We are pleased to announce that our 2015 Call for Presentations is now open! We encourage you to submit a proposal (or multiple) for consideration by our Education Committee.
To submit a proposal, please follow the link below and create an account.
IAEE – 2015 Call for Presentations
Submission Deadline: 20 March 2015
Michelle Beckner, CMP, CEM, CMM is now Senior Director, Meetings and Education at American Academy of Audiology
Lauren Benedict is now Vice President of Sales at Destination Marketing Association International
Tom Berkman is now Owner & General Manager at Omnia Housing
Eduardo Chaillo is now President at InterVISTAS Consulting Inc.
Jennifer Crouse is now Director, Meetings & Services at American Seed Trade Association
Melissa Ficek is now Associate Director, Meetings and Conferences at American Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admission Officers
Vanessa Finney is now President at Quercus, Inc.
Roselle G. Foley, CMP is now Senior Director Meetings & Membership at National Association of Chemical Distributors
Erin Freeborn is now Director of Meetings at National Insulation Association
Sara Hamilton is now Exhibits Manager at Association for Molecular Pathology
Aimee Hickox is now Director of Strategic Partnerships & Conferences at American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition ASPEN
Kari Jacobson Smith is now Director Exhibition and Sponsorship Sales at the Optical Society of America
Joanne Kuriyan is now Exhibits Director at NAFSA: Association of International Educators
Kari Langerman is now Director Meetings & Conventions at Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Inc.
Ray Luca is now Director of Expositions at PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies
Jim Pittas is now Senior Vice President at PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies
Marla Popkin is now Director of Meetings at Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
Maria E. Sarabia is now Director, Meetings & Events Consumer at Healthcare Products Association
Marc Seidman is now Vice President, Global Accounts at HPN Global
TaNika Switzer is now Project Coordinator at Association for Molecular Pathology
Arfa Syed is now Digital & Social Media Manager at Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
Jessica Walgenbach is now Senior Director Meetings at National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Donovan Woods is now Strategic Sales Initiatives Manager at National Association of Convenience Stores
Anaheim – Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau –Kara Bowman, Director of Meeting Sales, Mid-Atlantic
Association of Clinical Research Professionals – ACRP – Beth O’Brien, Conference & Meetings Manager
Brede Exposition Services – Scott O’Keefe & Randy Shumaker, Sales Manager
Connections Housing – Brad Weaber, CMP, Chief Innovation Officer
Courtesy Associates – Soncerray Bolling, Bethany Feinstein, Marika Lendl, Elizabeth Haxton, & Ella Greenberg, Meeting & Event Managers; Lauren Deaton, Strategic Account Director
Food Processing Suppliers Association – Alaina Herrera, Alex Stopa
Milad Mobtaker Shargh Company – Mostafa Zandieh, Advisor Organizer
NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association – Chris Blevins, Manager Accounts Receivable & Expo Sales Support
National Association of Chain Drug Stores – Darien Long, Registration & Membership Services Coordinator
National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO) – Debi Cumbo, Director Business Development
National Association of Convenience Stores – Nicole Walbe, Membership Manager, Supplier Relations
Nomadic Display – Stacy Barnes, VP of Sales & Distribution; Dave Evensen, VP of Operations; Pat Goeke, President & CEO; Doug Turpin, Executive Director
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies – Tracy Stout, VP Marketing & Communications
Projection Presentation Technology – Erick Alsheimer, Nicole Greene
Quercus Inc. – Chelsea Bailey, Executive Assistant
SMART Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association – Heather Lester, Director of Meetings & Events
SmithBucklin Corporation – Min Kim, Lisa Kindred, Melanie Shanfield, Meeting & Event Managers
SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association – Ashley Patton
The IAEE Woman of Achievement Award recognizes a woman who has led the way in the advancement of women in the exhibitions and events industry, exhibited outstanding leadership, and made significant contributions to the industry and her community.
Show support by nominating someone by 6 March 2015 – SUBMIT A NOMINATION.
Welcome to a new year and a new ShowBuzz. 2015 is well underway and the board of directors for the Washington D.C. Chapter of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events is already making a difference with the delivery of this…our first electronic newsletter.
So why the change?
One of a handful of efforts that is going to make 2015 a transformational year for the chapter: the move to an electronic newsletter will help the chapter accomplish several strategic goals. First and foremost is ensuring our financial solvency. While the chapter remains fiscally sound today, in years past it has often operated a yearly budget in the red in order to deliver the best experiences for our members. After some analysis of products, and thoughtful conversation, it was realized and agreed that one of the most significant ways to ensure continued fiscal responsibility without sacrificing the quality of our events was to move from a printed and mailed newsletter to an electronic piece.
In addition to the monetary savings, the board is excited to provide new way to engage the chapter and offer additional features that are only possible through an electronic format. Designed to be interactive, ShowBuzz will allow members to become part of the conversation with comments and reaction to articles hosted on the chapter website. Registration links will be included when appropriate to allow members to quickly sign up for events that interest them. Interested in an ad you see…click it to go directly to the advertiser website and learn more. Coming of age, ShowBuzz is evolving to fulfill its core mission more effectively; to provide essential information and share industry observations effecting local IAEE members.
What else is new this year?
There are several new initiatives that the membership can expect to see in 2015, as well as several important changes that will not be as obvious. Supporting the new digital newsletter will be a more robust and effective website….including Capitol Ideas, the chapter’s blog which launched in 2014. In addition to hosting articles published in ShowBuzz, the blog is intended to provide more opportunities for the membership to be involved and share best practices.
It is not only online that you will find new initiatives this year, the chapter is also planning to add to an impressive list of events. One event in particular that I would like to highlight will be the chapter’s support of a new IAEE event in DC – Culture Creation. Held at the Washington Hilton as part of the June 8th week of activities surrounding the second year of Exhibitions Day on Capitol Hill, Culture Creation is designed to give non-profits the opportunity to learn more about their own organizations. This will be a day-long, interactive program that will shed light on the how organizational culture effects every department. Immediately following the Culture Creation program, our chapter will host a reception also at the Washington Hilton. More details for both the program and the event will be provided in the Spring once the program is finalized.
What will not be immediately seen, but surely felt will be the impact of our new Chapter Administrator. Patti Steele of Steele Conferences was hired by the 2014 Chapter Board to the newly created positon and is already having a significant positive effect on the organization. Tasked with providing tactical assistance for board initiatives, establishing consistent procedures for future boards, and ensuring chapter compliance, Patti is pushing me to do more with the my time as chair and empowering the 2015 board to make a difference.
So what does all of this mean to you?
Good question…but a better question would be to ask yourself what you want from your membership in IAEE and your chapter. As chair, I am committing the chapter to delivering the best product and best opportunity for you to learn and advance in your career. I am committing the chapter to creating opportunities for volunteerism and engagement that allow you to give back. And I am committing the chapter to creating an environment where education is synonymous with fun and friends. It is up to you to get involved! I invite you to comment on the articles in ShowBuzz and be part of the conversation. I invite you to go to the website and request to be a volunteer….with the changes we are making we need you. And I invite you to attend events, bring a co-worker, and help us expand our community.
There is a lot happening in 2015, and I could not be more excited to be the chair this year. Our board of directors includes some long-standing members of our community as well as couple new faces. We are passionate about our beliefs and what we feel is the right direction forward because we all care deeply about IAEE, the future of our chapter, and our members. I would not have it any other way…and I welcome the year ahead.
