Connecting Leaders

ECEF 25th

Develop top-to-top relationships with 250 executives sharing insights and opportunities

  • Trustworthy

For 25 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.

See Who Attended ECEF 2026

 

Save the Date

June 2, 2027

Marriott Marquis
Washington DC

Registration Fee

$895. Add colleagues for $595 each.

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

Endorsed by IAEE: Eligible for 4.75 clock hours toward CEM recertification.

CEM

EXHIBITION & CONVENTION EXECUTIVES FORUM

It Only Takes 1 Minute to Find If ECEF Is For You

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.

ECEF 2025 Video Recap

ECEF 2026 Program


View 2026 Program

2026 Presenters

2026 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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  • Please see the signs below highlighting 25 years of ECEF pictures. Sign 1:  2002-2009 Sign 2: 2010-2017 Sign 3: 2018-2025 ECEF 25th Anniversary visual montage
  • The Annabelle Project (TAP) is a mentoring program, founded to feed the events industry pipeline with Next Gen talent. Sam Lippman interviews two TAP mentees. They share fresh perspectives from the PO ...
  • ECEF 2026 Word Clouds and Polling Results


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®

Lippman Connects You

  • Adam Reiter, Senior Director, Event Experiences, NRF - National Retail Federation
  • Alex Brody, Senior Director of Meetings, Association of the United States Army
  • Alice Mathu, Vice President, Business Development and Partnerships, IAAPA
  • Allison Konczyk, Senior Director, Exhibitions Operations, AMT - The Association for Manufacturing Technology
  • Allysun Trifunovic, Senior Director, Conferences & Events, Association of Corporate Counsel
  • Amanda Gochee, Group Vice President, Marketing Strategy, Clarion Events North America
  • Amy Calvert, President & CEO, Events Industry Council
  • Amy Peters, Vice President, Conferences, Meetings and Events, National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC)
  • Amy Schwandt, Chief Revenue Officer, IRONMARKETS
  • Andre Cholewinski, Associate Director of Meetings, American Physical Society
  • Andrew Darmohraj, Senior Vice President, Tradeshow, Specialty Food Association
  • Andrew Flank, Senior Vice President, Sales, Events and Exhibitions, The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
  • Andrew Warden, Director, Clarity Media Partners
  • Andria Gibbon, Executive Director, North American Trailer Dealers Association
  • Angela Mealy, Executive Director, Plastics Industry Association
  • Angi Van Berg, Senior National Sales Manager, Fern Expositions
  • Anthony Bartolomeo, Senior Vice President, Client Relationships, Freeman
  • Anthony Molino, Vice President of Sales, Visit Atlantic City
  • April Russell, Director of Sales, Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA)
  • Arnaud Istas, Group Head of M&A US, Easyfairs
  • Barb Herod, National Account Director, Visit Orlando
  • Ben Pfeifer, Head of Marketplace, Vendelux
  • Bergitta Cotroneo, Chief Operating Officer, American College of Physicians
  • Beth Burchill, Chief of Programs and Partnerships, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
  • Beth Cowperthwaite, Senior Vice President, Communications, Emerald
  • Beth Magewick, Senior Director of Marketing, SME - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
  • Bill Kitto, Senior Vice President, Freeman
  • Bill Lynch, President, Specialty Food Association
  • Blake Swango, Vice President, Exhibition Sales, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
  • Bob Caldwell, CRO & Co-Founder, 42Chat
  • Bob Hughes, Vice President, Supplier Relations & Expositions, NACS - Advancing Convenience & Fuel Retailing
  • Brandy Rand, Vice President & Market Leader| Hospitality Group, Questex
  • Brian Pagel, Executive Vice President, Emerald
  • Brooke Johnson, Senior National Account Executive, Heritage Exposition Services
  • Buffy Levy, Director, IBIE & NAFEM
  • Cahal Mowery, Vice President, Sales, Choose Chicago
  • Caitlin Fox, President, mdg
  • Carly Heideger, Associate Vice President, Exhibit and Sponsorships, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
  • Carol Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, MHI - The Industry That Makes Supply Chains Work
  • Caroline Peat, VP of Events, American Biogas Council
  • Cat Forgione, Senior Director of CES Communications, Consumer Technology Association
  • Catherine Lyons, Executive Vice President and CFO, International Sleep Products Association
  • Charles Bowen, Vice President, Communications and'Member'Relations, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
  • Chris Frost, CEO, VerticalXchange
  • Chris Harar, President, NTP Events
  • Chris Price, Chief Strategy Officer, Tradeshow Logic
  • Chris Skeith, CEO and Managing Director, UFI: The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
  • Christina Brady, Chief Operating Officer, Consumer Technology Association
  • Christine Peck, Chief Global Learning Officer, ASIS International
  • Christine Thompson, Sales Director, Washington D.C. Region, Visit Denver