Related: code of conduct and Showcase guidelines. Questions at any point: events@accis-wa.org or 360-706-1806.
Two dates that matter
| Deadline | What's due |
|---|---|
| August 28, 2026 | Session details: title, attendee-facing description, and presenter names and titles, emailed to events@accis-wa.org. This is what goes on the published agenda and in the Whova app. |
| October 2, 2026 | Final slides (and any handouts or videos), emailed to events@accis-wa.org. Slides run from the conference presentation system, so this deadline is firm. |
Session formats by tier
| Tier | Format |
|---|---|
| Premier partner | 55-minute mainstage session |
| Visionary partner | 45-minute mainstage session |
| Learning Lab partner | Dedicated 3-hour educational block, scheduled with the ACCIS board and events team |
| Knowledge partner | 35-minute breakout session |
| Strategic partner | 45-minute mainstage session |
| Innovation partner | 45-minute mainstage session |
| Solution partner | 45-minute mainstage session |
Your specific day, time, and room are confirmed on the published agenda. Plan to leave the last 5 to 10 minutes for questions; sessions must end on time so the conference stays on schedule.
Your session is a commitment. Your session is published on the agenda, and attendees plan their conference day around it. Come prepared with enough educational material to fill your full session time: a session that's canceled at the last minute, or that ends after a fraction of its scheduled time, leaves a room of attendees stranded and a gap in the program. If your presenter can no longer attend, or you're unsure you can fill the time, notify the events team as early as possible; we can help with substitutions, a co-presenter, or a reworked format. An unfilled or abandoned session without advance notice affects your standing as a presenting partner and your eligibility for presenting tiers at future ACCIS conferences.
Education first
The sessions that fill rooms at ACCIS are hands-on workshops, deep technical education, and honest case studies. The ones that empty rooms are high-level overviews, product demos without a learning objective, and anything that reads as a sales pitch.
What works
Lead with a problem your audience actually has. Teach something attendees can use Monday morning. Show real implementations, including what went wrong. Co-present with a public-sector customer whenever you can; it's the single strongest format.
What doesn't
Company history and org charts. Feature tours with no learning objective. Roadmap and pricing slides; save those for your Showcase table, where interested attendees will come find them. Reading your slides to the room.
Content review
ACCIS reviews all session titles, descriptions, and slides before the conference and may request revisions where content doesn't meet the education-first standard above. Submitting early gives your team the most room to make any adjustments before the conference. Demos are welcome, and encouraged, when they serve a clear learning objective.
Slide specifications
- 16:9 widescreen format.
- PowerPoint (.pptx) or PDF; if your deck uses custom fonts, embed them or send a PDF alongside.
- Email to events@accis-wa.org by October 2; for files over 20 MB, send a file-share link instead of an attachment.
- Videos submitted as separate files, with a note listing which slide each belongs to.
- File name format: Company_SessionTitle.pptx.
- Revisions after October 2 only by arrangement with the events team.
AV and what's provided
ACCIS provides full AV support at no additional cost for all partner presentations. Every session room includes:
- Projection and screen, with your submitted slides pre-loaded on the conference presentation system
- Microphone and house sound, including audio playback for videos in your deck
- Slide remote for advancing your presentation
- Complimentary conference Wi-Fi (shared attendee network)
Use the microphone. Every presenter uses the provided microphone for the entire session, even in smaller rooms and even if you project well. The microphone feeds the house sound, the virtual stream, and the recording; unmiked speech never reaches virtual attendees or the recording, and it's harder on in-room listeners than presenters realize.
Bring a USB backup of your final deck on presentation day. If your session needs anything beyond the standard setup, such as presenting from your own laptop for a live demo, guaranteed bandwidth for something internet-dependent, or a specific room arrangement, email events@accis-wa.org well before the conference so it can be arranged.
Virtual stream and recording
Sessions are streamed live to virtual attendees through the Whova conference app and recorded. Recordings typically remain available to registered attendees for about a month after the conference, extending your session's reach well past its scheduled time. By presenting, your team consents to the stream and recording; raise any concerns with the events team before the conference.
Handouts and takeaways
Handouts are optional. Digital is preferred: send materials with your slides and they'll be attached to your session listing in the Whova app, where every attendee (in person and virtual) can reach them. If you'd rather print, printed copies are your team's responsibility; email the events team for a current attendance estimate before you set a print quantity.
Arrival and tech check
- Check in with the events team at the registration desk when you arrive on site, so we know your presenters are in the building.
- Be at your session room during the break before your session for a tech check: slides up, mic on, videos tested. It takes five minutes and prevents nearly every day-of problem.
- Want a longer run-through? Tech checks can also be arranged during the Monday setup window (October 19); email the events team to book one.
- Presenters need a Partner Pass like every other member of your on-site team (registered by Tuesday, October 13 at 5 p.m. Pacific).
How to submit and what happens next
Everything goes to events@accis-wa.org: session details by August 28, slides and handouts by October 2. You'll receive a confirmation reply for every submission; if you don't get one within two business days, your materials didn't arrive, so resend or call 360-706-1806.
Once your session is confirmed, ACCIS handles the rest: your session is placed on the published agenda, listed in the Whova app with your description and presenter names, and included in conference promotion to registered attendees.
The short version. Session details by August 28. Slides by October 2. Teach, don't pitch. Fill your full session time, and tell us early if you can't. Show up during the break before your session for a tech check, use the microphone, and end on time.
Presenter Guidelines v1.0, effective August 5, 2026.