Executive Conference Schedule
August 1-3, 2007
 
Wednesday, August 1, 2007

6:30PM

Marriott Marquis Broadway Lounge

Times Square Welcome
You’ve seen it every New Year’s Eve on TV – and here is your chance to see Times Square from a privileged vantage point! The Marriott Marquis’ Broadway Lounge overlooks Times Square from the eighth floor – close enough to marvel at the human energy and neon lights as the day turns to dusk and the city takes on that magical, mystical glow.  Join your friends and colleagues at the opening night reception and dinner and feel the transition – from your daily routine to the special “receptivity” environment that is the hallmark of SISO events.

Sponsored by Marriott Hotels

9:00 PM

Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers

Central Park East

Gambling?  The Challenge!
If you’re the competitive sort, try your hand at the SISO Poker Tournament!  If you’ve always wanted to learn poker, here is the perfect opportunity – expert instructors will be on hand as coaches and cheerleaders.  Not a poker player?  Tonight you can play other casino games including crabs, blackjack and roulette.  Cigar smoking  (outside on the terrace) and after dinner drinks (inside at the tables) provided by our sponsors – What a great networking evening!!

Sponsored by Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority and Trump Entertainment Resorts

Thursday, August 2, 2007  

7:30-8:30am

Breakfast served in the Central Park East Meeting Room             
Sponsored by Metropolitan Exposition Services, Inc

9:15-9:45am

Keynote

Metropolitian
Ballroom
West

SISO Keynote - Jonathan Tisch 
Co-Chairman of the Board and a member of the Office of the President of Loews Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary, Loews Hotels and Chairman of the Board of NYC & Company
In this day of faceless conglomerates, there are a very few CEOs so closely identified with their brands as Jonathon Tisch of Loews. In this terrific keynote session, he will focus on customers – our attendees, our exhibitors, and our sponsors – and what we can do to make them customers for life. The hotels in his portfolio show consistently high marks in the quality and experiential department. How do hotels partner with their overall clients – bulk room buyers like tradeshows, and targeted clients like conferences – to make the experience of everyone’s clients exceptional? Join us for this opportunity to gain insight into the decisions that impact our clients – those who travel to our meetings and events.

Sponsored by a2z, Inc

Key Issues; CEO and
Management Executives Track

Empire Ballroom WEST

Sales and Marketing
Treasures Track

Empire Ballroom EAST

Technology Treasures
TRACK
10:00-11:15am

Growth; Brand Extension Through Globalization

As the world gets smaller, what opportunities exist for your company and products to grow? Hear from those who have launched existing or new products abroad - the promises, pitfalls and profits that can occur when you take your event international. This session will cover the following important topics:
  - Doing business overseas - different cultures, laws,
    customers, visas, etc.
  - New launch? Should you bring your existing show overseas?
  - How to find the right partner overseas
  - Extending your brand overseas
  - Licensing pros & cons
Learn from the successes (and mistakes) of others. It may be a small world - this session helps your business to get bigger!

Moderator:
John Gallagher,
Senior Vice President, EJ Krause & Associates
Panelists:
Tom Cindric
,
Show Director, Hanley-Wood Exhibitions
Ian Faux,
Vice President, dmg World Media UK
Mary Larkin,
Vice President,
Diversified Business Communications

Sponsored by Renaissance Shaumburg Hotel & Convention Center

Sales vs. Operations - A Battle Royale?

How do you balance between the left brain and right brain thinkers on your team? The interaction between the sales/marketing department and the operations department can make or break your event and budget. Hear from those who have successfully shifted focus towards the customer, towards event profitability, and away from turf wars. The result? A successful and profitable event! Change “growing revenue vs. managing expenses” to “growing revenue AND managing expenses” - and keep the peace in your office!

Speakers:
Mary Upton,
Vice President, and
Karen DiTomasso,
Director of Exhibitor Sales, The ASI Show!
Marc Acampora
Sales Director, Penton Media
Mary Ann Troiano
Director Operations, Penton Media


Sponsored by ExpoCad


 

Integrating the best of breed in registration and housing technology solutions

Can registration and housing be integrated into a seamless solution for your attendees and exhibitors? Absolutely!  This session will review the many integration points in the registration and housing process.  Topics will include streamlining the registration and reservation process, data sharing between housing and registration, targeted marketing for different registration and housing sub-groups, enhancing customer service, reducing “book arounds”, easy group management, integrated reporting, and unified confirmations. 

