Experiential, Not Passive
Role-play, coaching, and practice replace slide decks — you leave having done the work, not watched it.
From Policy Consumersto Policy Influencers.
Advocacy is not optional. It's leadership.
March 24–25, 2026
Learn it.
Practice it.
Use it.
Advocacy doesn't begin on Capitol Hill — it begins with confidence, clarity, and connection.
The redesigned WDMA Advocacy Summit is an immersive, two-day experience that brings industry leaders together to learn, practice, and engage on the policy issues shaping manufacturing, housing, and the built environment. Whether you're new to advocacy or a seasoned participant, the Summit is designed to meet you where you are — and move you forward.
Overview
It's a working session. Not a lecture.
Formerly the Spring Legislative Conference, the Summit has been rebuilt around hands-on learning, storytelling, and real-world practice — reinforcing that successful advocacy is about selling ideas, not products, and building trust over time.
People-Centered
Emphasis on relationships, trust, and storytelling — the things that actually move a congressional office.
Immediately Actionable
You walk out with clear talking points and a takeaway toolkit — then use them on the Hill the next morning.
Aligned With Our Mission
Reinforces the industry's role in shaping the built environment through thoughtful policy leadership.
What You'll Experience
Three connected moments across two days.
The Summit moves in sequence — preparation, recognition, action. Each piece sets up the next.
01
Advocacy Afternoon
Build Confidence. Find Your Voice. Practice Advocacy.
An interactive, half-day experience designed to help industry leaders strengthen their advocacy skills in a supportive, hands-on environment. Through storytelling, practical workshops, and real-world scenarios, participants learn what policymakers actually need, how to frame issues effectively, and how to engage with clarity and credibility. Whether you're preparing for your first Hill visit or refining your approach, you'll leave with practical tools, clear talking points, and renewed confidence.
Why it matters: Because effective advocacy is about building trust, telling your story, and showing how policy decisions shape real people, real jobs, and the built environment.
02
Celebration of Excellence in Advocacy
Honoring Advocacy That Opens Doors.
Join fellow Summit participants for an evening reception and dinner celebrating individuals who have demonstrated excellence in advocating for policies that support the window and door manufacturing industry. For the first time, WDMA will present the Michael O'Brien Award for Excellence in Advocacy, honoring a legacy of leadership that helped define the industry's voice in Washington. The evening also features a keynote from David Wasserman, Senior Editor and Election Analyst for The Cook Political Report.
Why it matters: Because celebrating advocacy excellence inspires continued leadership — and reminds us why our collective voice matters.
03
A Day on the Hill
Prepared Voices. Real Conversations. Real Impact.
On day two, participants travel to Capitol Hill for pre-scheduled meetings with Members of Congress and key congressional staff. Equipped with the skills and messages developed during the Advocacy Afternoon, attendees engage directly with policymakers on the issues shaping manufacturing, housing, and the built environment. The day closes with a peer debrief session and a casual gathering near the Capitol.
Why it matters: Because showing up, telling your story, and engaging directly with policymakers is how advocacy creates real impact.
Keynote & Awards
An evening of recognition — and a read on the year ahead.
The Celebration of Excellence in Advocacy dinner welcomes nationally recognized political analyst David Wasserman, Senior Editor and Election Analyst at The Cook Political Report, for timely insight into the political landscape shaping the year ahead.
The same evening marks the inaugural presentation of the Michael O'Brien Award for Excellence in Advocacy, recognizing a legacy of leadership that helped define the industry's voice in Washington and elevated advocacy as a cornerstone of the association's mission.
Who Should Attend
Built for leaders ready to speak for the industry.
The Summit is designed to meet first-time advocates and experienced participants alike, including:
- Manufacturing executives and senior leaders
- Government affairs, policy, and legal leaders
- Owners and P&L holders with a stake in federal policy
- Technical and regulatory leadership
- First-time advocates preparing for a first Hill visit
- Anyone interested in shaping the future of the built environment
Agenda Highlights
Designed around what actually happens in a congressional office.
Kickoff & Framing
Advocacy as a learnable skill rooted in relationship-building and credibility.
The Art of Advocacy as Storytelling
Why personal experience and real-world impact often resonate more than data alone.
Understanding the Hill
How congressional offices actually operate — and what makes a meeting effective.
Persuasive Conversations in Practice
An advocacy lab: role-play realistic scenarios, get coaching, handle tough questions.
Crafting Your Member Story
Translate WDMA's legislative priorities into a concise, personal narrative.
Wrap-Up & Takeaway Toolkit
A synthesis of the afternoon plus a practical toolkit for continued engagement.
