Industry professionals come together to strengthen connections, reconnect with colleagues and support the EDPA Foundation’s mission of giving back to the industry community.
The EDPA Northeast Classic is an annual event hosted by the EDPA Northeast Chapter to bring the industry together and raise funds for a charitable cause or an industry member in need. This year, the chapter chose to direct the proceeds raised by the Classic to benefit the Randy Smith Memorial Fund.
Funds raised through the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic will provide financial assistance and scholarships, directly benefiting industry members and students pursuing careers in design and related fields. The various EDPA chapters support the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic with golf events throughout the nation. The EDPA Northeast is continuing its support with its next EDPA Northeast Classic to be held on Aug. 31 at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Massachusetts.
Industry professionals across the country get the chance to spend more than one day playing golf. These events are an opportunity to catch up with fellow industry members, build professional relationships, and network for a good cause.
For EDPA Northeast, participation reflects the chapter’s commitment to supporting industry initiatives that bring professionals together while giving back to the community.
“The EDPA Northeast Classic has always been about bringing our industry together while giving back to the people and causes that make this community so special. This year, we’re proud to direct the proceeds from our event to the Randy Smith Memorial Fund and support its incredible mission of helping industry families when they need it most,” said Renee Langdon, Battery Council International.
The Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic aims to support families in the exhibition industry facing tragedies or medical crises. It provides financial aid and emotional support, and fosters a sense of community, emphasizing its vital role in industry support initiatives.
Randy Smith was a project manager for Atlanta-based IDEAS, Inc., whose life was tragically cut short in January 1995 in a car accident while returning home after working long hours at the Super Show. His sudden passing deeply affected colleagues and the industry. Smith left behind his wife, Jenny, and their children, Austin and Justin. In his memory, Smith’s coworkers Ted Peterson and Rich Johnson established the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic in August 1995, creating a lasting legacy to support families facing hardships in the exhibition industry.
The EDPA Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the EDPA, serves as a reminder that the exhibition and events industry is built on relationships—and that those relationships can make a meaningful difference beyond the show floor, strengthening the industry community.
Since its launch in spring 2001, the EDPA Foundation has reflected one of the exhibit and events industry’s most important values: standing together when colleagues and their families need support. Created with the backing of industry executives who shared a commitment to giving back, the foundation provides assistance to industry members facing crises while also investing in the next generation through scholarships for design students at EDPA-affiliated institutions and college students whose families are part of the industry. More than two decades later, the initiative continues to demonstrate the power of an industry coming together to make a meaningful difference.
The EDPA Northeast chapter will host the EDPA Northeast Classic to be held on Aug. 31 at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Massachusetts. For more info, visit https://edpanortheast.com/events.
https://edpanortheast.com/events/2026/8/31/edpa-classic
