2026 AOMA Spring Conference
2026 AOMA Derby Days
April 22, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Potawatomi Casino Hotel | Milwaukee
Conference Agenda
Vendor/Sponsor Set Up
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Maintenance Track: TBD
9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
Description
Apartment Track: How to Have Tough Conversations
9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
We all know the conversations we tend to avoid. Whether it’s addressing a teammate’s performance, giving honest feedback, navigating tension with a coworker, or speaking up to your boss, many of us would rather avoid the conversation than risk conflict or discomfort. The problem is avoiding the hard talks comes with a steep cost: resentment builds, trust erodes, problems remain, and nothing changes.
On the other side are people who have no problem having the difficult conversation, but do so in a way that creates more problems.
The good news is there is a better way. This practical program is for people who need to say the hard things, but want to do it with clarity, courage, and compassion. At the heart of the program is The Compassionate Confrontation Pathway™—Rommel’s signature framework for approaching hard conversations in a way that honors both truth and relationship.
If you’ve ever thought, “I should probably talk to them about this… but I don’t know how,” this session is for you.
Maintenance Track: TBD
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Description
Apartment Track: TBD
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Description
Doors Open - Visitation with Vendors
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
Vendor Presentations
12:30 PM - 1:25 PM
Keynote Address: Run Your Race: The Why Not Mindset for Sustainable Excellence
1:30 PM - 2:35 PM
In the Kentucky Derby, every horse breaks from the same starting gate. Same track. Same distance. But only one wins — and it’s rarely the one distracted by the competition. It’s the one disciplined enough to run its race. Excellence doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through mindset, ownership, and the daily habits that hold up under pressure. Former Major League catcher, World Series Champion, and Olympian Ryan Lavarnway shares the Why Not Mindset™ — a practical framework for leading yourself and your team when the stakes are high and the outcome isn’t guaranteed. Drawing on 15 years in professional baseball — including 26 career cuts and 124 professional transactions — Ryan delivers a powerful message about resilience, accountability, and sustaining performance over time.
In this keynote, audiences will learn how to:
• Focus on what they can control — and release what they can’t.
• Take ownership of performance, especially when conditions aren’t ideal.
• Build habits that create consistency and trust.
• Reframe pressure as an opportunity to raise the standard.
With humor, humility, and hard-earned credibility, Ryan delivers more than inspiration — he delivers a mindset that lasts long after the applause. Your audience will leave energized and aligned, ready to stop asking, “Can we?” and start saying, “Why not us?
Keynote Address: EQ Meets AI: The New Formula for Leasing Success
2:45 PM - 3:50 PM
AI is changing leasing, but it can’t replace the human connection that actually drives decisions. The future belongs to pros who know how to blend emotional intelligence with smart technology to create a seamless, personalized experience.
This session helps leasing professionals partner with AI more effectively, so they can spend less time taming the tech, and more time building trust.
In this talk attendees will learn how to:
• Use AI to clear the noise and prioritize real conversations
• Bring stronger emotional intelligence into every step of the leasing journey
• Apply the 1-1-1-1 Framework™ to turn interactions into conversions
You’ll walk away with a clear, repeatable strategy for thriving in an AI-driven leasing world, while leveraging the power of being human.
Visitation with Vendors/ Networking Reception
4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Meet Our Speakers
Ryan Lavarnway
Ryan Lavarnway is proof that resilience, adaptability, and determination can lead to incredible success- no matter the odds.
As someone who’s been added to and removed from Major League Baseball rosters more than anyone else in history, Ryan’s story isn’t just about success—it highlights the power of perseverance. Overcoming every obstacle, he built an impressive 10-year MLB career as a catcher, became a World Series Champion, and competed as an Olympian.
Ryan’s journey started at Yale University, where he was an NCAA Batting Champion and All-American. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2008, he went on to play for some of baseball’s most iconic teams, setting records and leaving his mark on the sport.
On the international stage, Ryan proudly represented Israel in the World Baseball Classic and the 2021 Olympics. As the first captain of Team Israel’s National Team, he earned MVP honors and led with passion and purpose, cementing his place in baseball history.
Now, Ryan’s taking his winning mindset beyond the diamond. As a sought-after speaker and mentor, he’s helping corporate teams, sales professionals, and aspiring athletes unlock their own potential. Drawing from his personal journey, Ryan shows how embracing challenges, staying adaptable, and fostering an unshakable belief in yourself can create success.
With humor, humility, and real-world experience, Ryan doesn’t just inspire—he empowers audiences to take bold steps toward big goals, no matter where they’re starting from.
Rommel Anarcan
Rommel Anacan (Roe-mell Ana-kin) doesn’t just talk about success—he’s out to set people free from the limits holding them back.
Known for his powerful, thought-provoking, yet practical and relatable approach Rommel (as a speaker, consultant and coach) has helped thousands go beyond surface success and step boldly into their potential by leveraging the power of human connection.
Top companies have trusted him to work with their teams, and his keynotes at world-class conferences have helped thousands transform big challenges into breakthrough moments.
When not speaking around the nation Rommel loves spending time with his family in Southern California, is an ordained pastor, is vice president of Briers to Myrtles Ministries, volunteers with Civil Air Patrol-U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, and loves wearing cowboy boots, and watching sports and Hallmark movies.