Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA)
A Simpler, Smarter Website for Florida’s Insurance Community
Design // Development // Kentico
My colleague Jordan Ellertson and I made the trip to Glenwood Springs for the 2026 CSAE Annual Conference, and it was one of those events that remind you why showing up in person still matters. Three days of real conversation, forward-thinking sessions, and the kind of peer exchange that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
Colorado Society of Association Executives (CSAE) has been building a community for association professionals across Colorado for years. Representing more than 550 members across hundreds of associations and businesses statewide, CSAE connects professionals to peers, education, and strategic partnerships that drive real organizational growth. Through partnerships with SAEs nationwide and with the national ASAE, Colorado professionals can develop personally and professionally close to home.
CSAE’s Annual Conference is the organization’s largest event of the year. Held June 10–12 at Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, this year’s theme, Elevated Alignment: People, Presence, & Performance, set the tone for three days of high-level content and meaningful peer exchange.
Before the sessions even began, CSAE offered attendees a community hike to Hanging Lake, and Jordan and I took them up on it. It was a great way to start the week, and a fitting opener for a conference built around the idea that the best conversations happen when people are actually present with each other.
The agenda covered a wide range of topics shaping the association world right now: AI strategy, search visibility, membership growth, governance, leadership, and more. As presenting sponsor of the 2026 Annual Conference, BizStream was proud to be part of that conversation.
BizStream has worked with associations for years, helping them build digital experiences that serve members, communicate value, and keep up with how people find and engage with information online. CSAE puts us in the room with exactly the people we work alongside every day, and that proximity matters.
Our work in the association space spans web strategy, content, and technology, with a growing focus on how AI is changing the way members search, discover, and connect. The more we’re embedded in this community, the better we can anticipate what comes next for our clients.
Drew leads CMS and AI strategy at BizStream, with a focus on how emerging technology is reshaping digital content and search. He works closely with clients to translate complex technical shifts into practical strategy, and has been a consistent voice in the association space on topics like generative engine optimization (GEO) and content visibility in AI-powered search.
Jordan brings a strategic, detail-oriented approach to every client relationship. At the conference, she spent time at the BizStream booth and connected with association professionals across the three days, the kind of genuine relationship-building that BizStream’s partnerships are built on.
I had the opportunity to present at this year’s conference on a topic that’s been top of mind for a lot of association leaders: how AI is quietly changing the way members search for information.
The session, “AI Is Your New Member Persona,” made the case that by the time someone considers your association, they’ve likely already had a conversation with an AI tool, and AI decides whether your organization got mentioned. That shift, known as generative engine optimization (GEO), is disrupting the traditional user journey in a significant way. If your content isn’t showing up in AI search, you’re losing the chance to be the trusted voice your members are looking for.
The conversations that followed the session made it clear that this topic resonated. Association leaders are actively thinking about what comes next, and they’re looking for practical ways to respond.
Jordan’s experience at the conference reflected something shared across the room: the speakers were thoughtful, the networking was genuine, and the energy among attendees was hard to miss.
The core focus of AI in associations is the people behind the tools. That's what makes the biggest difference.
This year’s CSAE Annual Conference did a great job of creating an environment where everyone felt welcome, from newer association professionals to longtime members and the vendor partners who support them. That inclusivity is part of what makes the event valuable for everyone in attendance.
Hats off to the CSAE team for putting together a conference that felt both forward-looking and grounded in community. We’re looking forward to staying involved as the year continues.
Keep an eye on the CSAE events page for upcoming events, including the Fall Symposium later this year.
GEO is one of the most significant shifts happening in digital strategy right now, and associations are particularly well-positioned to benefit from it. If you’re wondering what it means for your content and how members find you, we’d love to talk.
Stay up to date on what BizStream is doing and keep in the loop on the latest in marketing & technology.
