Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
MMA Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine addresses the Connect 351 audience in Boston this past January. The MMA is planning the next conference, to be held Jan. 22-24.
The MMA staff is hard at work planning Connect 351, the MMA’s annual conference, which will return to Boston’s Seaport District, at the newly renamed Menino Convention and Exhibition Center, on Jan. 22 through 24.
As always, the conference will feature a range of timely and informative workshops, inspiring speakers, countless networking opportunities, membership business meetings, receptions, awards programs and other activities.
The process is now open for booking booths at the Trade Show, where more than 250 companies, nonprofits, and government agencies will be showcasing the latest products and services of interest to the cities and towns of Massachusetts. Sponsorship opportunities are open as well.
And nominations are now being accepted for the MMA’s Municipal Innovation, Municipal Website, and Town Report Contest awards, which will be presented during Connect 351. The application deadline is Friday, Oct. 31.
The 2026 conference will open on the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 22, with the Trade Show and two sessions for professional development and career networking. The Trade Show and Headshot Station for members will open at 2 p.m.
The Trade Show and conference programming will continue all day on Friday, Jan. 23, with a keynote speaker, workshops, the annual Women Elected Municipal Officials Luncheon, and other events.
Saturday will open with a keynote speaker, followed by member business meetings, the MMA Annual Business Meeting, and workshops, with the conference concluding at 3:30 p.m.
The MMA continues to develop the program, and updates will be posted on www.mma.org in the coming weeks and months, including information about accommodations.
The MMA is accepting suggestions for workshop topics using a convenient online form.
Registration for Connect 351 will open on Oct. 1.
On July 12, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center was renamed as the Menino Convention and Exhibition Center in honor of the longtime mayor of Boston.
Trade Show
The Trade Show will be open on Thursday, Jan. 22, from 2 to 5:30 p.m., and on Friday, Jan. 23, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. An opening reception will be held on Thursday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The Trade Show will not be open on Saturday, Jan. 24.
The Trade Show web page has details, including sponsorship opportunities, the contract for exhibit space, a new exhibit hall floor plan, and the list of exhibitors and sponsors from the 2025 event. The MMA will update the online floor plan as exhibit contracts are received, and sponsors and exhibitors will be updated continually on the event website.
If you know of a company that would be interested in sponsoring or exhibiting but is not currently listed, contact the MMA’s new events and development coordinator, Stacey Compton-Maga, at tradeshow@mma.org or 617-426-7272, ext. 154.