Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2015 was a great success on 1-3 December in Baltimore. This year’s event attracted 2,328 attendees to the Baltimore Convention Center, with a 10% increase in show organizer attendees (pending independent audit). All week long the vibe was overwhelming positive and we are thrilled with the feedback we keep receiving from attendees, exhibitors and sponsors.
IAEE’s annual meeting kicked off on Tuesday, 1 December with a full day of more than 70 education sessions being offered throughout the 3 day event. The Expo! Expo! Opening General Session and CEM Class of 2015 Presentation recognized the 2015 CEM graduating class as they joined the ranks of the more than 2,300 CEMs worldwide who have earned and maintained their designation. 2015 IAEE Chairperson Megan Tanel, CEM provided an overview of the key accomplishments IAEE garnered over the course of the past year. Keynote speaker Wes Moore closed the session by addressing the audience on the topics of leadership and positively influencing those around you.
The Expo! Expo! exhibition hall opened with 269 exhibitors representing over 60 product and service categories serving the exhibitions and events industry. This year, IAEE debuted its TechCenter Showcase on the show floor, which quickly became a crowd favorite. Every Campfire Session on the show floor was packed with attendees as well. Attendees closed the evening at the Opening Reception at the Maryland Science Center with networking and an intimate concert by country artist Easton Corbin.
The General Session on Wednesday, 2 December featured keynote speaker Porter Gale, who discussed the latest marketing trends and business practices, and how they affect the exhibitions and events industry. That evening, 410 participants broke attendance records at the seventh annual Humanity Rocks: A Celebration with a Cause. The event held at Ram’s Head Live raised $21,500 in proceeds for the United Way of Central Maryland in partnership with OneBaltimore.
Humanity Rocks: A Celebration with a Cause
The Annual Networking Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 3 December recognized this year’s individual award honorees as well as Platinum Circle inductees, graduates of the Krakoff Leadership Institute, winning and honorable mention entries of the 2015 Art of the Show Competition, the 2015 Top Public Event, Helen Brett Scholarship recipients, IAEE’s 20 Under 30 honorees, and this year’s grant recipients from the Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund. 2015 IAEE Chairperson Megan Tanel, CEM gave a special award to longtime industry veteran and IAEE EVP and COO, Cathy Breden. Cathy was completely surprised as Megan planned this part of the program in secret. Then Megan passed the gavel to 2016 IAEE Chairperson Julia Smith, CTA, CEM who outlined her vision for the coming year.
Expociety, the closing event for Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2015, provided attendees the perfect platform to further develop connections made at the event, as well as create new ones that will flourish in 2016.
A look at Expo! Expo! 2015
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Click here to view complete coverage of Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2015 in Baltimore on The Exhibitions Channel, provided by Convention News Television (CNTV).
