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2026 NWAC Winter Conference

REGISTER  •  AGENDA  •  HOTEL
Ilani Casino Resort logo
FEB. 2-3, 2026  |  ILANI CASINO RESORT  |  RIDGEFIELD, WASHINGTON
NWAC commissioners come together to discuss latest conference topics. Hear updates directly from a few NWAC partners and the NWAC office. The NWAC is more than sports.

EVENT INFO & REGISTRATION

The 2026 NWAC Winter Conference will take place at the Ilani Casino Resort located at 1 Cowlitz Way, Ridgefield, WA 98642. 

The name Ilani has different pronunciations depending on its origin, most commonly "ay-LAN-ay" (like the Washington casino, meaning "sing" in Cowlitz), recognizing the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, the Forever People. 

Registration for conference commissioners, coaches and other personnel can be found: HERE.

HOTEL

Ilani Casino Resort logo

Ilani Casino Hotel [direct booking link]

  • Address: 1 Cowlitz Way, Ridgefield, WA 98642
  • Rate: $192.00/night
  • Contact: 1-877-Go-ilani and use code NWAC0226
  • Cutoff date: 1/16/2026 
  • Reservation Group Code: NWAC0226

AGENDA [PDF]

Guest Lineup:

Feb. 1

4pm Hotel check-in begins.
Feb. 2
7:00am Breakfast on your own
8:30am-12:00pm NWAC Executive Board meeting
9:30am-12:00pm Region meetings
12:00pm Lunch on your own
1:00pm Commission Meeting, Day 1
1:00pm-5:00pm Partners/Vendors open and available
1:05pm Welcome
1:10pm Washington State Assistant Attorney General, Tricia Boerger
1:40pm Introduction of All Partners/Vendors
1:50pm Ballogy: "Elevating Your Game" Jordan Green, Chief Operating Officer & Shawn Jones, Director, Athletics
2:20pm

eTeamSponsor: “Aligning Athletics and the Foundation: Maximizing Fundraising Through Shared Goals, Panel Discussion Hosted by Thane Jackson & Jordan Balser

Athletics and foundations often share the same goal of supporting students but approach it from different angles. When those efforts align, the results are transformational. This session will explore how intentional collaboration between Athletics and the Foundation can strengthen fundraising efforts, improve donor engagement, and create a more unified approach to giving.

3:00pm Break to Visit Partners/Vendors
3:15pm FanWord: Chris Aumueller, CEO
3:50pm NWAC Discussion #1: Institutional Best Practices within the NWAC
4:50pm Daktronics: Ron Case
5:00pm Close of Commission Meeting, Day 1
5:00pm-6:00pm Social Hour hosted by Daktronics
6:00pm Dinner, provided by NWAC, at Ilani Casino Resort
6:45pm "You Are Being Planted Not Buried" Lance Thonvold, former Seattle Mariner
7:30pm Q & A Social with Lance Thonvold
Feb. 3
7:30am Breakfast on your own
8:00am-12:00pm Partners/Vendors open and available
8:15am-8:45am Women's Commissioners Coffee & Conversations
8:45am-9:00am Engine: Jedrek Sanchez-Howe, SMB Account Manager & Josh Dolan, Sales Manager, Account Management
9:00am-9:30am "Sisters in Sports" Ann Walker, WeCOACH Past President, Retired College Athletic Administrator & Coach
9:30am NWAC Discussion #2: Fall Tournament Budget Updates
9:45am NWAC Discussion #3: Tuition Waivers, Compliance, Letters of Intent, Assets Evaluation, New Sports, SP
10:30am Break to Visit Partners/Vendors
10:45am Code Discussion
11:55am Final Comments
12:00pm End of NWAC Winter Conference

Schedule and agenda subject to change.

Partners/Vendors in attendance:

Ballogy

Daktronics

Engine

eTeamSponsor

FanWord

Hudl Musco Lighting Protime Sports  

Questions?

Questions regarding the event, please contact Shelly Grothe via email at sgrothe@nwacsports.com