Opening Reception

• Sponsored by Venable LLP

Breakfast

• Sponsored by Venable LLP

Representative Burgess Owens (UT-04), Member of the Direct Selling Caucus, Member of the House Committee on Education & Workforce, Co-Sponsor of H.R. 3495 

• Fireside Chat Leader: Alissa Neufeld, General Counsel, LifeVantage

The Legal 411: What’s Keeping Us Up at Night

Today’s legal landscape is shifting fast, and direct selling companies are facing new challenges on multiple fronts. This session unpacks the issues keeping legal and compliance teams awake at night, from distributor misclassification litigation and FTC enforcement activity to income disclosure requirements, electronic distributor agreements, and the evolving rules on non-competes and non-solicits. Join these leading attorneys for a candid discussion on emerging risks, regulatory trends, and what your company can do now to stay ahead of the curve.

• Katrina Eash, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP
• John Sanders, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP

Representative Blake Moore (UT-01) - Direct Selling Caucus Member

• Fireside Chat Leader: Kim Drabik, VP Corporate Affairs, Plexus Worldwide LLC

Break

• Sponsored by Fieldwatch

Representative Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Member, Direct Selling Caucus

• Fireside Chat Leader: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

Representative Darren Soto (FL-09), Co-Chairman, Direct Selling Caucus

• Fireside Chat Leader: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

Lunch

• Sponsored by KelleyDrye

Protect Your Business, Claims, Validation, and Compensation

This session will offer critical information on key issues, including earnings and opportunity claims, product claims, retail sales validation, compensation plan pitfalls, and compliance best practices.  

• Donnelly McDowell, Partner, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
• Ioana Gorecki, Special Counsel, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Guidance and Independent Contractor Classification

What happens when states keep rewriting the rules faster than businesses can adapt? This session takes a national view of independent contractor standards, from California’s PAGA pressure to activity emerging in New Jersey, Delaware, and other states. Panelists will compare the most significant trends across jurisdictions, explain how those shifts intersect with federal efforts like H.R. 3495, and offer guidance for companies navigating a classification landscape that now changes state by state.

• Ed Burbach, Partner, Foley & Lardner
• Jane Fergason, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
• Branko Jovanavik, Partner, Edgeworth Economics
• Larry Steinberg, Chair, Direct Selling Group, Buchalter

Representative Tim Walberg (MI-05), Chairman of the House Committee on Education & Workforce, Co-Sponsor H.R. 3495

• Fireside Chat Leader: Mike Telliga, Senior Principal for Federal Affairs, Amway

Representative Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Lead Sponsor of H.R. 3495, the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act

• Fireside Chat Leader: TBD

Break

• Sponsored by Integrishield

Innovation Meets Accountability: Turning Compliance and Technology into Growth Drivers

As innovation accelerates, direct selling companies are redefining how they communicate, monitor, and grow. From new AI tools to social and influencer marketing, marketing potential and oversight must evolve together. This session brings together experts who bridge legal, marketing, and compliance to show how responsible innovation not only protects consumers, but it also drives performance. Learn how companies are using technology, collaboration, and transparent practices to strengthen trust, reduce risk, and fuel sustainable growth across the channel.

• Naisha Covarrubias, Vice President, Legal Operations & Asst. Corporate Secretary, Mary Kay, Inc. 
• Bruce Murdock, Senior VP of Legal and General Counsel, 4Life
• Alissa Neufeld, General Counsel, LifeVantage
• Moderator: Jonathan Gilliam, CEO, FieldWatch

Delaware, Florida, Texas and Other State Issues from the 2024-2025 Legislative Session

Which states ended up shaping the toughest debates for direct selling this year? This session walks through the most important bills and regulatory moves from Delaware, Florida, Texas, and other key jurisdictions that drove policymaker attention in 2024–2025. Panelists will highlight what passed, what nearly did, and what these patterns signal for the year ahead. Attendees will leave with a clear picture of the state-level trends most likely to influence compliance, operations, and advocacy planning in 2026.

• Grant Baskerville, Chairman, Utah Direct Selling Coalition
• Ryan Chamberlin, Government Relations and Legislative Affairs, Florida Direct Selling Coalition, State Representative, Florida House of Representatives (FL-24)
• Kim Drabik, Vice President Corporate Affairs, Plexus International
• John Webb, Vice President, DSA
• Moderator: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

Reception

• Sponsored by Venable LLP

Compliance Officer Dinner (exclusively for direct selling executives, by invitation only)

General Counsel Dinner (exclusively for direct selling executives, by invitation only)

Breakfast

• Sponsored by FieldWatch

Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09), Co-Chairman of the Direct Selling Caucus

• Fireside Chat Leader: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

Emerging Issues in Direct Selling in Canada

Canada is the US' largest trading partner and a significant market for most US-based direct selling companies. Learn of the current business climate, trade and tariff issues, and how direct sellers can effectively navigate Canadian law.

• William Bjornsson, Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
• Lewis Retik, Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP

Representative Jim Clyburn (SC-06), Assistant Democratic Leader, U.S. House of Representatives 

• Fireside Chat Leader: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

New Jersey Independent Contractor Issues, Rulemaking, Audit, IC Lawsuits

This session drills into New Jersey’s aggressive stance on independent contractor classification, including recent rulemaking signals, stepped-up audits, and litigation activity that reflects the state’s tightening posture. Panelists will explain how New Jersey’s model differs from other states, what risks are unique to this jurisdiction, and what companies should anticipate if they operate or sell into the state.

• John Holub, President and CEO of the New Jersey Retail Merchant Association
• Mariano Martinez, General Counsel, The Pampered Chef
• John Webb, Vice President, DSA

General Counsel Panel

What legal challenges defined this past year for leading direct selling companies, and what’s coming next? In this closing session, top general counsels share the issues that have demanded their attention, from managing regulatory expectations to steering risk in a fast-moving business environment. Panelists will discuss how they balance compliance with growth, what trends they are preparing for in 2026, and how the GC role continues to evolve as a strategic partner to the business. Attendees will leave with insights grounded in real-world experience and practical guidance from the executives who sit closest to the industry’s most complex decisions.

• Erin Barta, General Counsel, Mannatech, Inc.
• Bernadette Chala, Chief Legal Officer, Arbonne International
• Joshua Foukas, Chief Legal Officer, USANA Health Sciences, Inc.
• Darin Reber, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Forever Living Products

Lunch