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SISO

06 Apr 2026

A Note from Our CEO

A Note from Our CEO

A Note from our CEO

As I write this, we are 52 weeks out from the 2027 SISO CEO Summit, April 5-8 at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island. But a lot will transpire between now and then!

Some updates:

As previously mentioned, the SIGs have been restructured and are now called Exchanges. Expect a firmer calendar and an improved invitation system to ensure this knowledge is shared with all interested parties. In a related vein, we will restart our best practices library. If you are interested in getting more involved, please let me know. 

We are just now gearing up programming for the Summer Leadership Conference in Seattle, August 18-20. I’ve received a handful of volunteers to help on the programming committee and an equal number of corporate requests to send teams this year. If either is of interest to you, please let me or your favorite SISO staffer know! There will be a programming committee meeting the week of April 13th. Registration for the Leadership Conference opens later this month.

A couple of members have meetings that you might want to consider attending:

Trade Show Executive’s Fastest 50, April 22-24 - https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowTSE261

Lippman Connect’s ECEF May 27th—While I’m sure it is essentially sold out on both the attendee and sponsor side, but you can still register at www.lippmanconnects.com

SISO cohosts a program with mdg on May 26th. This year’s topic is Leading in an Era of Permanent Disruption. This is an invite-only program that will sell out. If you are attending ECEF and are interested, please let me know. 

If you are a member with a meeting we should promote to other members, please share the information with us.

The Exhibition and Conferences Alliance does important work for our industry, and many of our members contribute to that support. If you want to take a larger role in this important work, please contact me directly to discuss. 

Further, I hope that you will join your fellow SISO members and me on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C., for this one-of-a-kind day of advocacy. You can learn more and register for free here: https://www.exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org/legislative-action-day.

We traditionally grow our membership through word-of-mouth and haven’t really had a significant membership campaign. While I still welcome referrals, I expect to see a campaign kicking off this summer. Think more science, less art, as regards this effort. That being said, I still welcome all referrals!

During that pandemic which will not be named, we had regular calls among owners. I will be reinstituting those calls later this month. If you’d like to be included and don’t receive an outreach from me, please let me know, and I will be sure to include you in these monthly calls. 

We are in the planning stages of scheduling regional meetups. If you have a show that you would like us to meet at, please let me know. These meetings will likely be late-afternoon affairs, and we will send out announcements. 

This is just a fraction of what’s going on at “home office”. Much more to follow. 

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What Our Members Say

  • "SISO Exchanges bring together thought leaders to share stories, spark new ideas, and turn inspiration into action. For me, they have created a space to learn, share insights, and build meaningful conversations with people who understand both the challenges and opportunities of our industry. By connecting professionals face-to-face, these organizations and the events they host create communities where great ideas are born."
    Kate Youngstrom, Head of Marketing, RX US & Mexico
  • “Being a member of the SISO Marketing Exchange has been incredibly valuable to me. What makes this group so impactful is the opportunity to hear directly from a diverse group of peers who face many of the same challenges. The collaboration and open exchange of ideas consistently inspire me with fresh perspectives and new ways to address the challenges facing my team.”
    Lauren Ocoma - Group Vice President, Brand Strategy and Commercial Development – FDIC
  • "The Founder’s Exchange has been incredibly meaningful to me as a business owner and conference organizer. It’s a rare space where small businesses can speak candidly about real challenges and opportunities. The conversations are thoughtful, practical, and grounded in shared experience. I’ve gained valuable insights, strong peer connections, a renewed sense of community that continues to shape how I grow and lead the business."
    Brad Graver, President - Secure World
  • “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
  • 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, CEO, Clarion Events
  • “Without a doubt the most valuable three days of the year for networking, learning, and meeting colleagues.”
    Tony Calanca, Calanca & Associates LLC
  • “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

 

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