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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View 2026 Program

2026 Presenters

2026 Sponsors

GOLD SPONSOR

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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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  • 5 Key Data Points in 5 Minutes, Sam Lippman - ECEF 2026

    27 May 2026 Sam Lippman, Lippman Connects
    Sam Lippman, President, Lippman Connects set the tone for the day with this fast-paced session highlighting key data points that have big implications.

  • 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


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

  • Ken Holsinger, Senior Vice President, Industry Research & Insights, Freeman
  • Kendra Johnson, Chief Experience Officer, International Carwash Association
  • Kerri Bellias, Sr Vice President, Member Relations and Business Development, International Sleep Products Association
  • Kevin Bird, CEO, Shepard
  • Kevin Hinton, Managing Director, Group Travel, U.S. Travel Association
  • Kiersten Pearce, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Conferences & Events, American Hotel & Lodging Association
  • Kim Althoff, Executive Director, ISSA ' The Association for Cleaning & Facility Solutions
  • Kim Collie, Strategic Director, TSNN by Informa
  • Kimberly Hardcastle, Chief Strategist, Freeman
  • Kirsten Dillon, Sr. Specialist Event Logistics, SHRM
  • Kirstin Lewis, Vice President, Event Performance, Questex LLC
  • Kristin Lamoureux, Director, Graduate Hospitality Program, Collegiate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Virginia Tech, Pamplin College of Business
  • Kristin Torres, Senior Executive Director, Meetings & Events, National Cattlemen's Beef Association
  • Kyle Bixby, Sr. Meetings & Exhibits Coordinator, ASCRS: American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons
  • Larkin Jacobs, Director of Trade Show & Meetings, American Sportfishing Association
  • Larry Grossenbacher, President, General Contracting Division, CSI Worldwide
  • Lauren Parr, Chief Meetings and Exhibits Officer, Optica
  • Laurie Lutz, Strategic Advisor, American Biogas Council
  • Leah Lewis, Vice President, Education and Events, Motion + Power Manufacturers Alliance
  • Leana Salamah, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Specialty Food Association
  • LeAnn Koenig Olson, Vice President Operations, VerticalXchange
  • Lee Ann Benavidez, Chief Sales Office, Senior Vice President Convention Sales, Visit Denver
  • Les Weir, Senior Vice President, Emerald
  • Lexy Olisko, Senior Director, Meetings & Housing, AMT
  • Lisa Phelps, Director of Trade Shows and Convention Sales, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority
  • Liz Huh, Vice President, Events, Meetings and Expositions, American Chemical Society
  • Liz Irving, CEO, Clarion Events North America
  • Lorie Liddicoat, Senior Director, National Cattlemen's Beef Association
  • Maddy Ryley, Managing Editor, Trade Show Executive Media Group
  • Marc Ghafoori, SVP, Client Experience, Heritage Exposition Services
  • Marcus Maleck, VP Global Business Partnerships, Society for Clinical Research Sites
  • Mark Bogdansky, Vice President, Tradeshows and Community Engagement, Auto Care Association
  • Mark Prestage, CEO, Rhode Planning
  • Marsha Flanagan, President & CEO, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)
  • Martha Donato, President & Founder, MAD Event Management LLC
  • Martha Sproehnle, Senior Manager, Exhibitions Operations, AMT - The Association for Manufacturing Technology
  • Martin Moggre, Chief Client Officer, Freeman
  • Matt Seaholm, President & CEO, Plastics Industry Association
  • Megan-Brette Hamilton, Chief Staff Officer for Multicultural Affairs, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  • Melissa Harrison, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Consumer Technology Association
  • Melissa Rawak, Managing Director, Global Product Strategy and Growth, Association for Financial Professionals
  • Michael Brown, Vice President, Marketing, Consumer Technology Association
  • Michelle Edmonson, Vice President, Exhibitions, AMT - The Association for Manufacturing Technology
  • Mike Bruley, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Freeman
  • Mike Carlucci, Chief Operating Officer, Clarion Events North America
  • Molly Holt, Director, Meetings & Events, Heart Rhythm Society
  • Molly Kievit, Executive Director of Commercial Strategy, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority | McCormick Place
  • Monica Sober DeNio, Vice President, Meetings & Events, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
  • Nancy Drapeau, Vice President of Research, Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)
  • Nancy James Rosenbaum, Senior National Accounts Director, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
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