2026 Commanders Guidance Symposium and Industry Day

ย Questions can be directed to John Harris at 504-388-5423 or Barb Kia at execdir@ngai.com.

Commanders Guidance Symposium

November 15-18, 2026 – includes travel days

Over 400 Senior Officer and Enlisted Leaders will be in attendance, with the potential for local law enforcement and State Police attendees.ย  Break times are spaced throughout the event for attendees to visit the exhibitors.ย ย 

Exhibit QUESTIONS?ย ย  Contactย John Harris at 504-388-5423 or treasurer@ngai.com
Barb Kia at execdir@ngai.com

Exhibitor space is limited to 50 booths.ย  This event will result in a return on investment, whether you are looking for potential students, marketing a product or service, or a solution provider.ย  The National Guard Association of Illinois has many contacts and relationships throughout the United States, and we can help your company do business with the National Guard, local, and State agencies.

Event Dates:

Arrival:ย  15 NOV 2026
Event Dates:ย ย 16-18 NOV 2026
Departure: 18 NOV 2026 – teardown at noon on 18 NOV 2026.

Event Location:

Bank of Springfield Event Center
1 Convention Center Plaza
Springfield, ILย  62701
217-788-8800

Hotel Information

Preferred Hotel is the President Abraham Lincoln Doubletree by Hilton.

701 E Adams Street
Springfield, Illinois, 62701
217-544-8800

Overflow Hotel is the State House Inn by Wyndham

Event Information

Agenda - 15 NOV 2026

Start Time
End Time
Description
1200
1600
Travel Day

Agenda - 16 NOV 2026

Commanders Guidance Symposium and Industry Day

Start Time
Stop Time
Minutes
Event
Location
Remarks
0830
1000
90
Registration
Pre-Event Area
0800
0900
60
Vendor Set Up
BoS Center Arena
0900
1000
60
Vendor Time
BoS Center Arena
As Desired
1000
1010
10
Administrative Remarks
B11 Ballroom
Emcee
1010
1015
5
Invocation
B11 Ballroom
CH (COL) Steve Foster, ILARNG CH
1015
1020
5
TAG-ILARNG Remarks
B11 Ballroom
MG Rodney Boyd, ILNG TAG
1020
1045
25
ATAG-ILARNG Remarks
B11 Ballroom
BG Lenny Williams, ILARNG AAG-A
1045
1055
10
Polish TDF Remarks
B11 Ballroom
MG Krzysztof Stanczyk, Polish TDF
1055
1105
10
CCWO-ILARNG Remarks
B11 Ballroom
CW5 Tom Black, ILNG CCWO
1105
1115
10
Break / Networking
B11 Ballroom
1115
1125
10
CSM-ILARNG Remarks
B11 Ballroom
CSM Michael Kelly, ILARNG CSM
1125
1135
10
CoS-ILARNG Remarks
B11 Ballroom
COL Paul Metzdorff, ILARNG CoS
1135
1235
60
LUNCH
Exhibit Hall/Arena
Vendor Time
1140
1225
45
BDE/BN Dialogue / LUNCH
B11 Ballroom
AAG-A, State CSM, CCWO, CoS
1235
1405
90
Guest Speaker
B11 Ballroom
BG Leland Blanchard II, D.C. NG
1405
1430
25
Vendor Time
B11 Ballroom
1430
1530
60
OE Brief - Guest Speaker
B11 Ballroom
Mr. Peter Wood
1530
1535
5
Administrative Remarks
B11 Ballroom
1535
1540
5
Break / Networking
1540
1640
60
Leadership Panels
Various
1800
2100
180
NGAI Sponsored Social BoS Center Arena
Exhibit Hall/Arena
1800
1900
60
Cocktail Hour / Buffet
BoS Center Arena
Emcee
1900
1915
15
BG Williams Remarks
BoS Center Arena
BG Lenny Williams, ILARNG AAG-A
1915
1920
5
PAO Video
BoS Center Arena
ILARNG PAO
1920
1945
25
Director Awards
BoS Center Arena
Emcee / Directors
1945
1950
5
Regimental Awards
BoS Center Arena
Emcee / Command Team / Recipients
1950
2000
10
NGAI Remarks
BoS Center Arena
NGAI Rep
2000
UTC
No Host Social
BoS Center Arena

Agenda - 17 NOV 2026

Commanders Guidance Symposium and Industry Day

Start Time
End Time
Minutes
Event
Location
Remarks
800
900
60
Registration
Pre-Event Area
900
905
5
Administrative Remarks
B11 Ballroom
Emcee
905
1035
90
Guest Speaker
B11 Ballroom
CSM James Kendrick, CSMARNG
1035
1045
10
Break / Networking
1045
1215
90
Guest Speaker
B11 Ballroom
LTG Jonathan Stubbs, DARNG
1215
1230
15
Command Awards
B11 Ballroom
Emcee / Command Team
1230
1340
70
LUNCH
Exhibit Hall/Arena
1245
1330
45
CO/1SG Dialogue / LUNCH
B11 Ballroom
AAG-A, State CSM, CCWO, CoS
1340
1400
20
Vendor Time
1400
UTC
MSC Breakouts
Various
MSC Driven
1800
UTC
No Host Social
Voluntary
Motorheads

Agenda - 18 NOV 2026

Commanders Guidance Symposium

Start Time
End Time
Minutes
Event
Location
Remarks
700
800
60
Registration
Pre-Event Area
800
805
5
Administrative Remarks
B11 Ballroom
Emcee
805
855
50
Round Robin 1
Various
855
905
10
Break/Networking
905
955
50
Round Robin 2
Various
955
1005
10
Break/Networking
1005
1135
90
Guest Speaker
B11 Ballroom
Corie Weathers
1135
1145
10
Break/Networking
1145
1205
20
Closing Remarks
B11 Ballroom
AAG-A, State CSM
1205
1210
5
Administrative Remarks
B11 Ballroom
Master of Ceremony
1210
1215
5
Benediction
B11 Ballroom
CH (COL) Steve Foster, ILARNG CH
1215
UTC
-
Commanders’ Time / Depart
B11 Ballroom

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