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

Loading

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

 

View All Sponsors

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

Loading
  • Headwinds

    28 May 2025 Hervé Sedky, President and CEO - Emerald
    In this interactive session, Hervé Sedky, President and CEO, Emerald, will moderate a panel of experts, including Kevin Hinton, Managing Director, Group Travel, U.S. Travel Association; Isabelle Icso, ...
  • Good News from Davos for Your Show

    28 May 2025 Dr. Charlotte M. Farmer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - UL Research Institutes
    Every January, the World Economic Forum brings together political, business, and thought leaders. Better known as Davos, it is arguably the most exclusive annual event in the world. Although more than ...
  • Return on Value: The Evolution of Value-Based Selling

    28 May 2025 Indiya Okam, Group Vice President of Sales - RX USA
    As customer expectations evolve, delivering and communicating ROI is no longer the finish line; it’s now the baseline. Building on the success of their value-based selling journey, Indiya Okam, Group ...


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

  • Christine Klein, Senior Vice President, Meetings, Divisions & Partnerships, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)
  • Christine Peck, Chief Global Learning Officer, ASIS International
  • Christine Thompson, Sales Director, Washington D.C. Region, Visit Denver
  • Christy Spahn, Vice President, Expo Sales and Operations, IAAPA
  • Chuck Bowen, Vice President, Communications and'Member'Relations, Outdoor Power Equipment'Institute (OPEI)
  • Chuck Grouzard, Executive Vice President of Business Development, GES
  • Claire Whalen, Meetings Manager, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG)
  • Clayton McIntyre, Events Producer and Manager, ASTM International
  • Courtney Mesmer, Vice President, Event Programming & Experience, US Travel Association
  • Damon Ross, Senior Group Vice President, CORT Events
  • Dan Cole, Senior Director, Exposition Sales, AVIXA - Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association
  • Dana Wuesthoff, Vice President, Exhibitions Data & Technology Integration, AEM - Association of Equipment Manufacturers
  • Danica Tormohlen, VP of Group Content, Events, Travel, Sports, TSNN / Informa Connect
  • Daniel McKinnon, Chief Exhibitions Officer, MHI - The Industry That Makes Supply Chains Work
  • Dave Morton, Group Director, MT Series, SME - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
  • David Liddle, President and CEO, The Deondo Company
  • David McAuley, Senior Director, Washington, D.C. and Chicago Area Sales Offices, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • David Saef, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Freeman
  • Deirdre Flynn, Executive Vice President, North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM)
  • Denise Miller, Vice President, Event, Product & Brand Marketing, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
  • Dennis Carew, Director of National Accounts, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Events DC
  • Dennis O'Gara, Senior Vice President, Operations, Products & Services, Smart City Networks
  • Dennis Smith, President and CEO, N'rnberg Messe North America
  • Derek Miller, President & CEO, International Housewares Association
  • Diane Vidoni, Chief Operating Officer, eMerge Americas
  • Diego Nicolau De Carvalho, Vice President of Growth, Innovation and Customer Experience, N'rnbergMesse Brasil
  • Don Kline, CEO, Map Your Show
  • Don Pietranczyk, Vice President, Experience & Education, Informa Markets
  • Douglas Emslie, Chairman, Raccoon Media Group
  • Elizabeth Berry, Director of Mid-Atlantic Sales, Louisville Tourism
  • Ellen Tucker, Vice President, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)
  • Emily Slattery, Manager, Sponsor Relations and Fulfillment, US Travel Association
  • Eric Commodore, Director, Meeting & Event Planning, NRECA - National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  • Femke Di Cesare, Director, Business Development, ASIS International
  • Frances Maestre, Executive Vice President, Sales & Client Services, Shepard Exposition Services
  • Gary Musich, CEO, Visit Atlantic City
  • Gene Thomas, Senior Vice President, Client Relationship, Freeman
  • Greg Topalian, Chairman, Clarion Events North America
  • Gregory Scott, Portfolio Sales Director, PGA & Vision Shows, RX Global
  • Heather Farley, CEO, Access Intelligence, LLC
  • Herve Sedky, President and CEO, Emerald
  • Hesham AlBahri, Executive Director, Leading Events LLC
  • Hunter McKinley, Co-founder & CEO, Backtrack
  • Iain Mackenzie, Vice President, Tradeshow Operations, RE+ Events
  • Iain Stirling, International Portfolio Director, Mash Media Group / Exhibition World
  • Ian Twentey, Vice President, Business Development, Maritz
  • Indiya Okam, Group Vice President of Sales, US, RX USA
  • Isabelle Icso, Executive Director, International Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Jackie Black, Vice President, Conferences, Consumer Technology Association
  • Jake Volcsko, Vice President, Integrated Media, SME - Society of Manufacturing Engineers