Insight into the 2026 Community Rec Leadership Summit taking place at the beautiful Omni Amelia Island Resort.
After three years of successfully empowering recreation leaders, the fourth-annual Community Rec Leadership Summit will return in 2026. This time, the top movers and shakers in the industry from across the U.S. will gather February 17 – 19 at the Omni Amelia Island Resort in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
With a commitment to educating community recreation professionals, the Leadership Summit will unite 60 of the top industry leaders alongside limited sponsors for three days of valuable networking opportunities, peer-to-peer learning experiences, and thought-provoking discussions while enjoying the tropical climate of Florida and stunning beachfront views.
The moderator for the 2026 Community Rec Leadership Summit will be Jorge Perez, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. Perez is a longtime supporter of Community Rec Magazine and a member of this publication’s advisory board. This will be his first time serving as moderator and third year attending the Summit.
Perez has been leading the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati since 2017. Before then, he served as the senior vice president of Programs and Y Experience at the YMCA of the USA and was also the president and CEO of the YMCA of Southwest Illinois.
“I am honored to serve as the moderator for the 2026 Community Rec Leadership Summit,” said Perez. “This event represents the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and community that defines our industry. I’m especially excited to explore how emerging tools like artificial intelligence will shape our collective work and impact, enhancing member experiences, improving operations, and opening new possibilities for community impact. Together, we will inspire one another to reach new heights and continue creating spaces where everyone can achieve, relate, and belong.”
His many years of experience in the community rec industry make him an ideal fit to lead the Summit’s roundtable education sessions covering the four timely roundtable topics of:
- Growth Strategies and Expansion, Capital Campaigns and Financing
- Innovative Programming and Trends
- Attracting and Retaining Future Members
- Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
Also, new to the Summit in 2026 will be a special Q&A on mastering hospitality. This conversation will feature a multitude of tips and strategies on how to create an ideal environment for your members.
Interested in being part of this industry-leading event? Email john@peakemedia.com to learn more about attending. Interested in sponsoring? Email rico@peakemedia.com. For the full Community Rec Leadership Summit itinerary and details, visit peakemediaevents.com/cosummit.
Thank you to our sponsors for making next year’s event possible, including Premier sponsor Arly; Diamond sponsors DynaDome, SportsArt, Traction Rec, Upace, TMI Sustainable Aquatics, ROR Partners, InBody, NinjaZone, NuStep, Amilia, Keiser, Ecore and Founder’s Mark.
