Highest Number of Association Executives Attended 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition Since 2008

Cain, Heath provided attendees with effective strategies to manage teams, make decisions

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 5,400 association professionals and industry partners attended the 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, August 3-6, in Atlanta. ASAE had the highest number of association executives since the 2008 ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130227/DC67174LOGO )

The final attendance breakdown includes: 2,918 executives, 1,808 exhibitors, 705 others, including guests, spouses, press, volunteers, vendors and staff, for a grand total of 5,431.

A total of 409 companies representing 701 booths exhibited in the expo hall this year, which resulted in a strong ratio of 62 percent buyers (association staff) to 38 percent sellers (industry partners).

"We had our highest number of association executives in five years, which demonstrates the value of professional development and face-to-face meetings," said ASAE President & CEO John H. Graham IV, CAE. "Throughout the conference, we had terrific speakers, a variety of high-quality content that members found valuable, and attendees that were raving about the entire experience." 

During the Opening General Session on August 4, Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, gave attendees insight on how to rethink differently about social interaction, hiring and leadership, public speaking, designing conferences, and diversity with respect to introverts. 

During the Closing General Session on August 6, Dan Heath, a Senior Fellow at Duke University's CASE Center, encouraged attendees to think differently, to test their assumptions, and to find more than one good option when trying to make a decision because it increases the chances of a successful decision. Heath walked attendees through the four-step process on how to make better choices.

ASAE raised $34,500 for Hands On Atlanta, an organization that helps strengthen the Greater Atlanta area through volunteer service and civic engagement. ASAE presented the check after the Closing General Session. ASAE raised the funds through volunteer efforts, city tours, 5K Walk/Run fees, individual donations as well as gifts from the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, GEICO, and the Industry Partner Alliance. 

"Because of the collaboration between ASAE staff, volunteers, leadership, committee members, and the entire Atlanta community, it truly made this a fantastic meeting. Atlanta did an excellent job hosting our event, and our members' noticed the effort and hospitality. Everyone returned home with key takeaways, an incredible experience, and learned what Atlanta could offer its members," added Graham.

The three-day conference included more than 120 education sessions, exhibits, and networking opportunities. The 2014 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition will be in Nashville, TN on August 9-12.  

ASAE thanks the following Alliance Partners for their continued support of the association community:

Strategic Partners
Business Events Canada
Detroit Metro CVB
Fort Worth CVB
Marriott International
Mexico Tourism Board
MultiView, Inc.
Personify
Reno Tahoe USA

Corporate Partners
Affinity Center International
Atlanta CVB
Visit Baltimore
Boxwood
CliftonLarsonAllen
Dallas CVB
GEICO
Louisville CVB
Meet in Washington State
Omaha CVB
Visit Salt Lake
Tourism Toronto

Event Partners
BrightKey
The Broadmoor
Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB
Hong Kong Tourism Board
Johnson Lambert LLP
New Orleans CVB and New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Omni Hotels & Resorts
PBD Worldwide
Puerto Rico Convention Bureau
Richmond Metro CVB

About ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
ASAE is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 10,000 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world. With support of the ASAE Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession, and provides resources, education, ideas and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. For more information about ASAE, visit www.asaecenter.org.

SOURCE ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership