Schedule at a glance
OCTOBER
4
WEDNESDAY
FMX’s Operations Leadership Conference
10:30 am–4:00 pm CT
Paragon Casino Resort (Belazaire)
711 Paragon Pl,
Marksville, LA 71351
Map/directions | Website
A jam-packed day of speakers, food, networking and more! Earn FMX’s Continuing Education Credits while taking part in operational excellence conversations. You can view the full schedule for the day below. Lunch will be provided.
Dress code: business casual; school/company gear is encouraged!
OCTOBER
4
WEDNESDAY
Welcome Reception—LSFMA & FMX
6:00–8:00 pm CT
Paragon Casino Resort (Club MeZazz)
711 Paragon Pl,
Marksville, LA 71351
Map/directions | Website
Join us for an evening of networking, light food, and fun! This reception will be the perfect time to meet and greet with other operations leaders before the conference begins the following day. You are more than welcome to bring a plus-one (21+).
Dress code: casual attire; school/company gear is encouraged!
© 2023 FMX. All rights reserved.
Our operations conference will be an opportunity for K-12 leaders to come together to network with peers, learn from each other and skilled presenters, discuss common pains and best practices, and have fun as a group leading into LSFMA's Fall Conference!
Below you will find detailed information on the schedule and presenters. You can RSVP for yourself and/or teammates. If you have any questions, please reach out to Abigail Haberski at abigail.haberski@gofmx.com.
The FMX team is looking forward to hosting you at the Paragon Casino & Resort October 4!
FMX PRESENTS
Operations Leadership Conference, LSFMA
Darin Porter
K12 Practice Leader,
FMX
Merlyna Valentine
Keynote Speaker
Straight from the Heart
Meet the speakers
10:30–11:00 am: Registration & Settle In
11:00–12:15 pm: Welcome!
- Welcome, Today's Agenda Overview
- State of K12; Operations Impact on Student Achievement:
Marc Stitt & Jason Dewey
12:15–1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00–2:15 pm: Session 1
Straight from the Heart: Merlyna Valentine
Learn more about Merlyna's background below
15 minute break
2:30–3:30 pm: Session 2
Simplify Your Day-to-Day: Darin Porter & Kathryn Moore
3:30–4:00 pm:
Open Floor Discussion and Panel
4:00 pm: Conference Wrap up / LSFMA Early Bird Check-In
Thank You from the FMX Team!
6:00 pm: FMX & LSFMA Welcome Reception
Additional details below
Conference agenda
Need approval to attend?
Download this justification letter template to send to your supervisor for approval for the conference. You can use this as a template or as just a starting point to get approval on time off and/or covering any expenses!
Admission is waived for all attendees of FMX's 2023 conferences.
Potential costs around the event may include:
- Travel (flight or mileage)
- Lodging
- Meals (outside of Wednesday's morning pastries and lunch)
Marc Stitt
Chief Strategy Officer,
FMX
Kathryn Moore
Director of Customer Success,
FMX
Those who are registered for and attend FMX's Operations Leadership Conference as well as LSFMA's Fall Conference (separate registration) will have the opportunity to check-in early for the LSFMA Conference when checking into our event.
Early bird check-in comes with an exclusive giveaway for LSFMA School Members!
All school members must be registered prior to the event in order to receive their giveaway.
Join FMX's Operations Leadership Conference for an exclusive opportunity at early bird check-in!
LSFMA Fall Conference
Early Bird Check-In
Merlyna Valentine is a highly sought-after international speaker, author,
and consultant. She was a highly accomplished educator who made a
significant impact in the field of education as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and executive director. With a career spanning over 30 years, Ms. Valentine was recognized for her outstanding leadership and dedication to educational excellence. Her transformational leadership as a school principal enhanced the school’s climate and culture, which resulted in increased student achievement.
Ms. Valentine received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
from Loyola University and a Master of Education from the University of
New Orleans. She is a member of numerous professional organizations.
Ms. Valentine received numerous state, national, and international awards, and commendations such as teacher of the year and principal of the year.
She was featured in several news segments and articles including a
spotlight in Ebony Magazine. Audiences were captivated by her
inspirational story of survival, courage, and hope when she was a featured segment on the Today Show. She was also chosen as the 2020
Inspirational Speaker of the Year in an international competition.
Despite facing a significant medical tragedy, Ms. Valentine unleashed a
remarkable inner strength that enabled her to lead by example. She has
learned some valuable lessons since 2007, when her life as she knew it
was forever changed and she experienced the closest call to death
imaginable. Harnessing her personal journey, Merlyna embarked on a new mission as an international speaker, captivating audiences worldwide with her authentic storytelling and profound insights. Her speeches not only highlight her triumphant victory over adversity but also inspire individuals to overcome their own challenges and embrace resilience as a pathway to
success.
Meet Merlyna Valentine
Lodging
Paragon Casino Resort
(800) 642-7777
711 Paragon Pl
Marksville, LA 71351
Map/directions | Website
Room rates:
- Standard Room: $99/night, plus $15 resort fee per room per night
- Atrium Room: $129/night, plus $15 resort fee per room per night
Reservations are welcome by direct phone call to the special group reservations number (800) 642-7777. When calling in for reservations, refer to the Louisiana School Facility Management Conference, RES ID CODE: FACO06G in order for your request to be handled as efficiently as possible.
