Chapter leaders from around the globe came together for the 2026 Chapter Leaders Summit, creating our largest gathering of chapter leaders ever. Representing 34 chapters and traveling from as far away as South Africa, Taiwan, and Singapore, 65 attendees spent the day sharing ideas, discussing challenges, and identifying new ways to strengthen the chapter network.

This year's Summit featured discussions led by Matt Killam of the Twin Cities Chapter and Angela Egelhoff of the Arizona Chapter, with support from Brian Herbert of the Central Indiana Chapter. Through group discussions and shared experiences, chapter leaders exchanged ideas, discussed common challenges and highlighted successful strategies that have helped their chapters grow and thrive.

The leadership portion of the program was led by John Gill, J.D., ACFE President Emeritus; John Warren, CFE, President and CEO; Andi McNeal, COO; and Ross Pry, Vice President of Membership. Their insights reinforced the important role chapters play in advancing the anti-fraud profession and supporting ACFE members around the globe.

One of the most valuable aspects of the Summit was the opportunity for chapter leaders to openly discuss their needs and share suggestions for future chapter resources. Topics ranged from board recruitment and succession planning to member engagement, chapter operations and event planning. The feedback generated a number of ideas that are already being incorporated into future chapter support initiatives.

One of the most requested resources was a Chapter Leader Directory, which would allow chapter leaders to connect more easily with one another and share ideas. To address this need, we are currently working with our IT team to make a chapter president directory available through the Chapter Admin Site.

Leaders also requested additional operational resources, including an updated Speaker Agreement Template, clearer sponsorship and partnership guidelines, and enhanced onboarding materials for new chapter leaders covering board responsibilities, ACFE requirements, annual planning, and chapter best practices. In addition, we are developing a resource that outlines common chapter leadership positions and provides a summary of the responsibilities associated with each role. Our goal is to give both new and existing leaders a clearer understanding of chapter governance and help boards build a strong foundation for long-term success.

Several longer-term initiatives also emerged from the discussions. These include a potential Chapter Mentorship Program that would pair newer chapter leaders with experienced volunteers, as well as the creation of a Chapter Training Library featuring resources and best practices on topics such as conferences, university partnerships, sponsorships, membership recruitment, holding board meetings, chapter events and more. We are also continuing efforts to improve chapter visibility and strengthen connections between local chapters and ACFE members.

Another topic raised by multiple attendees was access to membership information. Many chapter leaders would like an easier way to identify new CFEs and new ACFE members in their area. While initial discussions with our IT team indicate that an automated email notification may not be feasible, we remain committed to finding ways to make this information more accessible through existing chapter resources.

The 2026 Chapter Leaders Summit was a tremendous success and showcased the passion, creativity and dedication of chapter leaders worldwide. Thank you to everyone who attended, shared ideas and contributed to the discussions. Your feedback is already helping shape new resources and initiatives, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead.