The Future Belongs to Leaders Like You.
Built for emerging professionals like you who are ready to level up their leadership. The Up Next Summit is a high-energy, one-day experience that delivers fresh tools, lasting connections, and the momentum to shape what’s next in your career. Your growth sparks community impact. Your future development drives what’s up next.
When
October 16, 2025
10:00am – 5:30pm
5:30 – 7:30pm Afterparty
Where
MGM Springfield
Bellagio Ballroom
One MGM Way
Springfield, MA
Why Should You Experience the Up Next Summit?
Develop Your Leadership Instincts
Sharpen the skills that set leaders apart. From communication and time management to branding and influence, our workshops give you actionable strategies you can put into play right away.
Connect With Key Leaders
This is more than networking, it’s building a support system that lasts. Meet fellow rising professionals, mentors and community leaders who can help open new doors and cheer you on at every stage of your journey.
Elevate Your Role in Community
Your growth doesn’t stop with you. As you step up, you strengthen the organizations and communities you’re a part of. Together, we rise and together, we make a lasting impact on the Western Mass community.
Your Elevation Lineup
10:00am | Registration Opens
Check in, get settled and say good morning to your fellow leaders. Check out the local vendors who have come to be a part of supporting your development. Enjoy a coffee and connect!
11:00am | Morning Movement & Up Next Welcome
Get up and moving with Jennifer McGrath, licensed Zumba and JumpSport instructor at Fitness First located in Feeding Hills, MA.
YPS Leadership will welcome you, discussing what exactly it means to be Up Next, and how your future leadership impacts our community for good.
11:45am | Morning Keynote Address
Jill Monson, POP!more
The Path from Cannot to CANfidence!
Learning to embrace stumbles, navigate setbacks, quiet fear & bounce back - stronger!
12:20pm | Networking Break
Stretch your legs, refresh your coffees, browse our local vendors and, of course, network!
12:40pm | Elevation Micro-Workshop #1
Impact | Influence | Momentum | Voice
Learning with connection and intent. Our leader-led micro-workshops will allow you to learn from some of the best professionals in our area, and work on applying their ideas into your own journey right away.
Select your focus area of leadership that challenges growth wherever you’re at. Participate in a hands-on activity and benefit from group thoughts on applying new techniques.
1:25pm | Lunch Served: Enough Said Casual Connections
Learn about the importance of connection through communication as YPS Board Member Angel Rios, Founder of The Rally Cry, leads us in his card game Enough Said.
Leaders engage in Enough Said conversations at their own pace as they enjoy lunch.
1:45pm | Networking Break
Stretch your legs, refresh your coffees, browse our local vendors and, of course, network!
2:15pm | The Importance of Emotional Intelligence
Andres Gomez, MGM Springfield
The transition from individual contributor to people-leader can be a hard one. Learn how elevating your emotional intelligence can make you a stronger team leader as Andres leads a discussion with key leaders of our community, sharing their own experiences and struggles with becoming emotionally mindful.
Shaping Leaders, Shaping Community Panel
Brandon Okezie, President Baystate Noble Hospital
Johanna Maldonado, Director of DEI Stop & Shop
Lindsay LaBonte, Leader Applied Mortgage Team
Matt Bannister, Senior Vice President Peoples Bank
Meghan Rothschild, President Chikmedia
3:15pm | Networking Break
Stretch your legs, refresh your coffees, browse our local vendors and, of course, network!
3:35pm | Elevation Micro-Workshop #2
Impact | Influence | Momentum | Voice
Same concept, different learning experience!
4:20pm | Afternoon Movement
Stretch your legs with a fun activity
4:45pm | Afternoon Keynote Address
Michelle Wirth, Feel Good Shop Local
Redefining Success: Leadership on Your Own Terms
Learn how to break free from outdated models of leadership, and how Michelle saw these in her own journey. She’ll share how to craft a personal definition of success that blends career, well-being and impact.
