Featured Speakers

Opening Keynote Speaker

Leigh Brown

Disruption Navigator • Keynote Speaker • Strategic Guide

Next is Now!

How to move forward when disruption, doubt, and discomfort hit all at once.

"In this powerful, energizing session, Leigh shares how to regain trust, navigate challenges with calm confidence, and lead forward—even when the world feels upside down. With her signature mix of humor, heart, and real-world grit, you’ll walk away with the tools (and the fire) to thrive through anything."

Read the full description of the talk and more about Leigh Brown.

Closing Keynote Speaker

Dr. Mark Dotzour

Real Estate Economist

The Economic Outlook for Real Estate in 2026

Dotzour will address the most pressing issues facing business decision makers and investors. Are we going to have a recession in 2026? What is the outlook for inflation and interest rates?  Why land will continue to be a favored investment for years ahead. What is the solution to the unaffordable housing market? How has AI already damaged the labor market.

Read more about Dr. Dotzour.

Featured Ag Economist

Jackson Takach

Chief Economist and Vice President of Strategy, Research, and Analytics at Farmer Mac

Land in Motion: The Ag Economy’s Impact on Farmland Values and Lending

As global trade routes shift and domestic farm incomes fluctuate, the agricultural economy is entering a new phase of transition. Join Jackson Takach, Chief Economist at Farmer Mac, for a data-driven exploration of how macroeconomic forces, interest rate cycles, and lending trends are shaping the value of farmland across the U.S. This session will unpack the latest insights from national surveys, USDA forecasts, and proprietary indices to help land professionals understand where the market is headed—and how to position themselves for success.

Read more about Jackson.

APEX Guest Speaker

Emily Baucum

Associate Director of Public Relations for The Alamo

The Alamo Plan

Join us for an unforgettable evening as APEX Guest Speaker and San Antonio native Emily Baucum shares stories of The Alamo.

Emily is the Associate Director of Public Relations for The Alamo and host of the award-winning “Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast.” She’s an EMMY and AP-award winning storyteller with nearly two decades of television news experience, most recently as an Anchor and Investigative Reporter in San Antonio. Emily was born and raised in the Alamo City. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.