The Exhibit & Event Marketers Association (E2MA)'s Red Diamond Congress will head to Chicago July 30-Aug. 1 and feature 45 high-level conference and education sessions, as well as The Expo Group’s Exhibit Manager of the Year Award (EMOTY) that will be unveiled at the event’s gala.

"Definitely, the draw this year for exhibit and event managers at Red Diamond Congress (RDC) is the creative and collaborative format built around more than 45 new education and conference sessions focused on the top issues that drive exhibit marketing today,” said Michael Hatch, the event’s director of sponsorships and event sales.  

He added, “Also, because RDC is collocated with E2MA's Fact-to-Face Connections Hosted Buyers event, and EXPLORE!, the CMO Council's Symposium, RDC will also attract serious buyers, and the top decision makers on corporate marketing spend and strategies."

This will be the second annual meeting of E2MA, which was formed by the combining of the Tradeshow Exhibitor's Association (TSEA) and the Exhibitor Appointed Contractors Association (EACA).   ??

Education will be in the spotlight at this year’s event, including two keynotes: Liz Miller from theCMO Council, who will speak on the recently completed CMO Study and Lara McCulloch Carter, Ready2Spark, who will speak on “Turning Attendees into Evangelists.”

Here is a sampling of some other sessions on tap:

Barry Siskind, presenting a session on setting the Right Goals and Objectives

Bob Millum, presenting a session on the "One% Solution, Finding a Needle in the Haystack"

Jackie Beaulieu, HCEA, on State of the Industry for Healthcare Organizations

John Nawn, presenting a session with a 'walking tour' of the attendee experience

Marc Goldberg, presenting a session on reporting relevant post show data

There also will be plenty of networking opportunities, such as the First-timers Reception and Dinner With Strangers, a dinner with 6 to 8 people and a lead facilitator, who will engage all in a compelling conversation about issues and challenges of exhibit and event marketing.

The second night of the event will feature the awards gala where the EMOTY award will be given.

The EMOTY Awards honor exhibit managers who exhibit characteristics that create value in corporate event programs like attention to detail, creativity and innovation.

“We created The Expo Group Exhibit Manager of the Year awards to help bring recognition to those who make their organizations shine at exhibitions and events across the country,” said Dana Freker Doody, vice president, corporate communicationsof The Expo Group.

She added, “We are looking forward to handing out the second-annual EMY trophy at Red Diamond Congress because the E2MA community knows what it takes to bring an exhibit to life and effectively lead marketing messages into the world.”

E2MA also will recognize our Member of the Year, our Intrepid Award winner and recognize our newest inductee into the Hall of Fame.

Click HERE to register for this year’s Red Diamond Congress.