Fall 2026 – News Beat
ANNOUNCING THE 2027 ERA CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
ERA is thrilled to announce that Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) will be the keynote speaker at the 2027 ERA Conference, taking place Feb. 21-23, 2027, in Austin, Texas.
Malachowski will open the conference on Monday morning, Feb. 22, with her keynote presentation, “Harnessing Headwinds: Successfully Navigating Change and Adversity.”
As a former fighter pilot and combat veteran, Nicole Malachowski uses the metaphor of headwinds to share inspiring stories and practical tools that ignite our ability to harness the challenges in our personal and professional lives. As a former Air Force fighter squadron commander, Malachowski was the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. She even has a Star Trek Federation starship named in her honor!
After 21 years in uniform, a misdiagnosed tick-borne illness abruptly ended Malachowski’s military career, forcing her into a fight she couldn’t outfly, outwork or outmaneuver. What followed was a hard-earned reinvention, one that reshaped how she understands resilience, and what it truly means to perform under pressure. Drawing from both the cockpit and her personal battle, she delivers practical, experience-driven insights on trust, accountability, teamwork, execution, resilience and the courage to adapt when the mission changes.
“The ERA Conference Committee is thrilled to welcome Col. Malachowski as our Conference keynote speaker,” said Maryellen Stack, co-chair of the 2027 ERA Conference Keynote/General Sessions Committee. “Her extraordinary background, combined with her deep wisdom and personal journey in overcoming adversity, will undoubtedly deliver a powerful and memorable experience for our attendees.”
Learn more about the Conference and register at era.org/era-conference.
ERA DEBUTS NEW MARKET INTEL TOOL
ERA has debuted a powerful, exclusive tool designed to give our members an unprecedented edge across North America. Think interactive, detailed TAM data tailored directly to your region and product type, all in one place.
Specifically, ERA Market Intel is a game-changing web portal with an interactive dashboard that filters product TAM data (government-sourced based on HTS codes) in seconds.
This tool is available for subscription now at tam.era.org, for ERA members only.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR COLT 2026
Join ERA for its annual Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) program on Dec. 1-3! Open to all ERA chapter leaders and potential leaders, COLT is a virtual training series that is fun and collaborative, focused on effective chapter management and planning tactics.
COLT is a comprehensive educational program designed to help meet the challenges of serving as an ERA chapter leader. During this virtual training, attendees can expect to gain creative ideas and practical knowledge, such as member recruitment, hosting events and organizing educational sessions, all to help chapter leaders elevate chapter activities and networking opportunities.
If you are already in an active chapter leadership role or are interested in pursuing one, talk to your board about attending this valuable training program where you can learn from other chapter leaders.
STEP 2026 SESSION RECORDINGS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
STEP 2026 is over, but you still can receive this valuable training! All STEP sessions, including archives dating back to 2021, are available online for purchase at era.org/step. Watch anytime, revisit whenever you need a refresh and take advantage of a $100 discount for ERA members. STEP delivers live, practical modules taught by proven industry leaders and professional sales trainers. It offers concrete takeaways that reps, distributors and manufacturers can implement immediately on their very next sales call.