Emily Caplinger

As Senior Conference Manager, Emily supports the planning and execution of NACo’s conferences and events, including the organization’s two largest annual gatherings, the Legislative and Annual Conferences, and serves as the primary lead for several mid-size and smaller convenings throughout the year. She collaborates with internal and external stakeholders and oversees a wide range of logistical and production efforts, from vendor coordination and signage design to housing management, audio/visual planning, and onsite operations.

Prior to joining NACo, Emily managed events and people operations at Education Design Lab, a non-profit where she led organization-wide retreats and developed streamlined processes to enhance employee experience and collaboration across teams. She began her events career at McChrystal Group, a leadership consulting firm, overseeing more than 70 events annually, managing end-to-end planning and execution of high-profile forums for senior executives.

Driven by a passion for creating meaningful experiences, Emily blends her expertise in event management and people operations to foster learning, connection, and sense of community that drives value and impact. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Findlay, a SHRM-CP certification, and is a lifelong equestrian.