Special Guests & Banquet
Special Guests
We are pleased to announce that we will have special guests for this year’s convention.
Keynote Speaker Shane Wilson
Shane is a co-founder and the President of ScaleTrains. His role is to support the ScaleTrains™ team and chart the company’s future. Shane is a lifelong model railroader and has been a part of the Hobby Industry for more than 40 years at all levels: store owner, wholesaler, and manufacturer. Outside of work, Shane enjoys collecting model trains, IndyCar racing, driving the mountain backroads with his wife in their convertible Mustang, and spoiling his young granddaughter.
Shane will be our banquet’s keynote speaker. It will be an entertaining evening for everyone.
Cinthia and Stephen Priest, MMR
Cinthia and Stephen are well-known in the model railroading community. Cinthia is the Senior Editor of the NMRA Magazine, and is active in the Women in Model Railroading Special Interest Group. Additionally, Cinthia has authored/coauthored nine books and edited another 17 books, covering Santa Fe topics mainly. Cinthia has given numerous clinics at various NMRA conventions and other events, including a few keynote speaker bookings. She has also earned several awards for her model railroading projects. She is currently working toward achieving the distinction of Master Model Railroader, hoping to become the first family to all have earned MMR. (Cinthia’s husband and son have already earned their MMR.) As of early 2026, she has only one certificate remaining.
Stephen is a former editor of Scale Rails and Railroad Model Craftsman.
Both work with Whitewater Productions.
Cinthia and Stephen will be presenting clinics at the convention this year – you won’t want to miss them.
Banquet
The banquet, held Saturday evening, is always one of the highlights of the convention. In addition to an excellent BBQ dinner, we will hear Shane talk and announce the contest and raffle winners. Who knows, there may even be some additional surprises in store! And don’t forget – we’ll also get a sneak preview at the 2028 ???? Division convention.
The cost of the dinner is included in full adult and minor (6-17) registration fees (both rail and non-rail). If you have a child under 6 who would like to receive a dinner (or are attending Saturday on a Day Pass), make sure you purchase additional banquet ticket(s) for them.
And don’t forget – we’ll have a reception before the banquet. Always a great time, with opportunities to renew friendships and make new ones.
LOCATION:
Highland Lakes Grand Ballroom
TIME:
Saturday Evening
Included in Registration