700+
Attendees
7
Industry Tracks
33
Breakout Sessions
33
NAB Hours
EVERY STORY
Every story has a beginning. A moment that brought you to this work, a resident who changed how you see it, a colleague who reminded you why it matters. In senior living, those stories don't just shape individuals - they shape an entire industry.
At the 2026 GSLA Conference & Trade Show, Every Story is our celebration of the people behind this profession and the experiences that define it - the hard ones, the joyful ones, and the quietly profound ones that stay with you. Every role in our industry carries a story worth telling, and Every Story belongs in this conversation.
Join us as professionals from across Georgia and the country come together to learn, connect, and be reminded that the work we do - and the stories we carry - move us forward. Every Story.
Conference Schedule
Wednesday, October 28
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Pre-Conference Education
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Trade Show Registration & Exhibitor Move-In
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Attendee Registration
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Opening Reception & Chefs Showcase: featuring the 2026 Annual Cornhole Tournament
Thursday, October 29
7:15 AM
Attendee Registration Opens
7:15 AM - 8:30 AM
Exhibit Hall Open - Breakfast & Networking inside the Exhibit Hall
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Welcome & Opening Keynote Session with Matthew Emerzian: "Make It Matter"
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
AgeTech Up Close: Pitch Competition
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Executive|Leadership|HR: The AI-Enabled Workforce: Creating Capacity for the Work Only Humans Can Do
Sales|Marketing: The Other Side of EBDs
Clinical: Psychotropic Use - Putting What Matters First
Memory Care: Does Your Building Fit the Resident? Rethinking Memory Care Environments
Activities | Programming: Applying Montessori: Purpose and Abilities
Independent Living: Hospitality Leadership: Creating a Culture of Service Excellence
Mixed Track: Make it Matter - A Breakout Session from Keynote Speaker, Matthew Emerzian
11:45 AM - 1:45 PM
Exhibit Hall Open - Lunch & Learning Labs inside Exhibit Hall
1:15 - From Incident Response to Incident Prevention: The Next Evolution of Resident Safety in Senior Living
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Executive|Leadership|HR: Risky Business: A Case Study on Risk Operations
Sales|Marketing: 5 Common Sales Mistakes Revealed Through Mystery Shops
Clinical: Compliance Through Competency - Leading the CMA
Memory Care: When Memory and Trauma Intersect: A Validation Approach to Dementia Care
Activities | Programming: Reimagining Dining as Engagement
Independent Living: 7 Dimensions of Wellness Built with IL in Mind
Mixed Track: Dementia Friends Certificate Program
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open - Coffee Break & Learning Labs inside Exhibit Hall
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Executive|Leadership|HR: Employment Law for Today's Leaders
Sales|Marketing: Your Dashboard Is Lying To You: What Senior Living Sales Leaders Are Missing and How to Fix It
Clinical: Proactive Care Without Losing the Feeling of Home
Memory Care: Brain Health Across the Continuum: Practical, Evidence-Based Strategies for Independent Living,
Assisted Living, and Memory Care
Activities | Programming: Organized Teams, Engaged Residents: Systems That Build Better Culture
Independent Living: Beyond the Brochure - a Focus Group Discussion Review
Mixed Track: Leading Without Running on Empty: Boundaries, Resilience, and Self-Care for Senior Living Leaders
5:30 PM
GSLA Board VIP Cocktail Reception (by invitation only)
Friday, October 30
8:00 AM
Attendee Registration Opens
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Legislator of the Year Breakfast & Keynote Session
Executive Power Panel: From Community Insight to Industry Impact
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open - Coffee Break & Learning Labs inside Exhibit Hall
11:00 - Protecting Our Residents from Legionnaires’ Disease
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Culinary Competition & Luncheon
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Executive|Leadership|HR: Out the Door - An Elopement Panel Discussion
Sales|Marketing: From Prospect to Proud Resident: A User Experience Panel Discussion
Clinical: Using Virtual Reality to Support Function, Cognition, & Clinical Outcomes
Memory Care: Is It Really a UTI? Disease Progression in Dementia
Activities | Programming: Data-Driven Activities: Measuring Engagement and Outcomes
Independent Living: Dementia Friends Certificate Program
Mixed Track: Being a Good Neighbor: Breaking Down the Silos Between Senior Living Levels of Care
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Closing Regulatory Session with the Department of Community Health (DCH)
3:45 PM
Adjourn
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
PAC RAFFLE (must be present to win)
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email: tradeshow@gasla.org for more information.
DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
"I’ve noticed the depth of the sessions continues to improve, especially the legal sessions, which are incredibly valuable right now. I would highly recommend this experience, as it provides a meaningful opportunity for professionals to exchange ideas, discuss growth, and support one another in excelling within the senior care field." - 2025 Conference Attendee
"A great opportunity to network and learn from others, this was our first time attending, and we found it incredibly valuable. The event was well organized, and the attendees were highly engaged." - 2025 Conference Exhibitor
"Georgia Senior Living Association does an incredible job of creating an environment that 'should be' competitive and changes it to collaborative."
- 2025 Conference Attendee
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Event Location
Gas South Convention Center
6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Duluth, GA 30097