IFEA 71st Annual Convention & Expo

IFEA 71st Annual Convention & Expo

This premier gathering of festival and event professionals, suppliers, and industry partners from around the world offers unparalleled opportunities for education, inspiration, and meaningful connection. From those taking their first steps toward a new event, to those advancing long-standing, globally recognized experiences, there is something for everyone as we explore emerging trends, address real-world challenges, and identify new opportunities.
Mark your calendar. Step Forward. The future of festivals and events starts here.

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8:00am PDT

Inside the Industry General Session - Moving Forward...All Together

Tuesday October 6, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Room - Turquoise Ballroom

Passionate and relentless in her advocacy, Maayan Ziv is reshaping how the world – and events - think about accessibility. Her lived experience with muscular dystrophy and recognition with Canada’s Meritorious Service Cross reflect a lifelong commitment to advancing access for all. Maayan Ziv is an entrepreneur and disability activist dedicated to creating a more accessible world. As the Founder and CEO of AccessNow, and AccessFest - a first-of-its-kind, open-to-all celebration of inclusion, she leads a mission-driven organization that not only maps accessibility but also educates and advocates for inclusive practices globally, empowering communities – and events - through information and innovation. Come join your global peers and help us all take a big step forward with an important inside perspective and clearer understanding of inclusion.

Speakers

Maayan Ziv

Founder & CEO, AccessNow and AccessFest

Passionate and relentless in her advocacy, Maayan Ziv is reshaping how the world – and events - think about accessibility. Her lived experience with muscular dystrophy and recognition with Canada’s Meritorious Service Cross reflect a lifelong commitment to advancing access for... Read More →

Sponsors

Ascension Wheelchair LIfts

IFEA Foundation

Tuesday October 6, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Room - Turquoise Ballroom

Education, CFEE Elective

9:15am PDT

Arts Affinity Group

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT

Room - White Dove

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Moderators

Stephen King, MA, CFEE

Executive Director, Des Moines Arts Festival

Stephen King has spent his life engaged with the arts. Originally from Houston, Texas, Stephen began his professional career directing, acting, and managing live theatre productions throughout the Houston area. In 1995, he turned this passion for the arts toward non-profit arts administration... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT
Room - White Dove

Education, CFEE Elective

9:15am PDT

CEO Affinity Group

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Moderators

Randy Dewitz, CFEE, CFM

Owner, Fanfare Attractions, LLC

Randy L. Dewitz, Owner, Fanfare Attractions started the Company in September, 1994. As an Event Producer, he has managed services for the Festivals and Events industry for over 43 years. Randy received his Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE) designation in September 2016... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT
Room - Agave

Education, CFEE Elective

9:15am PDT

Marketing & PR Affinity Group

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT

Room - Coronado II

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Moderators

Dave Bullard, CFEE

Owner, FanFirst

S. David Ramirez, CFEE

Principal Consultant, SDMRamirez, LLC

S. David Ramirez, CFEE, is an award-winning marketing and communications professional from San Antonio, Texas. He is the founder and principal consultant of SDMRamirez, LLC, a marketing and technology strategies agency. He is a faculty member of the IFEA/NRPA Event Management School... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT
Room - Coronado II

Education, CFEE Elective

9:15am PDT

Operations & Risk Management Affinity Group

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT

Room - Coronado I

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Moderators

Becky Genoways, CFEE

CEO, Genoways Events

Ira Rosen, MA, CFEE, CED

CEO, Ira L. Rosen, LLC, Festival and Event Consulting

Ira L. Rosen is the President and CEO of Ira L Rosen, LLC, a consulting firm providing strategic services to the worldwide festival and event industry. He is a highly regarded global leader whose decades of experience specialize in core areas of event risk assessment, creative event... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT
Room - Coronado I

