ORLANDO, Fla. – (July 13, 2020) The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and Alliance Nationwide Exposition are pleased to announce a robust lineup of industry experts and leaders for the Together Again Expo to be held at the OCCC on July 24, 2020. This complimentary industry event will feature two key panels: Re-Open for Business Live Panel and the State of the Industry Virtual Panel.
Touching on themes of recovery, resiliency and safety, the Re-Open for Business Live Panel will share how the OCCC is bringing events back to Orlando. Attendees will hear from local industry leaders, OCCC clients and community partners on what they are doing to ensure the safety of attendees and exhibitors.
Featuring live commentary from the OCCC, Visit Orlando, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and United Service Companies, as well as best practices from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), Rosen Centre Hotel, Hilton Orlando, Hyatt Regency Orlando, and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) attendees can expect to learn new strategies and approaches that will help create smart and secure environments.
Panelists and Participants include:
- Mark Tester, Executive Director, OCCC
- Mike Waterman, Chief Sales Officer, Visit Orlando
- Tim McGuinness, Board Member, IAEE
- Rick Simon, Owner and President, United Service Companies
- Tom Draper, Senior Director of Airport Operations, GOAA
- Phil Caronia, General Manager, Rosen Centre Hotel
- Brian Comes, Area Vice President and General Manager, Hyatt Regency Orlando
- Alice Mathu, Vice President of Exhibitions, Conferences and Sales, IAAPA
Offering inspiration and expertise, the State of the Industry Virtual Panel will feature distinguished industry leaders from the Center of Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Exhibition Services and Contractors Association (ESCA) and Events Industry Council (EIC).
Panelists include:
- Cathy Breden, Chief Executive Officer, CEIR
- David Audrain, President and CEO, SISO
- Sherrif Karamat, President and CEO, PCMA
- Karl Ely, Senior Vice President and Publisher, ASAE
- Brad Mayne, President and CEO, IAVM
- Larry Amaudet, Executive Director, ESCA
- Amy Calvert, CEO, EIC
As leading advocates for the live events industry, this panel will share unique discoveries on the resurgence of business events, and how attendees can play a role in shaping the future of the industry.
“We are excited to host these influential industry leaders at the Center of Hospitality,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “Their experience and leadership will guide critical and insightful discussions, steering our industry towards recovery.”
Event registration is complimentary for event professionals. Attendees are invited to join live or virtually for this forward-thinking industry event.
“This is our opportunity to collaborate and learn from one another on how we can protect our industry and secure the safety of our attendees,” said Alliance Nationwide Exposition CEO Mark Yuska. “We encourage all interested attendees to register today and join the movement, so we can pave a positive path forward and bring our industry together again.”
For more information on the Together Again Expo, visit www.togetheragainexpo.com.
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About the Orange County Convention Center
The Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention facility in North America and provides approximately $3 billion in economic impact to Central Florida annually. In recent years, the Convention Center has averaged nearly 200 events, including 115 conventions and tradeshows that attract more than 1.5 million attendees to the region each year. For more information about the Orange County Convention Center, visit www.occc.net.
About Alliance Nationwide Exposition
Alliance Nationwide Exposition is a General Service Contractor providing exposition production, logistics, labor, and decor to over 527 events annually throughout the United States. Alliance operates in over 60 US cities with working experience in 560 hotels and convention centers.