MTJA in Fort Wayne
Schedule Overview
Friday, April 29
Arrive in Fort Wayne and check in to the beautiful boutique hotel, The Bradley, designed by the creator of Vera Bradley, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard.
Tour The Landing, Fort Wayne’s newest dining and entertainment district, home to eight new restaurants, and your lunch dine-around.
Enjoy an evening reception at Electric Works, a historic GE campus that is undergoing a massive transformation! Then, feel free to enjoy a Fort Wayne TinCaps baseball game, located just blocks from your hotel.
CONFERENCE ITINERARY | Friday, April 29
12:00 – 3:00 PM Registration + Check-In
Registration will take place at The Bradley in the Whitley Room.
Lunch Dine Around on The Landing
A lunch voucher is provided in your registration packet. The voucher is valid at six restaurants located on The Landing.
1:15 PM Tour of The Bradley
Meeting Location: The Bradley Lobby
A tour of The Bradley will be provided to get an overview and behind-the-scenes look at the property, its special design features, and other highlights.
2:00 PM Tour of The Landing
Meeting Location: The Bradley Lobby
Enjoy a walking tour of The Landing and learn how this one-block neighborhood was transformed into a dining and entertainment destination.
3:00 PM Tour of Electric Works
Transportation departs from The Bradley Lobby.
Take a tour of Electric Works, a historic GE campus that is undergoing a massive redevelopment. The mixed-use project will become housing, shops, a food hall, and more.
Attire: All visitors are required to wear hardhats (provided) and closed-toe shoes. No open-toe shoes, shorts, or tank tops are permitted. You are welcome to bring a change of shoes for dinner.
5:00 PM Cocktail Hour
Sponsored by Electric Works and Chapman’s Brewing.
5:45 PM Welcome to Fort Wayne Dinner
Sponsored by Greater Fort Wayne
Enjoy farm-to-fork fare provided by Junk Ditch Brewing Company, with food sourced from local farms.
Attire: Dressy Casual
7:30 PM Optional Late-Night Activity: TinCaps Baseball Game
Transportation to the baseball game departs from our dinner location.
Saturday, April 30
After a breakfast at the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana Farmer’s Market, we will spend the day exploring downtown Fort Wayne. Choose from several tours (read more about the options here) and enjoy hands-on experiences with Fort Wayne muralists and businesses.
This evening, we will be hosted for a dinner and evening of performances on the Arts Campus, and end the evening with an arts experience with a local muralist.
CONFERENCE ITINERARY | Saturday, April 30
7:00 AM Sunrise Photo Tour (Optional)
Depart from The Bradley Lobby
8:00 AM Breakfast at the YLNI Farmers Market
Depart from The Bradley Lobby
Attire: Please wear comfortable shoes for a day of walking.
We will not return to the hotel before our walking tours.
9:30 AM Walking Tours of Downtown Fort Wayne
Attire: Please wear comfortable shoes for a day of walking.
Walking tours will take place in 4 pre-determined groups. Your group is specified in your customized itinerary.
12:30 PM Downtown Lunch Dine Around
*Your lunch location is specified in your customized itinerary.*
2:00 PM Downtown Walking Tours Resume
3:15 PM FAM Tour A: Active Riverfront Immersive Experience
Take to the rivers and trails for active recreation! Go kayaking on the St. Marys River and hit the trails on bike to explore the areas where natural scenery meets Fort Wayne’s vibrant downtown.
Attire: Suitable clothing for kayaking or biking (weather dependent.)
- OR -
FAM Tour B: Family History at The Genealogy Center
Discover your family’s unique story at The Genealogy Center, the nation’s second-largest genealogy collection. Located inside the Allen County Public Library.
*Your designated FAM Tour is specified in your customized itinerary.*
6:15 PM Taste of Arts Campus Fort Wayne Dinner
Sponsored by Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne
As you explore Arts Campus Fort Wayne, you’ll get a taste of our vibrant arts community – including the Fort Wayne Ballet, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and more – paired perfectly with delicious culinary favorites.
Attire: Dressy Casual. Comfortable shoes recommended. We will be walking about three blocks to the dinner.
8:30 PM Optional Late-Night Activity:
Canvas and Cocktails with artist and muralist, Theoplis Smith III (aka Phresh Laundry)
Sunday, May 1
After a breakfast hosted by Indiana Foodways, you can choose from some amazing tour options (read more about the options here) and then enjoy lunch and a hands-on experience at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo.
After your choice of afternoon tours, we will be hosted to an amazing dinner by Visit Indiana, showcasing the amazing destinations in our great state.
CONFERENCE ITINERARY | Sunday, May 1
7:00 AM Blind Yoga with Daryl Walker, a Paralympic Athlete (Optional)
Location: Birdie’s Rooftop Deck at The Bradley
8:00 AM Indiana Foodways Breakfast
Depart from The Bradley Lobby
Sponsored by Indiana Foodways Alliance
Savor a delicious breakfast from local maker, GK Baked Goods.
Attire: Please wear comfortable shoes for a day of walking.
We will not return to the hotel before our FAM tours.
