Kavaliro Blog

Kavaliro Conference 2026: "Don't Stop Believin"

Written by Renee England | Feb 19, 2026 3:56:26 PM

This past week, the Kavaliro team celebrated a significant milestone with our 16th annual team conference at the beautiful Celeste Hotel in Orlando, FL. Embracing the theme, “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the event was a testament to the power of perseverance, teamwork, and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. Reflecting on our incredible achievements in 2025, we gathered with optimism and enthusiasm for what’s to come.

The three-day conference kicked off on Wednesday, February 11th, with an unforgettable evening. The night began with our much-anticipated awards ceremony, where we celebrated the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of our team members. Following the awards, we turned back the clock for an 80’s prom, dancing the night away to the electrifying tunes of the band Sunglasses At Night. It was a night filled with laughter, neon lights, and memories that will last a lifetime.

This year's recognitions were: 

  • 5 - Year Tenure: Donovan Meeks
  • Excellence in Partnership: Debbie Erskine
  • Firestarter Award (Top rookie): Sean Perez and Heather Peets
  • Fueling our Clients Award (Awarded to the people who've done amazing work for clients):
    Rachel Thelen and Tim Bruce
  • Excellence in Assurance Award (Awarded to those who exceed expectations):  Gladys Moy, Renee England, Kelly Babb, April Briggs
  • Knights Circle Award: Angela Smith, Zach Miller, Sarah Gentile
  • Fueling the Flame Award (Outstanding Back-office support): Justice Exum, Marissa Calvert, Holly Novak
  • The Ring of Fire Award: Donovan Meeks,  Chris Alex, Alex Pfeiff, Rebecca White, Tommy Parker, Chris Regnery,  Rafael Restrepo

On Day 2, we dove into the heart of the business with insightful sessions, including state-of-the-business updates, executive panels, and engaging breakout groups. A highlight of the day was hearing from Coach Dawkins, UCF Men’s Basketball Coach, who inspired us with his wisdom on leadership and resilience. The day concluded with a nostalgic team bonding activity—roller skating! We laced up our skates, hit the rink, and capped off the evening with a classic pizza party, bringing everyone together in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

The final day of the conference was all about giving back and gaining perspective. We started the day with a meaningful team bonding activity, assembling skateboards to be donated to a local Boys and Girls Club in Central Florida. This act of service perfectly embodied Kavaliro’s commitment to community and teamwork. To close out the conference, we were honored to hear from Aron Ralston, the subject of the movie 127 Hours. Aron delivered a powerful and eye-opening keynote on maintaining gratitude in the face of life’s challenges, leaving us all inspired and reflective.

"What makes Kavaliro special is the way we cultivate our culture. The conference gives us an opportunity to bring everyone together from across the country, not just for fun and impactful team-building, but also to demonstrate our commitment to their professional growth and development. During the conference, we also take the time to recognize and celebrate our team members’ hard work and achievements. This event is incredibly important to Kavaliro, and we love making it as memorable as possible." - Diane Mahony, CEO


This incredible conference would not have been possible without the generous support of our amazing sponsors: OneDigital, Ropes, Hatcher Insurance, ClearanceJobs, Seacoast Bank, Toro, Bullhorn, and Nixer Comp. Their contributions were instrumental in making this event a success. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year’s conference an unforgettable experience. Here’s to another year of growth, success, and believing in the magic of possibility!