Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE, is the President & CEO of the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA World), which celebrates 68 years as the “Premiere Association Supporting and Enabling Festival & Event Professionals Worldwide” in 2023. The IFEA operates with a vision of a globally united industry that touches lives in a positive way through celebration and is the presenting body of the IFEA World Festival & Event City Award, which recognizes those global markets that provide and leverage the most positive partnerships between events and the cities that host them. Schmader also serves as the publisher and editor of “ie: the business of international events” and the Founding Director of the IFEA’s Event Management School at the Oglebay National Training Center in West Virginia. Schmader’s 45+ year professional career includes the creation, management and production of large citywide festivals, sporting events, government events, parades, airshows, balloon rallies and Millennium celebrations. In his role with the IFEA he works in partnership with global event professionals and organizations, allied associations, government entities, sponsors, tourism agencies, media and academic institutions, to raise the bar and brand of our common industry, today and into the future. Schmader is an author and highly-rated speaker on industry issues and trends.