The conference gives elected officials the opportunity to network with other elected officials to share ideas, concerns and proven strategies. Municipal officials also have the opportunity during the meeting to view the latest products and services for municipalities at the Exhibitor Showcase.
2025 Registration Appointment Times
Drawing Results by Municipality Drawing Results in Registration Order
July 16 – 20, 2025 | Hilton Head Island, SC
Wednesday, July 16
- 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Registration (Pre-Function Hallway)
Thursday, July 17
- 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Registration (Pre-Function Hallway)
- 9 a.m. – noon Preconference Workshops:
- Leading Through Complexity: Strengthening Trust and Decision-Making - $100
Mounting challenges to civic unity, economic uncertainty, and shifting political pressures — from both state and federal levels — are making local leadership more difficult than ever. In a time of deepening divides, local leaders must face these pressures with advancing skill — every decision shapes the stability and future of their communities. Learn to navigate conflict, engage stakeholders, and foster confidence in your decisions.
- Say More by Saying Less – The Power of Purposeful Communication Cost: $100
This session will explore effective communication strategies for city leaders and community partners, focusing on best practices for engaging residents in local government. It will provide practical suggestions for building trust, navigating difficult conversations, and addressing the concerns of disgruntled residents to foster collaboration and positive change in the community.
- 3:45 – 5:00 p.m. Opening General Session (Ballroom G-J)
- 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Welcome Reception (Leamington Ballroom)
Friday, July 18
- 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration (Pre-Function Hallway)
- 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Exhibitor Showcase (Ballroom G-J)
- 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. General Session – 2025 Legislative Update (Ballroom A-F)
- General Session – Keynote: The Honorable David Beasley (Ballroom A-F)
- 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch on your own - Visit Exhibit Hall (Pre-purchased boxed lunches available in Exhibit Hall) (Ballroom G-J)
- 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
- Effectively Communicating with Your Legislators (Ballroom ABC)
-Unlocking Growth: Attracting Remote Talent to Your Municipality (Ballroom DEF)
- 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
-USC Brain Health: Community-Based Partners for Cognitive Care and Support (Ballroom ABC)
-Gun Violence Reduction: The City of Columbia Success Story (Ballroom DEF) - 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions: Round Table Discussions by Population Size
• Population below 3,000 (Ballroom ABC)
• Population 3,000 – 10,000 (Ballroom DEF)
• Population above 10,000 (Sabal Palm) - 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Mayors' Roundtable
Saturday, July 19
- 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Registration
- 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions
-Critical Court Cases Impacting Local Government
-Retail Rivalry: Perfecting Your Pitch to Compete for New Commercial Development - 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions
-Short Takes on Hot Topics (Ballroom FGH)
-Unlocking New Grant Possibilities: Shifting From Hometown Economic Development Grants to the New IMPACT Fund (Ballroom Jwest) - 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. General Session – Leading Under Pressure: Stress Management for Community Leaders (Ballroom Jwest)
- 11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Awards Luncheon (Ballroom Jwest)
- 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Lowcountry Boil (Leamington Ballroom)
Thursday, July 17
- Leading Through Complexity: Strengthening Trust and Decision-Making Cost: $100
Matt Lehrman, Co-founder and Managing Director, Social Prosperity Partners
Mounting challenges to civic unity, economic uncertainty, and shifting political pressures — from both state and federal levels — are making local leadership more difficult than ever. In a time of deepening divides, local leaders must face these pressures with advancing skill — every decision shapes the stability and future of their communities. Learn to navigate conflict, engage stakeholders, and foster confidence in your decisions.
- Say More by Saying Less – The Power of Purposeful Communication Cost: $100
Leniece Lane, Consultant, Small Town Soul
This session will explore effective communication strategies for city leaders and community partners, focusing on best practices for engaging residents in local government. It will provide practical suggestions for building trust, navigating difficult conversations, and addressing the concerns of disgruntled residents to foster collaboration and positive change in the community.
Thursday, July 17
(New in 2025: Please note that the Opening General Session will take place on Thursday afternoon.)
- 3:45 – 5:00 p.m. Opening Session
Annual Business Meeting
Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government graduation
Friday, July 18
- 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. 2025 Legislative Update
This year concluded the first year of a two-year legislative session for the SC General Assembly. Join the Municipal Association’s advocacy team to learn about bills that passed, bills that did not pass, and action that local officials can take to support cities and towns in the 2026 session.