Before You Arrive
Three things to take care of now.
Submit your state and ZIP code
WDMA schedules your Capitol Hill meetings based on where you live and operate. Send your state and ZIP code to WDMA as soon as you register so your appointments can be arranged.
Book inside the room block
Reserve at the AC Hotel Washington, DC by March 2, 2026 to secure the WDMA group rate. Rooms may remain available after that date, but the rate is not guaranteed.
Plan for an early Wednesday
The bus to Capitol Hill departs the AC Hotel at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25. Lunch on the Hill is on your own between meetings.
Venue
Smithbucklin DC Headquarters2001 K Street NW
Washington, DC
The Advocacy Afternoon, the Board of Directors meeting, and Tuesday's meals and registration all take place at Smithbucklin's Washington, DC headquarters — WDMA's home in the capital, a few blocks from the White House and a short walk from the AC Hotel. Sessions run in the Multipurpose Room, with lunch and registration in the Collaboration and Conference Center, and Tuesday evening's Welcome Reception and Legislative Awards Dinner on the rooftop.
Wednesday's program moves to Capitol Hill for the Washington Briefing Breakfast, pre-scheduled legislative meetings, and the closing debrief.
Hotel
AC Hotel Washington, DC1112 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
To stay close to the action and get the most out of the Summit, attendees are encouraged to book at the AC Hotel Washington, DC on 19th Street, NW — the official hotel of the WDMA Advocacy Summit. Located just minutes from DC headquarters, the AC Hotel offers a modern, comfortable setting and convenient access to all Summit activities. A limited number of rooms is available at a special group rate, so reserve early. Wednesday's bus to Capitol Hill departs from the hotel at 7:00 a.m.
The deadline to book inside the WDMA room block is March 2, 2026. Rooms may still be available after that date if the hotel is not sold out, but the WDMA rate cannot be guaranteed.
Partnership
Put your organization behind the industry's voice in Washington.
FAQ
Common questions
Where and when will the Summit take place?
The Advocacy Summit runs March 24–25, 2026 in Washington, DC. Tuesday's program is at Smithbucklin DC headquarters, 2001 K Street NW. Wednesday's program takes place on Capitol Hill. A Board Dinner precedes the Summit on the evening of Monday, March 23.
What is different about the new format?
The Summit replaces the former Spring Legislative Conference. Rather than a lecture-based program, it is built around hands-on learning: a half-day interactive Advocacy Afternoon, an evening celebrating advocacy excellence, and a full day of pre-scheduled meetings on Capitol Hill. The emphasis is on practice, storytelling, and relationships rather than presentations.
Do I need advocacy experience to attend?
No. The program is designed for both first-time advocates and experienced participants. Workshops are structured so that newcomers build confidence from the ground up while seasoned advocates sharpen their approach.
What will I actually learn?
Participants leave understanding what policymakers and staff actually need from advocates, how to frame policy issues through compelling and authentic stories, how to handle persuasive conversations and tough questions, and how to translate WDMA's legislative priorities into their own words. Everyone receives a takeaway advocacy toolkit.
How are my Capitol Hill meetings scheduled?
WDMA schedules meetings on your behalf based on where you live and where your company operates. Be sure to submit your state and ZIP code to WDMA after registering so your appointments can be arranged with the right offices.
Who is the keynote speaker?
David Wasserman, Senior Editor and Election Analyst for The Cook Political Report, delivers the keynote at the Celebration of Excellence in Advocacy dinner on Tuesday evening.
What is the Michael O'Brien Award?
The Michael O'Brien Award for Excellence in Advocacy is being presented for the first time in 2026. It honors a legacy of leadership that helped define the industry's voice in Washington and recognizes individuals who have advanced the industry through principled, effective advocacy.
Where should I stay?
The AC Hotel Washington, DC at 1112 19th Street NW is the official Summit hotel, minutes from DC headquarters. Book inside the WDMA room block by March 2, 2026 for the group rate. Wednesday's bus to Capitol Hill departs from the hotel at 7:00 a.m.
What does registration include?
Registration includes the interactive Advocacy Afternoon, the Celebration of Excellence in Advocacy reception, dinner and keynote, the Washington Briefing Breakfast, pre-scheduled meetings on Capitol Hill, the closing debrief session, and the closing cocktail reception. Lunch on the Hill Wednesday is on your own.
What should I expect to contribute?
Come prepared to participate. The Advocacy Afternoon is built on role-play, coaching, and peer exchange, and the Hill visits depend on members telling their own stories. The more you engage, the more you take home.
Join the conversation
Help shape the policies that define our industry.
Register today to join industry leaders at the WDMA Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC.