Nurturing Excellence, Shaping Leaders: Elevate Your Impact with the Schuldiner/Smollan Leadership Academy.

Attend NAEA’s exclusive leadership development program May 15-16, 2025 and gain insights from NAEA leadership on their involvement and learn how to enhance engagement in the industry.

The Schuldiner/Smollan Leadership Academy (SSLA) is named for the two primary forces behind the creation of the National Association of Enrolled Agents; Syd Schuldiner, EA, served as NAEA’s first president in 1972 and David Smollan, EA, served as the second president in 1973. This program seeks to train volunteers for success as leaders of NAEA at the local, state, and national levels.

Explore how you can get involved by attending this year’s Schuldiner/Smollan Leadership Academy.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE SSLA PROGRAM?

This program is open to any NAEA member who wants to gain more leadership skills, learn more about member engagement and leadership at the affiliate and national level. This member only program is presented by an esteemed group of NAEA leaders.

Register

Pricing

2025 SSLA Advanced Ticket

Join NAEA’s leadership in an exclusive session exploring the strategic imperatives that drove their commitment, pathways for seasoned professionals to contribute meaningfully, and innovative approaches to fortify member engagement. This deep dive offers a rare perspective on catalyzing member-driven momentum and shaping the future of our mission with purpose and impact.

  • Refine Advanced Leadership Skills: Participants will cultivate advanced leadership competencies to navigate complex challenges and drive strategic engagement across local, state, and national NAEA levels.
  • Master Member Engagement Strategies: Attendees will explore sophisticated member engagement techniques, enabling them to create innovative initiatives that enhance collaboration and participation within the NAEA community.
  • Analyze NAEA Leadership Dynamics: Participants will critically examine the historical and structural aspects of NAEA governance, including the influence of founding leaders, to strategically inform their contributions as future leaders.

$245

This is a member-only event.

Register

2025 SSLA Standard Ticket

Gain insights from NAEA leadership on their involvement and learn how to enhance engagement in the industry. Learn leadership skills, member engagement and direction at the affiliate and national level.

$195

This is a member-only event.

Register

Refund Policy

Tickets are non-refundable but are transferable to another member. Attendees can transfer tickets directly from their registration page. Transfers are accepted until May 10th. After that date, no transfers will be accepted. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis. If you require assistance, please contact education@naea.org. Limited space is available; a waitlist will be activated for those interested in attending should registration reach capacity.

Agenda

The schedule is still being finalized and is subject to change. Please stay tuned for updates.

Thursday, May 15

Time Session Type Agenda
8:00 – 8:50 AM Joint Welcome (All) / Leadership
Breakout 1: Partner introduction
8:50 – 9:50 AM Standard Breakout 2: Leadership styles
YOU are NAEA – Opportunities to Serve
8:50 – 9:50 AM Advanced Broader Scope of Leadership
Breakout 2: Formal v. Informal Leadership
9:50 – 10:10 AM Joint Break
10:10 – 11:20 AM Joint NAEA and DEIB (includes Circle of Trust Exercise)
Breakout 3: Commonalities
Breakout 4: I am/I am not
11:20 – 11:50 AM Standard Breakout 5: Communication Styles
11:20 – 11:50 AM Advanced Video/Discussion: Implementing DEIB objectives throughout NAEA
11:50 AM – 1:15 PM Joint Lunch
1:15 – 2:30 PM Standard Writing reports/motions/background
Breakout 6: Committee Report w/ motion
2:30 – 3:00 PM Standard Strategic Thinking
1:15 – 3:00 PM Advanced Mentoring (all): Coaching techniques and gaps in learning.
3:00 – 3:20 PM Joint Break
3:20 – 4:20 PM Standard Financial Literacy for Board Members
Group Discussion: Preparation for meetings/follow-up to meetings
3:20 – 4:30 PM Advanced Advanced Governance: Structures and Reaching Consensus
Group Discussion: How do Chapters and DEIB affect the formality of NAEA?
4:30 – 5:00 PM Advanced Create action plans for improvements at NAEA
4:20 – 5:00 PM Standard Mock committee meetings and break into groups for an overview
6:00 PM Joint Group outing!

