including sustainability practices, adapting to evolving traveler preferences, and integrating modern amenities that appeal to diverse audiences. Whether you are a seasoned operator or developer or new to campground ventures, this session will provide valuable perspectives. Open discussion and questions encouraged during the presentation.
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM Kensington G
The Importance of Social Media.
Jacob Hagofsky, Founder and CEO, 52 Unlimited.
Social media is more than just a platform for entertainment—it’s a powerful tool for communication, branding, and engagement. While businesses often focus on sales, social media thrives on content that is informative, appealing, and relatable. Visual content plays a key role in grabbing attention. Pictures and videos outperform text-heavy posts, making it easier to connect with audiences quickly. The right visuals can tell a story, evoke emotions, and create a lasting impression. Of course, social media has its downsides—misinformation, negativity, and overuse can be real concerns. But when used strategically, the positives outweigh the negatives. It fosters brand awareness, builds communities, and provides a direct line of communication between individuals and organizations. In today’s digital world, social media isn’t optional. It’s a necessity for staying relevant, engaging audiences, and shaping public perception.
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM Kensington G
What’s ‘Appening’ (Panel on mobile apps).
Facilitator: Bobby Sorden, Chief Marketing Officer, App My Community.
Discover everything you need to know about the CARVC conference app—how to navigate it, why it’s valuable, and how similar custom apps are transforming the guest experience at parks across the Carolinas. This interactive panel brings together campground operators to share how they’re using mobile apps to boost communication, simplify daily tasks, drive additional revenue through sponsorships, and create more engaging, memorable stays for their guests. Dee Witting, Executive Director of CARVC, will also join the panel to highlight the many ways the CARVC app supports member parks and connects with campers throughout the region. Whether you’re exploring the idea of an app or already using one, this session will leave you with fresh ideas, real-life examples, and practical takeaways to enhance your park’s operations and guest satisfaction.
4:45 PM - 5:30 PM Kensington G
Session TBD.
5:00 PM Kensington DEF, Hallways
Vendor Setup Begins.
5:30 PM Coastal Lounge
“Spark the Flame” Welcome Reception
Drink tickets included in room rate. Food provided by CARVC.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2026
7:00 AM - 10:30 AM Coastal Grill
Breakfast Buffet (Included in room rate).
7:30 AM - 12:00 PM Westminster Hallway
Registration Desk Open / Auction Item Drop-Off. Vendor set up continues in all locations.
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM Kensington G
Welcome and Introductions (CARVC Board).
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM Kensington G
Opening Keynote: Elevating the Customer from King to Emperor.Ken Corbin, author of 8 books on sales growth, personal and business management.
Let’s kick-off our 2026 conference on developing relationships, creating and keeping customers for life. Make doing business with you easy! It’s all about quality service, exceeding customer expectations, and doing what you say you’ll do … when you say you’ll do it. DON’T become another ME-TOO company. In this presentation, you’ll learn how to:
- Differentiate yourself from your competition
- Create a pleasant, enjoyable and incredible customer experience
- Have customers fall in love with your company
- Turn customer service issues into new customer opportunities
- Develop trust
- Create customers that create customers!
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Kensington G
Legal Session: What Did We Get Sued For in 2025?
Christine Taylor, Esq., Partner, Goldberg Segalla.
Nothing stops people from suing you – but we can make it a whole lot more difficult! Find out what campground owners faced in 2025, what were they sued for? Learn tips and tricks to lessen liability and how to take a proactive approach to fending off lawsuits.
Get familiar with the CARVC Legal Hotline: Got a question? Have a problem? Worried about language for a document? Don’t know how to negotiate with a vendor? Employee giving you issues? Want to be pointed in the right direction? Utilize the CARVC legal hotline for your 30 minutes of free legal help! Need more advanced help? Discounted Legal Services for CARVC members.
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Kensington G
Workplace Safety: Substance Use Awareness.
