ANNUAL
MEETING
OCTOBER
29-30, 2026
HOTEL CHAMPLAIN
Burlington, VT
AGENDA
Get ready for two full days of education, networking, inspiration, and celebration at the 2026 VAR Annual Meeting. From nationally recognized keynote speakers and timely continuing education sessions to the Annual Membership Meeting, awards presentations, networking events, and special activities, this year’s agenda is designed to inform, connect, and inspire Vermont’s REALTOR® community.
The agenda below will continue to be updated as additional session details, speakers, and event information are confirmed, so check back often for the latest schedule.
UPDATED AUGUST 17, 2026
Thursday, October 29
Special thanks to our Welcome Gift Sponsor
- 8-9am
- Lobby & North Perfection
Registration & Exhibitor Marketplace
Start your annual meeting experience by checking in, grabbing a fresh cup of coffee, and connecting with colleagues from across Vermont. Visit our Exhibitor Marketplace to learn about the products, services, and resources from our valued sponsors.
- 9-10am
- Adirondack ABC
General Session - The Long Run: Building a Business that Lasts
Keynote – Maura Neill
Kick off the Annual Meeting with a welcome from VAR leadership, followed by an inspiring keynote from internationally recognized real estate speaker Maura Neill. It’s the perfect start to two days of learning, networking, and professional growth.
Choose between concurrent CE classes
- 10:15am-12:15pm
- Adirondack D
Creating the WIN: Negotiation with Style & Strategy
Instructor: Maura Neill
The most successful negotiators get the best outcomes for clients by thinking outside the box. This session pushes you out of your comfort zone to think differently. We’ll explore the impacts of perception versus reality on the transaction and how emotional intelligence affects the negotiation process. You’ll walk away with free, new approaches and innovative options for even the most difficult negotiation. Our instructor, Maura Neill, is a graduate of the Harvard Negotiation Institute at Harvard Law.
2CE PENDING
- 10:15am-12:15pm
- Montpelier Conference Room
Understanding Commercial Leases
Instructor: Jeremy Cyrier
This course will provide REALTORS® with a practical understanding of the structure and economics of commercial leases and the key provisions they should understand when representing landlords, tenants, buyers, and sellers of commercial real estate.
2CE PENDING
- 12:15-1:30pm
- Adirondack ABC
Lunch
Enjoy lunch and networking! Don’t forget to visit our sponsor exhibits to learn about the resources they offer!
Choose between concurrent CE classes
- 1:30-3:30pm
- Adirondack D
Lender Forum - Your Questions Answered
Panelists: Nick Parent, Vermont Mortgage, and Kelly Deforge, Union Bank
Join us for this fun, interactive lender forum where some of your favorite lenders will update you on the current goings-on in the mortgage world and what you should be aware of for your buyers and sellers. The session will include updates from the lenders and a Q&A opportunity to ask your mortgage-related questions.
2CE PENDING
- 1:30-3:30pm
- Adirondack D
Building a Commercial Real Estate Investment
Cash Flow Model
Instructor: Jeremy Cyrier
This will be a hands-on introduction to analyzing the financial performance of a commercial real estate investment. We’ll walk through the process of building a basic property-level cash flow model and show how investors use that model to evaluate an acquisition.
2 CE PENDING
- 2:30-3:30pm
- Vermont Conference Room
Leadership Academy Capstone Presentation (Private)
The VAR Leadership Academy will present their Capstone Project, showcasing the ideas, collaboration, and leadership skills they have developed throughout the program.
- 3:45-4:45pm
- Adirondack D
VAR Real Estate Forms Update
Instructor: Jess Peck & Panel
VAR Real Estate Forms Update
Learn about the latest updates, changes, and best practices for Vermont’s real estate forms provided by the Vermont Association of REALTORS®. Be prepared for the next update.
1 CE Credit
- 5-7pm
- Mezzanine
Cocktails, Costumes, and Karaoke
Unwind after a full day of learning with an evening of cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, networking, and karaoke. Come in costume, or just come ready to have fun as we celebrate our REALTOR® community together!
Friday, October 30
- 8-9am
- Mezzanine/Hops & Harvey, Lake Champlain Salon
Registration & Exhibitor Marketplace
Start your day by checking in, grabbing a fresh cup of coffee, and connecting with colleagues from across Vermont. Visit our Exhibitor Marketplace to learn about the products, services, and resources from our valued sponsors.
- 8-9am
- Vermont Conference Room
Major Investor Breakfast (invitation only)
By invitation only, this special breakfast recognizes VAR’s Major Investors and provides an opportunity to connect with the champions of our advocacy endeavors.
- 9-10am
- Adirondack ABC
Keynote Address
Hear from Christine Hansen, NAR 2026 President-Elect, and Dr. Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, as they share the latest insights on the real estate industry, the economy, and the future of the REALTOR® profession.
Choose between concurrent CE classes
- 10:15am-12:15pm
- Adirondack D
Act 250 - Why REALTOR® Engagement Matters for Vermont Consumers
Instructor: Peter Tucker
Vermont’s Act 250 land use law plays a critical role in shaping housing supply, development timelines, and affordability across the state.
This course connects the evolution of Act 250directly to the real-world outcomes that matter most to consumers: access to housing, predictable transaction timelines, environmental stewardship, and informed decision-making when buying or selling property. The class will briefly review the history and original intent of Act 250, then focus primarily on the current and ongoing revision efforts.
Participants will examine how recent and proposed changes to the law may affect residential development, housing availability, permit certainty, and costs ultimately passed on toBuyers and Sellers. Designed as an interactive session, the course emphasizes the REALTOR’s role as both a consumer advocate and a trusted local expert. Through discussion, case examples, and guided exercises, REALTORS® will gain a clearer understanding of how Act 250 impacts their clients and communities, and why REALTOR® engagement in the revision process is essential to ensuring balanced outcomes that protect Vermont’s landscape while supporting housing opportunity.
2 CE PENDING
- 10:15am-12:15pm
- Montpelier Conference Room
Understanding Lead-Based Paint & Asbestos in Vermont
Instructor:
Learn from Vermont Department of Health experts what Vermont real estate professionals should know about lead-based paint and asbestos hazards and disclosures.
2 CE PENDING
- 12:15-2pm
- Adirondack ABC
Annual Meeting & Celebration of Excellence
Join us for the VAR Annual Membership Meeting as we celebrate the REALTOR® of the Year and Good Neighbor Award recipients, install VAR’s 2027 Officers, and honor the members whose leadership and service strengthen the REALTOR® community.
- 2-4pm
- Adirondack D
Exciting Course TBD
Instructor:
Class topic to be announced soon.