63rd Annual IFEA Convention, Expo & Retreat: Full Schedule

THE 63rd ANNUAL IFEA CONVENTION, EXPO & RETREAT IS DESIGNED TO INFORM AND ELEVATE ALL OF YOUR PERSPECTIVES;providing access to many points-of view; increasing awareness of changing technologies, trends, issues, opportunities and risks; and extending educational and networking opportunities to share and grow your professional experience and expertise.

WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL PLAN NOW TO JOIN US(with your staffs, boards, key volunteers, city representatives, sponsors and vendors) as we welcome the world’s top events, host markets and industry experts, for an unforgettable opportunity to evaluate, prepare for and respond to the many critical and changing perspectives that are influencing our industry and all those that we depend on.

WE PROMISE THAT YOU WILL LEAVE WITH MULTIPLE FRESH PERSPECTIVES OF YOUR OWN.Can You Afford to Miss It?
IT DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE

11:15am PDT

Sponsorship Then & Now: The Things That Never Change and the Things That Already Have

Data, Social and AI are a few of the elements that comprise the “new” sponsorship.
It’s on you and your team to prove the value of your sponsorship program, beyond booths and banners. In this time of unprecedented distraction, there are things that do not change - the elements of human touch, connection and affiliation with the passion points that unite the sponsor and the audience.
This session will illustrate the business case for sponsorship, embroidering both the new with the fundamentals, offering you the tools to becoming proactive to the changes ahead. It’s all about harnessing the power of the subtle changes that will generate the most impactful results. It’s GO Time!

Speakers / Moderators

Gail Alofsin

Director of Corporate Partnerships & Community Relations, Newport Harbor Corporation

Gail Lowney Alofsin is a professional speaker, author, university professor, humanitarian and sponsorship thought leader. Gail provides audiences with practical tools and the inspiration to achieve sponsorship and event success. As the Director of Corporate Partnerships for Newport... Read More →

Monday October 1, 2018 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Room - San Diego

Educational Breakout

SESSION TRACKS Sponsorship & Revenues
ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION NEW; CFEE Elective

2:15pm PDT

Affinity Group: CEO's

Speakers / Moderators

Jim Holt, CFEE

President & CEO, Memphis in May International Festival

Monday October 1, 2018 2:15pm - 3:45pm PDT
Room - San Diego

Educational Breakout

SESSION TRACKS Leadership/Cities/International Perspectives, Operations & Risk Management, Sponsorship & Revenues, Creativity & Technology, Marketing & Mediums

9:45am PDT

Controlling the Message: Creating a Social Media Marketing Plan

We have all heard about the many countless social media platforms that are available to our events , but how do you begin to prioritize your limited time and resources to ensure that you are maximizing the effort and the returns. How do you create a Social Media Plan to work within your finite budget, your strategic vision and other critical considerations. Join us for this important session by IFEA Association Partner and industry leader, Saffire.

Speakers / Moderators

Jessica Bybee-Dziedzic

Director of Partnerships, Saffire

Jessica has a comprehensive background in online marketing, social media and website strategy. In 2007, she joined Wright Strategies, managing online projects for clients including KEEN Footwear, Nike and Frito Lay. In 2009, the Wright Strategies team created Saffire, providing events... Read More →

Tuesday October 2, 2018 9:45am - 10:45am PDT
Room - San Diego

Educational Breakout

SESSION TRACKS Marketing & Mediums, Creativity & Technology
ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION NEW

2:00pm PDT

Revenue the Traditional Nonprofit Way – Creating a Development Effort

Festivals and events have varied revenue streams that can be affected by factors that are beyond our control such as weather. Traditional nonprofits create a development effort to fund the organization; this can be another type of revenue for a festival or event organization. Learn how to create a development effort, the various components of a comprehensive development program, and how to manage this endeavor.

Speakers / Moderators

John Melleky, CFEE, CFRE

FiGurehead, FiG Solutions

John R. Melleky, CFRE, CFEE is a Principal of FIG Solutions, a consulting firm that assists organizations in “Filling in Gaps” as needed. The firm assists in all aspects of organizational management, including board relations and strategic planning, fundraising and sponsorships... Read More →

Tuesday October 2, 2018 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room - San Diego

Educational Breakout

SESSION TRACKS Sponsorship & Revenues
ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION NEW; CFEE Elective

3:15pm PDT

Events as Builders of Economic and Community Impact

Special events attract people to places, activating and spotlighting the potential of venues and their surrounding areas. The Port of San Diego facilitates, sponsors and promotes an extensive range of events in over 20 waterfront locations that provide community enjoyment of San Diego Bay and economic impact to the region. Learn how the Port utilizes strategic partnerships and sponsorship resources to support special events throughout 34 miles of bay front spanning five cities.

