January Newsletter 2025
Happy New Year!
EDPA’s ACCESS 2024 in Palm Desert, CA took place just six weeks ago and surveys show it
was a RAVE!
Dynamic keynote speakers, new changes to the ACCESS conference format, increased networking opportunities, and a record turnout of attendees all contributed to what is being called our best ACCESS event ever. Thank you once again to the EDPA ACCESS event planning team led by Liz Nacron for continuing to raise the bar for our most important annual event!
I urge you all to save the dates for ACCESS 2025 on your calendar. It will take place December 2nd – 4th, 2025, on beautiful Amelia Island, Florida (at The Ritz Carlton, to be precise). Two other dates I’d like you to put on your radar are Legislative Action Day (May 29th on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.) and the upcoming EDPA ENGAGE 2025 event, happening Sunday evening, March 16th, during ExhibitorLIVE! week in San Antonio, Texas.
The positive energy felt at ACCESS reflected what we are seeing in the industry, and 2025 has started out just as strong. We’re seeing a Q1 and Q2 trade show lineup that promises to deliver many great opportunities for all EDPA member companies. Here at EDPA headquarters, we, too, are focused on growth and “the work” in 2025.
Our 2025 priorities for EDPA include continuing to grow and develop our industry’s workforce. This year, you’ll feel our greater and deeper commitment to educational tools for that workforce. We will continue engaging our elected officials and the national press in meaningful ways, reminding them often of the powerful contributions the business events industry makes to the U.S. economy. You’ll experience more and greater networking events for our community of members, happening at both the national level and via our incredible Future Leaders and Chapter groups. Advocacy and industry relations are now core tenets of ours, allowing us to make significant gains for both EDPA member companies and the broader event community at large. And, of course, our unshakeable commitment to the good works programs that help and support our industry’s employees and families will remain at the heart of everything we do.
We need everyone’s participation this year to achieve and succeed as an association. We will be reaching out to you in the coming months to ask you to join us in this important work. On behalf of your EDPA Board, thank you for your commitment to EDPA. We all look forward to seeing you throughout the year in 2025!
Chris Griffin
EDPA President
ExhibitorLIVE 2025 – Get Ready!
We are looking forward to seeing everyone at ExhibitorLIVE in San Antonio March 16-19, 2025. Here is the preliminary schedule of events:
Sunday 3/16
6:30 pm - EDPA ENGAGE 25 kicks off the week in San Antonio with our annual social event at Devils River Distillery. See below for more information!
Monday 3/17
11:00 am - EDPA Board of Directors Q1 Meeting
5:45 pm – ExhibitorLIVE First Timers Reception
6:15 pm – ExhibitorLIVE Welcome Reception
Tuesday 3/18
11:45 am – ExhibitorLIVE show floor opens. Stop by the EDPA booth (#277) and say hello. Also make sure to meet the FIT and BSU students and see their portfolios at the EDPA Foundation University Affiliations Booth (#176)
3:00 pm – EDPA Future Leaders meetup at ExhibitorLIVE Awards/Luncheon
in The Square (show floor)
7:30 pm – EDPA Chapters Collide. Stay tuned - more details to come from the EDPA chapters on the location for their annual social gathering
Wednesday 3/19
11:45 am – Exhibitor Awards/Luncheon
12:15 pm – ExhibitorLIVE show floor opens.
4:00 pm - Show floor closes
Announcing EDPA’s ENGAGE 2025!
Date: Sunday, March 16th
Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Devils River Distillery, downtown San Antonio
Just before the grand opening of EXHIBITORLIVE!
Join us for an unforgettable evening in the heart of San Antonio. Nestled in the historic Burns Building, you'll be treated to a night of fun, delicious dinner, engaging conversation, and fabulous entertainment.
Advance purchase only – Dinner will be served, so accurate headcounts are required.
Ticket Prices: $185 for EDPA members, $235 for non-members
What's Included: Dinner, drink tickets, top-notch entertainment
Don't miss out on this must-attend event for EDPA members. Let's create some unforgettable memories together!
ENGAGE 2025 Sponsorships Available
A limited number of ENGAGE 2025 sponsorship packages are available. Showcase your brand while helping to support EDPA. ENGAGE sponsorship benefits include:
Acknowledgement on all event communications, including email
and social blasts
Logo and 50-word company description and contact information included on the event website
Recognition as a sponsor on-site and on printed materials and signage
If you are interested in a sponsorship opportunity to promote your brand, contact Nick (sales@edpa.com) to learn more.
Meet Kate Waldron, who joined the EDPA staff January 2, 2025, as Program Manager. Kate will be engaging with various committees and key initiatives focusing on content, engagement and marketing. Kate has been in the events industry for 20+ years and comes to us with a background in event planning and content management.
In Kate’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with her kids, 7 and 3 years old and her husband. Kate is an avid reader, loves to travel and try new recipes. Please stop by booth #277 at ExhibitorLIVE to meet Kate. – Kwaldron@edpa.com
Add welcome statement - We're thrilled to have the following new members join the EDPA. We look forward to sharing knowledge, fostering connections, and growing together.
My Experiential Concierge
LaPorte, Indiana, USA
www.myexpconcierge.com
MYDISPLAYSOURCE, LLC
McKinney, Texas, USA
www.mydisplaysource.com
NMR Events
Monroe Township, New Jersey, USA
www.nmrevents.com
NPARALLEL + Atomic Props
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
www.nparallel.com
Olson Visual
Hawthorne, California, USA
www.olsonvisual.com
One Stop Expo
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
www.onestopexpo.com
One Worldwide Logistics
Corona, California, USA
www.onewwl.com
Outshaped
Cokato, Minnesota, USA
www.outshaped.com
Pulse Studio LLC
Lisle, Illinois, USA
www.pulsestudio.com
Presentation Design
Laval, Quebec, Canada
www.presentationdesign.com
Protrade Logistics Corp.
