Professional Education Topics
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Professional Education Topics

The intent and effort to ReFocus starts within us all. The greatest opportunities are often hidden within our greatest challenges, but it is up to us to discover them.

For nearly seven decades, the IFEA has provided the festivals and events industry with the very best in professional education and training; a wealth of creative and diverse perspectives; and access to the plethora of expertise and experience that makes up our industry. But it is up to each of us to actively participate and discover the value waiting within.

As we gather together in Pittsburgh, we continue that well-etched tradition, but with a keen awareness of the many new challenges that have presented themselves within our industry and the communities that we serve, in recent years. We have drawn upon the insights and input of active industry leadership and other respected voices, from around the globe, and have worked to ensure that attendees at all levels - first-timers and repeat attendees, new to the industry or seasoned professional - can all benefit from the answers, ideas and inspiration that is waiting to be discovered.

A sampling of this year’s topics, presented/moderated by the top leaders in our global industry, include*, among others: (* subject to change).

“There is no better connection to our industry’s global professional network, and the experience, wisdom and support that lies within, than the IFEA.”
– William O’Toole, CFEE
Event Development Specialist, Australia
“The fire and ability to change our events, our cities and our world…to touch lives… lies within each one of us, but it must be lit. The IFEA global network provides the inspiration, motivation and support to ignite so many possibilities.”
- Peter Kagwa, President IFEA Africa
Founder, Events Warehouse; Kampala, Uganda

Sponsorship & Revenues

  • Matching Money with Mission
  • A ReFocus on the Events Industry in 2024, As You Prepare for 2025
  • Driving Event Revenue Through Your Website
  • GeoFencing: How to Use It and Interpret the Data
  • The Perfect 10: Proven Ideas to Keep Your Sponsors Coming Back for More
  • AI (R)Evolution and the Continued Impact on Events
  • Scoring Sponsorship and Audience Engagement: Pittsburgh Sports Panel
  • Medical Marijuana Sponsorship
  • The Power of Texting: Supercharge Your Sponsorship Engagements
  • Maximizing F&B and Merchandise Revenues
  • Maximizing Vendor Management for Unforgettable Events
  • Why We Sponsor What We Sponsor: Inside the New World of Bank Sponsorships
  • ReFocus Your Story, Your Happiness, and Your Success with Blind Ambition
  • From Victim to Visionary Resilience Workshop
  • Reduce, Reuse, ReFocus: Sustainable Strategies That Will
  • Strengthen Your Event
  • (Re)Focus on the Wow!
  • Leadership at ALL Levels: 7 Strategies to Lead Through Change
  • America 250: A Look Inside the Planning for the U.S. Semiquincentennial
  • Caring for the Mind Behind the Magic: Promoting Mental Health in Festivals & Events
  • A Trend is a Trend…Question Is, Will It Bend?
  • Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium Tour
  • All Things Permitted: A Look Inside the City of Pittsburgh Special Events Partnerships

Technology, Creativity and Innovation

  • AI (R)Evolution and the Continued Impact on Events
  • Sparking Creativity: Generating Innovative Content for Festivals & Events
  • Reduce, Reuse, ReFocus: Sustainable Strategies That
  • Will Strengthen Your Event
  • (Re)Focus on the Wow!
  • Driving Event Revenue Through Your Website
  • Using DEI and Placemaking Programs to Inspire People to Reimagine and Reinvent Public Spaces
  • Safe and Welcoming Events: Choosing the Right
  • Screening Systems and Why It Matters
  • Event Energizer: Shifting from Routine to Riveting
  • GeoFencing: How to Use It and Interpret the Data
  • Scoring Sponsorship and Audience Engagement: Pittsburgh Sports Panel
  • Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium Tour
  • Fraud Prevention: Best Practices and Technology to Protect Your Event
  • The Power of Texting: Supercharge Your Sponsorship Engagements
  • All Things Permitted: A Look Inside the City of Pittsburgh Special Events Partnerships
  • The Power of Community: Reasons Why Community
  • Involvement Can Impact the Way You Plan Your Events
  • Maximizing Vendor Management for Unforgettable Events
  • ReFocus Your Story, Your Happiness, and Your Success with Blind Ambition
  • From Victim to Visionary Resilience Workshop
  • Leadership at ALL Levels: 7 Strategies to Lead Through Change
  • Maximizing Internship Programs & Your Event
  • A ReFocus on the Events Industry in 2024, As You Prepare for 2025
  • America 250: A Look Inside the Planning for the U.S. Semiquincentennial
  • Caring for the Mind Behind the Magic: Promoting Mental Health in Festivals & Events
  • A Trend is a Trend…Question Is, Will It Bend?
  • Securing Public Gatherings
  • DEI Accessibility and Protection in an Emergency
  • Maximizing F&B and Merchandise Revenues

