Expo Hall Open

Visit each of our generous sponsors—the firms driving innovation across our industry. Meet the people behind the ideas, explore their capabilities, and see firsthand what sets them apart. It’s a chance to spark new conversations, uncover fresh solutions, and build meaningful connections.

President's Welcome

• Laine Mann, Director, Congress Excellence, Insmed

Trends and Enemies in Experiential Design

From bold visuals to immersive storytelling, great experiential design creates meaningful connections and drives measurable results. But just as there are elements that elevate an experience, there are common missteps—like confusing layouts, off-brand messaging, or overused technologies—that can dilute impact. In this fast-paced session, experiential strategist Travis Stanton draws on successes across multiple industries to highlight what’s working, what’s not, and why it matters for healthcare. You’ll walk away with practical insights to sharpen your creative strategy and make your next exhibit more intentional, engaging, and effective.

• Travis Stanton, Director of Strategy, Storylink Creative

Congress Strategy and Operations: It's Never Too Early to Align

Too often, commercial and medical teams plan in parallel—resulting in fragmented messaging, duplicated efforts, and missed opportunities. In this session, Pierre Metrailler shares how early cross-functional alignment, combined with the smart use of technology, can unlock more cohesive and influential omnichannel experiences. Learn how to map tactics to specific HCP behaviors, leverage digital tools for smarter engagement, and avoid common planning and budget pitfalls. You’ll walk away with a clearer path to designing congress journeys that are integrated, scalable, and built to deliver real impact.

• Pierre Metrailler, CEO, Onomi by SpotMe

Sustainability at Healthcare Conventions: What’s Next

Sustainability is more important than ever—but knowing where to start (or what to tackle next) can feel overwhelming. From carbon footprints and materials sourcing to waste reduction and reporting, the path forward can be complex. In this session, two leaders in healthcare convention sustainability break it down into clear, actionable steps. Whether you’re launching your first green initiative or refining an existing strategy, you’ll gain practical tools for making meaningful progress—without compromising quality. We’ll also explore how to communicate your efforts in a way that resonates with stakeholders, partners, and attendees alike.

• Glenda Brungardt, Vice President + Vice Chair, Board of Directors, The Exhibitor Advocate
  
• Glenn Hansen, CEO, Reduce2

Exhibitor Spotlight - Bluehive

What Do You Do for a Living?

In today’s world, we often avoid speaking to people we don’t know—yet research shows that striking up conversations with strangers brings powerful benefits, from increased well-being to greater creativity and connection. This session explores how and why we’ve developed this tendency, why overcoming it matters, and shares compelling data on the advantages of reaching out. As professionals involved in healthcare conferences, we are in the business of helping people connect at conventions—whether it’s brands with HCPs, associations with members, or industry partners with attendees. Ultimately, facilitating connections between people who don’t know each other is at the core of what we do and delivers real, measurable impact.

• Rusty Wooten, Founder, The Wooten Group

Welcome to Miami

Start your conference experience with a warm welcome from the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. Learn about the region’s world-class venues, hospitality partners, and city resources tailored to healthcare meetings, and discover why Miami continues to be a favorite destination for impactful, memorable events.

Opening Night Reception - Sponsored by SPIRO

Kick off GST25 with a summer soirée under the stars! Join us al fresco on the rooftop for light bites, signature cocktails, games, and unbeatable views of Coral Gables, Miami, and beyond. This breezy, high-energy gathering is your chance to reconnect with colleagues and soak in the spirit of the city. Break out your summer casual best and get ready to celebrate the start of an unforgettable week—rooftop style.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7

HCEA Industry Roundtables

A longtime HCEA tradition, the Industry Roundtables are a signature opportunity to engage in candid, peer-to-peer conversation within your member community. Held simultaneously, the three breakout sessions—one each for corporate members, association leaders, and industry suppliers—create a safe, focused environment to share insights, exchange perspectives, and tackle shared challenges. Whether you’re navigating shifting expectations, evolving strategies, or new opportunities, these roundtables offer a valuable space to connect with those who truly understand your world.

Keynote Speaker: Aaron Draplin, Draplin Design Company

Get ready for a keynote that pulls no punches. Aaron Draplin—founder of Draplin Design Co. and the creative mind behind everything from the Obama Administration’s Recovery Act logo to Field Notes and Burton Snowboards—brings his signature boldness, humor, and heart to the HCEA stage.

In a world crowded with complexity, Aaron makes the case for simplicity, storytelling, and craftsmanship that actually connect. His work may span industries, but his message is laser-focused for healthcare convention professionals: every design choice, every word, every touchpoint matters. Through relatable stories and razor-sharp insight, Aaron will challenge how we think about brand authenticity, audience engagement, and the intersection of business and creativity.

This is not a talk about theory—it’s a rallying cry for clarity, purpose, and putting people first. Whether you’re designing exhibits, crafting messaging, or leading strategy, Aaron’s no-BS perspective will leave you inspired to cut through the noise and make your work matter.

• Aaron Draplin, Late Shift Foreman, Draplin Design Co.

Morning Recharge - Expo Hall Open

Exhibitor Spotlight: Impact XM

AI Power Tips to Boost Your Healthcare Marketing

AI is no longer a future concept—it’s a present-day advantage for healthcare convention and event professionals. In this session, we’ll explore how marketers and their partners are using AI to sharpen audience targeting, personalize pre- and post-event engagement, streamline content creation, and support cross-functional collaboration. You’ll see real-world examples specific to the healthcare meetings space—no technical background

required—plus walk away with practical tools and ideas to start using AI immediately in your event planning, marketing, and measurement workflows.

