In the Triangle, check out TAA (Triangle Apartment Association) or TREIA (Triangle Real Estate Investors Association) or Deal Maker Sessions (Triangle Real Estate Deal Maker Sessions on MeetUp, not on a website), as examples.

If your wife's townhouse is not currently renting for somewhere close to market rate it would also be a good idea to increase rent as much as is reasonable/feasible in the fairly short term, since it is highly likely (IMO) that next legislative session we see statewide rent control similar to Oregon's.   

Sometimes their speakers have trade show booths where you can speak directly with them or they are available before or after their speaking session.

Nothing has made me more money in biz or investing than understanding the game of blackjack. 

Just goes to show What Gideon Tucker once said - No ones life, liberty, or property, are safe while the legislature is in session!

If you haven't talked to @William Allen and the folks at Blackjack Real Estate, I'd highly recommend doing so.

I've been here 15 years, and low season is basically when school is in session.

I think that for the 2018 legislative session, the issues of the overbids and the preservation improvements inherent in the current system were a top priority. 

Now, it seems like the initial feedback, after the first public kick off event, was that there was a huge amount of interest until it comes to the point, where people have to go and actually book a paid session.

Having attending many events for multiple industries over the years I would also advise that the best use of your time at these events is between sessions, network your butt off!