Presenter Information
We are excited to have you join us for the 2026 Great Trails State Conference and are grateful for your support and participation as a presenter.
This page includes the following key information:
3. Presenter FAQs
Presenter Commitments
Session Specific Details
1. Presenters agree to be prepared for their session, show up no later than 10 minutes prior to the session block start time, present within their given time allotment, and be prepared to answer questions at the conclusion of their session (if applicable).
2. Presenters will help create a welcoming environment by:
- showing respect for everyone attending the conference regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, race, ethnicity, and religion (or lack thereof).
- framing discussions as openly and inclusively as possible and being aware of how language or images may be perceived by others.
3. Presenters are encouraged to provide shareable examples, resources, tools, materials, and other content related to your session for attendees (if applicable). These resources may be uploaded to Whova, the conference app. Details regarding Whova can be found below.
Presentation Format
The Great Trails State Conference is using a new system this year where concurrent session presenters will connect their laptops directly to the AV equipment in the workshop rooms. Although there will be a variety of HDMI laptop adapters available, it is always best if presenters bring one that they know will work with their particular laptop. Of course, some laptops do not require adapters.
A 16:9 PowerPoint slide format should be used for all presentations. To confirm your slide dimensions in PowerPoint:
- Click File in the top left corner.
2. Select Page Setup (or Slide Size, depending on your version of PowerPoint).
3. Confirm that the screen size is set to 16:9 Widescreen.
Speaker presentation materials will be made available to conference attendees through the conference mobile and web app, Whova, for approximately three months following the event.
Slide Presentation Recommendations / Best Practices
- Include your name, affiliation, contact information, and a photo on the opening slide of your presentation.
- Use high-contrast colors for readability (dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background). Please note that dark backgrounds may be more difficult for some attendees to read.
- When using bullet points, follow the “6 x 6 Rule”:
- One thought per line
- No more than 6 words per line
- No more than 6 lines per slide
- Use a minimum font size of 24 pt. Slide titles should generally be between 35–45 pt.
Test slide readability by standing approximately six feet away from your screen. If you cannot easily read the content, consider increasing the font size or simplifying the slide.
Presentation Submissions
Presenters are asked to complete the following three steps regarding their presentation:
- Have presentation saved on personal laptop for workshop.
- Upload presentation to the GTSC Google Drive folder (directions below).
- Upload presentation and other relevant materials to the Whova App.
Preferred presentation submission formats are PDF, .ppt, or .pptx. PDF is preferred whenever possible. However, if your presentation includes animations, embedded videos, or other interactive elements that may not function properly in a PDF, please submit your presentation in PowerPoint format.
Presenters agree to upload their finalized presentation to this designated GTSC Google Drive folder no later than Friday, July 31, 2026. The file must be saved and titled with the last name of the primary presenter and GTSC (example: Fouche_GTSC.pptx). All other materials or handouts may be uploaded to the Whova app by the presenter.
WHOVA APP - The Official App of the Great Trails State Conference
You will receive an email to download the Whova App and connect to the 2026 Great Trails State Conference. From the app, you may log in to access the full conference schedule, update your profile, view attendee lists, access the agenda, access community message boards, plan activities and more. Use the same email that you used to register for the conference – using this email allows you login to the app without a passcode.
Your presentation description and learning objectives have been preloaded to the app. Feel free to make any revisions and be sure your bio and headshot are added.
- Confirm the room, date, and time of your session(s) before you go, and if you have trouble finding it, let us know!
- Accessibility: Upload any handouts and your presentation in advance to the Whova mobile app to make your session more welcoming to all who are attending. Sharing prior to the conference is helpful for attendees that may have a visual and/or hearing impairment, and you can always upload the most current version at any time! We can help if you want to share those items with us as well.
- You can also use the Whova app to create polls or have attendees ask questions during your session.
