Editorial Note: Originally published in the November 2024 issue of Trade Show Executive magazine.
We are only six weeks away from Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Los Angeles and, as noted in this issue, it is THE PLACE TO BE for those eager to end the year on a high note for professional growth and forging valuable industry connections.
We are delighted to return to Tinseltown after a decade and have enjoyed using fun, Hollywood-themed verbiage to detail what we have in store. However, rest assured that we are very serious about delivering a spectacular event worthy of attendees’ time and investment. That is because Expo! Expo! embodies IAEE’s highest ideals.
As I have stressed throughout the year, workforce development weighs heavy on the minds of executive leaders as we are tasked with doing our best to apply what is available today in meeting tomorrow’s demands. The monumental responsibility of ensuring we do right by our organizations, and the team members we rely upon to keep moving forward, is a challenge that motivates leaders to seek the most efficient opportunities that yield the most effective results.
This is not lost on the IAEE team and Expo! Expo! Advisory Committee as they craft a learning program custom-tailored to our industry. A lot of thought has been put into not only the education tracks offered, but how to deliver this expansive data in ways that remain fresh and enjoyable. After all, it is a tremendous amount of information! Which is why Expo! Expo! has been structured to deliver digestible takeaways that can be applied immediately upon returning to the office. Our goal is to invigorate attendees with the inspiration and knowledge they need to meet – preferably, exceed – their goals in the coming year.
Great consideration has also been placed on providing exhibitors the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how their products and services best meet attendees’ needs. The face-to-face marketplace on Expo! Expo!’s exhibition floor is designed to put dynamic solutions directly in the hands of those leading our industry into the future. It is an all-encompassing experience that engages every sense, epitomizing the very essence of trade shows and what makes them such a powerful business conduit.
Of course, the tie that binds this all together is the ability to meaningfully connect with our colleagues. Networking opportunities abound for professionals at all levels of our industry at Expo! Expo!. It truly is the greatest gathering of established and up-and-coming leaders in exhibitions and events. Expo! Expo! is dubbed “the show for shows” for a reason: it is designed by members of our industry for members of our industry.
Which brings me to my final point. Diversity, equity, inclusivity and belonging are imperative to our advancement. The technological breakthroughs we are seeing pale in comparison to the human ingenuity and vision that drive this new era we are designing. Amazing talent dances at our fingertips from a vast array of cultures, backgrounds and values as limitless as the potential they possess.
Expo! Expo! welcomes all members of our industry with open arms, along with their zest for taking us into a bold future. By working together, we are poised to capitalize on this enthusiasm and foresight in ways that are genuinely exciting.
It is no secret we are in a unique balancing act of bringing our industry back from near devastation and navigating a technological revolution that is redefining how every industry sector operates. I can attest that immense thought, passion, dedication and business acumen has been poured into creating an Expo! Expo! unlike any other.
As IAEE Chairperson, I am exceedingly proud of the experience that awaits you at Expo! Expo! and look forward to seeing you very soon in Los Angeles.
Marie Browne
2024 IAEE Chairperson
Group Vice President
RX
