2026 Annual Conference: The alapcae unity games

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Montgomery, Alabama, USA with the State Capitol and cityscape at dawn.
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Montgomery, AL

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 – Friday, June 26, 2026

Welcome to the 2026 ALAPCAE Conference, located in historic Montgomery, AL! We are excited to have you join us at our high-energy and insightful conference! With over 100 sessions, recognized keynote speakers, and scholarship giveaways, the 2026 ALAPCAE conference promises to be a highly distinguished event.

Have you considered this?

We can't do this without you. In fact, we wouldn't have a conference without you. That's why we need you to submit your presentation proposals today. As educators, we don't sit on the sidelines: we challenge assumptions, sharpen practice, and elevate the profession together. Bring your voice. Bring your passion. Bring your experience.

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General Session Keynote Speakers

Wednesday

Josh Duplantis, Ph.D.

Josh Duplantis, Ph.D., is the Dean of Economic and Workforce Development at Coastal Alabama Community College, an accomplished orator, university faculty member, and leader in postsecondary education.

Dr. Duplantis is a proven leader in higher education, economic development, and workforce development, with experience in K-12, 2-year, and 4-year colleges, focusing on department and divisional turnarounds. As a university faculty member, he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in personal finance, non-profit management, and servant leadership.

Dr. Duplantis has been recognized by Greg “The Shark” Norman as a Prosperity Pioneer and has been featured in University Business Magazine, as well as numerous local and regional publications. Speaking in front of crowds as large as 4,000, Dr. Duplantis has engaged high school graduation ceremonies, chambers of commerce, and Rotary/Kiwanis clubs, along with other professional organizations. He has delivered keynotes at university distinguished lecturer series and conferences for fitness professionals. Dr. Duplantis has been featured on several local and national podcasts, like What’s Working with Cam Marston. 

Thursday

Lorenza Pharrams, Ed.D.

Lorenza Pharrams, Ed.D., is an author, educational consultant, veteran speaker, and expert in the field of at-risk students.

Dr. Pharrams is an experienced motivational speaker, mentor, and educational leader with over 25 years of experience serving students and educators. Dr. Pharrams has a long history in education with roles such as teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Lorenza has additional experience working with at-risk, attendance, and administrative programs.

During his K-12 career, Dr. Pharrams witnessed the need for more educational support, parental engagement, and awareness of the relationship between academic achievement and environmental/societal factors. This inspired Dr. Pharrams to create a successful educational consulting firm where his team specializes in curriculum development, educational leadership, parental engagement, educational technology integration, discipline alternatives, and more.

Dr. Pharrams is the author of a book about at-risk students, Nobody Told Them They Were Somebody: A Guide to Helping At-Risk Students, where he details how we can better uplift children within our communities and empower them to reach their full potential. Dr. Pharrams has built a reputation within his industry for his profound commitment to students and staff, championing of accessible resources and inclusivity for young people, and interest in contributing to conversations leading to development in the education sector.

Educate. Empower. Excel. Employ.​

Larissa Benz

District 5 Representative
Ingram State Technical

Larissa Benz is ISTC Adult Education Coordinator for Southern Region. Prior to this position, she worked as an ESL instructor at Auburn University at Montgomery and an Adult Education Coordinator at Southern Union State Community College. There, Benz developed a Career Pathways certification course in Medical Terminology and a Career Pathway certification course for translators and interpreters to meet the needs of the community in medical and legal fields. 
 
Larissa grew up in Ukraine when it was still a part of the Soviet Union. That allowed her to live in different places and travel to countries across EuroAsian continent. Growing up, she was fascinated by various cultures and the diversity. Larissa possesses Master’s degree in Linguistics. The degree opened the doors for her to teach foreign languages and be an interpreter for the UN and European Council conferences, translator for government agencies, non-profit organizations and ministries. 
 
Larissa Benz served as a lecturing professor at Tavria University of Management and Commerce and got her Master’s in Business from there. She also taught at the Crimea University of Pedagogy and Engineering, got accepted to the PhD program and did the research for her thesis there.
 
Benz and her son came to the U.S. in 2001 and worked with several ministries which served children and their families from underserved areas. She created projects and programs for cultural exchange and educational purposes. 
 
She is certified by the British Council to teach Business English and to translate legal documents. In 2022, Ms. Benz earned a certificate in leadership from LEAD University. Languages, art and hiking are her hobbies. 
 
Alabama became Larissa’s promise land and she has embraced the southern culture as her own even though she is still learning its beautiful idiosyncrasies. 

Marsha LeMacks

District 7 Representative
Wallace Dothan

Marsha S. LeMacks is a professional educator with 20+ years of teaching experience.  She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education from Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina.  She is also a 2025 graduate of the ACCS Instructional Leadership Academy.  Marsha is currently a full-time adult education instructor at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Alabama, and she previously served as the  2024-2025 ALAPCAE  District 7 Representative.