Craig Bourque, President and CEO, Carolina Drug & Alcohol Testing Services and BRAVO Compliance.
Substance use among employees in hospitality and outdoor recreation settings—such as campgrounds and resorts—can pose serious safety risks, affect guest experiences, and jeopardize your brand reputation. This 1-hour training is designed specifically for campground and resort management teams, as well as HR personnel, to recognize the signs of employee substance use and respond with confidence and compliance.
Participants will learn to identify behavioral, physical, and performance-related indicators of substance misuse, understand legal and company policy considerations, and apply effective communication techniques to address concerns. The course also explores real-world scenarios common to campground and resort environments, such as seasonal staff challenges and employee housing issues. Complete session outline
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM Kensington G
Lunch and “Fuel the Fire” Sponsor Spotlight Trivia.
Hosted by Bobby Sorden, App My Community and Supplier Spot
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Kensington DEF, Hallways
“The Spark Market” Trade Show.
12:45 PM - 5:00 PM Hallways
Silent Auction Items on Display.
5:00 PM All locations
Trade Show Breakdown. Must be completed at end of Trade Show.
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Coastal Lounge
Evening Reception (Drink tickets included in room rate).
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Kensington G
“Burn Bright” Dinner, Auction & Entertainment.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026
7:00 AM - 10:30 AM Coastal Grill
Breakfast Buffet (Included in room rate).
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Kensington G
Growing Your Business.
Ken Corbin, author of 8 books on sales growth, personal and business management.
This is Ken’s #1 program and the ultimate guide on taking your company to the next level. It’s presented to Fortune 500 companies, associations, franchises, and trade groups in North America and Europe. It’s a fun and interactive session that will teach you the difference between ordinary and extraordinary. Ken will discuss the roadmaps to success because there’s no shortcuts to anywhere worth going. Great leadership has the ability to develop a strategy to adapt to today’s ever-changing marketplace.
- Is what you’re doing today bringing you closer to tomorrow?
- Do you have a vision that is in-line with your business plan?
- Are you inspired to lead, organize and accomplish your goals?
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM Kensington G
Annual Business Meeting.
All members/non-members are welcome! Meet your CARVC Board. 2026 Board elections. CARVC accomplishments in 2025 and the 2026 goals.
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Kensington G
Accessibility in Campgrounds.
Nichole Poisson, Sr. Manager of Franchise Development, KOA.
An insightful seminar on enhancing accessibility in campgrounds to ensure outdoor recreation is inclusive for everyone. We’ll explore practical strategies, best practices, and innovative solutions to improve campground accessibility, from navigable paths to accessible cabins.
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM Kensington G
Lunch.
12:45 PM - 1:30 PM Kensingston G
Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum, How Am I Going to Get This All Done: A Day in the Life of A Campground Owner.
Facilitator: Tyler Watts, Co-Owner, Broad River Campground. Panel of Campground Operators.
Make sure to join us for our very first Fe-FI-Fo Fum panel that will include owners & managers from various campgrounds breaking down what their average day looks like! Most people think it's sipping coffee and leisure golf cart rides. However, these managers and owners are the "ghosts" we don't see that make all the magic happen! Make sure to join us for fresh ideas on time management and prioritizing needs to keep YOUR park running smoothly! From guest services to events to making sure there is fresh coffee for staff, we are going to help YOU with getting things completed on time and within budget!
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM Around the Resort
Spend an extra night and enjoy the resort facilities or explore the area.
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Coastal Lounge
Evening Reception (Drink tickets included in room rate).
7:00 PM Location TBD
Dinner (Dutch treat).
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026
7:00 AM - 10:30 AM Coastal Grill
Breakfast Buffet (Included in room rate).
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pembroke
CARVC Board Meeting.
Download the CARVC Mobile App! Use the QR code or go to your app store and look for "Camping Carolinas." Conference and training session updates, agenda, and more will be accessible through this app. This will be an important on-site tool!