Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama and the 2025 Southern Region Middle Managers Conference! The conference is scheduled for April 8-11 in the Rocket City, Huntsville, Alabama. Get ready to blast off, as you explore Navigating the Future and Igniting Innovation in Extension.

Registration

Online registration for the Southern Region Middle Managers Conference is coming soon!

Rates

Registration costs include access to the conference sessions and the tour of your choice.

• Early-Bird: $495 (by February 28)
• Regular: $525 (after March 1-30)
• Late: $575 (after March 30)*

*Late registration remains available online the week prior to the conference. Late registration is also available on-site.

Hotel Information

The conference hotel is The Westin Huntsville Bridge Street, 6800 Governors W, Huntsville, AL 35806. The hotel has complimentary, on-site parking or valet parking at a cost of $16 per day. There are also electric-car charging stations available.

• Rate: $199 per night
• Deadline: Monday, March 10

Book Your Reservation

Call for Session Proposals

Researchers, practitioners, and Extension professionals are invited to submit session proposals for this year’s conference. The team is looking for presentations and workshops that explore innovative approaches that engage middle managers and contribute to the ongoing discussion of Navigating the Future and Igniting Innovation in Extension. For more information and to submit a proposal, visit the link below.

This is an open call for proposals, but sessions of interest may center around the following topics:

• Human resources and workforce development
  • Examples: recruitment and retention, onboarding new agents, work-life balance, time management, etc.
• Program development and innovation
  • Examples: new and innovative Extension programs, building capacity in Extension programs, new and trending regional initiatives, etc.
• Stakeholder engagement and partnerships
  • Examples: assessing stakeholder needs, building successful win-win partnerships, creating and accessing social, community, or health impacts, etc.
• Crisis and conflict management
  • Examples: conflict management, coaching and mentoring techniques, Extension’s role in disasters, etc.
• Other relevant topic related to the conference theme

Learn More & Submit a Proposal

Agenda

Below is an outline of the conference agenda. More details are coming soon.

Tuesday Afternoon/Evening

• Registration/Welcome Reception

Wednesday

Choose to explore Huntsville and the surrounding area through one of the three tour options below. Tours will be conducted Wednesday, April 9. Conference registration includes the cost of the tour.

Option 1. Shoals Tour (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

• Ivy Green: the Birthplace of Helen Keller
• Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
• Lunch at Jack’s Bistro
• Wilson Dam: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Hydroelectric Power Generation

People must register by March 9. The TVA requires a driver’s license to tour the facilities. Once the tours are assigned, those selected for this tour will be contacted and asked to provide their driver’s license information.

Option 2. Rocket City Tour (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

• United Launch Alliance (ULA)
• Huntsville Botanical Garden Tour and Lunch
• US Space and Rocket Center

ULA requires an ID and has the following clothing requirements: closed-toe shoes, pants, and sleeved tops.

Option 3. Alabama Extension Tour (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

• The People’s Patch: A Community Farm through Madison County Commission and Alabama A&M University
• Graham Farm & Nature Center Tour and Lunch
• Blount County Multipurpose Center

Thursday

• Professional Development

Friday

• Professional Development

Transportation from Airport

The Huntsville International Airport is located approximately 9 miles from The Westin. There are several transportation options from the airport to choose from. These include rental cars, ride sharing, peer-to-peer car sharing, as well as services for taxies, buses, shuttles, and limousines.

Transportation Options 

Explore the Rocket City

The culture, history, and nature of the Huntsville area means there are many sights and sounds to experience. The Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau has a lot of great information on their website to check out.

Visit Huntsville