Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum Virtual Experience Set for November

October 7, 2020

Originally scheduled for May 27 and postponed due to the pandemic, Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF) will now be held Nov. 18 as a retooled virtual experience. 

To aid in transitioning the annual information-sharing and networking event for independent organizers and leaders of associations, Sam Lippman, ECEF producer and president of Lippman Connects, has partnered with Freeman. As part of the partnership, Freeman will provide the virtual event platform and serve as the exclusive gold sponsor.

“I have watched the Freeman team strengthen their capabilities in strategy, creative, event technology and digital,” said Lippman. “I’m even more impressed in how they helped us rethink our strategy for a virtual format this year.”

As part of ECEF’s new format, the event platform — Freeman’s OnlineEvent Pro — will open to attendees starting on Nov. 16, with live and on-demand content that includes self-introductions. 

On Nov. 18, Lippman will kick off the main program with his “5 Data Points in 5 Minutes.” Also included that day will be two keynote addresses with live speaker Q&As and audience polling, a series of 30-minute breakout sessions limited to 20 registrants each and facilitated by subject matter experts, and a brown bag lunch with presentations hosted by destinations and venues. 

Registrants will receive three guest tickets for the popular TechDemo sessions, which will feature expanded hours and days this year. ECEF executive clients will be allowed to participate in TechDemo on Nov. 18, with a wider audience granted access Nov. 19-20. The approximately 20 event tech leaders participating will include Freeman, which will offer four separate tech solutions. Additional tech suppliers will be announced within the next month.

“We are excited about the opportunity to offer an engaging and productive integrated experience and help the ECEF community connect, share and learn in new ways,” said Bob Priest-Heck, CEO of Freeman, who will participate in the networking and information exchange sessions on Nov. 18.

Get more details or register for ECEF 2020 here.

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MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.