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STATE LEADERSHIP TRACK
October 20 - 22, 2026
2027 Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs, Issues Chairs, Committee Liaisons, Regional Chairs, Assistant Regional Chairs, Executive Committee, SPF Committee, C.A.R. Staff Coordinators, and Leadership Academy
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20
Location: Breakwater Hallway
Eric Schwartz, Camp EDGE Director Camp is officially in session! Join Eric Schwartz for a high-energy welcome and a quick look at what’s ahead for an afternoon centered on resilience, advocacy, leadership, and the collective impact of California REALTORS®.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Cam Awesome, Champion Boxer & Motivational Speaker In this high-energy keynote, Cam Awesome, the winningest boxer in U.S. history, shares how to turn setbacks and failures into fuel for growth and success. Through humor and unforgettable stories from his boxing career, Cam shows audiences how to build resilience, strengthen self-belief, and keep moving forward even when things don’t go as planned.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Mark Peterson, 2027 President, C.A.R.; Staci Caplan, 2027 President-elect, C.A.R.; Nikki Coppa, 2027 Treasurer, C.A.R.; James Baiseri, 2027 REALTOR® Party of California Director Advocacy rarely moves in a straight line. Wins take persistence, setbacks are part of the process, and progress depends on leaders who keep showing up. Building on Cam Awesome’s message, C.A.R. leaders will connect resilience to the work of advocacy and share why staying engaged, telling the story behind the work, and bringing others along matters.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Dan Schnur, Professor of Politics, UC Berkeley, Pepperdine University & USC Don your binoculars and take a closer look at the political landscape as the November election approaches. What’s driving California voters, and how can REALTOR® leaders make a difference with 2027 on the horizon? This timely briefing will look at the political, economic, and regional forces shaping the electorate, with particular attention to affordability, housing, and the issues likely to influence California’s political conversation into 2027. Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Location: Breakwater Terrace
Moderated by Staci Caplan, 2027 C.A.R. President-elect & State Political Coordinator Panelists: Sanjay Wagle, Chief Lobbyist, C.A.R.; Coby Pizzotti, Senior Legislative Advocate, C.A.R.; Matt Bunch, Member Mobilization Director, C.A.R. Pull up a chair for two behind-the-scenes campfire stories of REALTOR® advocacy in action. One called for an all-out sprint. The other required persistence, relationships, coordination, and staying power. Hear from the people closest to the action as they unpack the pivotal moments, the very different strategies behind each effort, and what it takes for an advocacy network to be ready when the moment calls.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Hosted by Mark Peterson, 2027 President, C.A.R. & Blaine Morris, 2027 Legislative Committee Chair, C.A.R. Join Mark and Blaine for a candid conversation with California policymakers on both sides of the aisle about the issues, voices, and real-world considerations that shape their work. Hear how housing and affordability show up from the policymaker side of the table, what makes advocacy useful and credible, and how REALTOR® leaders can build stronger relationships and engage more effectively. Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Elizabeth Campbell-Chase, Prop 37 Advisory Committee Chair; Phil Hawkins, CEO, C.A.R. With Prop 37 on the November ballot, leaders need to be ready for the conversations ahead. Through live polling, real-world scenarios, and audience participation, this fast-moving session will put your knowledge to the test, tackle the questions you’re most likely to hear, and make sure you leave with the facts, resources, and confidence to engage effectively back home. Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Camp gets a little more glamorous after dark. Join us poolside at Driftwood Beach Club for live music, dinner, themed cocktails, and an evening to unwind, connect, and celebrate with fellow leaders from across California. Wear your purple and show your REALTOR® Party pride! Sponsor: The Benefit Store For registered attendees only. Non-registered guests will not be permitted. Badge required for entry. Location: Driftwood Beach Club
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21
Location: Breakwater Hallway
Meet at Surf Hero Marketplace (inside the Waterfront Beach Resort)Get your steps in and start the day on the right foot – literally! Enjoy a casual beachside walk with C.A.R.'s leadership team before breakfast.
Vista LawnFuel up for the day with a full breakfast buffet and time to connect with fellow attendees before sessions begin.
