CALL FOR SPEAKERS
Channel Marketing Association
Virtual Summit October 28-29, 2025
AND
In-person Marketing Summit March 24-26, 2026
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
We’re now accepting speaker applications for two premier events created by and for tech channel marketers.
These events unite channel marketing professionals from across the industry to share actionable strategies, explore what’s next in partner marketing, and drive meaningful conversations about the evolving tech and AI landscape in the channel.
Whether you’re an AI enthusiast, data-driven strategist, or partnership pro, we want to hear from you! Submit your best session idea and indicate whether you’d like to speak at one or both events.
The Sooner You Apply, The Better Your Chances
Virtual Summit Application deadline: September 15, 2025
In-person Summit Application deadline: September 30, 2025
Who Attends?
Our audience includes:
- Channel marketers and field marketers
- Partner program leaders and PRM/CRM managers
- Demand gen and content marketing professionals
- Channel sales leaders and partner enablement experts
- Tech and SaaS brands with growing or mature partner ecosystems
Attendees range from mid-level marketers to C-suite leaders across enterprise and mid-market organizations. They come seeking
real strategies,
proven frameworks, and
practical examples that deliver partner and pipeline impact.
Why Speak?
As a speaker, you’ll:
- Gain visibility with thousands of engaged channel professionals
- Establish your voice as a thought leader in the partner marketing space
- Share innovative strategies, use cases, and results
- Network with other experts and elevate your professional brand
- Influence a growing, tech-savvy audience of decision-makers
SESSION FORMATS
Both events feature a variety of presentation opportunities. You’ll indicate your preferences in the application.
Keynotes & Panels
- What: Executive-level thought leadership or moderated group discussions
- Format: Recorded or live (virtual); live on-stage (in-person)
Breakout Sessions
- What: 20–30 min tactical presentations with a slide deck
- Format: Pre-recorded (virtual); live presentation (in-person)
Workshops
- What: Hands-on demos or strategic skill-building sessions
- Format: Self-prepared and led session (virtual or in-person)
Live Roundtable
- What: Moderated discussion with attendees on a focused topic
- Format: Live Zoom breakout (virtual); in-person table sessions
CMA SUGGESTED TOPICS
VIRTUAL EVENT DETAILS
Dates: October 28–29, 2025
Format: 100% Online | Pre-recorded sessions with live chat
Virtual Format
- Daily welcome calls + keynote (live)
- Hourly release of pre-recorded breakout & workshop sessions
- Speakers are expected to participate in live text-based chat during their session premieres
Virtual Speaker Timeline
- Applications approved on a rolling basis
- Early submissions = higher selection priority
- Panel recordings conducted: Sept 1 – Oct 1, 2025
- Session & Workshop videos due: Oct 1, 2025
Panel Topics
Apply to speak at one of these panel sessions in our speaker application.
Panel: AI-Powered PRM Systems
- Lead scoring, deal flow, engagement optimization
- KPIs and dashboards to measure partner impact
Panel: Building Scalable AI-Driven Partner Programs
- Enablement, onboarding, and structural design
- Scalable approaches from startups to global alliances
Panel: AI Ethics in the Channel Ecosystem
- Bias and transparency in AI-generated messaging
- Responsible adoption and partner trust
Breakout Session Ideas
Apply to lead one of these preferred breakout sessions in our speaker application or tell us about another breakout session you’d like to present. These sessions will be pre-recorded on your own and will be due by October 1st.
- AI for Content & Advertising in the Channel
- Personalization at Scale: Emails, Messaging & Campaigns
- Using Predictive Analytics to Drive Partner Growth
- Decoding Partner Value Languages with AI
Hands-On Workshop Ideas
Apply to lead one of these preferred workshops in our speaker application or tell us about another workshop you’d like to lead. These sessions will be pre-recorded on your own and will be due by October 1st.
- Implementing AI in PRM Systems
- Generative Content Studio: Write Emails + Ads Live
- Predictive Modeling for Channel Marketing
IN-PERSON EVENT DETAILS
Dates: March 24–26, 2026
Location: Houston, Texas
In-Person Format
A 3-day in-person event with various session types.
In-Person Session Types
- Keynote Presentations (Main Stage)
- Live Breakout Sessions (Slides + Q&A)
- Interactive Roundtables
- Coaching Café 1:1 Bookings
- Workshops (Tools Training, Demos, AI Integration Labs)
In-Person Speaker Timeline
- Speaker invitations sent by end of October 2025
- Travel info & logistics finalized: February 2026
- On-site prep: March 2026
Panel Topics
Apply to speak at one of these panel sessions in our speaker application.
The New Partner Journey
- How are you onboarding, enabling, and retaining partners in new and creative ways? We want examples of experiences that create stickiness and drive partner activation.
Engagement Strategies That Actually Work
- Let’s move beyond the portal and monthly newsletter. Share tactics that generate real partner engagement—think gamification, storytelling, personalization, or co-hosted experiences.
Leadership & Team Building in Channel Marketing
- Whether you’re managing a team or trying to influence from within, we want talks that help people grow as leaders. Think career development, internal influence, or scaling marketing operations.
Partner Communities & Ecosystems
- Have you built a thriving partner community? Tell us how you got engagement, what platform worked, and how you’re using community to drive advocacy, training, or retention.
The Marketplace Effect: Rethinking Distribution and the Partner Experience
- As cloud marketplaces like AWS, Microsoft, and AppDirect gain traction, they’re rewriting the rules of how technology is bought, sold, and supported.
Breakout Session Ideas
Apply to lead one of these preferred breakout sessions in our speaker application or tell us about another breakout session you’d like to lead.
- Metrics That Matter
- Field Marketing in a Digital World
- Creative MDF Uses & Budget Hacks
- From Planning to Proof: Your Annual Marketing Blueprint
- Innovation Showcase: Breaking the Channel Mold
Hands-On Workshop Ideas
Apply to lead one of these preferred breakout sessions in our speaker application or tell us about another breakout session you’d like to lead.
- Campaigns That Convert
- AI Beyond Content: Real Use Cases in Channel Marketing
- Partner Segmentation: Smarter, Not Harder
- Co-Marketing Clinics: Leading Through Collaboration
- Fix This Campaign (Live or Pre-Submitted)
- “Steal This Idea”: Lightning Talk Submissions
SPEAKER SELECTION CRITERIA
We are looking for sessions that are:
- Highly relevant to channel marketing professionals
- Actionable and strategic (not general theory)
- Focused on frameworks, case studies, or AI adoption
- Well-structured with clear takeaways
- No sales pitches or product demos disguised as education
Applications close on September 30, 2025, or when all speaking spots are filled. Early submissions have the best chance of being selected—especially for the virtual event.
Apply now to be part of the only event series created for channel marketers, by channel marketers.
