News
NADP Records and Firsts: A Recap of NADP’s Annual CONVERGE Conference
By Mike Adelberg, NADP Executive Director
We recently wrapped up our annual conference, CONVERGE, the principal meeting for the dental benefits industry (Indianapolis, September 28-October 1). I am pleased to announce record-setting numbers for both attendees and exhibitors. Seven hundred thirty-two members and guests attended the conference, and for the first time, we expanded the Discovery Zone exhibit hall to 45 booths—selling it out for the second consecutive year. While the numbers are impressive, what’s most important to me is what the numbers represent – people come to CONVERGE because the conference offers the education and networking they value. I’d like to touch on several points of interest from this year’s event.
For the first time, we held a Chief Dental Officer panel, facilitated by NADP’s own Dr. Lauren Gritzer talking with Dr. Cherag Sarkari, Liberty Dental; Dr. Roosevelt Allen, United Concordia Dental; and Dr. Jeffrey Chaffin, Delta Dental of Iowa. The conversation touched on several issues that will shape the future of dental benefits, including the growing connection between oral and systemic health and how emerging technologies, including AI and new diagnostic approaches, are being incorporated as a tool to support dental care and benefit administration.
Another CONVERGE first was our “Partners Panel.” I talked with representatives of two professions, dental office managers and insurance agents – both critical to the success of our industry. I enjoyed learning more about the interests and needs of four key industry partners Roger Moore, NAIFA; Chavelle Galton-Rice, AADOM; Colleen Huff, Dental Insurance Coach; and Brad Wethington, Lifetime Financial Growth. We explored barriers to affordable, quality oral healthcare, and what we can do together to get more people covered, and ensure that covered people use their benefits for needed care.
This year’s CONVERGE introduced Community Care in Action (CCIA), a community service project benefiting United Way of Indianapolis. Participants visited exhibitor booths to collect personal care products for kits for homeless people in the region. I talked to the folks who participated in CCIA – both members and exhibitors – and was touched by their enthusiasm and commitment to a worthy cause. Big congratulations to the winners of the CCIA drawings. We look forward to continuing CCIA next year.
The NADP Foundation was also in the spotlight at CONVERGE for the first time. We recognized our 2026 grantees and shared information about the mission of the Foundation and the focus areas it supports. We also held a 50-50 raffle to raise funds for future Foundation grantees and highlighted the generosity of Skygen, our first Foundation Champion. If you or your organization is interested in learning more about supporting the NADP Foundation, please visit our Foundation’s web page.
Last, but certainly not least, I am pleased to share that the NADP Board of Directors approved NADP’s 2027-2029 strategic plan at their meeting during CONVERGE. The plan is ambitious and the plan deepens NADP’s commitment to be the voice of the dental benefits industry, focusing on what members value most: advocacy, research, member engagement, education, volunteer leadership, and partnerships. Over the next few months, we will be sharing an in-depth look at the plan, including our strategic priorities and tactics. Stay tuned for details and ways you can be involved.
CONVERGE continues to reach new heights, and I couldn’t be happier. It is gratifying to know our members and partners find value in the conference and continue to support it. My sincere thanks to everyone who helped make CONVERGE 2026 a success. See you in Orlando in 2027.
