Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance

As the week draws to a close, ECA would like to celebrate the recent retirements of two of its co-founders: Bob Priest-Heck and David DuBois. The advocacy work of the #businessevents industry would be where it is today (or be at all!) without the vision and tireless efforts of these two industry titans. Thanks to their leadership, ECA is here to serve the industry and tell the story about how our industry drives economic growth, supports job creation, empowers small businesses, and helps solve our most urgent societal challenges to the policymakers that matter. While ECA hopes it's more "See you later!" than "Goodbye," 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗕𝗢𝗕 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗗 for your commitment to ECA and the industry's advocacy mission.

Last month, the #businessevents industry gathered at the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association's Summer Educational Conference. Thanks to Christopher (Chris) Kappes from Exhibit City News for his recap of #SEC24, including insights and the latest developments from these industry leaders: 🔵 Julie Kagy, Exhibition Services & Contractors Association 🔵 Dasher Lowe, EDPA - Experiential Designers & Producers Association 🔵 Brad Mayne, International Association of Venue Managers 🔵 Vincent Polito, SISO - Society of Independent Show Organisers 🔵 Marsha Flanagan, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) https://lnkd.in/ewry_8KN

At 10:00 AM ET this morning, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means will take up legislation that would expand qualified expenses under Section 529 college savings plans to include postsecondary training and credentialing, such as licenses and professional (non-governmental) certifications. To watch the hearing live, click here: https://lnkd.in/eHp4Zh_f.

#ICYMI: ECA's Tommy Goodwin was recently part of a transatlantic double video feature from James Latham and The Iceberg about #businessevents advocacy in Washington, DC and Brussels. Click the link below to watch both videos and hear from Michelle Mason, Gregg H. Talley, Senthil Gopinath, Sherrif Karamat, Barbara Weizsäcker, Alexander Alles, Peirui Tan, Kai Hattendorf, and more. https://lnkd.in/gUBHegVQ

Have you thought about attending #ECALAD but wasn't sure what it would be like? Check out these firsthand perspectives of what it's like to be an advocate for the #businessevents industry on Capitol Hill from these two amazing industry leaders: Jessica Sibila, CMP, CTSM from The Exhibitor Advocate: https://lnkd.in/ef9jiYRZ Gina Porcaro from Classic Exhibits Inc. | Exhibits ~ Rentals ~ Environments: https://lnkd.in/e4_d8enW Thanks to both of you for your #ECALAD recaps... and being such an important part of the industry's advocacy work on Capitol Hill and beyond!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗖𝗔 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲! 🎞 Thanks to CNTV for producing this great glimpse in some of the great advocacy that took place on Capitol Hill that day. Special thanks to these industry leaders and advocates with "starring roles" in the video: Megan Martin, Mac Campbell, Chris Griffin, Rich Stone, Rachel Wimberly, Robyn Davis, Jeremy Adams, & Stephanie Selesnick. Check it out! 🤩

Last week, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved its proposal to phase out large-spark ignited (LSI) forklifts in California. What does this mean for the #businessevents industry? Two things: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, the sale of Class IV and Class V LSI forklifts that operate using propane, gasoline, or natural gas is prohibited. 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴-𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟱, LSI forklifts must be swapped out for zero-emission forklifts. Read more about this announcement here: https://lnkd.in/edCTX-vN. Later this summer, ECA will host a webinar that will go into additional details and what to expect during the upcoming transition.

𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧: Fast Forward owner and ECA advocate extraordinaire Michelle Metter has her San Diego Food + Wine Festival nominated for Best Wine Festival in the USA TODAY Readers' Choice Awards! Click here and support a fellow industry advocate (no registration required): https://lnkd.in/g8ndAe4U.

Check out this great booth highlighting business events industry career opportunities to more than 15,000 students at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference taking place this week in Atlanta! Thanks to these amazing industry partners who made this activation possible: Fern Expo, AFR Furniture Rental, beMatrix, Brumark, Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services, Nth Degree, United Maintenance Corporation, and Moss. EDPA - Experiential Designers & Producers Association Exhibition Services & Contractors Association International Association of Venue Managers International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) SISO - Society of Independent Show Organisers