ECEF logo

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

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2026 Presenters

2026 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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  • The Profitability of Restraint - Why Leaving Money Behind Pays Off, Bob Hughes - ECEF 2026

    27 May 2026 Bob Hughes, NACS
    When does it pay off to leave money behind? For the past 24 years, the NACS show has been quietly doing just that. Bob Hughes, Vice President, NACS, shares their success strategy. NACS does not leave ...

  • Keynote - A Global Mindset Pays Off Even if You Operate Locally, Edwina Kulego - ECEF 2026

    27 May 2026 Edwina Kulego, Informa
    Widen Your Leadership Perspective Your leadership acumen has brought you great success. Keynoter Edwina Kulego gives you the opportunity to build on that success. Edwina explains that a global mindset ...

  • Building Better Together - Lessons in Strategic Partnerships, Pearce and Rand - ECEF 2026

    27 May 2026 Kiersten Pearce, AHLA and Brandy Rand, Questex
    Too few opportunities for independent organizers and associations to partner come to fruition because of an implied culture clash. It doesn’t have to be that way. In this candid and insightful session ...


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Explore ECEF 2026 Photo Highlights

ECEF 2026


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

  • Jason McGraw, Group Vice President, KBIS, CEDIA Expo & Commercial Integrator Expo, Emerald
  • Jason Miller, SVP, Business Development, The Expo Group
  • Jason Stookey, Vice President of Sales, NTP Events
  • Jeff Calore, Senior Vice President, Events, Smithbucklin Corporation
  • Jeff Sinclair, CEO and Co-Founder, Eventbase
  • Jeffrey Quade, President, Exhibitions, GES
  • Jen Mitchell, Vice President, Business Development, MCI USA
  • Jennifer Bumbalo, Vice President of Sales, Visit Dallas
  • Jennifer Collins, President & CEO, JDC Events
  • Jennifer Dugas, Senior Vice President of Events & Engagement, American Coatings Association
  • Jennifer Fontillas, Manager, Sponsorship and Expositions, American Chemical Society
  • Jennifer Hoff, President, Taffy Event Strategies
  • Jennifer Murray, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Exposition Management
  • Jennifer Paine Pekowski, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Freeman
  • Jenny Van Riper, Vice President, Sales, Maritz
  • Jerry Gildea, Chief Sales Officer, Map Your Show
  • Jessica Curtis, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, Development & Events, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
  • Jessica Hanley, Sr. Meetings Coordinator, American Meteorological Society
  • Jessica Pagonis, Senior Director, Meetings, Optica
  • Jim Wurm, Executive Director, Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association
  • Joanne 'Jo' Damato, Senior Vice President, Events & Professional Engagement, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
  • Joe Webster, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Emerald
  • Joey Martin, Senior Vice President of Sales Strategy and Enablement for Global Connections and Events (GCE), National Association of Broadcasters
  • John Bailey, Director, Shows & Exhibits Division, National Rifle Association
  • John Boyle, Recently, Director of Conferences and Events, International Association of Fire Chiefs
  • John Dandeneau, Executive Vice President, eShow
  • John Paxton, CEO, MHI - The Industry That Makes Supply Chains Work
  • John Puglisi, National Account Director, Mid-Atlantic, Visit Seattle
  • John Schreiber, Vice President, Strategic Account Sales, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority
  • John T. Kelley, Vice President and Show Director, CES, Consumer Technology Association
  • John Wilson, Vice President, Business Development, Northeast Region, Convention News Television (CNTV)
  • Jon Benjamin, CEO, ASP
  • Jonas Nash, Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine
  • Jordan Tuchband, Senior Vice President, Security, Gaming, & Transportation Portfolio, RX USA
  • Jordan Walker, Co-founder, Backtrack
  • Josh Haynie, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Freeman
  • Joshua Oloriegbe, Recent Graduate, Jarvis Christian University
  • Julie Kagy, Executive Director, ESCA: Exhibition Services & Contractors Association
  • Justine McVaney, Senior Vice President, Event Planning & Operations, National Association of Broadcasters
  • Kara Dao, Chief Operating Officer, JDC Events
  • Karen Chupka, Executive Vice President, GCE, National Association of Broadcasters
  • Karen Kroll, Director of Exhibits, PRINTING United Alliance
  • Karen Somerville, Chief Growth & Operations Officer, American Nurses Association
  • Kasey McNeil, AVP, Global Meetings & Corporate Partnerships, The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Kate Hawley, Event Director | Snowbound Expo, Raccoon Media Group
  • Katie Carlin, Vice President, Business Development and Growth, American Nurses Association
  • Katie Croy, Exhibit & Sponsorships Sales Manager, RE+
  • Katie Remuzzi, Vice President, CES Operations, Consumer Technology Association
  • Katrina Lindsey, National Sales Manager, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
  • Kelly Kilga, Vice President, Event Development, National Association of Broadcasters
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