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FAQs for Exhibitors

The Basics

When and where is the Annual Conference and Heads' Retreat?

The 2026 TAIS Annual Conference will be held on Sunday, November 8 (1:00-5:00 pm CT), and Monday, November 9 (7:30 am-3:30 pm CT), at Presbyterian Day School in Memphis (4025 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111). The Heads' Retreat will also be held at PDS. The exclusive Heads' Retreat program is on Monday the 9th; however, a Heads' Retreat attendee ticket affords access to Sunday's Annual Conference program, too. View more details on the Annual Conference here and the Heads' Retreat here.

Tell me about the audience.

The TAIS Annual Conference has a long tradition of serving all school roles. We rotate the event annually throughout the three regions of Tennessee with locations primarily in Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga. On the years the Annual is local, TAIS Member Schools traditionally close campus on the Monday of our conference and attend as a full faculty team. Others travel in from across Tennessee and the Southeast to join us! With that, you can expect an audience of around 750 with professional roles that capture all aspects of independent school life.

What will this year's Annual Conference Exhibit Hall be like?

This year's exhibitions are entirely indoors and in a common location central to all conference happenings, particularly registration, snacks, meal service and seating, and a networking lounge. We're working closely with our hosts at Presbyterian Day School and Hicks Conventions to transform a large double-court gym space into a comfortable and polished Exhibition Hall. You'll share this space with 38 other exhibitors, meal service, and a student performance here and there! We'll preview our Exhibition Hall layout via the conference app one month before the event.

What are the Exhibit Hall hours, and when should I plan to break down?

The Annual Conference Exhibit Hall is open from 1:00-5:00 pm CT on Sunday, November 8, and 7:30 am-3:30 pm on Monday, November 9. Your presence is a core element of our conference experience; with that and the logistical needs of our event, we respectfully ask that all exhibitors stay in place until our Exhibit Hall breakdown window on Monday, November 9, from 3:30-4:30 pm. 

Who is my point of contact for Annual Conference and Heads' Retreat exhibition and sponsorship?

Melissa Lawmaster Falks will ensure our exhibitors have the info and support you need for a fruitful time with TAIS. Contact her at melissa@taistn.com or by calling 615-374-6377.

Due to Sunday morning services at Second Presbyterian Church, which shares a campus with Presbyterian Day School, entry and parking on Presbyterian Day School's campus are strictly unavailable before 1:00 PM on Sunday, November 8.

The Annual Conference opens at 1:00 pm sharp on Sunday, November 8. Therefore, Annual Conference exhibitors must set up completely on Saturday, November 7. Two setup windows will be available on Saturday, November 7: 10:00 am-2:00 pm CT and 6:00-8:00 pm CT. Please plan your travel so you don't miss our Saturday setup windows and or arrive on campus prior to the 1:00 PM on Sunday, November 8 opening.

Vendors exhibiting at the Heads' Retreat will be able to access that event space to setup your high-top networking table from 3:00-4:30 pm CT on Sunday, November 8.

Thank you for your partnership in respecting the needs of our host school! 
On Saturday, November 7, Annual Conference exhibitors will arrive at the Main Entrance of Presbyterian Day School. There you will be pre-registered by the TAIS team, receive your conference name badge, and ensure your conference app access. A conference volunteer will show you to your booth location, which will be marked with your organization name and staged with any pre-shipped items.
On Sunday, November 8, and Monday, November 9, Annual Conference exhibitors should utilize the Early Childhood entrance of Presbyterian Day School to avoid general attendee registration at the Main Entrance and gain smoother access to the Exhibit Hall. That entrance will open at 1:00 pm CT on Sunday and 7:00 am CT on Monday.
On Monday, November 9, Heads' Retreat exhibitors will utilize the chapel, sanctuary, and fellowship hall entrance of Second Presbyterian Church to access the Heads' Retreat space.

Yes! Our Exhibit Hall has ample wall outlets and some floor outlets. However, we cannot guarantee that electrical access will be directly at all booths. If you are needing electricity at your booth, you will need to provide extension cords and, ideally, non-adhesive cable protectors to prevent tripping. You should also complete this brief form to indicate a need for electrical so that we can coordinate for the needs of our exhibitors to the best of our ability
TAIS utilizes the Whova event management system. Melissa will share further guidance for exhibitors with the launch of our conference app 30 days before the big event. In the meantime, please add this e-mail address to your safe senders list: event-noreply@whova.io
  • A dedicated 8-foot information table (no tablecloth included)
  • A 10x10' exhibition footprint
  • A two-day ticket for two representatives (meals included)
  • A centrally-located, indoor exhibitor space, which also draws attendees with snacks, coffee, meals, and special entertainment
  • Visibility on the conference app
  • Exclusive exhibitor permissions within the app, which can be leveraged to create a custom Digital Exhibitor Booth, share product videos or live showcases, run promotional offers or in-app push campaigns, digitally collect and export leads, schedule one-on-one conversations, and more
  • High-touch engagement with 700+ attendees over the span of two days
  • A dedicated 30" round high-top networking table with two bar-stools and a black tablecloth
  • A 6.5x8' exhibition footprint
  • Registration and meals for two representatives
  • Visibility on the conference app
  • Exclusive exhibitor permissions within the app, which can be leveraged to create a custom Digital Exhibitor Booth, share product videos or live showcases, run promotional offers or in-app push campaigns, digitally collect and export leads, schedule one-on-one conversations, and more
  • Opportunity to network with decision-makers during coffee, breaks, and lunch

Heads' Retreat Sponsorship and Exhibition aims to foster connection. Exhibition takes form as learning alongside Heads rather than as traditional exhibition booths. Because TAIS provides a black cocktail tablecloth, we ask that vendors refrain from utilizing branded cloths and attaching any promotional materials to the table or cloth itself. As the Heads' Retreat is a more intimate and elevated setting, we strongly encourage you to utilize tabletop promotional materials in the Heads' Retreat, reserving larger banners or backdrops that sit on the floor for the Annual Conference Exhibit Hall.