All major business-to-business events can be called “industry driving,” but convention and exhibition executives’ focus on the short-term goals of exhibitors, sponsors and attendees often leads them to overlook the larger value their events create for stakeholders.
At the Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF) June 2 at the J. W. Marriott in Washington, D.C., Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), will examine how she leverages her annual event to move the power centers on Wall Street and Capitol Hill in “Exhibitions as Your Industry Mouthpiece.”
Schmatz is a highly visible and experienced advocate for her industry. A nationally known authority on the automotive aftermarket, she has been featured on NBC’s “Today Show” and in The New York Times. She is a recent recipient of ASAE’s Women Who Advance Excellence in Associations Award and a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Committee of 100.
“Kathleen’s achievements for her industry remind us events are much more than buying and selling,” said Sam Lippman, ECEF producer. “Her presentation will help executives attending ECEF to realize the full value that their events create. She’ll share strategies to move an industry forward using its annual exhibition – strategies based on decades of experience in trade publishing and as the chief executive of a large association.”
The addition of Schmatz to ECEF rounds out a one-day program that features Peter Censky, executive director of the Water Quality Association; Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association; David Etzler, CEO of OutsourceWorld; Wayne Jacobs, president of Jacobs, Jenner and Kent Marketing Research; Helen Marano, director of the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, U.S. Department of Commerce; Roch Parayre from the Wharton School; and Peter Weedfald, president of Gen One Ventures.
Now in its ninth consecutive year, ECEF is the world’s only forum exclusively for business media and association executives. For one day each year, the invitation-only event gathers the leaders of the exhibition and convention industry to focus on fundamental ways to increase revenues and the relevance of their events.
More information about ECEF is available at www.eceforum.com.
