Stay Informed!
Subscribe to our free newsletter and don't miss a thing
Associations/Press
Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance Announces its 2026 Elected Officers and Board of Directors
1/15/2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), the unified public policy voice of the U.S. business and professional events industry, today announced its 2026 Elected Officers and Board of Directors.
The following Elected Officers were selected by the ECA Board of Directors to serve a one-year term ending on December 31, 2026:
ECA would also like to recognize Hervé Sedky, President & Chief Executive Officer, Emerald, as he concludes his remarkable service as ECA’s inaugural Chair.
“Since its founding, ECA has benefited tremendously from Hervé Sedky’s selfless leadership and unwavering advocacy on behalf of the industry,” said Tommy Goodwin, ECA’s Executive Vice President. “Over the past five years, Hervé’s tenure as Chair has played a critical role in ECA’s advocacy success, and he has positioned the organization to go from strength to strength under Fernando Fischer’s leadership.”
About the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading associations comprising the unified public policy voice of the business and professional events industry. To learn more about ECA and its work to advance the interests of the industry, please visit www.exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org.
Contact:
[email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), the unified public policy voice of the U.S. business and professional events industry, today announced its 2026 Elected Officers and Board of Directors.
The following Elected Officers were selected by the ECA Board of Directors to serve a one-year term ending on December 31, 2026:
- Fernando Fischer (Chair), President, Americas, RX (representing the Society of Independent Show Organizers)
- Mark Bogdansky (Vice Chair), Vice President, Trade Shows and Community Engagement, Auto Care Association (representing the International Association of Exhibitions & Events)
- Chris Griffin (Treasurer), President & Chief Executive Officer, Crew XP (representing the Experiential Designers & Producers Association)
- Hervé Sedky (Secretary), President & Chief Executive Officer, Emerald (representing the Society of Independent Show Organizers)
- Mike Carlucci, Chief Operating Officer, Clarion Events North America (representing the International Association of Exhibitions & Events)
- Beth Cowperthwaite (Appointed), Senior Vice President, Communications, Emerald
- Janet Dell (Appointed), Chief Executive Officer, Freeman
- Martha Donato, Founder and President, MAD Event Management (representing UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry)
- Douglas Emslie, Chairman, Cuil Bay Capital (representing the Society of Independent Show Organizers)
- Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM (Ex-Officio), President & Chief Executive Officer, International Association of Exhibitions & Events
- Senthil Gopinath, Chief Executive Officer, International Congress and Convention Association
- Sherrif Karamat, President & Chief Executive Officer, PCMA
- Trevor Mitchell, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CDP, President & Chief Executive Officer, International Association of Venue Managers
- Vincent Polito (Ex-Officio), Chief Executive Officer, Society of Independent Show Organizers
- Chris Schimek, Chief Operating Officer, Event & Exhibit Services, Freeman (representing the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association)
- Nancy Walsh (representing the Society of Independent Show Organizers)
ECA would also like to recognize Hervé Sedky, President & Chief Executive Officer, Emerald, as he concludes his remarkable service as ECA’s inaugural Chair.
“Since its founding, ECA has benefited tremendously from Hervé Sedky’s selfless leadership and unwavering advocacy on behalf of the industry,” said Tommy Goodwin, ECA’s Executive Vice President. “Over the past five years, Hervé’s tenure as Chair has played a critical role in ECA’s advocacy success, and he has positioned the organization to go from strength to strength under Fernando Fischer’s leadership.”
About the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading associations comprising the unified public policy voice of the business and professional events industry. To learn more about ECA and its work to advance the interests of the industry, please visit www.exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org.
Contact:
[email protected]
Submit Your News!
There is no charge to submit your press release for publication on the Exhibitor News Network.
Marketplace
- Audiovisual Equipment
- Convention Centers
- Event Design and Production
- Exhibit Fabrication
- Exhibit Producers
- Exhibit Rental
- Experiential Agency
- Flooring
- Graphics
- International Exhibit Producers
- Kiosks
- Lead Retrieval
- Modular Exhibit Systems
- Portable Display Systems
- Shipping and Transportation
- All Companies