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Inside the AOE 2026 Team Retreat
- The AOE Team
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
There's something powerful about stepping away from the daily grind to reconnect as a team. In May, the AOE team did exactly that in Indianapolis, Indiana. Over three days, we bonded, brainstormed and grew closer as a team.
The 2026 retreat gave us space to sharpen our skills, celebrate our wins and imagine what's next. We started the retreat with our practice groups diving into the topics shaping our industry, including artificial intelligence, public relations, digital marketing, social media and crisis communication. These sessions gave everyone a chance to share ideas, ask questions and learn from one another.
We also focused on leadership and connection. One session explored getting unstuck, giving feedback and creating harmony within our teams. Another centered on thinking strategically and understanding how each of us connects to the AOE Strategic Plan. These conversations reminded us that our individual work fuels our shared vision.
On our final morning, we wrapped up with additional practice group sessions covering graphic design and association management. Each one added to the momentum we'd built over the previous days.
Then came a unique experience: a tour of the Rinker Materials plant in Greenfield, Indiana. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at how things are made gave us a fresh perspective and a deeper appreciation for the work our partners do.
This year's retreat reminded us why we love what we do and, more important, who we do it with. We left Indianapolis feeling recharged, aligned and ready to take on whatever comes next.
Three days of learning, collaboration and connection gave us the momentum to make the rest of 2026 our strongest yet. Here's to the AOE team and everything we'll accomplish together.
Want to see the people behind the work?
Watch our "We Are AOE" video to meet the team, experience our culture and discover what makes AOE a trusted partner to associations and organizations across technical industries.