Stillwater, minnesota Agenda 2026

Theme: Building the AI-Augmented Martech Organization 

Date: October 13-15

Location: Stillwater, Minnesota

Venue: Lowell  Inn, 102 North Second Street, Stillwater, MN 55082

Dress code: Business casual (really casual) 

MEETING DESCRIPTION

The 2026 MarTech Circle Retreat brings together senior marketing technology leaders for three days of peer collaboration, practical discussions, and meaningful networking in historic Stillwater, Minnesota.

As AI continues to reshape marketing, organizations are moving beyond experimentation and into execution. This year's retreat explores how marketing leaders are simplifying their MarTech stacks, measuring business impact, modernizing customer data strategies, building AI-ready teams, strengthening governance, and making smarter technology investment decisions.

Designed exclusively for MarTech Circle members, the retreat combines executive-level discussions, an interactive co-creation lab, collaborative problem solving, and informal networking to create an environment where leaders can openly share challenges, exchange ideas, and leave with practical insights they can apply within their organizations.

Day 1: Collaborating towards the future 

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

🌟 Arrival, Lunch & Welcome

Pre-ordered lunch from the hotel.

Check in and settle in.

Meet your peers and share individual goals during a relaxed networking lunch.

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM

🤖 Co-Creation Lab (Presenter TBD)

An interactive, hands-on session led by one of our event partners. The topic and facilitator will be announced closer to the event and will focus on an emerging MarTech capability, technology, or practical application designed to encourage collaboration and peer discussion.

5:00 PM

🧾 Adjourn for the Day

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

🍽️ Fondue Dinner at the Lowell Inn (Matterhorn Room)

A relaxed evening of conversation and connection over a traditional fondue dinner.

Day 2: Future-ready foundations 

Breakfast: On your own; tea, coffee, and muffins provided in the room.

8:00 AM – 10:30 AM

🌿 Outdoor Activity & Networking

Casual networking during a group walking tour or light outdoor experience.

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM

📘 Session 1: MarTech Stack Consolidation & ROI Rationalization

As organizations continue to optimize budgets, how are marketing leaders simplifying increasingly complex technology ecosystems while maximizing business value?

Explore practical approaches to platform consolidation, technology investment decisions, and measuring ROI across the MarTech stack.

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

🚤 River Cruise Lunch

Enjoy a scenic river cruise with lunch.

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM

📘 Session 2: Measuring Marketing Effectiveness in an AI-Driven World

How should marketing leaders rethink attribution, executive reporting, and performance measurement as AI transforms campaign execution?

Discuss evolving approaches to marketing mix modeling, AI-driven insights, and demonstrating measurable business impact.

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM

☕ Coffee Break & Networking

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

📘 Session 3: Composable CDPs & Real-Time Personalization

Explore modern customer data strategies that enable more agile, scalable, and personalized customer experiences.

Discuss composable architectures, first-party data activation, and delivering real-time engagement across channels.

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM

🧾 Day 2 Wrap-Up & Takeaways

Key insights, discussion highlights, and preview of Day 3.

6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

🍽️ Off-Site Networking Dinner

Continue conversations with fellow members over dinner at one of Stillwater's local restaurants.

Day 3: Applying what we've learned 

Breakfast: On your own; tea, coffee, and muffins provided in the room.

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

📘 Session 4: Talent & Team Structure for AI-Augmented Marketing Organizations

As AI reshapes marketing operations, how are organizations evolving team structures, leadership models, and required skill sets?

Share practical approaches to building AI-ready teams while supporting organizational change and long-term capability development.

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

☕ Coffee & Snack Break

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

📘 Session 5: AI Governance & Risk Frameworks

How can organizations encourage innovation while managing governance, compliance, security, and responsible AI adoption?

Discuss practical governance models, internal policies, and lessons learned from enterprise implementations.

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

📘 Session 6: Vendor Consolidation & Partner Ecosystem Strategy

As MarTech ecosystems continue to evolve, how are organizations evaluating technology partners and maximizing value from vendor relationships?

Share experiences and strategies for rationalizing vendors, strengthening strategic partnerships, and building a technology ecosystem that supports long-term business success.

12:00 PM

🥪 Farewell Lunch

Wrap up the retreat with one final opportunity to connect, reflect on key takeaways, and discuss plans for putting new ideas into action before heading home.