Lippman Connects

Best wishes to @samlippman for a successful @LippmanConnects #ECEF today in Washington, DC!

Thank you for joining us at #ECEF2025. See you next year!

Gattuso describes how @SemaAssociation hosts Camp SEMA with vendors to keep @SEMASHOW fresh and innovative, year after year. #ECEF2025

A quick innovation tip from Gattuso: "Err on the side of cool." (Holsinger said this would make a great T-shirt slogan.) #ECEF2025

Gattuso and Hallada discuss their innovation budgets and how to encourage creativity and big ideas among their teams. #ECEF2025

"[Being an Innovator] is being able to evolve the vision of what this show is," says Gattuso - and reminds #ECEF2025 attendees to think in shades of grey, not just black and white.

Hardcastle asks the panelists how their innovative ideas can be implemented by smaller organizations and events. #ECEF2025

Gattuso recounts the journey and strategy behind opening @SEMASHOW up to consumers. #ECEF2025

Hallada shares how AEM put forth a record amount of effort to understand how to tweak its event to keep and delight attendees through the very last day and hour of the show. #ECEF2025

Gattuso shares one of his biggest pet peeves in the events industry - SALY (Same As Last Year). #ECEF2025

Nicole Hallada, SVP of Exhibitions & Marketing at @aemadvisor and Tom Gattuso, VP of Events at @SemaAssociation, join Hardcastle and Holsinger to share their innovative successes. #ECEF2025

Hardcastle and Holsinger noticed a common theme of embracing and optimizing change at #ECEF2025. "Disrupt or be disrupted."

Hardcastle urges organizers to ask themselves: how can we lean into the challenge of giving our audiences the same memorable experience that Davos gives theirs? #ECEF2025

Hardcastle and Holsinger emphasize the importance of understanding your audience - attendees and exhibitors! - and the value of continually asking, "Why?" #ECEF2025

Hardcastle-Geddes and Holsinger share the most innovative ideas they heard from other speakers at #ECEF2025.

Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes compares what sets Innovators apart from Conventionalists, from resources used to build future plans to how they use market trends. #ECEF2025

Focus groups showed that many people don't feel empowered to enact change, says Holsinger. And Freeman has set out to empower - through data, resources and community. #ECEF2025

"Innovators focus not on who is there, but who's NOT coming, who used to come, who used to participate, who used to exhibit," says Holsinger. #ECEF2025

mdg president Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes and Freeman SVP of Strategy Ken Holsinger take the stage for the final #ECEF2025 session, The Innovator's Edge: The Difference Between Standard and Standout Events.

The TechDemos are busy at #ECEF2025. Make sure to stop by before we wrap up to find the best solutions for your event(s).