Education, CFEE Elective

9:15am PDT

Volunteer Management Affinity Group

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT

Room - Joshua Tree

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Moderators

TaKeyia Dickens, MBA, CFEE

Community Curator and Community Partnerships Specialist, The Connector's Lab

TaKeyia M. Dickens, MBA, CFEE, is a dynamic community engagement strategist, speaker, and founder of The Connector’s Lab, a creative think space focused on designing community-first strategies, volunteer programs, and partnerships that create real connection and measurable impact... Read More →

Samantha Mulvihill

Volunteers Specialist, Shows, The Pennsylvania Horticulture Sociaty

Tuesday October 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:45am PDT
Room - Joshua Tree

Education, CFEE Elective

11:00am PDT

From Forklifts to Fireworks: How CLARK Gave Thunder Over Louisville a Lift—and Became Part of the Show

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Room - Joshua Tree

When a major logistical challenge threatened Thunder Over Louisville, the Kentucky Derby Festival and CLARK Material Handling Company found an unexpected solution—and turned it into a unique sponsorship opportunity. This session tells the story of how CLARK went from providing the equipment that helped make Thunder possible to building a sponsorship activation around the partnership through customer and employee engagement, hospitality, media and social content. It’s a real-world example of what can happen when a sponsor becomes more than a logo and becomes part of the event itself.

Speakers

Jeff English, CFEE

General Counsel, CLARK Material Handling Company

Jeff English, CFEE is General Counsel for CLARK Material Handling Company and previously spent 13 years as Senior Vice President of Administration and General Counsel for the Kentucky Derby Festival. Having worked on both the festival and corporate sides of major sponsorships and... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room - Joshua Tree

Education, CFEE Elective

11:00am PDT

How Events Ignite Growth, Build Local Economies, and Create Community Connection

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Events are more than a gathering—they are powerful economic and community development tools. This session explores how festivals, street fairs, cultural events, and community activations can drive local business growth, attract visitors, generate economic impact, and create meaningful connections between residents, businesses, and organizations.

Speakers

Casey Anderson, BA, CTA

Consultant / Executive Director, Historic Fourth Aveneue Merchants Association

Casey Anderson is a strategic, innovative business leader with more than 20 years of experience as a business owner, nonprofit executive, and consultant. Serving a dual role as Consultant and Executive Director of The Fourth Avenue Merchants Association (FAMA), Casey has spent many... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room - Agave

Education, CFEE Elective

11:00am PDT

Prep & Response: Dealing with ICE Issues (Real & Perceived)

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Room - White Dove

Moderators

Randy Dewitz, CFEE, CFM

Owner, Fanfare Attractions, LLC

Randy L. Dewitz, Owner, Fanfare Attractions started the Company in September, 1994. As an Event Producer, he has managed services for the Festivals and Events industry for over 43 years. Randy received his Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE) designation in September 2016... Read More →

Speakers

Steven Adelman

IFEA Director of Event Safety, Adelman Law Group, PLLC / Principal

Steven Adelman is the head of Adelman Law Group, PLLC and IFEA’s Director of Event Safety. He represents event industry clients with their business issues, creates safety plans, provides crowd manager training, and serves as an event safety expert in significant lawsuits, including... Read More →

Steve Rosenhauer, CFEE

Executive Director, Fiesta San Antonio

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room - White Dove

Education, CFEE Elective

11:00am PDT

Preparation & Prevention: The Most Common Insurance Claims and Concerns of the Last Year

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Room - Coronado I

Speakers

David Olivares, CFEE

Unit Manager, Kaliff Insurance

David G. Olivares is the Director of Sales at Kaliff Insurance. His area of expertise are Festivals and Events and is responsible for guiding the company’s focus on Outdoor Music and Entertainment Events and venues. David’s professional background, infused with his passion for... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room - Coronado I

Education, CFEE Elective

11:00am PDT

What Fans Are Actually Spending in 2026 and What It Means for Your Event Stepping Forward

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Room - Turquoise Ballroom

What are fans spending at festivals, and how is it changing in 2026? Using data across thousands of events, this session breaks down trends in merchandise, food, and beverage. We’ll cover what’s up, what’s flat, and how teams are adapting to drive more revenue and improve the fan experience. For the 3rd year in a row we are sharing industry trends! We will be sending out a survey or open-ended question beforehand to ensure we answer people's specific questions in our presentation!

