IAVM and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) have joined forces to provide their members with access to online educational content and the opportunity to participate in each other’s annual conferences. IAEE is composed of approximately 1,300 members (organizations) and over 8,000 member representatives (individuals). Over 50 percent of IAEE’s members are directly involved in the planning, management, and production of exhibitions and buyer-seller events.
Cathy Breden, CAE, CMP, and Chief Operating Officer at IAEE is excited about the partnership, “When our staffs met to discuss an alliance, several areas were identified where it makes sense for us to partner with one another. IAEE has a philosophy that when two industry organizations can collaborate and it benefits each other’s members, every effort should be made to move forward with the collaboration. We are pleased that this has worked out!”
As part of the alliance, the two organizations will cross-market educational programs and networking events and other products developed for their memberships. The alliance will allow for cross-participation at live programs and access to digital resources from both associations. Additionally, both organizations will endorse the certifications offered to their memberships: IAVM’s Certified Facilities Executive designation and IAEE’s Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) designation.
Additionally, the associations will partner to co-support women in leadership roles in the exhibition, event and venue industries. This May, IAEE will host a Women’s Leadership Forum at the Fairmont Hotel, Washington, DC, and IAVM members will be able to register at the IAEE member rate for the event. The program will feature.
Hattie Hill as the leadership facilitator. Hattie will lead conversations throughout the day with her philosophy of “Smart People, Smart Choices, Smart Processes.”™ Hattie’s client list includes many Fortune 500 companies in the U.S., and she has facilitated training in more than 40 countries. Hattie Hill will facilitate a panel of chief-executive females who will provide their insights on how they reached the top, how they balance their work life and personal life, and how they overcame the challenges of reaching the top. Panel members include Mary Dolaher, CEO of IDG World Expo and Christine Duffy, President & CEO, Cruise Lines International Association. Betsy Myers, a senior official in the Clinton Administration will be the featured speaker for the program.
As part of IAVM’s efforts to recognize women in leadership roles, IAVM will once again present an Women in Leadership educational session at VenueConnect, July 27-30. IAVM will also host the Women of Influence reception presented by Venues Today magazine, recognizing top women executives in the venue industry during this year’s conference in New Orleans, La.
IAVM’s President and CEO, Vicki Hawarden noted, “We are very excited to be able to join forces with IAEE and interact with their membership of highly capable and passionate event and exhibition professionals. Many of IAVM’s goals and our basic mission overlap with IAEE’s. The opportunity to encourage their members to participate in our educational and networking events will truly expand the quality of networking and substantially increase the depth and breadth of expertise found within both organization’s memberships.”
