Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF), held May 27 in Washington, D.C., is the world’s only one-day forum exclusively for independent and association executives. Exhibition and convention industry leaders focus on ways to increase revenues and the relevance of their events through C-level content and top-to-top networking.
Scott Schenker, General Manager, Events and Production Studio at Microsoft, and Founder of Janus Dialogs, delivered the Opening Keynote to a crowd of 203 association and independent organizers. He pointed to a relentless wave of “change so driving that even if you remain as you are, you are changing in comparison to others.”
Schenker’s speech identified fringe ideas that are rapidly moving into the mainstream.
“Scott’s powerful presentation forces us to be aware of trends that appear marginal today but have the potential to gain acceptance almost overnight,” said Sam Lippman, president, Lippman Connects, the organizer of ECEF. “From the liberalization of marijuana restrictions to the monetization of premium access, Scott showed us how these rapid shifts may create both pitfalls and opportunities for exhibitions and conventions.”
From Closing Keynote speaker Kerry Bodine, attendees learned the solid business case for creating exceptional customer experiences. Bodine is co-author of “Outside In: The Power of Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business.”
Lippman observed that “[t]he demands on our customers’ time and attention are fierce, and Kerry demonstrated the practical value of creating customer experiences that elevate us above the competition.
ECEF’s one-day program also featured these experts on face-to-face events: Lori Anderson, President and CEO, International Sign Association; Marian Bossard, SVP, Toy Industry Association; Glenn Hansen, President and CEO, BPA Worldwide; Volker Höntsch, Sustainability Manager, UBM EMEA; Kate Hurst, VP, U.S. Green Build Council; Sam Lippman, President, Lippman Connects; Alan Peterson, VP, Scranton Gillette Communications; Gene Sanders, SVP, SPI; and Megan Tanel, VP, AEM.
ECEF 2016 will be held June 1 at the JW Marriott, Washington, D.C.
To obtain ECEF 2015 white papers, speaker presentation slides and on-site polling results, visit lippmanconnects.com/resources
