2024 SISO Official Ballot Nominees

SISO

Liz Plizga

Liz Plizga

Liz Plizga
President, Diversified Communications US

Liz Plizga joined Diversified Communications as an Operations Manager in 2002. With her previous expertise in tradeshows and logistics combined with a passion for the industries served, she took on Director roles overseeing trade events and digital media.

After years of successfully leading and growing Diversified’s global seafood portfolio, Plizga was promoted to Group Vice President of Events and Media in 2015. In this role, she oversaw the company’s Integrative Healthcare conferences and online resource Integrative Practitioner and Natural Medicine Journal; the Endurance’s group of events and media, The Running Event, Switchback and Running Insight; as well as the Global Seafood portfolio of events and media, including Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia, and SeafoodSource.com. She completed the National Fisheries Institute Future Leaders program in 2011 and resided on the Board of Directors for the National Fisheries Institute and the Seafood Industry Research Fund.

In April of 2023, with over 25 years of experience in the exhibition and media industries, including almost a decade of strategic development and plan execution, she was promoted to President of Diversified Communications US Division. In her new role as President, Plizga will focus on strategic initiatives and growing the division’s diverse product portfolio of events, conferences, digital products, and publications.

She currently resides on the Board of Directors for the Center for Grieving Children.

Les Weir

Les Weir

Les Weir
Senior VP Corp Development, EmeraldX

Les Weir joined EmeraldX in 2022 running Corporate Development where he is responsible for leading the company’s M&A initiatives across multiple industry verticals.

He has more than two decades of experience in taking an entrepreneurial approach to developing and executing strategic market entries. He joined EmeraldX from Reed Exhibitions where he ran Corporate Development for the Americas building the largest exhibition businesses in Brazil and Mexico.

Prior to Reed, he held a strategic brand development management position at Bass Leisure Retail and was a member of the management buy-out team for ScotRail Railways.

Les attended Strathclyde University where he received both a BA in Economics and an MBA with a specialism in scenario planning and strategic planning. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

He is an active member volunteer for various charities in the Fairfield Connecticut community where he lives with his wife, two dogs, and two cats.

“Without a doubt the most valuable three days of the year for networking, learning, and meeting colleagues.”
Tony Calanca, Calanca & Associates LLC
“Two of the best acquisitions Access Intelligence had executed came directly from contacts and discussions held at the SISO CEO Summit. Beyond that important networking for transactions, I learn best practices from the best in the industry. The ROI for membership is immeasurable.”
Don Pazour, CEO, Access Intelligence
“The impact of SISO is so much bigger than its size. It feels more like a global council of important tribes than a traditional trade association.”
David Adler, CEO & Founder, Bizbash Media
“Our industry thrives on the personal relationships that face-to-face builds, and the CEO Summit is the ultimate place to build YOUR network!”
Tom Mitchell, President, Messe Dusseldorf North America
“As busy, independent, for-profit organizer, SISO keeps our company connected to all the key players working in this industry and allows great relationships and ongoing learning of best practices from the best in the business. All invaluable assets to help move our business forward."
Howard Hauben, CEO, H2 Events
“The SISO membership represents the entire for-profit tradeshow community and the annual SISO conferences are must-attend events for their educational and networking value.”
Joel A. Davis, Founder & CEO, JD Events
Being a member of SISO has allowed me to navigate the dynamic landscape of our industry in the most effective way possible. Personally, it’s been a journey of continuous learning, networking, and collaboration that fosters deep relationships with industry leaders. Professionally, the insights I’ve gained, the resources I have accessed, and the collaborative initiatives and advocacy work have helped to take my organization to new heights. SISO, to me, is an indispensable asset for my career and business.
Liz Irving, President, Clarion Events