Connecting Leaders

Develop top-to-top relationships with 255 executives sharing insights and opportunities

  • Trustworthy

For 24 years, through every business cycle, ECEF has connected executives at associations and independent organizers to information they use immediately.

  • High Energy

Clients expect an open and spirited peer exchange. And they get it.

  • Rewarding

Take away actionable ideas and valuable contacts that will benefit your brand, your event, your organization, and your career.

ECEF 2025 Video Recap

SAVE THE DATE:

May 27, 2026

Grand Hyatt

Washington DC

 

Registration Fee

$895; $495 for each additional colleague

Change in Plans? Last-minute qualified substitutions are welcome or cancel for a full refund up to one week before ECEF.

EXHIBIT & CONVENTION EXECUTIVES FORUM

Find Out What's in it for You in 76 Seconds

TRUSTWORTHY

Expand Your Circle of Top-Level Contacts

Often called the A-List of the events industry.

  • Welcome Reception the night before the event kicks off face-to-face engagement.
  • Networking lunch and breaks keep the networking action going all day.
  • Meet The Leaders session gives everyone a chance to stand and be seen.

Look Who Attended ECEF 2025

2025 Program

 

View Full 2025 Program

2025 Presenters

2025 Sponsors

GOLD SPONSOR

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SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

 

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Ecef tech demo logo

 

Event tech demonstrations for non-tech executives

Event technology products and services are proliferating and improving at an ever-quickening pace. TechDemo gives executives an opportunty to explore leading-edge solutions without the technobabble. 

  • Hands-on event tech demonstrations.
  • Meet tech experts AND the executives that run the company.
  • Explore solutions for marketing, sales, operations and back office.

TechDemo Sponsors

Resources

Latest Resources

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  • ECEF 2025 Polling Data

    28 May 2025 Lippman Connects
  • Takeaways from ECEF 2025 Sessions

    28 May 2025 Kimberly Hardcastle and Ken Holsinger
    ECEF 2025 session takeaways from Kimberly Hardcastle, President, mdg, A Freeman Company and Ken Holsinger, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Freeman
  • The Innovator’s Edge: The Difference Between Standard and Standout Events

    28 May 2025 Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes, President - mdg and Ken Holsinger, Senior Vice President - Strategy - Freeman Company
    What sets groundbreaking event organizers apart from those who simply maintain the status quo? First, Freeman Senior VP - Strategy Ken Holsinger and mdg President Kimberly Hardcastle will unveil key F ...


View All ECEF Resources

Testimonials

  • ECEF is one the few opportunities where independent and association show organizers get to mingle and learn from one another.
    Karen Chupka
    Chief Strategist, Chupka Consulting LLC
  • You've got 200 C-level executives here. There's a lot of peer-to-peer learning, which is incredible.
    Chris Dolnack
    Senior Vice President, National Shooting Sports Foundation
  • As a newcomer to events, it is so valuable to connect and have interactions that pay off.
    Cassandra Farrington
    Co-Founder & CEO, Marijuana Business Daily
  • ECEF is a great event! In one day I can hear insights and best practices from the ‘Who’s Who’ in our industry.
    Mary Pat Heftman
    Principal, Principal MPH Solutions, LLC
  • ECEF is a fixture on my calendar. Don’t delegate this one; as a CEO, you need to be there.
    Lori M. Anderson, CAE
    President & CEO, International Sign Association
  • The value I’ve gained from ECEF has always exceeded expectations. It’s the only event that brings together association and media executives to network, debate, and exchange new business ideas and best practices.
    Kerry C. Gumas
    Chief Executive Officer, Metacomet LLC
  • ECEF has valuable content and useful take-aways in a variety of areas.
    Peter Eelman
    Vice President Exhibitions and Communications, The Association for Manufacturing Technology, AMT
  • I've had a bunch of conversations with people we're going to want to do business with.
    Chris Brown
  • ECEF is the most valuable education and networking event of the year. The ideas shared by speakers and participants helped us grow attendance and sales. There is no better opportunity to learn from the brightest in the industry.
    Eric Wulf
    CEO, International Carwash Association®

