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Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance Names 2025 Leadership

The coalition of business events organizations welcomed its elected officers and board of directors for this year

By Amanda Christensen

The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), established in 2021 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a coalition of leading industry organizations that comprise an advocacy voice for the business events industry. The nine specific groups that make up the ECA include the Experiential Designers & Producers Association, the International Congress and Convention Association, the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association, the Professional Convention Management Association, the International Association of Exhibitions & Events, the Society of Independent Show Organizers, the International Association of Venue Managers, the Trade Show Labor Alliance, and UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. In mid-January, the ECA named its elected officials and board of directors for the year to come.

Image of empty boardroom table and chairs with windows and plant in background. January 15, 2025
The exhibitions, conferences, and trade shows held by ECA’s alliance partners and their members draw in attendees from around the world to meet in the U.S. || Courtesy of Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance

The following elected officials were appointed by the board of directors and will serve a one-year term:

  • Hervé Sedky, chair: president and CEO of Emerald Expositions (New York City), representing the Society of Independent Show Organizers
  • Mark Bogdansky, vice chair: vice president of trade shows and community engagement for the Auto Care Association (Bethesda, Maryland), representing the International Association of Exhibitions & Events
  • Chris Griffin, treasurer: president and CEO of Crew XP (Las Vegas, Nevada, and Orlando, Florida), representing the Experiential Designers & Producers Association
  • Fernando Fischer, secretary: president of the Americas for Reed Exhibitions (U.S. headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut), representing the Society of Independent Show Organizers

The 2025 ECA board of directors include the following events industry professionals:

  • Mike Carlucci: chief operating officer for Clarion Events North America (Shelton, Connecticut), representing the International Association of Exhibitions & Events
  • Beth Cowperthwaite: senior vice president of communication for Emerald Expositions
  • Janet Dell: CEO of Freeman (Dallas, Texas)
  • Martha Donato: founder and president of Mad Event Management (Rancho Santa Margarita, California), representing UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
  • Douglas Emslie: chairman of Cuil Bay Capital (Guildford, England), representing the Society of Independent Show Organizers
  • Marsha Flanagan: president and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions & Events
  • Senthil Gopinath: CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association
  • Sherrif Karamat: president and CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association
  • Kevin McLaughlin: executive secretary and treasurer for the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council (Chicago, Illinois), representing the Trade Show Labor Alliance
  • Trevor Mitchell: president and CEO of the International Association of Venue Managers
  • Vincent Polito: CEO of the Society of Independent Show Organizers
  • Chris Schimek: chief operating officer of event and exhibit services for Freeman, representing the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association
  • Nancy Walsh: president of North America for Informa Markets (London, England), representing the Society of Independent Show Organizers

“ECA is incredibly fortunate to benefit from the leadership of … industry leaders that direct and guide the advocacy efforts of the alliance,” says Tommy Goodwin, vice president of the ECA, in a prepared statement. “Each one of these board members brings a unique perspective that allows ECA to fully represent the diversity of business and professional events before policymakers, from event organizers and service providers to venues and our tremendous workforce.”

exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org

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