The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has announced that the current Exhibition Industry Foundation will transition to become known as the CEIR Foundation effective Jan. 1, 2013. The boards of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the Exhibition Industry Foundation (EIF), and CEIR met earlier this year to review the exhibitions and events industry’s foundation, EIF, and explore a transition into the CEIR Foundation.
Through collaboration and collective agreement, this new structure will create a direct link to funding that will better enable CEIR to achieve its goals of delivering education and research to better serve the members of the exhibitions and events industry.
“CEIR will continue to produce the same exceptional high level of research, data and insight that it is known for, and this structural change will create a fund raising arm to generate financial support for continued research and education opportunities,” said Chris Bown, chairman, CEIR. “With the change, there will be a direct organizational connection between CEIR and the Foundation which will directly facilitate a clean and clear focus on the business of generating research that benefits the exhibitions and event industry, and on the fundraising needed to make that work possible.”
Doug Ducate continues to serve as the president and CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, and Cathy Breden as the executive director of CEIR. The CEIR Foundation Council of Trustees will be led by David DuBois as executive director. The foundation will be tasked with generating funds in support of research and education.
The 2013 Fundraising Council of Trustees are David Audrain, Terence Donnelly, Kevin Johnstone, Jim Kelley, Brad Kent, Richard Maples, Casandra Matej, Sue McCart, Andrew Ortale, John Patronski, Jackie Russo, Dennis Slater (ex-officio) and Skip Cox (ex-officio).
Once the transition is complete, details for an annual giving campaign will be announced early next year.
