
SCSAE 2025 Annual Conference June 8-10, 2025 | Spartanburg, SC
We are so excited to announce that registration for the 2025 SCSAE Annual Conference is now open! The conference will be June 8-10 in downtown Spartanburg, SC at the Spartanburg Marriott. Don’t miss out - register today!
Click here to register.
Hotel Information
The Spartanburg Marriott is offering a special discounted room rate of $169 per night for all SCSAE Conference attendees. Click here to make your hotel reservation. The deadline to book is Monday, May 19, 2025.
Conference Sponsorships
SCSAE has a variety of sponsorships available to fit your budget and needs. Get in front of industry leaders and become a sponsor today! Click here for the full list of sponsorships.
Thank you to our Conference Hosts!


Hotel Property and Event Space Tours in Spartanburg
Calling All Meeting Planners! Join us for an exclusive guided tour showcasing the top hotel properties and event spaces Spartanburg has to offer. Discover versatile venues, modern amenities, and Southern hospitality at its finest—all designed to make your next meeting or event unforgettable. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a large-scale conference, this behind-the-scenes look at Spartanburg’s premier meeting hotels will inspire your next event. Click here to register.
Meet in The Spartanburg Marriott Lobby at 2:00 PM on Sunday, June 8.
2:00 pm -- Tour Spartanburg Marriott 2:20 pm -- Board Shuttle (The Spartanburg Marriott Conference Circle) 2:30 pm -- Arrive at the AC by Marriott and tour property 2:50 pm -- Board Shuttle 3:00 pm -- Arrive at the Hilton Garden Inn/ Hilton Garden Inn Lobby Bar 3:10 pm -- Tour of the 1881 Event Hall 3:30 pm -- Shuttle Departs for Four Points Sheraton 3:45 pm -- Arrive at the Four Points Sheraton and tour property 4:00 pm -- Shuttle Departs for the Spartanburg Marriott
Draft Conference Timeline
Sunday, June 8
- 4:00-7:00 pm: Exhibitor Set up
- 2:00 - 4:00 pm: Hotel tours provided by One Spartanburg, Inc. - All Planners, please plan to attend. Register here.
- 5:30 pm: Welcome Reception Sponsored by: One Spartanburg, Inc. at Fifth Third Park- Spartanburgers Field
Monday, June 9
- 8:30 am: Registration Sponsored by: Kiawah Island Resort, Breakfast, Featuring Specialty Coffee Bar Sponsored by: Teal Management LLC
- 10:00 am: Welcoming Remarks by Allison King, President, SCSAE and Titanium Palmetto Partner Spotlight- Visit Myrtle Beach, Cyndi Mohr, CFMP, Senior Sales Manager
- 10:30 am: Speaker Session (TBD)
- 11:45 am - 12:15 pm: Networking Break and Visit Exhibitors Sponsored by: ExploreAsheville
- 11:55 am – 12:15 pm: SCSAE Annual Business Meeting (Current SCSAE Regular Members may attend)
- 12:15– 1:15 pm: Lunch Sponsored by: OneSpartanburg, Inc. and Platinum Palmetto Partner Spotlight: Experience Columbia
-
1:15-2:15 pm: “Burnout to Balance: Strategies for a Healthier Work Life Integration” with Dr. Charryse Johnson
-
2:30 pm: Networking Activities sponsored by OneSpartanburg, Inc. (See more information below and click here to register for an activity)
-
3:30-5:00 pm: Refreshments by the pool Sponsored by: Cambria Hotel Columbia Downtown
-
6:00 – 7:00 pm: Awards Reception – Sponsored by: Spartanburg Marriott
-
7:00 – 9:00 pm: Awards Dinner – Sponsored by: Spartanburg Marriott
-
9:00 pm-until: Hospitality Suite: Wigging Out Theme – Sponsored by: Spartanburg Marriott in Oak Hospitality Room
Tuesday, June 10
-
8:30 – 9:30 am: Breakfast & Visit Exhibitors
-
9:30 am: Gold Palmetto Partner Spotlight: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
-
9:30 – 10:30 am: Closing Keynote- Maximizing Partnership Engagement & Impact with Monique McDaniels, VP of Community and Workforce Development, Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC This session will showcase successful partnerships and its impact on the workforce. The presenter will discuss challenges faced and how they overcame them to create win-win in an effort to open doors for jobseekers and others in the community. BRING ITEMS TO DONATE to Goodwill.
-
10:30 – 10:45 am: Networking Break and Visit Exhibitors and Gold Palmetto Partner Spotlight: The Beach House
-
10:45 am: Door Prizes and Gold Palmetto Partner Spotlight: Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
-
11:00 am: Announcement of host for 2026 Annual Conference
Conference Speakers
Spartanburg has a variety of afternoon networking activities planned. Check them out below and click here to register!
The ART of Relaxation Yoga (15 people max)
Join Alix Refshauge (RYT500) to unwind and recharge in this soothing, all-levels yoga class. Set amidst the inspiring Art of the Athlete exhibition at the Johnson Collection Gallery, prepare for an hour of deep rest and restoration. This session combines gentle movement with guided meditation to help release stress and refresh your body and mind. No experience needed—just come as you are and leave feeling calmer, clearer, and ready to take on your day. Dress comfortably, mats provided, BYO water.
