Agenda

Chicago has hit its stride as one of America’s premier destinations, and we are excited and proud to welcome the trade show industry to the River North neighborhood. Join us for an afternoon adventure in this up-and-coming area, which has become a destination for shopping, nightlife, and above all, wonderful dining experiences. We have reservations at Il Porcellino, an institution of upscale Italian cuisine tucked comfortably between State Street and LaSalle. The day starts off with a demonstration on mixing the perfect summer cocktail followed by a gourmet luncheon. Then put your investigative skills to work solving a murder mystery involving a cast of colorful characters who leave behind not-so-obvious clues. So, make plans to join friends and colleagues on June 13 for an afternoon of socializing over an exquisite luncheon, mingling with mixologists, and even solving a puzzling mystery at one of the hottest restaurants in one of Chicago’s hottest neighborhoods.

Greet old friends and meet new ones as you join us for cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres at the River Roast Restaurant. A memorable night and great networking await you! The festivities begin the official kick-off of the Fastest 50 Awards & Summit.

Get energized with a sumptuous breakfast, which features many wholesome choices as well as sweet and savory options. Start the morning right!

Featuring Actor Michael Villani, Emcee and Trade Show Executive Media Group’s Vice President of Events Diane Bjorklund.

What will the future of the trade show world look like? What are the next megatrends on the horizon? And how can we ensure success tomorrow without taking a restrictive direction today? Enter Ari Wallach, founder of Fast Company Futures and an expert on emerging business trends that may not necessarily boil down to big data. Ari’s diverse clients have included CNN, the Ford Foundation, the U.S. State Department, and many more. His expertise is the larger, broader trends in technology, business, and culture that will have an influence on your business strategies and your staff that will take you to the next level if you let them.

Learning from your mentors in the business world can be a two-way street, so don’t miss this opportunity to hear what some of the rising young leaders of the trade show industry have learned on their way up the corporate ladder. Douglas Lugo, Show Director in the Global Exhibitions Division of Informa; Russell Coronel, Marketing Specialist, UBM; and Melissa Schilling, Director of Exhibitions & Conferences, National Shooting Sports Foundation; the trio of recipients of this year’s TSE Trailblazers Awards join Freeman CEO and voice of experience Bob Priest-Heck to share their experiences in the trenches and the ideas that will connect with the customers of the Millennial generation and beyond. Don’t let the view from the executive suite become fuzzy and distant; spend some quality time today with the leaders of tomorrow.

Independent and association show organizers have a lot in common, and can be a good fit for a partnership. A perfect example is Clarion UX’s recent acquisition of a stake in the National Grocers Association’s annual trade show. Join Clarion UX CEO Greg Topalian for an inside look at how the two parties joined forces to drive the show to new growth.

Ed Nichols is the reigning Rockstar Award winner at the Fastest 50 and will top off the Power Lunch with food for thought on growing your show. Ed is Vice President of Events at SouthComm Business Media, and turned Firehouse Expo into a red-hot growth machine that continues to smoke the competition even though municipal travel and purchasing budgets remain tight. Ed will share his experiences and strategies for stoking the growth of Firehouse Expo and the entire SouthComm portofolio. He will also answer questions posed by moderator Gabrielle Weiss, Publisher/Editor, Trade Show Executive and from members of the audience.

Nancy Walsh, Senior Vice President, Brand Experience, Freeman will tap into the energy and ideas of a panel of Fastest 50 honorees who drove their shows to great heights. This interactive panel features Chris Day, Senior Marketing Director for Marijuana Business Daily; Tom Mitchell, President of Messe Düsseldorf North America, and Megan Tanel, Senior Vice President of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the driving force behind the still-growing CONEXPO-CON/AGG. This type of collective experience and practical knowledge in running established mega-shows and high-powered launches doesn’t come around often, so plan on taking notes and asking questions.

To the victors go the spoils, but the cheers and rave reviews go to the rockstars. Mark Kamp brings the attitude and advice that you and your team can use to create a memorable experience that will have your audience on their collective feet and calling for yet another encore. Mark preaches the raw power of completely unrealistic goals, thriving through change by leading the change, and how to use Steve Jobs’ business strategies to your advantage (hint: it’s not what you might think). Join Mark and learn how to turn your portfolio into a greatest hits collection – and bring home a set of custom Fastest 50 drumsticks suitable for making you the drummer that everyone else marches to.

It’s time to walk the red carpet and pose for photographs as you accept your Fastest 50 plaque(s).

The moment we have all been waiting for . . . a night of elegance, inspiration and intrigue. The Fastest 50 shows will be celebrated and the winners of the Grand Awards will be presented with special trophies.

The fun keeps going after the awards! Continue the celebration with your colleagues at the Afterglow.

The Farewell Breakfast offers another opportunity to network with the Fastest 50 delegates and speakers before you head home or stay for an extended weekend of relaxation.