AMERICAS - Douglas L Ducate, president and CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), is to end his 15-year stint in the role in December.
He made the announcement at the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association’s Annual Summer Educational Conference in Carlsbad, California. Ducate has been in the industry for 45 years.
His main achievements include the CEIR Index Report and the CEIR Census, two publications aimed to help exhibition organisers in their planning and purchasing decisions.
“The respect and presence that our industry has nationally and globally can be attributed in large part to the passion, knowledge and determination of Doug Ducate,” said CEIR chairman of the board of directors and Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau president and CEO Greg Ortale. “The science of trade shows has been helped tremendously by his commitment to absolute accuracy. Our industry has been blessed by many leadership giants and a few legends. Doug is both. We will miss him greatly but fortunately we know where he lives and we have his phone number.”
Ducate began his industry career in 1968 when he joined the staff of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Dallas, Texas. SPE is a technical society that serves the upstream, drilling, exploration and production segments of the oil and gas industry. He was responsible for planning and management of the SPE annual meeting and exhibition.
In 1995, Ducate left SPE to join Production Group International. His role was to create an exhibition division, and after several acquisitions, that division became the largest in the company generating US$35 million in revenue.
In addition to his work at CEIR, Ducate has served in a number of volunteer roles. A recognized leader and innovator within the meetings and exhibitions industry, he has achieved both the Certified Meeting Professional and Certified in Exhibition Management designations.
He has served as chairman of the Convention Liaison Council, president of the Trade Show Bureau (now CEIR) and was chairman of the National Association of Exposition Managers, Inc. (now IAEE).
Ducate made it clear while he is "stepping down" he is not retiring, and he fully expects to stay active in the exhibition industry.
"As a good Texan, I fully expect to die in the saddle headed to the next show. Being idle just isn’t in my blood,” he said.
In February, CEIR released a report on the desires of trade show attendees.
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