With event organisers increasingly needing to seek new ways to convert growth strategies into reality, 220 industry leaders came to hear and take part in debate on the issue at the 2019 Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF) in Washington this week.
Co-founder and CEO of Marijuana Business Daily Cassandra Farrington, spoke about how she had navigated some unusual political and business hurdles to lead one of the fastest-growing exhibitions in the US.
“Cassandra’s experiences reminded us that our events perform best when they are an extension of everything we do well,” noted Sam Lippman, President, Lippman Connects, the producer of ECEF.
The sessions closed with an improvisational presentation by industry legend Gary Shapiro, CEO of Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which owns CES.
Using audience-polling technology, Shapiro allowed ECEF attendees to select the three topics he would address.
Throughout his talk, Shapiro focused on the value of innovative thinking, urging ECEF’s community of leaders to nurture a pervasive culture of innovation.
“Gary’s insights evolved from everything he learned as a black belt and up-close observations of the world’s most successful companies,” Lippman said.
For the second time, ECEF included a networking and technology activity combined with a Closing Reception.
The expanded ECEF TechDemo gave event leaders the opportunity to test drive 12 event-ready technology solutions in a relaxed no-pressure environment.
ECEF’s 2019 programme also featured presentations by Linda Gray Martin, Director and Chief of Operations, RSA Conferences; Kai Hattendorf, MD/CEO, UFI; Mary Pat Heftman, President, Restaurant Show Group, Winsight; and Rick McConnell, President, North America, Informa Markets.
Lippman Connects invites organisers who were unable to attend to access videos of presentations and other materials at lippmanconnects.com/resources.
