Meet the Planner Behind the 2026 Texas Conference on Ending Homelessness

Planning a statewide conference takes far more than booking a venue and creating an agenda. It takes months of collaboration, thoughtful planning, and a focus on creating meaningful experiences that help attendees learn, connect, and leave with ideas they can put into action.

That’s where Lou Cirelli, founder of Meetingscouts and conference planner for the 2026 Texas Conference on Ending Homelessness, comes in.

With more than 18 years of combined hotel sales and event management experience, Cirelli has helped organizations bring impactful conferences to life. His first client, the National Human Services Data Consortium (NHSDC), introduced him to the homelessness response field and the dedicated people working together toward solutions.

“I didn’t find this field as much as it ended up finding me,” Cirelli said. “Through my first client, I started meeting and working with other organizations, including Texas Homeless Network. It was incredible to see how willing people in this field are to work together to solve problems, and it just pulled me right in.”

This year, Cirelli is working alongside the THN team to bring the 2026 Texas Conference on Ending Homelessness to Houston, Sept. 23-25. The conference will bring together service providers, system leaders, advocates, policymakers, people with lived experience, and community partners from across Texas under the theme “From Ideas to Impact: Building Solutions Together.”

While attendees experience three days of learning and networking, Cirelli says much of the work happens behind the scenes.

“Planning a conference isn’t something one person does alone,” he said. “I’m working with the entire organization to create a program that’s successful and impactful. Our sponsors, partners, members, and attendees all play a role in making this conference possible.”

That collaboration also makes opportunities like THN’s scholarship program possible, helping ensure more voices can be part of the statewide conversation.

One experience Cirelli is especially excited about is this year’s optional Wednesday local learning experience at Project Row Houses in Houston’s Third Ward.

“It’s a place where you feel the history of the community while seeing how people are preserving that heritage and investing in the neighborhood,” he said. “It ties directly back to our theme of building solutions together.”

For Cirelli, creating a great conference goes beyond what’s happening in each breakout session.

“It’s about the whole experience,” he said. “Making check-in smooth, signage clear and creating opportunities for those conversations that happen between sessions, over coffee or at lunch. Those moments are often where the most meaningful connections are made.”

When attendees leave Houston, Cirelli hopes they’ll return home with more than just notes.

“If people go home excited about a new idea or a new connection, that’s a win for us,” he said. “Honestly, I hope they’re already thinking, ‘I want to come back next year.'”

The 2026 Texas Conference on Ending Homelessness will be held September 23-25 at the Houston Marriott Westchase. Registration is now open.