Explore ECEF 2024 Highlights

Lippman Connects You

  • Abby Nero, Regional Vice President, Map Your Show
  • Adam Reiter, Senior Director, Event Experiences, NRF - National Retail Federation
  • Adrienne Tiritilli, Senior Vice President, Trade Show, International Housewares Association
  • Aimee Hickox, Vice President, Conventions & Meetings, American Coatings Association
  • Akshar Patel, Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development, eShow Event Management Solutions
  • Alex Brody, Senior Director of Meetings, Association of the United States Army
  • Alice Mathu, Vice President, Business Development and Partnership, IAAPA Global Headquarters
  • Allison Carpenter, Senior Director, Exhibits & Sponsorships, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)
  • Allison Konczyk, Director, Exhibitions Operations, AMT - The Association for Manufacturing Technology
  • Allison Moran, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Pri-Med
  • Amanda Gochee, Group Vice President, Marketing Strategy, Clarion Events, Inc
  • Amy Durkin, Vice President of Events, National Catholic Educational Association
  • Amy Peters, Vice President, Conferences, Meetings & Events, National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC)
  • Amy Schwandt, Chief Revenue Officer, IRONMARKETS
  • Andrea Doyle, Executive Editor, Skift Meetings
  • Andrew Darmohraj, Senior Director, Conventions, National Safety Council
  • Andrew Flank, Senior Vice President, Sales & Events, The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
  • Angela Harar, Vice President, Strategy & Growth, MAU Vegas, Clarion Events, Inc
  • Angela Mealy, Executive Director, NPE, Plastics Industry Association
  • Angie Szerlong, Group Director, AM Series, SME - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
  • Annie Malone, Vice President, Strategy, Freeman
  • April LeJeune, Senior Vice President, Client Relationships, Freeman
  • April Walsh, Vice President, Sponsorship & Engagement, Trade Show Executive Media Group / TSE
  • Ashley Kempson, Director, Meetings & Convention Operations, National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)
  • Autumn Collins, Regional Director of Sales, Visit Dallas
  • Barbara Goldstein, VP, Event Marketing and Brand Experience, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
  • Beth Burchill, Senior Director of Education, Meetings and Corporate Developmentand Corporate Development, American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
  • Beth Cowperthwaite, Sr Vice President, Communications, Emerald
  • Beth Magewick, Marketing & Creative Director, SME - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
  • Bill Reed, Chief Event Strategy Officer, American Society of Hematology
  • Blake Swango, Vice President, Exhibition Sales, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
  • Bob Caldwell, CRO & Co-Founder, 42Chat
  • Bob Jonas, Managing Director/Show Organizer, National Science Teachers Association
  • Brian Cuthbert, Group Vice President, Diversified
  • Brian Pagel, Executive Vice President, Emerald
  • Brien Zamperetti, Vice President, Business Development, The Expo Group
  • Bruce Millar, Deputy Director, Meetings Department, Transportation Research Board: NAS
  • Caitlin Fox, Vice President & Marketing Strategist, mdg, A Freeman Company
  • Cameron Curtis, Executive Director, Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association
  • Carey Goryl, CEO, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR)
  • Carly Heideger, Associate Vice President, Exhibit and Sponsorships - NBAA, MCI USA
  • Carol Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, MHI - The Industry That Makes Supply Chains Work
  • Carrie Ferenac, President & Co-founder, CNTV - Convention News Television
  • Casey Zell, Manager, CES Operations, Consumer Technology Association
  • Charlotte Farmer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
  • Chase Changhee Seon, Co-founder / COO, Umoh
  • Chris Corey, Executive Director, Business Development, VerticalXchange
  • Chris Frost, CEO, VerticalXchange
  • Chris Price, Chief Strategy Officer, Tradeshow Logic
  • Christina Garneski, Vice'President,'Meetings'&'Membership'Services, American'Public'Transportation'Association