DALLAS – The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) celebrates a highly successful Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition, held 6-8 December 2016 in Anaheim, Calif. This event attracted more than 2,200 attendees to the Anaheim Convention Center.
“We are extremely proud of the new features we implemented at Expo! Expo! 2016,” said IAEE President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA. “IAEE was committed to giving attendees an inside look at our collaboration with show partners in creating their Expo! Expo! experience. This, among several other new initiatives both on and off the show floor, proved quite beneficial based on the feedback we are receiving from attendees.”
IAEE’s annual conference kicked off on Tuesday, 6 December with preconference education, the Opening General Session and CEM Class of 2016 Presentation. IAEE recognized the 320 graduates of last year’s CEM Learning Program who joined the ranks of the more than 2,400 CEMs worldwide who have earned and maintained their designation. Artist Phil Hansen closed the session by inspiring audience members with his story of adversity and encouraging attendees to turn challenging situations into opportunities for success.
The Expo! Expo! show hall featured 262 exhibitors with over 40,000 net square feet of exhibit space. Expo! Expo! was also available online through IAEE’s partnership with Convention News Television (CNTV). CNTV’s live stream allowed viewers to experience the show floor and watch interviews with key industry figures in real time. Attendees closed the evening at the Opening Reception, sponsored by Visit Anaheim, by sampling an eclectic selection of cuisine from various food trucks and enjoying a live performance from musician, Andy Grammer.
The General Session on Wednesday, 7 December featured Srini Rao, Chief Creative Instigator, Host and Founder for Unmistakable Media, who challenged attendees to find unique approaches to how they do business rather than falling in line with the status quo. That evening, attendees helped raise $20,000 at the eighth annual Humanity Rocks: A Celebration with a Cause, sponsored by GES and CORT, for the Orange County Family Justice Center.
The Annual Networking Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 8 December recognized graduates of the IAEE Robert L. Krakoff Leadership Institute, participants of IAEE’s 20 Under 30 program, Platinum Circle inductees, Best of Show and all other winners from IAEE’s Art of the Show Competition, as well as Helen Brett Scholarship recipients and Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund Grant recipients. The recipients of IAEE’s individual awards were honored with a special presentation, ending with the 2016 IAEE Pinnacle Award winner Dennis Slater, President of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). 2016 Chairperson Julie Smith, CEM, CTA recapped IAEE’s successes during the year, then passed the gavel to 2017 Chairperson Ryan Strowger, CEM who discussed his vision for the coming year. Strowger emphasized the continuation of IAEE’s work in expanding its education offerings and advocacy efforts, and stressed the value of industry involvement through IAEE’s local chapters.
Expociety, the closing event for Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2016, provided attendees the perfect platform to further develop connections made at the event, as well as create new ones that will flourish and help them reconnect this year. Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2017 will be held 28-30 November in San Antonio, Texas at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