Hosted by Eric Schwartz, Camp EDGE Director Get to know your 2027 Leadership Team. Eric Schwartz will put C.A.R.’s 2027 Officers in the hot seat for a lively mix of rapid-fire questions, unexpected stories, and a few surprises along the way. Come for the laughs and leave knowing a little more about the people, personalities, and leadership styles guiding C.A.R. in the year ahead.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Kindra Hall, Storytelling Expert & Bestselling Author The ability to tell the right story can transform how leaders connect, communicate, and inspire action. Kindra Hall will share a practical approach to strategic storytelling that helps leaders capture attention, make ideas more memorable, and build stronger connections with the people they serve. Attendees will leave with an actionable framework for identifying and telling stories that resonate, strengthen understanding, and inspire meaningful action.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
State Track Attendees Start the State Track by connecting with the leaders you’ll be working alongside in 2027. Find your designated Trail Guide, meet your committee leadership team, and start building the relationships that will support your work throughout the year.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Mark Peterson, 2027 President, C.A.R. Strong committees start with strong leadership. Mark Peterson will open the State Track with a look at the expectations for 2027 committee leaders, including the importance of preparation, communication, mutual respect, and working as one team across volunteer and staff roles.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Moderated by Anthony Andaya, Pacific Southwest AOR and Emily Horn, SVP Leadership Development, C.A.R. Strong committees depend on clear roles, strong partnerships, and mutual respect. Gather around the campfire for a practical conversation about how Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs, Liaisons, Staff Coordinators, and Regional leadership work together throughout the year. Hear where responsibilities differ, where they intersect, how information and decisions move across the organization, and how effective leaders communicate, collaborate, and make full use of staff expertise. Location: Breakwater Ballroom
2027 C.A.R. Leadership Team Before heading out on the trail and into the year ahead, hear from your Camp Counselors about the major priorities and milestones that will shape 2027. This focused look ahead will provide context for the work to come and help leaders understand how their committee work connects to C.A.R.’s broader direction and priorities.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Led by Staci Caplan, 2027 President-elect, C.A.R.; 2027 C.A.R. Committee Liaisons Meet the leaders who will serve as a bridge between C.A.R.’s committees and the broader Leadership Team in 2027. Learn which committees each liaison supports, how they help connect work across the organization, and how they will support committee leaders throughout the year.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Vista Lawn
2027 C.A.R. Leadership Team Before heading into the afternoon breakout sessions, C.A.R. leaders will set up the planning work ahead. Review the tools, goals, and expected outcomes for the breakouts, consider where your committee’s work may intersect with others, and get ready to put pen to paper – mapping priorities, planning key meetings and communication throughout the year, and beginning to shape your Winter 2027 agenda.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Facilitated by Committee Liaisons & Staff Coordinators Your committee leadership team will roll up its sleeves and build a plan for 2027. Using the planning tools introduced in the previous session, you’ll map priorities and goals, schedule key planning and communication touchpoints, begin shaping your Winter 2027 meeting agendas, identify where coordination with other committees is needed, and clarify how your team will work together throughout the year. Committee Liaisons and Staff Coordinators will guide the conversation and help you leave with a practical roadmap for the year ahead.
2027 Committee Leadership Teams Return from your afternoon sessions of mapping the trail and hear to share what emerged for your group and hear where other committees are headed in 2027. Committee leadership teams will be asked to highlight key priorities, commitments, and areas of focus. This is an opportunity to learn from one another, identify shared interests and intersections, and strengthen collaboration across the broader C.A.R. leadership community.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
All Attendees Wrap up the day with a glass of wine, light bites, and time to reconnect with colleagues from both the State and Local Tracks. Continue the conversations from the day, make new connections, and unwind together before heading out for the evening. Dinner is on your own. We encourage you to make plans with new and old friends and explore Huntington Beach. Location: Breakwater Terrace
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22
Meet at Surf Hero Marketplace (inside the Waterfront Beach Resort)
Meet at Surf Hero Marketplace for one final morning stroll with C.A.R.'s Officers. Grab a coffee to go at the cafe, take in the fresh ocean air, share reflections from the week, and set a positive tone for the final day of EDGE.
Ease into the final day of EDGE with a continental breakfast featuring fresh pastries, bagels, fruit, coffee, juice and protein options. A relaxed start to connect and refuel before the morning sessions begin.Location: Vista Lawn
Brian Manson, SVP & General Counsel, C.A.R.; Mark Peterson, 2027 President, C.A.R.; Phil Hawkins, CEO, C.A.R. Leadership comes with real responsibility. This session will explore the legal, ethical, and fiduciary obligations that come with serving as a REALTOR® association leader, including the judgment, accountability, and decision-making expected of those entrusted to act on behalf of members and the organization. The discussion will also touch on emerging considerations related to artificial intelligence, information integrity, and the responsible use of technology in association leadership.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Jennifer Branchini & Erin Stumpf, Governance Review Task Force Co-Chairs Jen and Erin will share the Governance Task Force’s latest recommendations, the thinking behind them, and an update on where the work stands following the Fall Business Meetings. Hear what has been learned through the review, the issues the Task Force has sought to address, and what targets we’re aiming for in the governance process.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Take a quick break and build your own mimosa or zero-proof spritz, grab a morning treat, and head back into the ballroom for the final sessions of Camp EDGE.Location: Breakwater Terrace / Pre-Function
Bruce Bishop, Ph.D., Parliamentarian How does an idea actually move through C.A.R.? In this interactive mock governance session, attendees will show off what they’ve learned this week as an issue moves from committee discussion and action through Executive Committee and ultimately to the Board of Directors. With humor, real-world scenarios, and audience participation, Bruce Bishop will bring C.A.R.’s decision-making process to life and show how discussion becomes action across the organization.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
Eric Schwartz, Camp EDGE Director; 2027 C.A.R. Leadership Team; EDGE Event Team Gather together one last time to reflect on the lessons, relationships, and ideas you’ll take home from Camp EDGE. C.A.R. leaders will bring the conference to a close with an interactive conversation about what stood out, what leadership will require in the year ahead, and how attendees will put what they’ve learned into action.Location: Breakwater Ballroom
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