MWA is seeking proposals from Event Planners to facilitate the 2026 Raising the Bar Conference. This is a three-day event, the purpose of which is to educate workforce professionals and partners around best practices regarding workforce development and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Day one is a pre-conference dedicated to Youth workforce development. Days two and three are full-day conference days which include: opening sessions each day with guest speakers and workshops. One thousand to One thousand two hundred participants are projected. The selected Event Planner will coordinate the conference to be held September 21-23, 2026 and calendar years 2027 and 2028. The 2026 and 2027 conferences will be held at a location in Baltimore, Maryland. A qualified bidder will be expected to: Manage Conference Planning • Develop, manage and execute a master event logistical plan and timeline; assign and delegate tasks to volunteer teams; • Manage various event-planning teams in the planning and implementation process for all aspects of the event; including leading monthly Raising the Bar Planning Team Meetings. • Coordinate work with other conference committees to ensure efficient and effective flow of information across teams (i.e. Marketing, Logistics, Workshop Selection, etc.) • Develop agendas, coordinate and lead planning committee meetings in person, or as necessary in order to execute conference plan objectives; • Create cost and revenue plan/projections and make recommendations to MWA Board for registration fees and exhibitor rates; • In conjunction with the MWA planning team(s), develop conference venue options, comparisons, and recommendations; • Identify, contact, and recruit exhibitors; • Develop sponsorship strategy; create and develop sponsorship levels as well as expected benefits; track and fulfill sponsor benefits (logo inclusion, signage, table assignments at mealtime, etc.); • Work with the Maryland Workforce Association to identify, contact and secure sponsorships;
