ECEF Keynoter Gary Shapiro Tells 270 Executives, “We’re Not Mean”
submitted by Sam Lippman
ARLINGTON, VA— “In times of crisis, we gather together to learn from each other,” observed Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro looking out at the record-breaking attendance at the 2025 Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF) held in Washington D.C. on May 28. Shapiro’s wide-ranging Keynote Address, Pivot or Die, was based on his recent book by the same name.
As an outspoken critic of the current administration’s economic policies, Shapiro devoted much of his time to explaining the basis for his positions and advocating for other event leaders to do the same on behalf of the millions of constituents they represent. Some of his provocative points included:
- It’s less risky to speak out than to be silent.
- Regulation kills innovation. The challenge is to strike a balance between too much regulation (Europe) and too little (China).
- Start-ups are the lifeblood of the economy.
- Shocks to prevailing medical research models will force needed changes.
“As one the most successful and experienced event leaders in the history of our industry and as an long time association CEO, Gary brought a unique perspective to the ECEF 2025 Keynote,” said Sam Lippman, President, Lippman Connects, producer of ECEF. “Gary is also a world-class raconteur, who can easily hold an audience’s attention for hours with fascinating anecdotes and asides.”
Lippman kicked off the program with his iconic “5 Key Data Points in 5 Minutes.” Once again, he beat the clock, unveiling newly released data, to set a fast pace for the sessions to follow.
Julie Kagy, Executive Director, ESCA: Exhibition Services & Contractors Association, and Jeannie Henson, Director of Exhibit Management, Siemens Healthineers North America, presented Will Rising Exhibitor Costs Backfire? They painted a dire picture of how rapidly rising costs are outpacing customers’ budgets.
Indiya Okam, Group VP of Sales, RX USA, presented Return on Value: The Evolution of Values-Based Selling. She updated the ECEF audience on RX’s journey implementing and scaling up a value-based selling paradigm. Reporting remarkable results, Okam told the executives, “Value is no longer just a promise, it’s a deliverable.”
Dr. Charlotte M. Farmer, SVP and COO, UL Research Institutes, told the audience she had Good News for Your Show from Davos. Armed with Dr. Farmer’s insights, the audience now has the potential to create elevated Davos-like experiences for the markets they serve.
Hervé Sedky, President and CEO, Emerald, moderated a highly anticipated session entitled simply Headwinds. Panelists were Kevin Hinton, Managing Director, Group Travel, U.S. Travel Association; Isabelle Icso, Executive Director of International Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and
Rich Scarfo, President, HLTH. While the audience and presenters agreed that the short-term business outlook was uncertain, the panelists emphasized coping strategies, risk minimization, and taking a positive attitude toward opportunities for change and innovation.
The final session of the day was The Innovator’s Edge: The Difference Between Standard and Standout Events, moderated by Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes, President, mdg, and Ken Holsinger, SVP Strategy, Freeman Company. They were joined by innovators Tom Gattuso, VP, Events, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), and Nicole Hallada, SVP of Exhibitions & Marketing, AEM – Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The moderators opened with new data that indicated the differences between the conventionalists and the small cohort of industry innovators. Then they probed the panelists for how innovation became part of their organizations’ culture.
ECEF 2025 was the best attended to date with 270 industry leaders attending, including CEOs, Presidents, VPS, Executive Directors, and other qualified executives. Recognized throughout the industry as the premier top-to-top networking and information sharing experience for executives, ECEF 2026 will be held May 27 in Washington D.C. Learn more about ECEF at www.lippmanconnects.com/ecef.
About Lippman Connects
Lippman Connects produces information-sharing and networking experiences for exhibition and convention industry executives, managers, and professionals. The Lippman Connects portfolio includes Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum, Attendee Acquisition Roundtable, Exhibit Sales Roundtable and Large Show Roundtable. Learn more at www.lippmanconnects.com.
