EDPA ENGAGE at ExhibitorLive Nashville
EDPA members attended ExhibitorLive at the Gaylord Resort Nashville February 25th – 28th. Activities kicked off Sunday evening with EDPA’s ENGAGE24 where almost 300 EDPA members gathered onboard the General Jackson Showboat for the association’s annual mid-year event. EDPA President, Chris Griffin, welcomed the group who enjoyed dinner, casino games and of course, live music. Thank you to all who joined us!
EDPA would like to thank all our EDPA ENGAGE24
sponsors who helped us put on our event!
EDPA Showcases New SustainableBooth at ExhibitorLive
EDPA’s exhibit at ExhibitorLive 2024 was an example of how sustainability can become a priority without sacrificing design. The EDPA booth was redesigned to support sustainable products with responsible consumption and production. Components of EDPA’s booth included:
beMatrix’s b62 frames – a sustainable frame system that is completely recyclable
Brumark’s sustainable flooring - innovative new recycling program marks a significant milestone in flooring solutions
CORT Events rental furniture - high-quality furniture that holds up with intentional longevity to reduce waste
Taylor Visual Impressions graphics - 100% certified recycled fabrics that are now their standard offering
EDPA Chapter Collide '24
The EDPA Chapters hosted their fourth annual EDPA Chapters Collide event at Ole Red in downtown Nashville on Tuesday evening. All nine EDPA Chapters celebrated with great networking and live music. The event sold out with 275 attendees. The EDPA chapters would like to thank the attendees and sponsors who made it all possible.
EDPA’s Future Workforce Committee
Update from Michael McMahon
EDPA was thrilled by the overwhelming support shown for Future Workforce initiatives by our members at ACCESS 2023. Donors came together to raise significant funds, which are already making a huge difference toward our current activities while being carefully managed to expand activity throughout 2024 and beyond. The EDPA Future Workforce Committee and EDPA Executive Committee are overseeing the management of these funds and leveraging member company production resources, when possible, to support efforts.
Several new Future Workforce initiatives have been identified already in 2024 including:
Production of comprehensive engagement kits for chapter and member FW activities
Production of additional banner stand resources
Production of a 10 x 20 booth for ASCA
Production of a 10 x 10 FW expandable frame shared space and open floor opportunities
Production of logo table drapes added to fulfillment inventory
Development of a system and one-location management for FW resources (management & distribution)
Exhibition space, drayage, electrical, etc., for defined events
Future Workforce landing page enhancement
In addition to the above, the following engagements are planned for 2024, with numerous others still being defined by EDPA local chapters:
Harvest Christian Academy in Chicago
Williamson College of the Trades job fair
United Federations of Teachers NYC School Counselors Conference
Blue Hills Regional Tech School Student Coop
ASCA (American School Counselors Association)
SkillsUSA (in collaboration with Exhibitions Industry Collective)
These initiatives and events are a testament to the dedication and commitment of EDPA members towards shaping the Future Workforce landscape for our industry. If you are interested in engaging in EDPA Future Workforce activities, I encourage you to connect with your local EDPA chapters who are actively engaging in activities across the country.
EDPA Foundation Scholarships Now Being Accepted!
The EDPA Foundation Scholarship Fund was created in 2004 to help industry members and their families pursue university-level of study. What started as a local golf tournament in Las Vegas in 2002 has grown help over 135 scholarships for a total of more than $400,000!
Any immediate family member of a current EDPA member company, who has graduated or will graduate high school and has been accepted for attendance at a post-high school educational institute, is eligible to apply. Scholarships are awarded based on three categories - financial need, academic achievement and essay/awards/extra credit. All students in our Industry families are eligible, however, financial need is weighed more heavily than the other two areas.
Visit https://www.edpa.com/edpafoundation for more information and to start the application process. EDPA has partnered again with Exhibitforce to leverage an administration engine for applicants and past recipients, but you must initiate the process no later than May 3rd, 2024.
If you have questions or need more information, contact Kari Peters @ kpeters@edpa.com.
EDPA Grantor Program – 2024 Renewal
The EDPA Foundation wants to thank all its grantors for their support in 2023. As the charitable giving arm of the EDPA, in 2024 the EDPAF will continue their mission of ongoing good works for our industry community in the year ahead.
The EDPAF finds itself on the precipice of its next phase of growth, development, and change. In 2024 they are setting their sights on elevated fundraising efforts, and they are committed to even greater giving backed by more transparent processes.
The EDPAF’s mission remains to support families in need of financial assistance in our industry, while simultaneously supporting our university affiliations partners and industry scholarships. As they look ahead, the EDPAF is proud to announce that their theme for 2024 is “Do More”. They intend to do more fundraising, and most importantly, to do more giving!
In the coming weeks they will ask your organization to recommit to the Grantor program. Please be on the lookout, and pledge to continue your journey with the Foundation. If you’re not already a grantor, contact Alex Hill (alex.hill@taylor.com) to find out how to sign up today!
FIT Students Available For Internships
FIT Exhibition and Experience Design MA graduate students are eager to hone their skills through summer positions and internships starting on June 1st!
Meet them and check out their portfolios here: bit.ly/4bIX1oQ and consider them for future opportunities after they graduate in December.
