Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance Announces its 2026 Elected Officers and Board of Directors
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, 2025:
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)
These Elected Officers are joined on the ECA Board of Directors by recognized leaders from across the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, event and conference organizers, venues, suppliers, and partners that employed more than 2.6 million Americans, generated more than $400 billion in direct spending nationwide last year.
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)
“The year ahead presents both significant challenges and important opportunities for the business and professional events industry,” said Fernando Fischer, ECA’s Chair. “I am honored to work alongside this accomplished Board of Directors as we continue to strengthen ECA’s role as the unified voice of our industry and advance a policy agenda that helps create new jobs, reduce economic uncertainty, safeguard affordability, and increase the competitiveness of the U.S. industry.”
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.”
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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 https://www.exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org/.
ECA’s member associations include:
For media inquiries, please contact Tommy Goodwin: +1 (703) 672-0780 | tommy.goodwin@exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org.