2014 Pioneer Network Conference to Take Place in Kansas City

The 14th annual conference of the Pioneer Network will take place this summer in Kansas City at the Sheraton Crown Royal Hotel. 

Advance registration is very active with more than 1,000 Pioneers expected to attend. 

Pioneer Network is host to the largest convening of long-term care professionals dedicated to person-centered living environments for elders and those whose work most closely with them.

The conference will run from Monday, August 4th, through Thursday, August 7th. Preliminary activities on August 4th will include a special workshop for state surveyors, as well as Pioneer State Coalition meetings. There will be a “First Timer” attendee meeting that day, followed by a Welcome Reception at 6:00 pm.

The conference formally opens on Tuesday, August 5th, with a plenary session featuring the roll call of the states and a Keynote by national culture change leader Steve Shields, a founding Pioneer Board member. 

During Tuesday and Wednesday, more than 90 concurrent education sessions on a wide variety of requested topics will be offered during seven different 90-minute periods. This part of the conference will also feature a special Keynote by Dr. Bill Thomas, founder of the Eden Alternative and the Green House model, as well as a founding Pioneer Board member.

On Thursday, August 7th, there will be 13 all-day Workshop Intensives offered through separate registration, including a special site visit to a household-model, person-centered community at Meadowlark Hills. 

The main conference will also feature numerous opportunities for Pioneers to visit with the more than 40 conference sponsors this year. There will also be a town center “Heartland Café” off the hotel main lobby where Pioneers will be able to register, visit the Book Store, network, and attend some special sessions designed for smaller groups.

Together at this conference, we are supported on our separate journeys to know each person, value what each person has to give and enable each to make their own contribution to the well-being of our Elders.

For more information, visit the conference web page.

PHI is proud to be a sponsor at the 2014 Pioneer conference. Please stop by and visit our vendor booth, and please join one of the workshops facilitated by PHI educators Cean Eppelheimer, Kathy McCollett, Anna Ortigara, and Susan Misiorski.

We hope to see you in Kansas City!