MEDIA KIT
A media kit that includes social media templates and conference logos is available for you to help promote the Great Trails State Conference and your workshop before, during, and after the Conference. The Great Trails State Coalition, RRS, and many GTSC presenters are active on social media. Please share your experience and tag GTSC in your posts and use #GreatTrailsNC, #GreatTrailsState, and #RRS on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Prior to Conference
A finalized presentation must be uploaded in the format described above (Presentation Format) to this designated GTSC Google Drive folder by the deadline of Friday, July 31. The file must be saved and titled with the last name of the primary presenter and GTSC (ex: Fouche_GTSC.pptx). All other materials or handouts may be uploaded to the Whova app by the presenter.
If presenters are planning to bring materials to hand out, please have enough copies for the total capacity of the workshop room or provide access to digital files. Workshop room capacity is 72 for Winston 1 (A, B, or C) and 60 for Salem 1 (A, B, or C). See the Whova app for specific room location.
No, only the main presenter for each workshop will be contacted about workshop logistics. Main presenters are solely responsible for communicating all necessary information to co-presenters, guest speakers, panel members, and any other workshop speakers.
All workshop descriptions and presenter changes are subject to review by the Great Trails State Conference Leadership Team. Any changes to the main presenters or co-presenters must be submitted to jfouche2@ncsu.edu.
Any cancellations must be submitted in writing to jfouche2@ncsu.edu. Please note that any cancellations may jeopardize a presenter’s standing at any future RRS / Great Trails State Coalition conferences and events.
Registrations and Fees
Presenters will receive a discounted registration rate of $350. All presenters, including all co-presenters, guest speakers, panel members, and additional agency members must pay the respective conference registration rate by the registration deadline. If presenter(s) is/are not registered by the online registration deadline, they are responsible for registering on-site and paying on-site fees. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Presenters attending only their scheduled presentation session are not required to register for the conference. However, presenters wishing to attend additional conference activities, workshops, meals, socials, or events must register and pay the applicable conference registration fee.
If you are a registered exhibitor and also presenting a workshop, you only need to register as an exhibitor.
All changes in main presenter or co-presenters are subject to review by the Great Trails State Conference Leadership Team. All changes must be submitted in writing to jfouche2@ncsu.edu.
Promotion and Media
We ask that all presenters refrain from the sale of products or services during all conference presentations. All workshops are non-commercial and non-promotional learning opportunities only.
Yes! The Great Trails State Coalition will promote conference workshops on our social media. Your workshop will also be listed in our conference app to assist attendees with their workshop selection(s). If you are interested in additional promotional opportunities, please visit our Sponsorship page on the conference website.
A media kit that includes social media templates and conference logos is available. We encourage you to help promote the Great Trails State Conference and your workshop before, during, and after the Conference. The Great Trails State Coalition, RRS, and many GTSC presenters are active on social media. Please share your experience and tag GTSC in your posts and use #GreatTrailsNC, #GreatTrails State, and #RRS on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
On Site
Each workshop room will be provided with an A/V Support Package (projector, screen, HDMI cables and adapters, microphones). Presenters will connect their laptops directly to the AV equipment in the breakout rooms. Any additional A/V equipment will be the responsibility of the presenter. The rooms will have complimentary Wi-Fi access, however, internet speed cannot be guaranteed.
Complimentary Wi-Fi access is provided in the Benton Convention Center meeting spaces & public areas.
The lead presenter will be notified by email of their workshop time and room location. This information will also be provided in the conference app.
All attendees, exhibitors and presenters will check in at the Great Trails State Conference registration booth located in the Benton Convention Center main level (5th Street) entrance.
A speaker room is available if needed to test your presentation. Please ask at the registration booth for access to the speaker room.
Room Hosts are conference volunteers from the field who will introduce the session speaker(s), help attendees with education credits, and assist with communication between conference leadership, presenters, and attendees. If you need assistance with A/V, please note room hosts will contact support from conference leadership.
Room Hosts will contact a Great Trails State Conference Leadership Team member to troubleshoot any A/V issues.
All workshop rooms will be set up in classroom style.
Post Conference
Yes, all workshop attendees are encouraged to complete an evaluation through the conference event app. Evaluations will be collected and presenters will receive feedback post-conference.
Contact?
Is your question not listed here? If you need further assistance, please contact Trey Fouché atjfouche2@ncsu.edu or stop by the registration booth during the conference.
jfouche2@ncsu.edu or stop by the registration booth during the conference.