Chicago, Illinois, USA
www.protradelog.com
Reality Engineering Solutions
Camas, Washington, USA
www.realityengineering.com
Sapphire Fountains
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
www.sapphirefountains.com
Sequoia
Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada
www.sequoiaco.ca
SJP
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
www.sjp.vegas
Skyline Displays of OC
Lake Forest, California, USA
www.skylineoc.com
SOL Brand Solutions Inc
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
www.exhibitrentals.com
Storylink Creative
Maple Grove, Minnesota, USA
www.storylinkcreative.com
Ultimate Co.
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
www.ultimateco.ca
Veterans Expo Group LLC
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
www.veteransexpogroup.com
21st Century Expo Group
Landover, Maryland, USA
www.21stceg.com
AdaptiveDC, LLC
Herndon, Virginia, USA
www.adaptivdesignconcepts.com
AKTIV Kommunikations-Marketing GmbH
Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany
www.aktiv4u.com
Backstage Synergy Corp
North Miami, Florida, USA
www.backstagesynergy.com
Bowery & Bash
Chicago, Illinois, USA
www.boweryandbash.com
Brave Exhibits, Inc.
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
www.braveexhibits.com
Bryn Group
Miami, Florida, USA
www.bryngroup.com
Chroma Imaging
Herndon, Virginia, USA
www.chroma-imaging.com
Creative Imaging Displays
Greenacres, Washington, USA
www.creativeimagingdisplays.com
EDE Corporation
Chicago, Illinois, USA
www.edecorp.com
Enhance A Colour
Danbury, Connecticut, USA
www.eacgs.com
Entech Innovative Engineering
Rockledge, Florida, USA
www.entechinnovative.com
Exponents Insta USA Inc.
San Diego, California, USA
www.exponents.com
Exposervice USA, Inc.
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
www.exposervice.com
Expovorm International BV
Almelo, Netherlands
www.expovorm.com
FIVE Inc.
Lehi, Utah, USA
www.fiveinc.com
Freeman
Dallas, Texas, USA
www.freeman.com
JL Exhibit Services
Mandeville, Louisiana, USA
www.jlexhibitservices.com
Lancaster Management Services, LLC
Tipton, Indiana, USA
www.lancastermanagement.com
Looboo Display USA LLC
Suwanee, Georgia, USA
www.loodoodisplay.com
EDPA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chris Griffin – CREW XP
(President)Dan Serebin – Derse
(President Emeritus)Tara Ericson – beMatrix
(Vice President )Steve Deckel – Deckel & Moneypenny (Vice President)
Liz Nacron - Live Marketing (Vice President)
Jason Popp - Moss (Vice President)
Jason Weddle - My Experiential Concierge (Vice President)
Jim Obermeyer – Bray Leino (EDPA Foundation Liaison)
Dasher Lowe – EDPA (Executive Director)
EDPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Matthew Little – Nuvista
Michael McMahon – Hill & Partners
Gina Porcaro – Classic Exhibits
Laurie Witte - MSM Inc.
Katina Rigall Zipay – Classic Exhibits
Mark Taylor – Apogee
Noelle Webster - Willwork
James Zacharias – Brumark
Rob Cohen - Display Supply & Lighting
Paco Collazo - Happy Projects
BJ Enright - Tradeshow Logic
Dana Esposito – BlueHive
Brad Falberg - Exhibitus
Vishal Goyal – Aria AV Rentals
Axel von Hagen – von Hagen GmbH
Elliot Kohn – Kubik
If you are interested in joining the EDPA Board of Directors,
Click here for application
EDPA Foundation Update
Year after year, the gala is a highlight of EDPA ACCESS, where, among other events, we raise money to support EDPAF (the Foundation). This year was no exception. Thanks to the generosity of our members, we added $62k to the Foundation's coffers through donations from industry suppliers and members and, of course, through the silent auction. 100% of the funds raised go to the Foundation.
Every year, the EDPAF steps in to offer help, support, and financial assistance to our members and their families. The EDPAF supports our industry during times of crisis and offers scholarships to design students through EDPA-affiliated institutions and to college students whose families are part of our industry.
Consider these statistics:
250 families received over $2M in financial support
30 designers found positions at EDPA-affiliated companies
$500k was distributed in scholarships over the past 20 years
175 folks joined EDPA-affiliated companies in a wide range of positions
Plus, EDPAF supports our partner schools in developing critical industry-specific curricula, ensuring a prosperous future for a new generation of leaders.
As we enter the new year, we want to encourage you to learn how you can take a more active role in making the EDPAF goals realities. We never say “no” to help! To learn how you can join our efforts, please contact Alex Hill: alex.hill@taylor.com,.c: 610.256.0042
EDPA operates membership at the company level, meaning that once a company becomes a member, everyone within that organization enjoys the same benefits. This includes access to resources, networking opportunities, educational content, industry events, and more.
Take advantage of your EDPA membership and ensure all your company employees leverage our offerings. A great start is making sure all your team are signed up for the EDPA monthly newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest EDPA Chapter events! Click the button below to view upcoming events on EDPA’s new Chapter News page.