9:30 AM Morning FAM Tour
*Your designated FAM Tour is specified in your customized itinerary.*
FAM Tour A: Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
FAM Tour B: Fort Wayne Makers
FAM Tour C: Turnstone Adaptive Sports Experience
12:00 PM Lunch at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
Enjoy lunch at the Parkview Physicians Group Pavilions, located in the African Journey. (Near the Sky Safari ride)
1:30 PM Afternoon FAM Tour
*Your designated FAM Tour is specified in your customized itinerary.*
FAM Tour A: Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
FAM Tour B: Fort Wayne Makers
FAM Tour C: Fort Wayne History and Architecture
5:00 PM VP Hours at The Bradley
Members use this time to learn about updates from the organization, share any feedback, and connect with fellow members.
6:00 PM Visit Indiana Dinner at the Grand Wayne Convention Center
Sponsored by Indiana Destination Development Corporation
A celebration of the Hoosier spirit! Enjoy dinner and drinks at the Grand Wayne Convention Center and a delicious DIY s’mores bar for dessert – with DeBrand Fine Chocolate and locally-made marshmallows from GK Baked Goods.
After dinner, mix and mingle with amazing destinations from around Indiana!
Attire: Dressy Casual. Comfortable shoes recommended. We will be walking about three blocks to the dinner.
Monday, May 2
Monday’s itinerary kicks off with a tour of Sweetwater, the nation’s largest online music retailer, and a music-lovers paradise!
The media marketplace will take place on the Sweetwater Campus, as will our lunch.
That afternoon, you will enjoy Business Meetings and Professional Development sessions at The Bradley, and the evening will be topped off with dinner at Promenade Park, provided by the Northeast Indiana Partnership, who will be sharing the wonders of the 11 surrounding counties with you!
And then, a late-night after party at The Landing will celebrate our time together in style! (Think “cocktail throwdown” and live music!)
CONFERENCE ITINERARY | Monday, May 2
7:00 AM Sunrise Hike at LC Nature Park during Trillium Season (Optional)
Depart from The Bradley Lobby
Breakfast from Proximo will be provided on the way. Hikers will be taken directly from LC Nature Park to Sweetwater.
8:00 AM Breakfast at Proximo
Depart from The Bradley Lobby
Attire: Dressy to Business Casual for a day of meetings. Comfortable shoes recommended!
A van will be loaded up before breakfast with any Associate Marketplace materials.
9:00 AM Sweetwater Campus Tour
Actives will take a guided tour of Sweetwater – the nation’s #1 online music retailer, now also home to the largest physical music store in the US.
During this time, Associates will set up their booths for the marketplace.
10:30 AM Media Marketplace
Location: Meeting Room at Sweetwater, located off the dining hall.
12:30 PM Lunch at Sweetwater’s Crescendo Café
1:30 PM Transportation Back to The Bradley
2:30 PM Business Meeting at The Bradley Room: Allen
4:00 PM Professional Development Sessions
Actives Room: Allen
Hear from Fort Wayne LinkedIn expert, Anthony Juliano.
Associates Room: Wells
Join conversations around public relations with a panel of local PR professionals.
• Angelica Pickens — City of Fort Wayne
• Heather Herron — Sweetwater
• Kevin Erb — Palisade Partners
7:00 PM Northeast Indiana Showcase Dinner at Promenade Park
Sponsored by Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
Enjoy dinner by the riverfront, inside the Park Foundation Pavilion at Promenade Park. The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership will showcase the wonders of the 11 surrounding counties.
Attire: Dressy Casual. Comfortable shoes recommended. We will be walking about two blocks to the dinner.
9:30 PM Optional Late-Night Activity: Social Hour on The Landing
Sponsored by Mammoth Lakes, CA | Host of the Fall 2022 MTJA Conference
Celebrate our time together and raise a glass to a great MTJA conference! Enjoy a “cocktail throwdown” and live music.
Tuesday, May 3
On our last day together, we will head to Vera Bradley to learn more about this amazing national company that is a Fort Wayne original. The Vera Bradley Experience will not disappoint!
CONFERENCE ITINERARY | Tuesday, May 3
8:00 AM Breakfast at The Bradley
with Barbara Bradley Baekgaard (co-founder of Vera Bradley) and Zach Miller (General Manager at The Bradley)
Room: Allen
9:30 AM Check out of rooms and bring luggage to store in the hospitality room (Whitley) before we depart for the Vera Bradley Design Center. The room will be monitored and locked.
10:00 AM Vera Bradley Experience + Boxed Lunch
Take a tour of the Vera Bradley Design Center, where inspiration and art come to life to create the iconic, beloved Vera Bradley patterns.
2:00 PM Return to The Bradley
Depart for Home or Post Tours!
Even More Activities
And, be sure to learn more about our Pre and Post Tour opportunities!
Special Thanks
Thank you to the following organizations for their generous support of MTJA in Fort Wayne:
MTJA Information
COVID Protocols:
The MTJA Board and Visit Fort Wayne ask that ALL CONFERENCE ATTENDEES follow the CDC’s Guidelines based on Allen County, Indiana’s Community Level.
We also ask that should you not feel well, are sick, or test positive for COVID-19, that you please do not attend the conference.
Masks and hand sanitizer will be available through the duration of the conference should you need anything.