Presenters:

Sapna Budev
Manager, International Affairs & Tradeshow Operations, International Sign Association

David Lawton
Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Convention Data Services
Becky Hansen
Director of Information Technology, Travel Planners, Inc.

 

11:15-11:30am
Networking and Refreshment Break - Ballroom Foyer
Sponsored by Travel Planners Inc.
11:30-12:45pm

“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” – Learning From Other Shows

Leaders in our industry are recognized annually in a number of ways, including TSW’s Tradeshow 200 & Fastest Growing 50. From this panel of winners, learn a variety of important things, including:
- Best practices
- How they have grown their shows - the methods they’ve used
- Where are the sweet spots? Identifying great ideas that
have staying power
- Pitfalls, failures and challenges to staying on top and
growing quickly
Also, learn what to watch for before it’s too late; why past shows may have failed; and various challenges the most successful shows faced; including growing too fast. Learn what it takes to ride the wave to success and stay on top!

Moderator:
Mary Beth Rebedeau
,
Executive Director, SISO
Panelists:
Bob Callahan
,
Show Director,
Diversified Business Communications
George Jage,
President, SFG Group

Sponsored by Freeman

Marketing a Mature Event - “Keeping the Balance”

Year in and year out your event leads the market - right?? How about 5 years from now? 8 years? Come to this session to hear how these show organizers have stayed on top for over 10 years. The vital insights at this session can help you - no matter what stage your event is entering! Learn how to:
- Keep the material fresh & retain audience
- Add new flare to the fundamentals of success
- Grow market share while retaining audience
- Tailor the sales and marketing messages to each attendee - new and past Keeping it fresh is an important strategy - and this session will make this daunting task a little easier.

Moderator:
Kerry Gumas
,
President, Questex

Panelists:
Tim Bostwick
,
Executive Vice President, AMI

View Tim Bostwick's Powerpoint Presentation

Patrick Flynn,
Vice President, Sales, National Association of Broadcasters

View Patrick Flynn's Powerpoint Presentation

Denyse C. Selesnick CEM
President, International Trade Information, Inc.

View Denyse Selesnick's Powerpoint Presentation

Sponsored by Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau

 

Exhibit Sales to Conference Dev to Show Web Sites - Using Technology to Work
Smarter

Learn how one small show management company has dramatically increased productivity, improved customer service and reduced costs - all while making the business of producing trade shows a lot more fun.

 

Carl Pugh,
President, Radius Events

Rajiv Jain,
CEO, A2z

 

 

12:45 – 2:15pm

Lunch, Members Meeting & Web Award Ceremony and Presentation

- Member Meeting
SISO Chairman, Carl Pugh of Radius Events will give a brief overview of SISO’s accomplishments, future goals and recognize the achievements of outgoing members of SISO Board of Directors and recognize the Neil Grossman 2007 Interns

- The First Executive Conference Web Award Ceremony
SISO, The Jordan, Edmiston Group and Tradeshow Week present the first annual Web Awards, honoring those in the event industry that best embrace the Internet and other available digital media options to enhance customer value.

Sponsored by Piers 92/94

2:15-3:30pm

Revenue Streams - “50 Tips in 90 Minutes”

The title says it all! Industry experts reveal 50 revenue streams for events and related products in less than 2 hours! This fast paced session could be the most profitable time you spend all year. Come prepared to absorb the best ideas and share your own.

Moderator:
Sam Lippman
,
President, integrated show management & marketing (ism2)
Panelists:
Ted Coene
,
Managing Partner, Group C Communications
Tom Mitchell,
President, Messe Dusseldorf, N.A.

