Passing Time with David DuBois
by Chris Kappes, Exhibit City News
NFL legend Tom Brady set a standard for longevity and achievement that will be hard to replicate. The same could be said for David DuBois, a towering figure in the exhibition industry, who has spent over three decades leading the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and The Exhibitor Group.
Like Brady, who found it difficult to step away from the field, DuBois has faced his own challenges in hanging up his proverbial cleats—or in his case, skates, given his 25-year tenure as an ice hockey referee. “I announced my retirement from IAEE in June, and it wasn’t long thereafter I was offered the job as President of The Exhibitor Group (TEG),” DuBois recalls.
Yet, just a year later, DuBois retired from TEG, only to embark on a new venture: launching DuBois Group, a strategy and development business focused on the exhibition and business events sector.
For DuBois, change has always been synonymous with opportunity. His journey began in the hospitality industry, where he and his young family moved frequently as he took on expanding sales and marketing roles with Sheraton and Ritz-Carlton. “It was a firestorm of career movement,” DuBois shares. It was also during this period that the exhibition bug bit him at the Sheraton in Washington, D.C., a 1,500-room hotel catering to live events. “This is where I cut my teeth in the convention business.”
Cutting his teeth in the industry also meant learning key lessons that would shape his approach to leadership and mentoring. One such lesson came from Kathy Ray, a mentor who offered timeless advice: “Never over-promise. Always over-deliver. Protect and build your personal brand around trust, credibility, and integrity.”
Journey Into Exhibitions
The initial spark of interest in exhibitions and events soon ignited into a full-blown passion for DuBois. His career is a testament to his deep commitment to the industry, as he has held top leadership roles—President, CEO, COO—at the helm of major associations representing the exhibition and business meetings ecosystem. With a 360-degree perspective of the industry, DuBois is uniquely positioned to address its most pressing challenges.
“We have three big challenges. The elephant in the room is ROI (return on investment) for all stakeholders. Think of our industry as a four-legged stool: show owners, show producers, show suppliers, and show attendees. For shows to thrive, all must achieve a measurable return,” DuBois explains.
“Workforce development is the second challenge. There are over 600,000 hospitality jobs open in the U.S. alone. We have low unemployment right now, and without workers, we can’t produce shows and deliver hospitality.”
Finally, DuBois identifies inflationary costs as a critical issue. “We need solutions to make it more affordable to host, produce, and attend conventions. We need to get back to, and then surpass, 2019 levels in volume and revenue.”
As DuBois reflects on his illustrious career, what he takes the most pride in is clear: “Developing great teams,” he shares. “Rebuilding and rebounding. Helping to lead the industry through the pandemic was the hardest thing I’ve done, but the most rewarding.”
Just as Tom Brady looks ahead to new opportunities post-retirement, so too does David DuBois, as he ventures into this next chapter with DuBois Group. “As a free agent, I look forward to providing business advice and do my best to help organizations grow their top and bottom lines,” he said. Though he jokes about an eventual third retirement, DuBois remains focused on his legacy. “When I retire for a third time,” he chuckles, “I want my legacy to be that of a person of integrity who cared for people and focused on results.”
In an industry defined by its constant evolution, David DuBois has not just kept pace—he’s set the standard. For an industry that thrives on innovation and resilience, DuBois is its enduring champion, proving that true leadership is about leaving a lasting impact that resonates long after the last quarter.