Downtown Pub Crawl (24 people max)
Join us for a lively sip & stroll experience through Downtown Spartanburg! Savor specialty samples of locally brewed ciders, craft beers, and wines as we stop by some of the city's most beloved spots. Along the way, keep an eye out for surprise treats and hidden gems.
Itinerary:
- Start: Spartanburg Marriott
- Stop 1: The Local Hiker – unique refreshments in a cozy, adventurous setting
- Stop 2: Delaney’s Irish Pub – (Tentative) traditional Irish charm and seasonal drafts
- Stop 3: Bond Street Wines
- Return: Spartanburg Marriott
Cheers to a great afternoon break in Spartanburg!
Pinnacle Partnership Event – Planner Preferred Activity (20 People Max)
3:00 - 4:00 pm:
- Build your own Cocktail/Mocktail
- Set in our gorgeous farm to table restaurant, Heirloom. Follow along with our General Manager and Master bartender as they take you on a journey from Spartanburg farm to your glass! Use locally sourced alcohol, South Carolina based ingredients, and house-made infusions to craft your perfect cocktail or mocktail. Or- make our perfected recipe with step-by-step instructions from the best! Takeaway gifts of your own personal simple syrup infusion- flavored with the local ingredients of your choosing to recreate your perfect cocktail at home.
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm:
- Small bites and site tours
- After your mixology experience, join Chef Andy and our Director of Catering for small bites featuring South Carolina favorites and our specialties. Take a tour of our event spaces, including our brand new 3,500 square foot Oxford ballroom.
Conference Speakers
“Burnout to Balance: Strategies for a Healthier Work Life Integration” with Dr. Charryse Johnson
In today's fast-paced world, the lines between work and personal life have blurred, leading many to experience burnout and stress. This engaging presentation, "Burnout to Balance," aims to equip participants with practical strategies to foster a healthier integration of work and life.
Join us as we explore the root causes of burnout and its impact on overall well-being. Through interactive discussions and evidence-based techniques, attendees will learn how to identify early signs of burnout, establish boundaries, and prioritize self-care.
We will cover effective time management practices, the importance of mindfulness, and the role of supportive workplace cultures in promoting balance. Participants will leave with actionable tools to create a sustainable work life integration, enhancing both productivity and personal fulfillment.
Join us on the journey from burnout to balance, and take the first step toward a more harmonious and fulfilling professional and personal life.

About Dr. Charryse Johnson
Dr. Charryse Johnson, LCMHC, NCC, RYT 500, is an author, keynote speaker, and expert mental health consultant committed to helping others step into a new field of vision. Her work focuses on the intersection of mental health, inclusivity, and neuroscience. She is the founder of Jade Integrative Counseling and Wellness and the author of the book Expired Mindsets, a guided journal titled Mindset Matters, Get Off the Scale and Heal (2023), and the ebook Embrace: 28 Days of Self-Love. As a clinician, she has worked with individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan and is adept at helping individuals navigate challenging life transitions and identity development.
Dr. Johnson holds a B.A. in both Vocal Music and Human Development and Family Studies, an M.A. in Professional Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, with a concentration in crisis and trauma. As an executive wellness consultant, she supports non-profits, educational institutions, and corporations looking to develop strategic initiatives that center on leadership, inclusivity, and mental health. Dr. Johnson is a frequent advocate and advisor for national radio shows and news stations in Charlotte, NC, and the surrounding areas. In addition, she was selected and featured by MSN as one of the "Top 10 Entrepreneurs Shaping the Future of of Business in 2024". You can find her knowledge and insights featured in publications such as BRAINZ Magazine, CNBC Online News, Prevention, Romper, Healthline, Bustle, and the Atlassian.
When not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. In the future, she hopes to play a more significant role in the convergence of health equity, mental health, and improved representation in clinical trials.
Maximizing Partnership Engagement & Impact with Monique McDaniels
This session will showcase successful partnerships and its impact on the workforce. The presenter will discuss challenges faced and how they overcame them to create win-win in an effort to open doors for jobseekers and others in the community.
About Monique McDaniels
Monique McDaniels is a passionate thought-leader, creative engineer, and consensus builder. Her personal brand statement is to live a principle-centered life, committed to continuous intellectual, spiritual, and physical development, with a devotion to creating value in each role she fills—family member, friend, community leader and trendsetter. She strives to embrace learning opportunities, approach life experiences with a spirit of enthusiasm and passion, and create a lasting, positive impact in all aspects of her life.
Monique has worked in the creative and engagement spaces for nearly 20 years in various roles representing brands like Chick-fi-A, Institutions of Higher Education, Federal, State and Local Governments and now as the VP of Community and Workforce Development for Goodwill Industries of SC.
She is a graduate of both Francis Marion and Clemson Universities as well as a graduate of Leadership Columbia, Project Management Institute, Columbia College’s LeaderSHIFT program for women executives and a Riley Institute Fellow.
Monique’s favorite quote and life’s motto is by Maya Angelo--“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
Monique believes every day is filled with rainbows and unicorns!
|