Operations & Risk Management

  • Reduce, Reuse, ReFocus: Sustainable Strategies That
  • Will Strengthen Your Event
  • Safe and Welcoming Events: Choosing the Right
  • Screening Systems and Why It Matters
  • Putting Community at the Heart of Your Events with Volunteers
  • (Re)Focus on the Wow!
  • Driving Event Revenue Through Your Website
  • Using DEI and Placemaking Programs to Inspire People to Reimagine and Reinvent Public Spaces
  • Event Energizer: Shifting from Routine to Riveting
  • GeoFencing: How to Use It and Interpret the Data
  • AI (R)Evolution and the Continued Impact on Events
  • Scoring Sponsorship and Audience Engagement:
  • Pittsburgh Sports Panel
  • Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium Tour
  • Volunteers: Easy as Pie
  • Fraud Prevention: Best Practices and Technology to Protect Your Event
  • Sparking Creativity: Generating Innovative Content for Festivals & Events
  • The Power of Texting: Supercharge Your Sponsorship Engagements
  • All Things Permitted: A Look Inside the City of Pittsburgh Special Events Partnerships
  • The Power of Community: Reasons Why Community
  • Involvement Can Impact the Way You Plan Your Events
  • Maximizing Vendor Management for Unforgettable Events
  • ReFocus Your Story, Your Happiness, and Your Success with Blind Ambition
  • From Victim to Visionary Resilience Workshop
  • Leadership at ALL Levels: 7 Strategies to Lead Through Change
  • Maximizing Internship Programs & Your Event
  • A ReFocus on the Events Industry in 2024, As You Prepare for 2025
  • America 250: A Look Inside the Planning for the U.S. Semiquincentennial
  • Caring for the Mind Behind the Magic: Promoting Mental Health in Festivals & Events
  • A Trend is a Trend…Question Is, Will It Bend?
  • Securing Public Gatherings
  • DEI Accessibility and Protection in an Emergency
  • Maximizing F&B and Merchandise Revenues

Marketing, Branding and Media Relations

  • Maximizing Internship Programs & Your Event
  • Correct Response: Being Prepared for the Unexpected
  • AI (R)Evolution and the Continued Impact on Events
  • A ReFocus on the Events Industry in 2024, As You Prepare for 2025
  • GeoFencing: How to Use It and Interpret the Data
  • A Trend is a Trend…Question Is, Will It Bend?
  • Scoring Sponsorship and Audience Engagement: Pittsburgh Sports Panel
  • Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium Tour
  • The Power of Texting: Supercharge Your Sponsorship Engagements
  • All Things Permitted: A Look Inside the City of Pittsburgh Special Events Partnerships
  • ReFocus Your Story, Your Happiness, and Your Success with Blind Ambition
  • From Victim to Visionary Resilience Workshop
  • Reduce, Reuse, ReFocus: Sustainable Strategies That Will Strengthen Your Event
  • (Re)Focus on the Wow!
  • Leadership at ALL Levels: 7 Strategies to Lead Through Change
  • Understanding the Unthinkable: Human Trafficking at Events
  • Driving Event Revenue Through Your Website
  • Volunteers: Easy as Pie
  • America 250: A Look Inside the Planning for the U.S. Semiquincentennial
  • Caring for the Mind Behind the Magic: Promoting Mental Health in Festivals & Events
  • DEI Accessibility and Protection in an Emergency
  • Sparking Creativity: Generating

Leadership & Management

  • ReFocus Your Story, Your Happiness, and Your Success
  • with Blind Ambition
  • From Victim to Visionary Resilience Workshop
  • Reduce, Reuse, ReFocus: Sustainable Strategies That Will
  • Strengthen Your Event
  • (Re)Focus on the Wow!
  • Leadership at ALL Levels: 7 Strategies to Lead Through Change
  • Matching Money with Mission
  • Maximizing Internship Programs & Your Event
  • Understanding the Unthinkable: Human Trafficking at Events
  • A ReFocus on the Events Industry in 2024, As You Prepare for 2025
  • Navigating the New Event Insurance Realities
  • Using DEI and Placemaking Programs to Inspire People to Reimagine and Reinvent Public Spaces
  • Event Energizer: Shifting from Routine to Riveting
  • Understanding Premises Liability Exposure
  • GeoFencing: How to Use It and Interpret the Data
  • America 250: A Look Inside the Planning for the U.S. Semiquincentennial
  • Caring for the Mind Behind the Magic: Promoting Mental Health in Festivals & Events
  • A Trend is a Trend…Question Is, Will It Bend?
  • AI (R)Evolution and the Continued Impact on Events
  • Scoring Sponsorship and Audience Engagement: Pittsburgh Sports Panel
  • Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium Tour
  • Medical Marijuana Sponsorship
  • Fraud Prevention: Best Practices and Technology to Protect Your Event
  • Securing Public Gatherings
  • DEI Accessibility and Protection in an Emergency
  • Sparking Creativity: Generating Innovative Content for Festivals & Events
  • All Things Permitted: A Look Inside the City of Pittsburgh Special Events Partnerships
  • The Power of Community: Reasons Why Community
  • Involvement Can Impact the Way You Plan Your Events

Host City Partnerships

  • Using DEI and Placemaking Programs to Inspire People to Reimagine and Reinvent Public Spaces
  • All Things Permitted: A Look Inside the City of Pittsburgh Special Events Partnerships
  • The Power of Community: Reasons Why Community Involvement Can Impact the Way You Plan Your Events
  • Understanding the Unthinkable: Human Trafficking at Events
  • GeoFencing: How to Use It and Interpret the Data
  • America 250: A Look Inside the Planning for the U.S. Semiquincentennial
  • Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium Tour
  • Putting Community at the Heart of Your Events with Volunteers
  • ReFocus Your Story, Your Happiness, and Your Success with Blind Ambition
  • From Victim to Visionary Resilience Workshop
  • Reduce, Reuse, ReFocus: Sustainable Strategies That Will Strengthen Your Event
  • (Re)Focus on the Wow!
  • Leadership at ALL Levels: 7 Strategies to Lead Through Change
  • A ReFocus on the Events Industry in 2024, As You Prepare for 2025
  • Caring for the Mind Behind the Magic: Promoting Mental Health in Festivals & Events
  • A Trend is a Trend…Question Is, Will It Bend?
  • AI (R)Evolution and the Continued Impact on Events
  • Securing Public Gatherings

Sponsor of the IFEA Annual Convention & Expo  
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