Friday, May 16

Time Session Type Agenda
8:00 – 9:40 AM Joint Committee Meeting Role play; debrief
NAEA Operations/Website Tour
9:40 – 10:00 AM Joint Break
10:00 – 11:30 AM Standard Leadership and Member Engagement challenges
Breakout 7: Member Challenge
Video on Vulnerability
Breakout 8: Communication equation
10:00 – 11:30 AM Advanced Presentation of Action Plans
Discussion: How to best inform, engage, recruit, and retain members
11:30 – 12:00 PM Joint Wrap-up: The Future of our Association / Evaluations / Certificate ceremony

Hotels & Things To Do

Hotels

Attending Fly-In and SSLA? Extend your stay at the Hyatt House Washington DC / The Wharf with the NAEA discount today! The discounted hotel block will close on April 18, 2025. Registered attendees will also receive an email with additional hotel options where they can use NAEA’s discount code.

If you prefer to book somewhere else, explore hotel options near The Wharf or all hotels in the city for your stay during the SSLA event.

  • Hyatt-House-Washington-DC-The-Wharf-P018-Exterior-Day.16x9
  • Hyatt-House-Washington-DC-The-Wharf-P046-Rooftop-Sunset-View.16x9
  • Hyatt-House-Washington-DC-The-Wharf-P044-Rooftop-Pool-Evening.16x9
  • Hyatt-House-Washington-DC-The-Wharf-P052-Two-Queen-Bed-Guestroom.16x9

Things to Do in Washington, DC

Enjoy Washington, D.C., with top attractions like famous monuments, museums, and lively neighborhoods. Find things to do at The Wharf with waterfront dining and local events. For a full guide to D.C.’s sights, visit the official tourism guide.

  • Things to do in Washington DC (1)
  • Things to do in Washington DC

Health & Safety

Creating a safe, worry-free experience is our top priority.  

NAEA is preparing the 2025 SSLA event experience so that all individuals onsite—attendees, speakers, staff, and venue personnel—remain safe and comfortable throughout the event.

Duty of Care

We’re facilitating measures that will ensure optimal health and sanitary conditions in all environments where in-person interaction takes place. Read NAEA’s Duty of Care Plan. 

Pricing

2025 SSLA Advanced Ticket

Join NAEA’s leadership in an exclusive session exploring the strategic imperatives that drove their commitment, pathways for seasoned professionals to contribute meaningfully, and innovative approaches to fortify member engagement. This deep dive offers a rare perspective on catalyzing member-driven momentum and shaping the future of our mission with purpose and impact.

  • Refine Advanced Leadership Skills: Participants will cultivate advanced leadership competencies to navigate complex challenges and drive strategic engagement across local, state, and national NAEA levels.
  • Master Member Engagement Strategies: Attendees will explore sophisticated member engagement techniques, enabling them to create innovative initiatives that enhance collaboration and participation within the NAEA community.
  • Analyze NAEA Leadership Dynamics: Participants will critically examine the historical and structural aspects of NAEA governance, including the influence of founding leaders, to strategically inform their contributions as future leaders.

$245

This is a member-only event.

Register

2025 SSLA Standard Ticket

Gain insights from NAEA leadership on their involvement and learn how to enhance engagement in the industry. Learn leadership skills, member engagement and direction at the affiliate and national level.

$195

This is a member-only event.

Register

Refund Policy

Tickets are non-refundable but are transferable to another member. Attendees can transfer tickets directly from their registration page. Transfers are accepted until May 10th. After that date, no transfers will be accepted. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis. If you require assistance, please contact education@naea.org. Limited space is available; a waitlist will be activated for those interested in attending should registration reach capacity.

Health & Safety

Creating a safe, worry-free experience is our top priority.  

NAEA is preparing the 2025 SSLA event experience so that all individuals onsite—attendees, speakers, staff, and venue personnel—remain safe and comfortable throughout the event.