5:15pm | Closing Remarks
5:30pm | Afterparty in the MGM YPS Lounge
You’ve already earned your seat at the table, now secure it.
Secure your spot at the region’s most energizing leadership event. Seats are limited, don’t wait to claim yours.
Building your own path. When you purchase tickets, you’ll need the names of the emerging leaders attending. Each attendee will get their own confirmation email with a quick follow-up link to finish registration: choosing their own workshop path and sharing a little about themselves. It’s how we make sure every attendee has a personalized, impactful Summit experience.
Bringing your team? Unlock exclusive group discounts and invest in your rising leaders together. Discounted rates unlock automatically below when you enter a half-table group of 5 or more tickets or full-table group of 10 or more.
Don’t forget to look for your individual attendee surveys to complete your registration.
Champions of the Leaders Up Next
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ticket purchase includes access to all Up Next Summit speakers and workshops, snacks and lunch served. Digital resources provided by all of our workshop facilitators will be provided following the Summit event.
In addition, your conference ticket will include admission to our Third Thursday Afterparty to be held immediately following the Summit in the MGM YPS Lounge. All Summit attendees will receive a ticket for one complimentary signature drink at the Summit Afterparty.
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ABSOLUTELY NOT!
YPS. believes there are many types of “young” professionals and emerging leaders.
Who should attend?
Anyone new to leading a team or individual
Anyone feeling stuck at a certain level and looking to boost their growth
Anyone looking to gain a mentor
Anyone looking to become a mentor
Anyone new to a role, industry or their career path as a whole
Anyone reentering the workforce after extended leave
Anyone who just finished school and looking for their first steps as a leader
Young professionals and emerging leaders are not defined by age. YPS rooms are always filled with a diverse mix of professionals or all ages and industries.
Just attend, trust us.
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GPS address to be used: 1 MGM Way Springfield, MA 01103
Ample free parking is available in the MGM Springfield parking garage.
After parking, take the elevators to the main Casino floor. Proceed toward the left walkway where you will see an escalator (look for the movie theaters). At the top, walk toward your right and follow the hallway toward the Bellagio Ballroom foyer space where registration will be located.
Don’t forget to check in with our friendly YPS Board Members before entering the ballroom so we can give you any information about your day!
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Programming begins 11:00am EST
Registration will open at 10:00am - light snacks and local vendors will be available to browse until our morning movement begins at 11am. Come early, start making new connections and enjoy the atmosphere as you settle in for the day.
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Lunch will be served a little later in our program so you are not hungry at the end of the day. Please see the agenda above for specific timing.
We encourage attendees to eat lunch before arriving as we will not have a full breakfast included in this particular event. We will, however, have snacks accessible during the morning and there will be some local vendor on-site with items for purchase.
Don’t forget to add any specific dietary needs into your individual registration form for our planning purposes!
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Please bring any special accommodations to our attention by October 1st so we may do our best to accommodate your needs. We will do our best to meet your needs and communicate any concerns with you directly.
Food allergens and accessibility needs can be placed directly in your event registration form, or requests can be sent directly to Kara Bombard, at president@springfieldyps.com.
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We encourage you to wear business casual clothing.
We will have some movement built into our program, so comfortable shoes or a quick change or shoes should be considered. Feel free to wear what you are comfortable in - jeans and more casual business attire are completely acceptable. We believe leaders come in all shapes and sizes, and want you to be comfortable to be you.
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Heck yes!
We’re excited to mix in our typical YPS members unable to make the full Summit event with the new faces of our Up Next emerging leaders. We encourage all attendees to stay, connect with others and discuss the tools you learned throughout the day!
Don’t forget, all Summit attendees will get a ticket for a complimentary YPS signature cocktail at the MGM YPS Lounge.
Don’t Miss Out on Building Your Support System.
The Up Next Summit will be a unique conference experience for our area. Don’t miss your opportunity to accelerate your growth and connections that will support your unique leadership journey.