Meet our talented graduate students here: bit.ly/4bIX1oQ
Aian Raquel, Akshata Chitnis, Carlos Hernandez, Claire Caverly, Honey Jernquist, Hyunji Lee, Meredith Newman, Jude Desinor, Kellyn Nettles, SAHER SAHNI, Sakshi Lokhande, Robert Reuland, Sarah Agudelo, Sarah Miorelli, Steven Coward
Contact us with any questions
EDPA Great Lakes
Event Title: Future Workforce Webinar
Date: Thursday, March 21
Location: Zoom
Time: 2:00-3:00pm EST
Description: Join the EDPA Great Lakes Chapter for an informative & complimentary webinar presented by EDPA National's Future Workforce Development Committee
Registration link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ub22a6p
EDPA Upper Midwest
Event Title: UMEDPA Virtual Sustainability Conversation
Event Date: March 14, 2024
Location: Virtual Teams Event
Time: 3:30-4:15PM CST
Description: Please join us for a virtual sustainability presentation by Joe Guererro, active member of the EDPA Sustainability Committee. He will be sharing insights, initiatives and best practices that have been defined by the committee through months of research.
Registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/dd020eb0-5d07-4afd-9d39-c9f67ffdb882@42531ba7-45a5-48ee-910c-3a6df5fb88d9
EDPA Midwest
Event Title: Indoor Golf & Networking Social Event
Date: March 14, 2024
Location: Halfway House Indoor Golf - 555 S York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Time: 4:00-7:00pm CST
Description: Join us for a social networking event at the Halfway House Indoor Golf venue in Elmhurst. There will be light bites, a cash bar, and golf simulators available. Networking and golf are both free, but we request that you register in advance! This venue has a 30-person limit, so register ASAP, as spots are limited. Not a golfer? No problem! Feel free to just come and hang out and be social!
Registration link: https://www.edpamidwest.org/event-details/indoor-golf-networking-event
EDPA Northeast
Event Title: Corporate Transparency Act 2024: What You Need to Know for this New Required Legal Filing
Date: March 26, 2024
Location: Zoom Webinar
Time: 4:00-5:30pm EST
Description: Through the Corporate Transparency Act, the federal government has created a new federal reporting requirement. Entities (domestic and foreign) are required to report certain information about beneficial ownership and management control, and then have an ongoing obligation to update this information as changes occur. Beneficial ownership reporting is an effort to help prevent money laundering and other financial crimes by requiring those with control over certain entities to provide identifying information. In this webinar led by Rob Cohen of DS&L, learn and be aware of the basics of:
Why do I need to file another report?
Who needs to report and do exemptions from reporting exist?
Who is considered a beneficial owner?
When am I required to file my initial report?
What kind of information needs to be reported?
Where does the reporting information get filed?
Who has access to this information?
What happens if an entity does not comply with the reporting requirements?
Registration link: Please add this zoom link to your calendar to save your spot: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89005970750?pwd=bHJoNkE0dWE2bWlPOThNU1lHZndSdz09
Meeting ID: 890 0597 0750 and Passcode: 338231. For additional call-in numbers and options, contact EDPA Northeast President Jillian Fafard at jillian@aluvision.com.
EDPA Southeast
Event Title: The Shoebox Project!
Date: March 21, 2024
Location: Brumark/3655 Atlanta Industrial Blvd., Building 100
Time: 5:00-7:30pm EST
Description: We are again proud to participate in this year’s “The Shoebox Project”. The Shoebox Project is where companies and organizations from around the Atlanta area collect, pack and decorate shoeboxes filled with toiletries to be distributed to homeless and low-income men, women and children in Greater Atlanta. We will be collecting new travel-sized items such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrushes, lip balm, hand wipes, band aids, antibiotic ointment, socks, rain ponchos, pre-paid phone cards, and more. We will then decorate and pack the shoeboxes at our next EDPA Networking event. This initiative continues to grow every year and touches so many families with every box we can fill. Hope to see you again this year or join us for the 1st time for this amazing event! This is a fun event to mix and mingle with industry professionals!
Registration link: The Shoebox Project Tickets, Thu, Mar 21, 2024 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite
EDPA Northwest
Event Title: Discovering Our Client’s Ultimate Pain Points!
Date: March 28, 2024
Location: Online Webinar
Time: 1:00pm PST (3:00pm CST/4:00pm EST)
Description: In this lesson, you will learn how to measure the quality of an opportunity (and ultimately decide whether or not to pursue it) based on the prospect's need for your product or service. We call that need their "pain".
Define "pain" in Sandler terms & understand the prospect's motivating factors.
Explain the concept of pain using the gap, funnel and puzzle metaphors.
Demonstrate the questioning strategies for uncovering a prospect's pain.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/799156266907?aff=oddtdtcreator
EDPA Las Vegas + Exhibit City News
Event Title: Save the Girls' Benefit for Lisa Abrams
Date: March 21, 2024
Location: VooDoo Brewing Company at 1415 S Commerce St Ste 105, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Time: TBD
Description: Benefit to support Lisa Abrams cancer treatment.
Registration link: RSVP Only to ChristyD@exhibitcitynews.com
EDPA Las Vegas + EDPA Southern California
Event Title: 2024 Hockey Extravaganza
Date: April 25, 2024
Location: City National Arena – Las Vegas
Time: 5:00-9:30pm PST
Description: Join us for fun on the ice as we kick off the evening with a “free” skate followed by EDPA East vs. EDPA West hockey game. Non-skaters are encouraged to watch everything unfold from the comfort of MacKenzie River Pizza Grill & Pub located above the ice. Food and beverages will be provided for all.
EDPA TEXAS
Event Title: Texas EDPA Monthly Trivia Challenge
Date: April 10, 2024
Location: Zoom
Time: 4:00-5:00pm CST
Description: SPONSORED BY CLASSIC EXHIBITS - Join us for a fun evening and test your trivia skills aiming to win a $50 Amazon gift card. ALL ARE WELCOME!
Registration link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82368665493pwd=bFFiamd4Mng0Rm1aT0xHOTV5eGt4UT09
