Welcome to GEARED UP 2026: Mentor Conference! Join us at James Madison University’s Festival Conference & Student Center in Harrisonburg, VA, for two days of learning, connection, and community.
You power 10,000+ students across DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This day is built for YOU. Whether you’re a rookie coach launching your first team or a 20-year veteran looking for fresh ideas, you’ll find sessions, workshops, and conversations designed to sharpen your skills and recharge your passion.
Proudly presented by Aramco Americas. See you in Harrisonburg.
The best sponsor pitch doesn't start with a budget. It starts with a story. In this practical session, Alex Bryant shares what actually works when it comes to finding new sponsors, making the ask, and keeping them for the long haul. We'll talk about how to turn your team's success into something a business genuinely cares about, how to build sponsor tiers that make sense, and how good stewardship keeps partners coming back season after season. Whether you're rebooting your fundraising plan or starting from scratch, you'll leave with a sponsor strategy built around the one thing every team already has: a story worth telling.
Alex Bryant is committed to serving his communities. Bryant graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Music and a minor in Biology. He currently works for FIRST Chesapeake, an arm of the International FIRST Inspires, a global robotics community preparing young people... Read More →
