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What Are People Saying?

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The IFEA Convention remains the best opportunity to network with your fellow industry professionals, learn new ideas, discover “old ways” that can be modified as “new ideas” to help your event, rejuvenate you for the next year, and re-enforce what you’re doing right, while uncovering something new or different to improve your event.
Ed Bautista, CFER
Chief Creative and Strategic Officer
Bautista Event Specialists Team (BEST)

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IFEA provided a well-polished professional Convention that promoted industry education, exceptional networking and an overall experience that far exceeded my expectations.
Michelle Card
Executive Director
NICA, Inc.

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An excellent networking opportunity to learn and share with municipal event colleagues from across North America! The Affinity Session was a great opportunity to connect and collaborate on shared opportunities and challenges.
Rebecca Cotter
Event Supervisor
Town of Oakville, Canada

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By FAR the most valuable opportunity to connect and share ideas with industry peers you get each year! As with any Convention, you get out of it what you put into it, and IFEA does a tremendous job of providing a vast array of ways we can immerse and maximize our annual experience.
Jeremy Emerson
Owner, Saffire

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Networking is the name of the game at the IFEA Convention. It's the one place where the best in the industry can meet to share ideas and build friendships!
Jeff English, CFEE
Sr. Vice President
Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc.

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As an active participant in 250+ travel industry Trade Shows in my career, there is no doubt: The International Festivals & Events Association Annual Convention is by far the definitive event for destinations and producers of festivals to learn, gain ideas, stay current, and be the best they can be!
Mark Browning
Founder/CEO
TRIPInfo Digital Platform

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I found "my people" at IFEA! We were able to relate on so much personally and professionally. I am looking forward to going again next year to complete the CFEE process and learn so much more!
Sean Fitzgerald
Events Manager
City of Oviedo

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IFEA does a great job of taking care of vendors and including us as equals. From my very first event I have felt welcomed. We also find new business every year, while seeing our long time customers! Easily my favorite Expo!
Wendy Freiwald
Driector of Global Sales
EXPOCAD

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Excellent learning experience and networking event! I loved meeting other event professionals and learning from and hearing about their experiences.
Lea Dreux
Event Coordinator
Breckenridge Tourism Office

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An excellent Convention to meet high level Event Directors and gain knowledge on hosting high level, quality events. Very motivating to be amongst these professionals!
Annie Frisoli
Associate Lecturer
Ohio University

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As a student, I was able to see what I am learning in the classroom be used within the industry! A wonderful learning experience!
Rebekah Hatherly
Student
High Point University

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IFEA has provided me with the tools, education, and connections that have enabled our small Town events to grow quickly and successfully as well as enhance my career and knowledge in event planning.
Maura Haberman
Event & Program Coordinator
Town of Acton, Massachusetts

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The real life solutions offered to real industry problems were PRICELESS. The willingness of the presenters to offer advice on how to improve our festivals and events makes it a joy to attend.
Angelique McKay
Project Manager/Consultant
Cultural Experience Productions

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THESE are my people. Yes!
Rachel Trice, CFEE
VP Marketing & Events
Home Builders Association of Metro Portland/Street of Dreams

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This was my first time attending an IFEA Convention & Expo and it certainly did not disappoint. The amount of information that I received, to help our grow our town's festival, was simply astounding.
Emilee Smith
Vice-Chair
Secret City Festival of Oak Ridge, TN

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As a first-time attendee to Convention, IFEA provided me a wonderful opportunity to open my mind and learn without pretense. The seminars not only provided me with new ideas and viewpoints, but also validated current work and strategies.
Michelle Ullman
Associate Director of Sales
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

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The Convention was chocked full of interesting new topics and diverse speakers. It is amazing how much information on current industry trends and best practices you can gather in three days!
Becky Genoways, CFEE
President/CEO
Genoways Event Management

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Extremely valuable to those in the industry. This is one of the premier Conventions and a must-attend. Looking forward to next year!
Alex Zelinski
Director of Corporate Partnerships
National Cherry Festival / Festival Foundation

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The IFEA's Annual Convention offers a myriad of educational breakout sessions and valuable information throughout the 3 days. It is a great opportunity to network with others in the event industry. For me, it is inspiring...I always leave with so many ideas!
Binna Jensen, CFEE
Marketing Manager
Idaho Statesman

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IFEA has it all - great location, super sessions, networking with old friends and making new ones. I so look forward to IFEA each year. If you can only attend one Convention, IFEA should be the one!
Elmer "Butch" Helton
Manager, Pigeon Forge, TN. Office of Special Events

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Fantastic way of meeting Event Professionals from all over the globe. Seeing the different challenges faced and different methods for running events but the similar passion we all have for doing this all consuming job!
Elaine Fitzsimon
Cuckoo Events

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There's no better place for event professionals driven by the power to celebration to gather, learn, collaborate and recharge than the IFEA Convention Expo & Retreat. It's a place where friends and colleagues meet (and new ones are made) to fearlessly celebrate and exchange good ideas and best practices. It's on my calendar annually.
Eric Martin, CFEE
President/CEO
Music for All, Inc.

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Learning from other professionals that encounter the same challenges that we all face everyday, is one of the most efficient ways to learn.
Jack Hammer
Executive Director
Three Rivers Festival

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As a first time Convention attendee, I found the information to be valuable and the networking opportunities to be invaluable!
Evette Pittman
City of Grand Rapids

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If you want to be inspired to do bigger and bolder things, then the IFEA Convention is where you need to be!
Jodie Moreno
City of Elk Grove

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The IFEA's Annual Convention is the best way to learn and network across the festival events industry. It is always a great time and you will walk away with at least one or more new idea to implement in your own event.
Meg Tadlock
Events Coordinator
North Carolina Azalea Festival

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The IFEA has a well-oiled team putting together a terrific Convention, bringing people together who are making a difference world-wide!
Laura Grunfeld
Owner, Everyone's Invited, LLC

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The IFEA Convention and Expo is the best opportunity I have all year to meet and interact with peers and customers in the industry. This Convention was outstanding and I look forward to next year.
Pete Van de Putte, CFEE
Owner, dfest®

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The IFEA Convention opened up my eyes to all of the possibilities in the event world. The professionals I met through the networking opportunities inspired me to pursue my passion in this industry. I am fortunate to have taken part in such an educational and rewarding Convention.
Sierra Duke
IFEA, Student Chapter- CSU, Chico

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Coming from New Zealand it's always good to see that while other countries have their nuances, the trials and tribulations we all experience are very similar, that's what makes us such a close global family.
Warwick Hall, CFEE
Owner/Manager
Safety Set Consulting, Ltd.

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CFEE was a great experience and developed valued relationships that will last forever.
Randy Dewitz, CFM, CFEE
Owner, Fanfare Attractions, LLC

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Every time I attend the IFEA Annual Convention, I get rich in so many ways.
Dr. Vern Biaett, CFEE
Assistant Professor
Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, High Point University

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