- 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Keynote – Global Order: War, Conflict, Stability, and the Nobel Peace Prize
The Honorable David Beasley, Former Governor of SC, Former Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme
Former SC Governor David Beasley explores the dynamics of global order, examining war, conflict, paths to stability, and the impact of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Saturday, July 19
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Leading Under Pressure: Stress Management for Community Leaders
Lauren H. Carter, PhD, Clinical Director, Modern Minds
Life can be stressful. Hear how stress impacts the body and learn stress management strategies to be better leaders in your community.
Welcome Reception
Thursday, July 17
- 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Kick off the Annual Meeting and enjoy cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres while catching up with old friends.
Exhibit Hall
Friday, July 18
- 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Visit with companies that provide goods and services to municipalities. You can purchase a boxed lunch if you want to enjoy a light lunch while visiting the exhibits. Boxed lunches must be purchased in advance.
Boxed Lunch in Exhibit Hall
(Cost $40 - Boxed lunches must be purchased in advance.)
Friday, July 18
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch on Friday is on your own. You can purchase a boxed lunch in advance. These will be available for pick up in the exhibit hall. Boxed lunches will be a sandwich, potato chips, soft drink and cookie. Tickets for the boxed lunch must be purchased in advance.
Awards Luncheon
Cost $65
Saturday, July 19
11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Learn from the accomplishments of this year’s winners of the Municipal Achievement Awards and the Main Street South Carolina Excellence on Main Street Award.
Lowcountry Boil
Cost $75, Children under 12 $40
Saturday, July 19
- 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Join friends old and new for a family event featuring a casual dinner of Lowcountry boil and pork BBQ and dancing with your favorite music from DJ Dave Gilbert in a fun and casual atmosphere. It’s a backyard BBQ without the mosquitos and humidity.
Hotel Information
The Hilton Beachfront Resort is the host hotel and location for all meetings and events. There are several overflow hotels to accommodate meeting attendees.
Registering for the meeting and making hotel reservations for municipal officials
Municipal officials have priority in reserving hotel rooms. To ensure all have an equal opportunity, the Association will conduct a drawing on June 2 to determine the order cities will register during appointments on June 16, 17 and 18.
Hotel and registration procedures for meeting registrants who are not municipal officials and municipal officials without an appointment
Beginning on June 19, go to the annual meeting page to register for the Annual Meeting and make hotel reservations. The deadline to reserve a hotel room at the Association’s discounted rates is June 19. The preregistration deadline is July 3. After July 3, individuals must register on-site.
Planning Worksheet
To prepare for the registration appointments, use the planning worksheet available online.
Hotel reservations
- Hilton Beachfront Resort (host hotel) - $259/night with a $576.22 deposit (Two-night minimum stay required)
- Sonesta - $349/night with a $412.92 deposit
- Beach House -$299/night with a $335.81 deposit
Payment method
(Do not send card information to the Association. Destroy the card information after using the online registration system.)
Payment for registration, tickets and hotel deposits must be made by Visa or MasterCard. Ensure there is an adequate available credit to cover the registrations/reservations. Also, ensure the credit card activity will be within the card’s transaction limit by comparing the total being charged on the worksheets to the total transaction limit on the card(s) being used. The CVV security code is needed to complete the transaction.
Terms
1. Registration fees and hotel deposits are nonrefundable. Tickets purchased are refundable prior to 5 p.m. on July 3. 2. Call Ken Ivey of the Municipal Association to cancel tickets and hotel reservations or for special needs requests (803.933.1205).
3. The hotels assign room types at check-in and requested room types are not guaranteed.
4. Hotel deposits include taxes and fees.
5. Failure to check in on the date reserved for arrival will result in the guest’s room being canceled and the deposit being forfeited.
Important Dates
- June 2 - Drawing for municipal registration appointments
- June 16, 17, 18 - Online registration appointments for municipalities
- June 19 - Online registration for nonmunicipal registrants opens
- June 19 - Deadline to reserve hotel room
- July 3 - Registration deadline
Meeting registration and hotel deposits are nonrefundable. Tickets can be refunded before July 3.