Speakers / Moderators

Jim Hutzelman

Special Events Director, Port of San Diego

Jim Hutzelman oversees the permitting and logistics for special events and special uses of the Port of San Diego’s 22 parks, public open spaces, piers and terminals on San Diego Bay. Jim is responsible for developing partnerships with the producers of major special events and for... Read More →

Tuesday October 2, 2018 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
Room - San Diego

Educational Breakout

SESSION TRACKS Leadership/Cities/International Perspectives, Sponsorship & Revenues, Creativity & Technology, Marketing & Mediums, Operations & Risk Management
ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION NEW; CFEE Elective

4:30pm PDT

Prospecting for Sponsors: Sponsorship Research Tactics & Tips

Finding your next sponsor can be a daunting task. Where to begin? Bruce Erley will share more than 40 years of tried and true tactics he uses to create leads lists, research prospects and target in on the desired contact.

Speakers / Moderators

Bruce Erley, CFEE, APR

President & CEO, Creative Strategies Group

Bruce L. Erley is the President and CEO of the Creative Strategies Group, a full-service sponsorship and event marketing agency based in Denver, Colorado which he founded twenty years ago in September, 1995. Creative Strategies Group (CSG) specializes in sponsorship and experiential... Read More →

Tuesday October 2, 2018 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room - San Diego

Educational Breakout

SESSION TRACKS Sponsorship & Revenues
ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION NEW; CFEE Elective

9:45am PDT

Partnership Perspective: Maximizing the Opportunities and Minimizing the Challenges of Food Trucks at Your Event

Food trucks have become not only a trend-unto-themselves, but an important evolution of and consideration when it comes to providing quality food and beverage options to festival and event attendees. Not unlike any other critical and revenue-impacting piece of the operations puzzle, it is important that we understand both the challenges and opportunities for both sides of this partnership, allowing us all to maximize the returns to everyone. In this valuable session we'll be discussing ways to utilize food trucks at your festival, with an emphasis on the best ways to reach out and book food trucks for your events and to collect payments.

Speakers / Moderators

Matthew Geller

CEO, National Food Truck Association

Matt Geller is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association and the Founding President of the National Food Truck Association. The SoCal MFVA is a non-profit organization that represents upwards of 130 mobile vendors in Southern California. Under... Read More →

Wednesday October 3, 2018 9:45am - 10:45am PDT
Room - San Diego

Educational Breakout

SESSION TRACKS Sponsorship & Revenues, Operations & Risk Management, Creativity & Technology, Leadership/Cities/International Perspectives, Marketing & Mediums
ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION NEW; CFEE Elective

1:15pm PDT

Masters Class: Event Evaluation & Impact

We are very pleased to offer this extended Masters Class in a critical topic area: Event Evaluation & Impact. It is designed for advanced-level professionals (self-determined). Participants in the class will work in small groups to share knowledge and collaborate in solving a problem by employing the demonstrated models.

This Master's Class has the following aims:

To inform participants on evaluation theory and methods for events and event tourism, including key concepts and definitions.
To provide a comprehensive evaluation system that can be fully integrated into event and tourism organizations.
To present Logic Models and Theory-of-Change Models to integrate evaluation and impact-assessment into the strategic planning process.
To enable professionals to discuss key evaluation and impact-assessment challenges for events and event tourism and make recommendations for the advancement of professionalism.

You won’t want to miss this special opportunity.

Speakers / Moderators

Donald Getz, PhD

Professor Emeritus, University of Calgary

Professor. Getz has been a pioneer in the development of event studies, including event management and event tourism. He is author of numerous journal articles, books, and book chapters on these subjects, and has delivered many conference speeches and professional workshops. Since... Read More →

Wednesday October 3, 2018 1:15pm - 2:45pm PDT
Room - San Diego

Educational Breakout

SESSION TRACKS Leadership/Cities/International Perspectives, Sponsorship & Revenues
ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION NEW; CFEE Elective; Advanced Level

3:00pm PDT

Masters Class: Event Evaluation & Impact (Con't)

See 1:15pm for session description.

Speakers / Moderators

Donald Getz, PhD

Professor Emeritus, University of Calgary

Wednesday October 3, 2018 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room - San Diego

Educational Breakout

SESSION TRACKS Leadership/Cities/International Perspectives, Sponsorship & Revenues
ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION NEW; CFEE Elective; Advanced Level