Events

2026 Annual Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Leaders (WONL) Conference

Join nursing leader colleagues for this annual event focusing on leading and developing nurses. Throughout the conference, you will learn how leadership is changing, ways to affect that change, and principles that leaders can use to empower, energize and inspire themselves and those they lead.

DATE

Sep. 16 - Sep. 18, 2026
7:30 AM - 12:00 PM

LOCATION

Hyatt Regency Green Bay
333 Main Street
Green Bay , WI

Sep. 16, 2026

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

WONL Board Meeting
Sep. 16, 2026

12:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Exhibitor and Poster Set-up

Tentative time frame
Sep. 16, 2026

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Tailgate Party at Lambeau Field and Conference Registration
Sep. 17, 2026

6:00 AM - 7:30 AM

Exhibitor Set-up, con't
Sep. 17, 2026

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Breakfast, Conference Registration Continues, Visit Exhibitors and Poster Presenters
Sep. 17, 2026

8:30 AM - 8:40 AM

Conference Welcome

Dennise Lavrenz, MBA, RN, CENP
WONL President
Sep. 17, 2026

8:40 AM - 10:10 AM

What Patients Really Experience: Fixing Broken Touchpoints in Health Care

Barbara Khozam
Sep. 17, 2026

10:10 AM - 10:40 AM

Break, Visit Exhibitors and Posters
Sep. 17, 2026

10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Wisconsin Legislative Update

Hear up-to-date information on workforce trends and policy challenges facing Wisconsin hospitals, health systems and health care organizations. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of workforce, regulatory and legislative issues that impact nurses, nursing practice and nurse leaders; and recommendations to improve our state’s health care workforce.

Ann Zenk, RN, BSN, MHA, Sr. Vice President Workforce and Clinical Practice, WHA
Sep. 17, 2026

11:40 AM - 12:45 PM

Lunch and Business Meeting
Sep. 17, 2026

12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

Break
Sep. 17, 2026

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

The Ties That Bind: The Importance of Trust in Leadership

Trust is not a “soft” skill—it is a foundational leadership competency that directly impacts engagement, resilience, collaboration, and performance. In today’s environment of constant change, uncertainty, and heightened demands, leaders are called to be intentional about how trust is built, sustained, and sometimes repaired. In this reflective and interactive session, participants will explore the critical role trust plays in leadership effectiveness and organizational success. Using real world scenarios, guided self reflection, and practical frameworks, leaders will examine how mindset, communication, emotional intelligence, and consistency shape trust within teams. Participants will be challenged to look inward—through the “power of the mirror”—to understand how their behaviors, decisions, and responses influence culture, psychological safety, and collaboration.

Grounded in healthcare leadership realities, this session emphasizes resilience, vulnerability, and purpose driven leadership. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to strengthen trust, foster psychological safety, and lead with clarity and compassion during times of uncertainty—while reconnecting to their own “why” as leaders.

Jackie Gaines, Huron Group
Sep. 17, 2026

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Break and Visiting Exhibitors
Sep. 17, 2026

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Pushing Through Overwhelmed

Healthcare and nursing leaders operate in environments where urgency is constant; stakes are high, and the margin for error feels small. Over time, this pressure can shift leaders from intentional decision making to chronic reaction—driving overwhelm, role creep, and burnout across teams. In this interactive session, participants will reframe overwhelm not as a personal failure, but as a leadership signal. Using real world diagnostic insights and nursing specific examples, leaders will identify the root causes driving their overwhelm and learn practical strategies to protect priorities, communicate with clarity, and engage in collaboration earlier. Participants will leave with concrete actions they can apply immediately to lead with purpose, stability, and impact—even in complex clinical environments.

Jackie Gaines, Huron Group
Sep. 17, 2026

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Visit Exhibitors and Posters
Sep. 17, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Awards Dinner

Presentation of the Nurse Leader of the Year Awards
Sep. 17, 2026

7:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Informal Gathering

Sponsored by Amergis
Sep. 18, 2026

7:30 AM - 8:15 AM

Breakfast, Visit Exhibitors and Poster
Sep. 18, 2026

8:15 AM - 8:20 AM

Welcome

Dennise Lavrenz, MBA, RN, CENP, WONL President
Sep. 18, 2026

8:20 AM - 9:20 AM

Presentation: TBA
Sep. 18, 2026

9:20 AM - 9:35 AM

Break, Visit Exhibitors and Posters
Sep. 18, 2026

9:35 AM - 10:35 AM

Caring for Wisconsin's Caregivers

Dr. Lorna Breene Foundation
Sep. 18, 2026

10:35 AM - 11:35 AM

Closing Presentation: TBA

Kelly Swanson
Sep. 18, 2026

11:35 AM - 11:55 AM

Prize Drawings
Sep. 18, 2026

11:55 AM - 12:00 PM

Conference Closing

Nurse executives, nurse managers and anyone else with responsibility for leading nurses. You do not need to be a nurse or a member of WONL to attend this event.

