PBSA Annual Conference 2026 Recap
Overall, the conference was a win. Pulling off an event like this year after year takes enormous behind-the-scenes work, and this year’s show ran smoothly enough to deserve real credit. I cannot commend and thank the PBSA staff enough. I usually fail to express it at the time, but I deeply appreciate everything you do for us.
If you’ve never been to the annual conference, then you’re missing more than a few educational sessions. You’re missing the kind of networking and learning that can accelerate your career. If your company won’t send you and you can afford it, go anyway. The investment will pay off. There were quite a few folks who came on their own dime this year.
The hotel was convenient and comfortable overall. Aside from one rude front-desk interaction, everything else worked exceptionally well. Easy access to the ballroom and exhibit hall, a late-night bar that kept conversations going (because it actually stayed open), and an exhibit floor the perfect size for meaningful interactions. All of the booth vendors seemed happy, which is exceptionally rare and worth noting.
The highlight for me, personally, was my team. Watching Chance and Ciera work the floor was my proudest moment of the conference. Chance spent evenings quietly helping folks who needed a hand and introduced our company with a confidence that sounded like me, only better. He represented us with integrity and warmth. Ciera, who claims to be an introvert, lights up a room; she’s brilliant, a natural problem solver, and now she’s using those skills to win clients and impress everyone she meets. Seeing both of them grow professionally and shine as people was priceless.
Networking was as powerful as ever. I met more new people at this year’s show than at any prior conference, which made the event feel especially productive. Now the real work begins: follow-ups. We’ll be reaching out to everyone who stopped by, and if we missed you, we’d still love to connect. Engage when it feels right; we’re ready when you are.
We took a moment on Monday to demo Astute Prime, and I’m happy to walk anyone through it who couldn’t make the session. There’s no lock-in, no minimums. It is just a product we believe in and we think will earn your business every day. Big thanks to everyone who attended the presentation; having a great audience makes speaking worthwhile.
While I didn’t get to all the sessions, a few received consistently strong feedback:
Kevin Bachman — The Final Table: Why One CRA Wins and Others Don’t: Kevin cuts through the noise and helps people find a clear message. If you haven’t seen him, try to catch him next time.
Erica Rice — Process Drift: How Good Systems Break Down: Erica brings operational depth and practical fixes. Attendees raved; if you need help with manual verifications, check out Argus Verify.
John Gumina — Help Clients Build Effective, Consistent, Defensible Drug Testing Programs: Not flashy, but extremely valuable. John’s practical guidance can help CRAs differentiate and monetize service lines.
Scott Paler — Full File Requests: How Can CRAs Best Avoid the Potholes: Full file requests are rising and can signal bigger legal issues. Scott’s session gave solid strategies to reduce risk.
Where the conference had some room for improvement:
Food. It’s the perennial gripe, and this year wasn’t a winner. You can’t please everyone, but the consensus was that the meals missed the mark. There is really no way to be able to control or predict the quality of the food. Maybe Indianapolis will be kinder next year.
Travel. Travel always sucks in my opinion, but I think I have the wrong perspective. I get to fly all over the country and meet a lot of really cool people. I got to see a lot of old friends that I have not seen in years. It was good for the soul. Maybe the hours of flight delays, five gate changes, two terminal changes, and three plane changes (all mechanical issues) were a small price to pay (on top of the high price I paid for the ticket). I was talking to many of the international attendees, and they went through a heck of a lot more than I did to get there. So I will quit complaining and appreciate the opportunities that travel has provided me, but there is some room for improvement for American Airlines.
A Little Constructive Criticism
I am going to say the quiet part out loud here. PBSA does a fantastic job of bringing us all together so we can network and exchange ideas. It is truly the magic part of the show for me. This is the first time that I have ever felt that there were people/organizations that were doing their darndest to isolate and divide people. Maybe I should take it as a compliment that so many of our competitors do not want us anywhere near their clients. My approach is a little different. I truly want everyone in the room talking to anyone they want to talk to. If my clients find a better option, I want them to take it. When we lose work, we know where we need to improve, and I will continually improve all of our offerings at Astute. I am not afraid of anyone talking to my clients or my employees. It is a shame everyone does not feel the same way.
I won’t dwell on it, but for those who were letting pettiness and greed drive your decisions at the show, people saw it for what it was. If you want a little constructive criticism, it’s not a good look, and I think it will cost you in the long run (and maybe even in the short run).
Final thoughts: Overall, PBSA delivered. The work behind the scenes showed, the networking was rich, and sessions offered actionable insights. Biggest personal win: watching our team represent us so well. If you’re on the fence about attending next year, go. You’ll leave with new contacts, new ideas, and if you do it right, a new spring in your professional step.
