PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Attendees will hear from industry leaders Trace McInturff, William Troy, and Jennifer Tucker, and others in Nashville, TN from April 12-15, 2026
Frederick, Md (February 9, 2026)— The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), a global, nonprofit accreditation body, has announced the A2LA Annual Conference 2026 (AnnCon26) Keynote Speakers. The conference will take place at The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN from April 12-15, 2026.
The A2LA Annual Conference is the accreditation industry’s leading event and continues to grow in attendance each year. This event is a valuable opportunity for anyone working in an industry that relies on accreditation, ISO, and quality and conformity assessment.
A Life Spent Chasing Quality: A Journey Through Global Accreditation
The first keynote address, A Life Spent Chasing Quality: A Journey Through Global Accreditation, will be presented by Trace McInturff, Vice President of Accreditation Services for American Association for Laboratory Accreditation on Monday, April 13, 2026.
During his presentation, Trace will explore the early years of laboratory accreditation quality, the rise and impact of ILAC’s global recognition model, and the significance of the newly formed Global Accreditation Cooperation, Incorporated as the global accreditation community moves toward a simpler, more unified framework – without losing the discipline behind recognition.
Trace has led an exceptionally accomplished and successful career in the accreditation industry and has had a significant impact on the advancement of global quality standards. He currently represents A2LA on the Global Accreditation Cooperation, Inc. General Assembly, APAC General Assembly, and APAC MRA Council; is the Chair of the Global Accreditation Cooperation, Inc. Arrangement Committee; is Co-Convener of the Global Accreditation Cooperation, Inc./WADA Liaison Group; is the Past Chair of the APAC MRA Council and the ILAC Arrangement Management Committee (AMC); is a member of the APAC and Global Accreditation Cooperation, Inc. Executive Committees; is a member of the International Trade Advisory Committee 15 (ITAC); and was a member of ISO/CASCO WG44 on the revision of ISO/IEC 17025. Trace is also an approved APAC and Global Accreditation Cooperation, Inc. Lead Evaluator.
Adaptive Leadership: A Lens for Leaders at Every Level
Coach and Consultant William Troy and Coach and Writer Jennifer Tucker will present the second keynote address on Tuesday April 14, 2026, titled “Adaptive Leadership: A Lens for Leaders at Every Level.”
Adaptive Leadership, developed by academic and author Ronald Heifetz, describes leadership as the work of mobilizing people to address tough, systemic challenges that can’t be solved through technical expertise alone. Instead, these challenges require learning, experimentation, and changes in values, beliefs, and behaviors across the organization or community.
In this presentation, Bill and Jennifer will explore the core principles of adaptive leadership and build awareness around the personal capacity needed to lead through conflict and change.
William (Bill) Troy is currently an independent consultant on leader development and strategy, and serves on the boards of The Old Soldiers Home Foundation, Washington, D.C.; the Froedert Hospital Board, Milwaukee, WI; and A2LA, Frederick, MD. He was Chief Executive Officer of American Society for Quality (ASQ), an international professional society with 68,000 members 2014 – 2019. Prior to being named CEO at ASQ, Bill had a 38-year U.S. Army career, from which he retired as Lieutenant General (three stars). His most recent position was Director of U.S. Army Staff at the Pentagon. Troy served in Europe, the U.S., Asia, and the Middle East. Prior to his tour as Director, he served as the Commanding General, U.S. Army AK, where he was responsible for the combat readiness of 12,000 soldiers, and the welfare of 20,000 family members. He has held a number of significant general officer positions in the U.S. military, including Chief of Staff for Ill Corps in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Troy was commissioned in the Infantry from the U.S. Military Academy, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. He received master’s degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Naval War College, and was a Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, Master Parachute Wings, the Distinguished Service Medal, and Commander in the French National Order of Merit.
Jennifer Tucker is a writer, strategist, and coach with 20+ years of experience leading corporate communications and learning and development. Known for her story-driven approach, she blends practical tools with real-world insights to help people navigate complexity with clarity and confidence. As a long-time partner to mission-driven organizations, she designs strategies that help organizations strengthen their approach through clearer communication and adaptive leadership practices. She’s especially passionate about coaching early-career professionals to lead authentically, communicate with impact, and flex their leadership to meet ever-evolving demands and expectations. When she’s not coaching, Jennifer is writing content and developing thought leadership for clients across industries.
For more information about A2LA Annual Conference 2026, visit A2LA.org/annual_conference.
To learn more about A2LA, visit A2LA.org/about.
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A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation organization offering internationally recognized accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, biobanking facilities, stand-alone sampling organizations, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers, and product certifiers. For more information, visit https://A2LA.org/.
Media contact: Wallis Reed; wreed@A2LA.org; 301-644-3230