Registration Options
WONL Member: $400
Non-WONL member: $450
Student: $350 (Including Masters and Doctoral Students. Proof of student status may be requested)
WONL Member Poster Presenter: $250
Non-WONL Poster Presenter: $300
Vendor Tailgate Attendance: $50

Online registration will be open until: September 9. To register, click here.

This activity will be submitted to WNA CEAP for approval to award contact hours. Wisconsin Nurses Association is an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Rev. 5/15

Thank you to our exhibitors and sponsors!

Exhibitors
AMN Healthcare
Baxter
Kahuna Workforce
RF Technologies
Stryker Medical - Emergency Care
Stryker Medical – Patient Care
Stryker Medical – Patient Handling
Qualivis
WHA Quality

Sponsors
Amergis Healthcare - Informal Gathering

If you are interested in exhibiting or sponsoring at this year's conference, please contact us at education@wha.org

This year's conference is being held at:

Hyatt Regency Green Bay
333 Main Street
Green Bay, WI 54301

There is a room block reserved for the conference. Room rates vary from $89/night plus taxes and fees - $171/night plus taxes and fees. This room block will be dropped no later than August 26.

To make a reservation, TBA

Special Needs
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, WONL seeks to make this conference accessible to all. If you require any special accommodations please email your needs to the WHA Education department at education@wha.org

Prize Drawings and Silent Auction
The WONL Marketing and Communication Committee is sponsoring giveaways and a silent auction during the conference. Please remember to bring your hospital logo items for the giveaways and any non-logo items (valued at $40 or more) to include in the silent auction. If you have questions about this, please contact Annye Graff, WONL Marketing and Communication Chair, at Annye Graff

Attention Conference Attendees

Is your hospital participating in innovative improvement efforts? Do you have an organizational project that you would like to share at the conference? The 2026 WONL Annual Conference is the perfect opportunity for you to share and highlight this work with fellow nursing leaders from around the state.

Register today, at a discounted rate, and proudly share the work that you are involved with.
If you are interested in learning more about poster presenting at the conference, please email us at education@wha.org

Important information

WONL will provide you with an easel stand. You must bring your poster mounted and ready to be displayed. Materials will not be provided for you.
Attendance cost for poster presenter:
- WONL Member Poster Presenter - $250.00
- WONL Non-Member Poster Presenter - $300.00

Barbara Khozam

Keynote Speaker

Barbara is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant with a See more

Kelly Swanson, CSP, CPAE

Motivational Speaker

Kelly Swanson is A Hall of Fame motivational speaker, award-winning storyteller, and comedian known for See more

Ann Zenk, RN, BSN, MHA

Sr. Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice, WHA

Ann has served the Wisconsin Hospital Association as Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice since See more

Jackie Gaines, M.S., R.N.

National Speaker and Author

Jackie Gaines, M.S., R.N., is a high-performing senior executive, national speaker, and best-selling author with a See more

Events

2026 Annual Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Leaders (WONL) Conference

DATE

LOCATION

Sep. 16, 2026

WONL Board Meeting

Sep. 16, 2026

Exhibitor and Poster Set-up

Sep. 16, 2026

Tailgate Party at Lambeau Field and Conference Registration

Sep. 17, 2026

Exhibitor Set-up, con't

Sep. 17, 2026

Breakfast, Conference Registration Continues, Visit Exhibitors and Poster Presenters

Sep. 17, 2026

Conference Welcome

Sep. 17, 2026

What Patients Really Experience: Fixing Broken Touchpoints in Health Care

Sep. 17, 2026

Break, Visit Exhibitors and Posters

Sep. 17, 2026

Wisconsin Legislative Update

Sep. 17, 2026

Lunch and Business Meeting

Sep. 17, 2026

Break

Sep. 17, 2026

The Ties That Bind: The Importance of Trust in Leadership

Sep. 17, 2026

Break and Visiting Exhibitors

Sep. 17, 2026

Pushing Through Overwhelmed

Sep. 17, 2026

Visit Exhibitors and Posters

Sep. 17, 2026

Awards Dinner

Sep. 17, 2026

Informal Gathering

Sep. 18, 2026

Breakfast, Visit Exhibitors and Poster

Sep. 18, 2026

Welcome

Sep. 18, 2026

Presentation: TBA

Sep. 18, 2026

Break, Visit Exhibitors and Posters

Sep. 18, 2026

Caring for Wisconsin's Caregivers

Sep. 18, 2026

Closing Presentation: TBA

Sep. 18, 2026

Prize Drawings

Sep. 18, 2026

Conference Closing

Intended Audience

Registration Information

Continuing Education

Exhibitors and Sponsors

Conference Information and Lodging

Poster Presenting

Barbara Khozam

Kelly Swanson, CSP, CPAE

Ann Zenk, RN, BSN, MHA

Jackie Gaines, M.S., R.N.