Sponsored by Detroit Metro Convention and Visitor’s Bureau

 

Sponsorship Treasures-Adding to Your Bottom Line

Sponsorships remain one of the most high margin aspects of the events industry. This session lets you know if you should add more sponsorable items to your event, without diluting the overall impact of your current sponsors. Are your sponsorships priced effectively? Are you selling them with the latest techniques? Learn how to measure, quantify, qualify and price sponsorships accurately; customized sponsorships vs. packages; how to sell sponsorships
effectively; and ROI. Pick up new perspectives at this exciting session designed to grow your bottom line.

Moderator:
Margaret Pederson
,
President of Exhibitions, Penton Media

Panelists:
Charles Allen
,
CEO, CW Allen Group

View Charles Allen Powerpoint Presentation

Rosanna Hrabnicky,
U.S. National Sponsorship Manager,
dmg World Media

View Rosanna Hrabnicky's Powerpoint Presentation

Nancy Largay,
Director, Business Development,
Global Executive

View Nancy Largay's Powerpoint Presentation

Sponsored by CompuSystems

 
3:30 – 3:45pm
Networking and Refreshment Break - Ballroom Foyer
3:45-5:00pm

Growth - Organic, New Launch, or Buy?

Learn from those who have followed each of these paths to growth! Which is the quickest? The least expensive? The most expensive? Can your company achieve the growth nirvana by doing all three simultaneously? The following topics will be explored:
- Brand Extensions, including co-locations and globalizing
- New Launches, including evaluating a good launch
(what makes it good?) and the “go or no go” point
- Acquisitions, including a review of various business models,
evaluating the attendee driven event, and broad based vs.
niche products
When companies stop growing, they start shrinking - don’t let this happen to you!

Moderator:
Charles McCurdy
,
CEO, Cannon Communications
Panelists:
Dorothy Belshaw,
Senior Vice President, George Little Management

David Blaza,
Publisher, CMP Technology

View David Blaza's Powerpoint Presentation

Scott Goldman,
President, Eaton Hall Exhibitions

Sponsored by Berkery, Noyes & Company

The New Breed in Executive Sales Management

Are you using yesterday’s sales management techniques to sell in today’s hyper competitive marketplace? This is the session to learn the tricks, techniques and tips that top-notch sales managers are using to recruit, retool, and retrain their sales staffs - for today’s smarter and well-prepared prospective clients.
- Recruiting the “New Breed” of sales professionals
- Consultative sales - the new calling card
- Sales techniques - less cold calls = more consultative calls
- Telemarketing vs. face-to-face meetings
- How to use research to add to sales process
- Registration as an added tool for marketing/sales
Your sales staff - and your clients - will thank you for attending this session!

Moderator:
Stephen Pia
,
Founder, CoachMedia

Speakers:
Dan Cole,

Vice President Sales, Consumer Electronics Association

John McGeary,
Vice President, Reed Exhibitions

Sponsored by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

 
 

6:30 PM

Rockefeller Center

Networking Reception and Dinner!

Join us at the world famous Rockefeller Center! Begin the evening with breath taking panoramic views - inside and out - of New York City and surrounding states, during the SISO networking reception at the famed Top of the Rock. Following this great networking event, we descend to Rockefeller Plaza, where many opportunities await - camaraderie, dinner, drinks, quiet corners to discuss the day’s activities or business deals, music, and even dancing, if you like. Then, the City that never sleeps beckons… who knows where this special evening will take you?

Sponsored by NYC & Company, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, & Top of the Rock

Friday, August 3, 2007

7:30-8:30am
Breakfast served in the Central Park East Meeting Room

8:30-9:45 am

Keynote

Metropolitian
Ballroom
West

Friday Keynote Session – Best Practices on the Web

This session will provide key data and analysis from the SISO, Jordan, Edmiston Group and Tradeshow Week Online Marketing and Management Survey for the event industry. It will offer best practices from across the industry, providing event producers with a road map highlighting key initiatives and helping them enhance their internet efforts. All attendees will also receive a copy of the final report.

Moderator:
Richard Mead
, Managing Partner, Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc.

