Exhibition professionals looking to learn more about the business, have an impact on the future of the industry and make new contacts will have the opportunity in June.
The Exhibition Services and Contractors Association (ESCA) will hold its 20th Annual Summer Education Conference on June 26-29 at the Chateau on the Lake Resort and Convention Center in Table Rock Lake, Mo.
“For a supplier, the Summer Educational Conference is a slam dunk,” said Mitt Arnaudet, ESCA member services director. “Attendees and exhibitors are going to be at the conference because their customers and their competitors will be at the conference. We deliver an opportunity to showcase products to high-level decision makers in the industry.”
The tradeshow portion of the conference will also feature dedicated exhibition hours designed to deliver the undivided attention of potential customers.
“One thing exhibitors will find with our event is that we will have under 200 attendees, but you are talking about senior level executives that can make a buying decision,” said Arnaudet. “Exhibitors are going have a dedicated audience so they can increase their exposure.”
Aside from the tradeshow portion of the event, education will once again be a major component of the ESCA conference.
The education sessions available at the conference will be divided into three tracks that include sales, operations and executive management. Interactive forums, industry roundtables and nationally recognized speakers with hard-hitting topics will complete the learning line-up.
ESCA has designed its educational program to offer value for any sized company and any level of employee, but Arnaudet believes small firms have the greatest potential to have the conference impact their bottom line.
“Some companies think they are too small to attend ESCA meetings. This is the exact wrong thing they could think,” said Arnaudet. “Sometimes, the small companies get the most out if our educational sessions because of the training we offer. Also, the smaller contractors get a good chance to network for new business and aggressively go after future business and subcontracts. There is a lot of value.
“There is a whole network of small or medium-sized companies that love to deal with each other and would never deal with a bigger contractor. They don’t ever want to give a contract to somebody bigger than them,” said Arnaudet. “So there is a lot of networking value there for the smaller company.”
In addition to the educational tracks, the ESCA Summer Educational Conference offers a number of general and break-out sessions with guest speakers covering topics ranging from leadership to labor relations.
Some of the speakers and topics will include Henry Givray, president and CEO of SmithBucklin, who will present The Passion of Leadership.
Givray believes that leadership can’t be taught, it must be learned through a process of personal, active engagement and self discovery. In his presentation, he offers a working framework for people who want to learn to be leaders.
Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann, one of the U.S. soldiers trapped in Somalia and portrayed in “Black Hawk Down,” will deliver a presentation entitled Dedication, Pride and Commitment.
Sgt. Eversmann will recount the events of “Black Hawk Down” and focus on the three attributes that brought him home alive: leadership, courage, and selfless service.
Jim Karger, a labor lawyer who began his career in 1976, will present Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the NLRB… and then some.
Karger was the highest rated speaker from last year’s conference. He will be back to speak about the changes that have occurred within the National Labor Relations Board and what one might expect to see from their decisions in the future.
This year’s conference will also highlight a few new features.
Earlier this year, a coalition was formed consisting of the chief executive officers of industry associations including ESCA, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, the Society of Independent Show Organizers, the International Association of Venue Managers and the Destination Marketing Association International. Many of the leaders from this coalition will take part in a panel discussion about what the future may hold for the industry.
The summer conference will also feature a mobile app that can be used on any smartphone. Created by Showcare Event Solutions, the Interactive Mobile Event Guide app will give attendees access to show materials and give them the ability to participate in live polls during break-out sessions and complete real-time surveys throughout the event.
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