6:30–8:30 PM
Board Dinner
Location TBA · Board members
Dinner and conversation for the WDMA Board of Directors. Venue details will be shared closer to the Summit.
Schedule of Events
Advocacy Summit Agenda
From Policy Consumers to Policy Influencers
Two days that move from preparation to participation — a hands-on Advocacy Afternoon, an evening honoring advocacy excellence, and a full day of pre-scheduled meetings on Capitol Hill.
Back to Summit OverviewThe Advocacy Arc
Each part of the Summit sets up the next. By Wednesday afternoon, the skills built on Tuesday have been used in a real congressional office.
1. PrepareUnderstand what policymakers and staff actually need from advocates.
2. PracticeRehearse persuasive conversations and craft your own member story.
3. CelebrateHonor the leadership that built the industry's voice in Washington.
4. EngageTake your story to Capitol Hill and debrief with your peers.
Pre-Summit · Monday, March 23
Board Dinner
An optional evening gathering for the WDMA Board of Directors ahead of Tuesday's meeting and the opening of the Summit.
Day 1 · Tuesday, March 24
Advocacy Afternoon & Celebration of Excellence
Board business in the morning, then the interactive half-day program that prepares every attendee for Wednesday's Hill visits — closing with the reception, awards, and keynote dinner.
7:30–8:00 AM
Breakfast
Smithbucklin DC HQ · Board and staff only
8:00 AM–12:00 PM
Board of Directors Meeting
Smithbucklin DC HQ · Multipurpose Room
Regular business meeting of the WDMA Board of Directors. Open to Board members and staff.
12:00–1:00 PM
Lunch & Registration
Smithbucklin DC HQ · Collaboration & Conference Center
Check in, pick up your materials, and connect with colleagues from across the industry before the afternoon program begins.
1:00–5:00 PM
Advocacy Afternoon
Legislative Briefing & Advocacy Training
Smithbucklin DC HQ · Multipurpose Room
Purpose
Equip members with the confidence, skills, and tools to engage effectively with policymakers — and to understand WDMA's federal priorities heading into Wednesday's meetings.
How it will work
A highly interactive, skills-based program: a framing kickoff, a mini-plenary on advocacy as storytelling, and three working workshops with coaching and role-play rather than presentations.
Why it matters
Successful advocacy is about selling ideas, not products. Practicing the conversation before the meeting is what turns preparation into impact.
Within the afternoon
Kickoff & Framing
Sets the tone for the afternoon, positioning advocacy as a learnable skill rooted in relationship-building and credibility. Participants are encouraged to see themselves not just as industry representatives, but as trusted policy influencers.
Within the afternoon
Mini-Plenary: The Art of Advocacy as Storytelling
Reframes lobbying as relational communication. Participants learn how personal experience and real-world impact often resonate more than data alone.
Within the afternoon
Workshop: Understanding the Hill
Demystifies how congressional offices operate, with practical guidance on what makes advocacy meetings effective — and what pitfalls to avoid.
Within the afternoon
Workshop: Persuasive Conversations in Practice
An interactive advocacy lab where participants role-play realistic policy scenarios, receive coaching, and build comfort handling tough questions.
Within the afternoon
Workshop: Crafting Your Member Story
Participants translate WDMA's legislative priorities into concise, personalized narratives they can confidently use in meetings with policymakers.
Within the afternoon
Wrap-Up & Takeaway Toolkit
A clear synthesis of the afternoon's lessons and distribution of a practical advocacy toolkit to support continued engagement after the Summit.
5:00–8:00 PM
Celebration of Excellence
Welcome Reception & Legislative Awards Dinner
Smithbucklin DC HQ · Rooftop
Reception
Gather with peers on the rooftop to open the Summit and mark the evening's recognitions.
Awards
The inaugural presentation of the Michael O'Brien Award for Excellence in Advocacy, honoring a legacy of leadership that helped define the industry's voice in Washington.
Keynote
David Wasserman, Senior Editor and Election Analyst for The Cook Political Report, on the political landscape shaping the year ahead.
Times and session order within the Advocacy Afternoon are subject to change as the program is finalized.
Day 2 · Wednesday, March 25
A Day on the Hill
Preparation meets purpose. Pre-scheduled meetings with Members of Congress and staff, a briefing breakfast to start, and a peer debrief to close.
7:00 AM
Bus Departs AC Hotel
AC Hotel Washington, DC · 1112 19th Street NW
Transportation to Capitol Hill departs from the hotel. Plan to be in the lobby early — the bus does not wait.
8:00–9:00 AM
Washington Briefing Breakfast
Capitol Hill · SR 385, Russell Senate Office Building (Senate side)
A final briefing on the day's priorities, meeting logistics, and messaging before attendees head into their appointments.
9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Day on the Hill
Capitol Hill Visits
Capitol Hill · Lunch on your own
Purpose
Engage directly with Members of Congress and key congressional staff on the issues shaping manufacturing, housing, and the built environment.
How it will work
Meetings are pre-scheduled by WDMA based on the states and ZIP codes attendees submit in advance. Attendees travel between House and Senate offices throughout the day.
Why it matters
Showing up, telling your story, and engaging directly with policymakers is how advocacy creates real impact.
4:30–5:30 PM
Closing Debrief Session
Capitol Hill · Rayburn 2045 (House side)
Share what you heard, learn from one another's meetings, and identify follow-up — reinforcing the value of a coordinated industry voice.
5:30–7:30 PM
Closing Cocktail Reception
Hawk & Dove · Capitol Hill
A casual gathering near the Capitol to celebrate the day's accomplishments and close out the Summit with your peers.
Submit your state and ZIP code to WDMA after registering so your Capitol Hill meetings can be scheduled with the right offices.
Ready to join us
Advocacy is not optional. It's leadership.
Register for the WDMA Advocacy Summit, March 24–25, 2026 in Washington, DC.