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Training & Consulting, GoEngage Connect

GoEngage Connect 2026: You Had to Be There

GoEngage Connect

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By

Sari Schray

Apr 13, 2026

GoEngage Connect 2026: You Had to Be There

There are some events you attend…

And then there are experiences you feel.

GoEngage Connect 2026 was one of those experiences.

From the moment attendees arrived, there was a different kind of energy—warm welcomes, familiar faces, new connections, and a shared purpose that brought everyone together.

More Than a Conference

This wasn’t about sitting in sessions and taking notes.

It was about:

  • Conversations that continued long after sessions ended

  • Questions that turned into real solutions

  • Connections that will last far beyond the event

Every hallway, every breakout, every shared table became a space for learning and collaboration.

Starting the Day Together

As the conference moved into Day 2, something special began to take shape.

Attendees had the option to join us for guided morning walks—a simple but meaningful way to start the day.

While completely optional, these walks quickly became a favorite for many and continued into Day 3.

They created space for:

  • Casual conversations

  • Sharing ideas and experiences

  • Building connections in a relaxed, informal setting

There’s something about stepping outside, getting fresh air, and starting the day together that sets a different tone for the rest of the day.

👉 A reminder that some of the most meaningful connections happen outside of the agenda.

“Morning walks—where the day’s first conversations (and connections) began.”

Fueling the Experience (Yes… Let’s Talk About the Food 😄)

Let’s be honest—great events are fueled by great food.

Each morning started with a delicious breakfast buffet—the kind that makes you actually want to get up early and connect with others before the day begins.

And lunch?

Fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared, our buffet-style lunches gave attendees the chance to:

  • Sit together

  • Continue conversations

  • Share ideas

  • Recharge for the afternoon

Because sometimes, the best conversations happen over a really good meal.

The Kind of Learning That Sticks

You could feel it in every room.

Sessions weren’t quiet—they were alive.

Attendees were:

  • Asking thoughtful, real-world questions

  • Sharing their own experiences

  • Leaning in, not checking out

With engagement scores consistently between 4.6 and 5.0, this wasn’t passive learning—it was active, meaningful, and immediately applicable.

And one of the most common things we heard?

“I didn’t know GoEngage could do that.”

Something for Everyone—And Then Some

With over 30 different sessions offered throughout the conference, GoEngage Connect was designed to meet attendees wherever they are in their journey.

From foundational sessions like:

  • ERSEA 101

  • GoEngage 101

  • Intro to Reporting & Analytics

To more advanced topics such as:

  • Child Tracking for Active Supervision

  • Automation Alerts and Notifications

  • Federal Review Best Practices

  • PIR Reporting

  • Using Dashboards for Director/Coordinator Insights

  • Admin Tools and File Reviews across service areas

…and so much more.

👉 No matter their role or experience level, attendees were able to build a learning experience that was meaningful to them.

Hands-On, Real-Time, Real Value

One of the most talked-about parts of the event?

👉 The hands-on sessions and 1:1 support

Attendees weren’t just learning—they were:

  • Solving real challenges

  • Getting answers on the spot

  • Walking away with work already completed

With 95–100% of attendees rating session materials as useful, the impact was clear:

This was learning you could take back and use immediately.

The Power of Being in the Same Room

There’s something you just can’t replicate virtually.

It’s the moment when:

  • Someone shares a solution you hadn’t thought of

  • You realize another agency is facing the same challenge

  • A conversation turns into a breakthrough

Networking wasn’t just a “nice to have”—it was one of the most valued parts of the experience.

One attendee shared that, compared to other industry trainings they had attended, GoEngage Connect provided a noticeably more impactful experience—offering deeper learning, more practical takeaways, and far greater opportunities to connect with peers.

A Little Friendly Competition (GoEngage Style)

To wrap up Day 1, we brought everyone together for Extreme Rock-Paper-Scissors.

What started as a simple game quickly turned into one of the most energetic moments of the conference.

The room filled with:

  • Laughter

  • Friendly competition

  • Teams cheering each other on

🎯 Ending on a High Note

As we closed out Day 2, we brought everyone together for another activity—our “Find Someone Who…” Bingo game.

It sparked:

  • Conversations across the room

  • New connections

  • A lot of laughter

And when someone completed a line…

👉 “BINGO!”

🏆 Congratulations to our top 4 finishers!

A Moment We’ll Never Forget

As we wrapped up on Day 3, we passed the mic to a few attendees to hear about their most memorable experience from GoEngage Connect.

One moment stood out.

Andrea Hill shared how much she enjoyed watching her coworkers experience breakthroughs—seeing their questions turn into understanding, and their understanding turn into confidence.

And then she began to sing:

“I had the time of my life… and I owe it all to you…”

It was unexpected. Genuine. And perfectly captured the spirit of the event.

By the Numbers

⭐ Majority of attendees rated the event 5/5

📈 Session ratings ranged from 4.6 to 5.0

📚 95–100% found session materials useful

🤝 Top highlights: hands-on support, peer networking, and real-world learning

What Attendees Had to Say

Beyond the experience, the data tells a powerful story.

Attendees consistently described sessions as:

  • “Very informative”

  • “Helpful”

  • “Great session”

Consistently Strong Session Performance

Session ratings were strong across the board.

Session-Level Snapshot

  • Overall Rating: ~4.6–4.9

  • Usefulness: ~4.6–4.9

  • Clarity/Knowledge: ~4.7–4.9

  • Engagement: ~4.6–4.9

  • Recommendation Rate: Nearly universal

👉 Key Insight: Session delivery was consistently strong across presenters and topics.

Learning That Drives Confidence

Attendees didn’t just learn—they left ready to apply what they learned.

Sessions were rated highly for:

  • Real-world usefulness

  • Clarity of instruction

  • Practical application

Materials—including slides, examples, and demonstrations—were rated as highly useful across nearly all sessions.

👉 Key Insight: These sessions were actionable and immediately applicable.

Standout Sessions

Several sessions stood out with exceptional ratings:

  • Creating Custom Reports with Data Navigator (~4.96–5.00)

  • Child Tracking for Active Supervision

  • Centralizing Inventory Management & Processes

  • Using Dashboards for Directors

Overall Event Snapshot

Metric

Result

Overall Satisfaction

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Majority 5/5)

Likelihood to Return

Very High

Staff Helpfulness

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Consistent 5/5)

Engagement Level

High

Learning Impact

Very High

What Made It Special

If we had to sum it up:

👉 People showed up fully.

👉 They asked questions.

👉 They shared openly.

👉 They supported one another.

And that’s what made GoEngage Connect 2026 unforgettable.

A Few Moments We’ll Never Forget

Until Next Time

GoEngage Connect isn’t just something you attend.

It’s something you become part of.

And if this year was any indication—we’re just getting started.

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By

Sari Schray

Sari Schray is the Senior Director of Customer Success at GoEngage, where she combines her professional expertise with her personal experience as a former Head Start parent to empower agencies in supporting families and communities. Her journey with Head Start ignited a passion for helping others, and she is deeply committed to ensuring that agencies can maximize their impact through seamless program management and innovative solutions.

Before joining GoEngage, Sari built a strong foundation in leadership and operations as a General Manager at Goodwill and a Warehouse Manager at Ferguson Enterprises. These roles honed her ability to streamline processes, lead teams, and deliver results—skills she now uses to help agencies achieve success.

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