mdg will present Leading in an Era of Permanent Disruption, an invite-only Executive Roundtable in conjunction with Lippman Connects’ Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF) and the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO).
Tuesday, May 26
3:30 – 5:00pm ET
Lafayette Room
Grand Hyatt Washington
1000 H St. NW
Note: Participation is limited to 35 executive-level organizers to maintain an environment conductive to group discussion. Those who are registered for ECEF will be given priority. Once capacity is reached, names will be added to a waiting list.
Leading in an Era of Permanent Disruption
This 90-minute pre-ECEF session is a high-level executive roundtable for event professionals to engage in candid, peer-to-peer dialogue about the external forces reshaping U.S.-based events.
Global economic shifts, evolving trade dynamics and changing business conditions are influencing travel patterns, exhibitor investment, international participation and our industry as a collective. For many organizers, the variables that once felt occasional now show up in every planning conversation – impacting budgets, sales cycles and growth assumptions. These pressures are simply part of the environment we’re operating in.
Moderated by industry peers, the discussion will center on how these conditions should inform event strategy, attendee marketing, exhibitor and sponsor sales, international visitor acquisition and financial planning. There will be no lectures or PowerPoints — just focused executive dialogue. Participants will hear how fellow organizers are adapting, compare approaches and leave with practical insight to guide decisions in the months ahead.
Hosts
Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes
Chief Strategist, Freeman
As Chief Strategist, Kimberly drives participation, elevates experiences and future-proofs events for Freeman clients. With a Master of Science in Business Administration, over two decades of industry experience, and a unique ability to shift between analytical and creative thinking, she brings both discipline and imagination to solving complex challenges. Her expertise in event marketing, strategic planning, tactical execution and organizational design was shaped during her 24-year tenure at mdg, the agency she helped build before eventually selling to Freeman. Kimberly is a CEM faculty member, a Krakoff Leadership Institute alumna and has been named by IAEE as an Educator of the Year and a Woman of Achievement. She has a monthly column in PCMA’s Convene magazine and is a frequent presenter at SISO, PCMA Convening Leaders, Expo! Expo! and Lippman Connects events. She’s also the mom of a TCU Horned Frog, wife of a retired Navy pilot, Peloton addict, reader, runner and believer in civil rights.
Vincent Polito
CEO, SISO
With more than 20 years in senior leadership positions in the industry, Vinnie is generally recognized as a content development and execution specialist. During his career, he’s had two international postings, launched events on five continents and developed highly specialized conferences in technology, life sciences and healthcare. He is also the past Chairman of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the leading organization in the conference and trade show industry.
Note: Registering for this event does NOT include registration for ECEF.
