The Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) is preparing a new event designed to empower and educate the next generation of leaders in the exhibition and events industry. The event, called the Rising Leaders Summit 2025, will take place on 4-5 February at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas.
The Summit is the first major initiative of ESCA's new Rising Leaders Committee, which is designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry's future leaders and provide young professionals and newcomers to the industry with the expertise, resources and networks they need to succeed.
"The New Leaders Summit provides young professionals and newcomers to the industry with key opportunities to develop the skills necessary for success," said Julie Kagy, Executive Director of ESCA. By focusing on leadership, personal growth and industry insight, we aim to shape the future leaders of our industry.
The Summit will offer a range of leadership development programmes and industry-specific workshops, including immersive seminars, hands-on training in leadership competencies and interactive sessions with industry thought leaders. In addition, the event will offer a ‘food tour’ style social experience, providing a relaxed and informal environment for participants to network with peers and form new professional relationships.
CEIR Joins IAEE to Deepen Industry Research and Integrate Resources
At the IAEE Annual Conference & Exhibition 2024 in Los Angeles, the Centre for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announced that it has joined the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). Events (IAEE) as its official research arm.
This move furthers IAEE's mission to provide cutting-edge insights and resources to event industry professionals, and CEIR's leading exhibition and event data and analyses will be further enhanced through IAEE's global platform.
Chuck Grouzard, IAEE 2025 Chair, said, "This integration strengthens our ability to serve the global exhibition and event community. ceir's data-driven approach is a perfect fit with IAEE's mission to connect, educate and empower professionals worldwide."
As a division of IAEE, CEIR will continue to produce industry research while benefiting from IAEE's extensive network and resources. At the same time, IAEE will have additional resources to serve its members through a variety of research projects, representing the industry segments it represents. For example, at the end of 2025, the organisation plans to launch a new Healthcare Organisers Initiative, which will include face-to-face forums, virtual meetings and an online platform for healthcare organisers to share their unique challenges and experiences.
Brian Pagel, Chair of CEIR 2025, said, "Bringing CEIR under the IAEE umbrella marks a pivotal moment for our organisation and our industry. This collaboration ensures that CEIR's important research will continue to thrive and be used to inform critical decisions for all stakeholders."
The integration will also enhance the member and user experience by providing a centralised resource for IAEE members and industry professionals to access CEIR's research products. Currently, IAEE members can access the CEIR Store using the same credentials as the IAEE website, but with the full implementation of the integration, plans are in place to further streamline this user experience.
CEIR has always been at the forefront of our industry,’ said Marsha Flanagan, President and CEO of IAEE. This integration represents an exciting evolution that brings greater alignment and synergy between two important organisations. Together, we are well-positioned to foster growth, innovation and resilience in the face of change!
Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China 