Duty of Care

We’re facilitating measures that will ensure optimal health and sanitary conditions in all environments where in-person interaction takes place. Read NAEA’s Duty of Care Plan. 

Agenda

Thursday, May 15

8:00 – 8:50 AM (Joint)

  • Welcome (All)
  • Leadership
  • Breakout 1: Partner introduction

8:50 – 9:50 AM (Standard)

  • Breakout 2: Leadership styles
  • YOU are NAEA – Opportunities to Serve

8:50 – 9:50 AM (Advanced)

  • Broader Scope of Leadership
  • Breakout 2: Formal v. Informal Leadership

9:50 – 10:10 AM (Joint)

  • Break

10:10 – 11:20 AM (Joint)

  • NAEA and DEIB (includes Circle of Trust Exercise)
  • Breakout 3: Commonalities
  • Breakout 4: I am/I am not

11:20 – 11:50 AM (Standard)

  • Breakout 5: Communication Styles

11:20 – 11:50 AM (Advanced)

  • Video/Discussion: Implementing DEIB objectives throughout NAEA

11:50 AM – 1:15 PM (Joint)

  • Lunch

1:15 – 2:30 PM (Standard)

  • Writing reports/motions/background
  • Breakout 6: Committee Report w/ motion

2:30 – 3:00 PM (Standard)

  • Strategic Thinking

1:15 – 3:00 PM (Advanced)

  • Mentoring (all): Coaching techniques and gaps in learning

3:00 – 3:20 PM (Joint)

  • Break

3:20 – 4:20 PM (Standard)

  • Financial Literacy for Board Members
  • Group Discussion: Preparation for meetings/follow-up to meetings

3:20 – 4:30 PM (Advanced)

  • Advanced Governance: Structures and Reaching Consensus
  • Group Discussion: How do Chapters and DEIB affect the formality of NAEA?

4:30 – 5:00 PM (Advanced)

  • Create action plans for improvements at NAEA

4:20 – 5:00 PM (Standard)

  • Mock committee meetings and break into groups for an overview

6:00 PM (Joint)

  • Group outing!

 

 

Friday, May 16

8:00 – 9:40 AM (Joint)

  • Committee Meeting Role play; debrief
  • NAEA Operations/Website Tour

9:40 – 10:00 AM (Joint)

  • Break

10:00 – 11:30 AM (Standard)

  • Leadership and Member Engagement challenges
  • Breakout 7: Member Challenge
  • Video on Vulnerability
  • Breakout 8: Communication equation

10:00 – 11:30 AM (Advanced)

  • Presentation of Action Plans
  • Discussion: How to best inform, engage, recruit, and retain members

11:30 – 12:00 PM (Joint)

  • Wrap-up: The Future of our Association
  • Evaluations
  • Certificate ceremony

Hotels & Things To Do

Hotels

Attending Fly-In and SSLA? Extend your stay at the Hyatt House Washington DC / The Wharf with the NAEA discount today! The discounted hotel block will close on April 18, 2025. Registered attendees will also receive an email with additional hotel options where they can use NAEA’s discount code.

If you prefer to book somewhere else, explore hotel options near The Wharf or all hotels in the city for your stay during the SSLA event.

  • Hyatt-House-Washington-DC-The-Wharf-P018-Exterior-Day.16x9
  • Hyatt-House-Washington-DC-The-Wharf-P046-Rooftop-Sunset-View.16x9
  • Hyatt-House-Washington-DC-The-Wharf-P044-Rooftop-Pool-Evening.16x9
  • Hyatt-House-Washington-DC-The-Wharf-P052-Two-Queen-Bed-Guestroom.16x9

Things to Do in Washington, DC

Enjoy Washington, D.C., with top attractions like famous monuments, museums, and lively neighborhoods. Find things to do at The Wharf with waterfront dining and local events. For a full guide to D.C.’s sights, visit the official tourism guide.

  • Things to do in Washington DC (1)
  • Things to do in Washington DC