Presenters:
Sal Fuentes, CEO, Decision Counsel

View Sal Fuentes Powerpoint Presentation

Aaron Kahlow, CEO, BusinessOnline

View Aaron Kahlow's Powerpoint Presentation

David Nussbaum, CEO, Sundance Business Enterprises

View David Nussbaum's Powerpoint Presentation

Jack Powers, Director, International Informatics Institute

Sponsored by The Jordan, Edmiston Group Inc.

Key Issues; CEO and
Management Executives Track

Empire Ballroom WEST

Sales and Marketing
Treasures Track

Empire Ballroom EAST

9:45-11:00 am

Conference Development - Is Your Conference
Content Hitting the Mark?

As you add more educational content and workshops to your event, are you making the right choices? Maximize your impact, while
minimizing your expenses - learn from the best about conferences and education at events. The following will be examined -
- CEUs
- How to develop top-drawer content
- Organizing and working with Program Advisory Committees
- Location - sessions on the floor / off the floor
- Meaningful educational content is one of the primary
reasons many people attend events - this session will help
to make sure your content is credible and attractive.

Moderator:
Jennifer Miller,

Penton Media
Panelists:
Peter Gordon,
Senior Vice President, PPM Media
Melinda Kendall,
Vice President and General Manager,
IDG World Expo
Seth Kerker,
Director of Global Events, Access Intelligence

Sponsored by Georgia World Congress Center


The Key to Successful Marketing - Newest Methods and Models

Hear from the experts on what is working in today’s fast paced and ever-changing marketing climate. These are real world marketing techniques that are selling more space, drawing more attendees and creating more profits by controlling the marketing monster! Topics include:
- Optimum marketing mix
- Electronic mediums like podcasts and RSS feeds
- Direct mail
- Hotel TVs
- Webinar participation
- Online show - instant messaging
- Getting to know your attendee’s buying behavior
The experience of your peers is worth 10 of the newest business books - marketers check in here!

Speakers:
Lori Kisner,
Vice President, Surf Show, dmg World Media

Cris Levy,
Managing Partner, Encore Media Partners

View Cris Levy's Powerpoint Presentation



Sponsored by Orange County Convention Center

11:00-11:15am
Networking and Refreshment Break - Ballroom Foyer
11:15-12:30 pm
Small Company Round Table - “Life as an Owner/Operator” a.k.a. “How Many Hats Can I Wear?”

This is a true roundtable where you are not only an attendee but also a speaker! Share the latest intelligence with your fellow small firm
participants. Life is different for those who not only own a company, but also do most of the management for events, sign the checks, recruit the staff and make things happen. Learn how others make the
overwhelming “to-do” list into a “can-do” plan of action!
Discussion Leaders
Sean Guerre,
President & CEO, TradeFair Group
Ted Hugger,
President & CEO,
Hugger Event Management
Phil McKay,
President and CEO, PPM Media

Sponsored by Rosemont Convention and Visitors Bureau

Creating Controversy for Your Event - Cancelled

There is nothing more powerful than stirring up controversy at your event. Attendees flock to it. Press relish it and your exhibitors, well... they typically are part of it. Join industry veterans as they explore the power of controversy and how it is created. During this session you will learn:
- What makes a good controversy
- How to solicit participants
- How to best stage your controversial event at your event
- How and when to pre-sell the controversy
And much more...

Speakers:
Glenn Gaudet,
Chief Marketing Officer, Pulvermedia
Bill Sell,
Vice President & General Manager, Pulvermedia

Sponsored by Showcare Solutions


12:30 -2:30pm

Closing Lunch - SISO Sightseeing Tour of NYC
Join us for a boxed lunch and tour of NYC on double decker bus.

Bonus Track!! Technology Case Studies – Personal Insights on New Products

45 minute presentations throughout the morning – check www.siso.org for updates.

The SISO technology track is unique. There are no sales pitches by vendors. Instead, show organizers partner with their favorite technology
providers and present case studies illustrating how a particular technology solution saved money, increased efficiency, gave added insight to customer needs, streamlined procedures, etc.

If you’re facing challenges and think perhaps that the answer is in new or different technology, then check back frequently at www.siso.org to
discover what your peers are touting. These could be the most important sessions at the conference!


Back to Top