Association Academy by Ricochet.
8 live classes · 8 CAE, CEM and CMP credits

Association Conference Architecture Certificate Course

Spring 2027: Tuesdays, Feb. 2 to March 23, 1-2 p.m. ETFall 2027: Tuesdays, Aug. 31 to Oct. 19, 1-2 p.m. ET
CMP credit pending approval by the Events Industry Council.
A rolled-out blueprint of a conference hall with tables, stages and attendees, beside a pencil and ruler.
Next class
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106DAYS
:
16HRS
:
20MINS
:
00SECS
Curriculum

What will I learn?

This certificate course teaches the practical design of association conferences. Through weekly live, hands-on classes, you will learn to think like a conference architect, designing purpose, connection, content and operations into one intentional attendee experience, and leave ready to make meaningful improvements to your own event.

You earn one CAE credit, one CEM credit and one CMP credit for each live class you attend, up to 8 of each.

Cover of the Association Conference Architecture Course Guide.
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What’s included?

  • 8 CAE, 8 CMP and 8 CEM creditsCMP pending approval
  • Printable certificate
  • Private LinkedIn group
  • Course sponsor discounts
8 classes

When do the live classes meet?

Each class meets live online, with the recording posted the same day.

  • Class 1 icon: The Architect Mindset.

    The Architect Mindset

    See conferences through the attendee’s eyes and design experiences, not just manage events.

  • Class 2 icon: Purpose, Personas, and the Attendee Journey.

    Purpose, Personas, and the Attendee Journey

    Define purpose before programming and design around why people attend.

  • Class 3 icon: Designing Connection: Networking, Breaks, and Community.

    Designing Connection: Networking, Breaks, and Community

    Treat the spaces between sessions as valuable connection, not downtime.

  • Class 4 icon: Rethinking Conference Content.

    Rethinking Conference Content

    Move beyond lectures and panels toward engaging learning.

  • Class 5 icon: Space, Flow, and Conference Architecture.

    Space, Flow, and Conference Architecture

    Use physical design to drive interaction and learning.

  • Class 6 icon: Supporting the Architecture: Logistics, Operations, and Execution.

    Supporting the Architecture: Logistics, Operations, and Execution

    Make logistics support the experience, not drive it.

  • Class 7 icon: Conference Design Studio: Renovate Your Event.

    Conference Design Studio: Renovate Your Event

    A hands-on working session applying the course tools to your own conference.

  • Class 8 icon: Design Critique and Leading Change.

    Design Critique and Leading Change

    Present your redesign, get feedback, and learn to champion change.

Audience

Who is this course for?

For teams whose conferences run smoothly but don’t deliver real results.

Enroll now
  • Audience graphic for conference and events leaders.

    Conference and events leaders

    Directors, VPs and executives who own annual and major conferences and want them to be more engaging, connected and valuable.

  • Audience graphic for education and engagement leaders.

    Education and engagement leaders

    Staff responsible for learning, content and attendee experience.

  • Audience graphic for membership and marketing leaders.

    Membership and marketing leaders

    Professionals who shape why members attend and what keeps them coming back.

Instructor

Who teaches this course?

LinkedIn

Lee Gimpel

Founder, Better Meetings

Lee Gimpel is the founder of Better Meetings, a Washington, D.C., meeting design, facilitation and training firm, and serves as a Forbes expert columnist on meetings and facilitation.

He sits on the board of directors of the Association of Meeting Professionals and produced the Conference Organizers Summit.

He co-developed this course with the Association Academy to bring proven meeting design methods to association conference teams.

Enroll now. Spots are limited.

Only $749
Spring 2027Tuesdays, Feb. 2 to March 23, 1-2 p.m. ETStarts in
Fall 2027Tuesdays, Aug. 31 to Oct. 19, 1-2 p.m. ETStarts in
Questions

Questions about Conference Architecture

How many credits does the Association Conference Architecture Certificate Course earn?

You earn one CAE, one CMP and one CEM credit for each live class you attend, up to 8 of each. CMP credit is pending approval by the Events Industry Council. The course has eight live classes, so attending all of them earns up to eight credits in each category.

When do the live classes meet?

The live classes meet online on Tuesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. Spring 2027 sessions run Feb. 2 to March 23, and Fall 2027 sessions run Aug. 31 to Oct. 19. Each class is recorded, and the recording is posted the same day.

What if I miss a live class?

If you miss a live class, you can watch the recording, which is posted the same day. However, credit is earned only for each live class you attend, so watching a recording does not count toward the course credits described for live attendance.

How much does the Association Conference Architecture Certificate Course cost?

The Association Conference Architecture Certificate Course costs $749. The 2027 All Access Pass costs $1,499 and includes every Association Academy course in 2027, in either semester. The certificate course itself consists of eight live classes, while the pass covers all Academy courses.

Who teaches the course?

Lee Gimpel teaches the course. He founded Better Meetings, a Washington, D.C., firm specializing in meeting design and offering facilitation and training, and co-developed the course with the Association Academy. He also writes as a Forbes expert columnist on meetings and facilitation and serves on the board of the Association of Meeting Professionals.

Who should take this course?

This course is for association staff whose conferences run smoothly but do not deliver real results, including people who lead conferences or events and staff responsible for education, engagement, membership or marketing. You may own an annual or major conference, or shape attendee experience and the reasons members attend and return.