Speakers

Colette Ingalls

Associate Director, Marketing, atVenu

Tuesday October 6, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room - Turquoise Ballroom

Education, CFEE Elective

3:30pm PDT

Cities, CVB's and Tourism Affinity Group

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT

Room - Coronado I

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Moderators

Tammy Dooley, CFEE

Director of Community Relations, City of Granbury CVB

Rebecca Phillips

Recreation Program Super, Richmond Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room - Coronado I

Education, CFEE Elective

3:30pm PDT

Fly Forward - A 'Backstage Pass' to a Successful Drone Show

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT

Valued IFEA partner Sky Elements will be presenting a special drone show on Tuesday evening, October 6th, as a cap to the IFEA Foundation’s “Two-Step Under Western Skies” Party & Auction. Prior to that, they will be doing a ‘Backstage Pass’ session, with a visit to their onsite launch site, for an inside look at the creation of the show. A session sure to spark your imagination and creativity. (Stop by their Expo booth on Tuesday and Wednesday to thank them for the show, and to see how you might use their expertise and services.)

Speakers

Kyle Pivnick

Vice President, Sky Elements

Sky Elements Is The Largest Drone Light Show Provider In The United States. At our heart we are a production company focusing on creating turn-key drone light shows for a variety of clients. From your local city's 4th of July celebration to companies looking to advertise their next big campaign - we are the go-to solution in the industry for drone light shows... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room - Agave

Education, CFEE Elective

3:30pm PDT

Parades Affinity Group

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT

Room - Joshua Tree

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Moderators

Ed Bautista, CFEE

Chief Creative and Strategic Officer, Bautista Event Specialists Team

Ed Bautista has been in the festival and events industry for over 25 years in various capacities. A long-time employee of the city of San Jose, Ed is also a member of the Chicago Festival Association's Board of Directors and the Chief Creative & Strategic Officer with the Bautista... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room - Joshua Tree

Education, CFEE Elective

3:30pm PDT

Sponsorship Affinity Group

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT

Room - White Dove

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Moderators

Sally Croker

President & CEO, Innovative Sponsorships

Colleen Murphy, CFEE

Director of Community Relations, Des Moines Arts Festival

Colleen Murphy, CFEE is the Director of Community Relations for the Des Moines Arts Festival. In this role, she is responsible for the development, execution, and management of fundraising initiatives and marketing/PR efforts to advance the organization. Prior to the Des Moines... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room - White Dove

Education, CFEE Elective

3:30pm PDT

Step Forward Prepared: CPR & Stop the Bleed Training

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT

Room - Turquoise Ballroom

In an industry where emergencies can happen, we should be prepared for anything. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and Stop the Bleed are two critical, life-saving training programs designed to empower bystanders to intervene during medical emergencies. While CPR addresses cardiac arrest, Stop the Bleed focuses on controlling severe, life-threatening hemorrhages. Most of us know we should have these skills. This is your chance to actually get them. In an important first for the IFEA, to allow everyone to step forward prepared, we are using this special gathering of event professionals to offer a 90-minute hands-on session that will cover Hands-Only CPR and Stop the Bleed — the two interventions bystanders are most likely to need before EMS arrives. Participants will work with training mannequins and bleed control supplies and leave with a course completion certificate. No prior training is required. Better yet, IFEA is covering the cost of your certification. Don’t miss this opportunity to step forward and perhaps save a life.

Speakers

Sotero G. Ramirez, III, MBA, EMT-P

Texas Certified EMS Instructor, El Paso Community College

Sotero G. Ramirez III, MBA, EMT-P, Texas Certified EMS Instructor, is a full-time instructor in the Emergency Medical Services Paramedic Program at El Paso Community College, where he has trained EMTs, paramedics, and U.S. Army soldiers since 1981. His career spans the full breadth... Read More →

Tuesday October 6, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room - Turquoise Ballroom

Education, CFEE Elective