Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association’s Annual Meeting Heads to Cleveland in June
April 20, 2014
This year’s Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) 2014 Annual Meeting will head to Cleveland, Ohio, June 21-24, where there not only is the new Cleveland Convention Center to check out, but also the city is the home to the new Global Center for Health Innovation.
“HCEA’s Annual Meeting convenes thought leaders who are innovating healthcare conventions and exhibits worldwide. Therefore, Cleveland is an ideal venue for our attendees to meet, experience, learn and network,” said Sue Huff, of Medtronic, Inc. and HCEA President.
She added, “During this year’s meeting, we will not only learn about crucial issues affecting our industry, but about the contributions to healthcare Cleveland is making through the new Global Center for Health Innovation.”
The highlight of the event is HCEA’s healthcare-specific education, which will showcase a variety of educational programs designed to assist healthcare association professionals and pharmaceutical, medical device and technology marketers develop innovative and strategic, yet practical, solutions to complex challenges they face in their everyday work.
Educational opportunities include the return of HCEA’s advanced-level education and a new offering for young professionals or those needing to refresh their convention exhibition skills. Educational workshops will be organized by the following themes: Regulatory and Compliance, Measurement, Marketing, Event Logistics and Planning, Global, Technology and Professional/Personal Development.
In addition, international speaker Jeff Tobe, CSP, will deliver the opening keynote address. Tobe will tell attendees how their organizations can design and implement the ideal customer experience.
Greg Harris, CEO and president of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, will provide the closing address for the meeting. He will share insight into the success of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including its marketing strategy and what it means to the growth of Cleveland.
There are numerous networking opportunities planned during meeting, such as the Opening Reception at the House of Blues, Dinner with Strangers Dine-Around, sponsored receptions, HCEA’s Exhibit Hall and the Closing Reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
HCEA’s showfloor will feature close to 100 exhibitors from organizations that supply products and services to healthcare exhibitors.
New features include the HCEA Product Theater, where exhibiting companies can showcase a product or service to a targeted audience of healthcare exhibition planners and marketers.
The Global Center for Health Innovation is the only facility in the world that displays the future of health and healthcare innovation, education and commerce through state-of-the-art spaces, programs and virtual offerings. In addition, Cleveland and the Northeast Ohio region are home to the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals, along with other leading medical institutions.
More than 700 bioscience companies are located in the area, and Cleveland-area healthcare start-ups lead the Midwest in attracting business investments, bringing in nearly $200 million in the past two years. Tours of the Global Center for Health Innovation will be integrated into the HCEA Annual Meeting.
For more information or to register, please visit www.HCEA.org.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
Add new comment