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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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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  • 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 ...

  • 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 ...


View All ECEF Resources

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

  • Nick Libonati, Head of Revenue, Jampack
  • Nicole Hallada, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Marketing, AEM - Association of Equipment Manufacturers
  • Paige Annee, Exhibit Manager, ASIS International
  • Patrick Serfass, Executive Director, American Biogas Council
  • Patti Steele, Vice President, Events, ASIS International
  • Paula Kara, Senior Director, Meeting Services, Society for Neuroscience
  • Phil DeSarno, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Merchandising, CORT Events
  • Rachel Wimberly, Senior Vice President of M&A and Business Development, Easyfairs
  • Rahul Shah, CEO and Executive Vice President, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
  • Rajul Shah, General Manager & Global Head of Sales - Growth Products, Zoom
  • Rebecca Sausner, CEO, Yotta Events
  • Regina Rink, Sales Director - US In-Market (DC/MD/VA), Destination Toronto
  • Rich Stone, Chief Executive Officer, EXPOCAD
  • Richard Curran, CEO & President, Expo Convention Contractors
  • Rick McConnell, CEO, Trifecta Collective
  • Rilee Bradshaw, Client Relationship Manager, Freeman
  • Robert Russel, Senior Account Executive, National Glass Association
  • Robin Preston, VP, Meetings & Exhibits, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
  • Roger Price, General Manager, Events and Payments, A2Z Events by Momentive Software
  • Ron Spink, CEO, IRONMARKETS
  • Ronnie Burt, Chief Revenue Officer, Jacob K Javits Convention Center
  • Ryan Brown, VP, Strategic Client Development, NTP Events
  • Ryann Brown, National Sales Manager, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority
  • Sacha Carey, Vice President, Exhibits, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
  • Sam Lippman, President, Lippman Connects
  • Sarah Swango, VP of Development & Exhibit Sales, National Glass Association
  • Sean Lenahan, VP, Convention Operations, National Association of Home Builders
  • Sean Perkins, Senior Vice President and CMO, Global Connections and Events, National Association of Broadcasters
  • Sean Soth, Chairman, Leadership Advisory Board, Professionals for Association Revenue (PAR)
  • Shari Sally, Vice President, CES Sales, Consumer Technology Association
  • Shauna Peters, Vice President & Marketing Strategist, mdg
  • Shelly Palmer, CEO, The Palmer Group
  • Sherif Elnakhal, Manager, Marketing & Communications, National Association of Broadcasters
  • Shermell Williams, Director of Operations, Messe Frankfurt
  • Sherrif Karamat, President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA
  • Shirley Del Carpio, National Account Director, Destination DC
  • Stephanie Selesnick, Contributing Editor, Exhibition World
  • Steve Prahalis, Chief Operating Officer, SME - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
  • Steve Walker, Executive Director, City-Wide Sales, MGM Resorts International
  • Steven Humphrey, Senior Vice President, Programs and Operations, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine
  • Stuart Ruff-Lyon, Chief Commercial Officer, RIMS, the risk management society'
  • Terry Arth, Senior Vice President, Member Services & Conferences, National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)
  • Tina Mercardo, Director, Event Management, The Society for Information Display
  • Tol Kincaid, Group Director, Operations, SME - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
  • Tom Billington, CEO, Billington CyberSecurity
  • Tom Michalisko, Convention Sales Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, Visit Anaheim
  • Tom Mitchell, President, Messe D'sseldorf North America
  • Tom Myers, Senior Vice President, Sales Services, Smithbucklin Corporation
  • Tommaso Cancellara, President & CEO, FB International
  • Tommy Goodwin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance
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