• Keri Ibbitson, Director of Scientific Engagement and Events, Danaher Corporation
• Anne Trompeter,  Partner, Strategic Account Development, Live Marketing

Making It Matter: Powerful Design for Compact Spaces and Budgets

Don’t let limited space or tight budgets hold you back. This session features insights from top exhibit designers on how to maximize visual impact, visitor flow, and storytelling—even with modest footprints. You’ll discover how creativity and thoughtful design can overcome budget constraints to achieve powerful outcomes, no matter the size or resources.

• Josh Frisbie, VP Creative, Hamilton
• Dana Esposito, EVP Strategy, Bluehive
• Damon Avent, Senior Exhibit Designer, Access TCA

Exhibitor Spotlight - Derse

Table Talk: Lunch, Networking & Meaningful Conversation - Expo Hall Open

Grab a plate and pull up a chair.This is your chance to connect over lunch with fellow attendees in a relaxed, engaging setting. Join a topic-driven table for free-flowing conversation, fresh perspectives, and purposeful networking with peers who share your interests and challenges. It’s connection with substance, designed to spark ideas and build relationships that last beyond the meal.

Understanding Real Costs, Hidden Opportunities, and Data-Driven Leverage

This two-part session pulls back the curtain on the financial forces shaping the healthcare convention landscape—helping you turn data into a strategic advantage. In Part I, dive into a detailed case study and newly released benchmarking data that reveal how show organizers structure pricing, allocate space, and monetize sponsorships and premium placements. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of what drives exhibitor costs—and how those investments compare across major healthcare meetings.

In Part II, we’ll take a broader industry view, highlighting key financial trends, performance metrics, and cost pressures impacting both organizers and exhibitors. Learn how to use this data to strengthen your internal planning and budgeting, identify hidden opportunities, and make a compelling case for future enhancements. Whether you’re advocating for greater value, negotiating smarter, or planning long-term strategy, this session will give you the insights and tools to move forward with confidence.

• Jessica Sibila, Executive Director, The Exhibitor Advocate
• Joe Federbush, President, EVOLIO Marketing

Afternoon Break - Expo Hall Open

Exhibitor Spotlight - NMR Events

Behind the Curtain:  Key Challenges for Primary Care Healthcare Associations

Join leaders from Pri-Med, a primary care healthcare association, for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the evolving pressures reshaping Primary Care meetings. From rising costs and shifting attendee expectations to changing sponsorship models and regulatory demands, this session offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from associations.

• Kara Bush, Vice President of Product Management, Pri-Med
• Marlene Shea, Vice President, Sales and Service, Pri-Med

Rewired: How Learning Has Evolved and What That Means for Modern Audiences

In an age of shrinking attention spans and rising expectations, the way people learn—and how we deliver education—has fundamentally shifted. Today’s healthcare convention audiences are more diverse, digital-first, and experience-driven than ever before. This session explores how learning and educational delivery is evolving in response to generational change, content fatigue, and the need for relevance and clarity.

We’ll cover trends like modular learning, bite-sized formats, immersive environments, and hybrid delivery, with real-world examples of what works (and what doesn’t) in healthcare meetings. Whether you’re shaping CME sessions, exhibit hall content, or symposia, you’ll gain practical tips to make learning stick—no matter who’s in the room.

• Bree LaBollita, Vice President, Content, Learning & Technology, Nth Degree
• Kristen Hubbard, Senior Manager, Content & Learning, Nth Degree

Closing Remarks

• Laine Mann, Director, Congress Excellence, Insmed

Reflections & Projections:  Developments Impacting the Future of Healthcare

Healthcare is evolving rapidly—and few people are better equipped to break it all down than Dr. Bill Trombetta. A longtime HCEA advisor with deep expertise in both legal and managerial strategy, Dr. Trombetta returns as our official “summer school” instructor to deliver a fast-paced, insightful look at the economic, regulatory, and policy shifts reshaping the life sciences industry.

From rising costs and industry consolidation to changing stakeholder expectations and promotional pressures, this session connects the dots between high-level developments and what they mean for conventions, budgets, and long-term planning. Most importantly, Dr. Trombetta will show how these broader shifts directly impact how we, as marketers and event organizers, approach the strategy, design, and delivery of medical exhibits and events. Come ready to learn from one of the best in the business.

• Dr. Bill Trombetta, Professor Emeritus/Attorney, St Joseph's University 

Exhibitor Spotlight - ET Global

Morning Break - Expo Hall Open

RX for Better Engagement:  Optimizing the Exhibit Experience for Clinicians

Understanding how healthcare professionals engage with exhibits at medical congresses is key to creating meaningful, effective experiences. This session offers actionable insights into the behaviors, preferences, and expectations of HCP specialists from both the U.S. and Europe. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of what drives engagement, how regional nuances shape exhibit interactions, and how to tailor strategies that deliver real value to clinical audiences.

• Leah Cepko, Director, Strategy, ImpactXM

Exhibitor Spotlight - Czarnowski

HCEA's Annual HCP Panel

One of HCEA’s most anticipated sessions returns with an unmatched opportunity: to hear directly from the healthcare professionals you work so hard to reach. This live panel of practicing physicians offers a rare, unfiltered look at what truly resonates—and what falls flat—when they engage with exhibits, sponsorships, and educational experiences at medical meetings.

What catches their attention? What drives lasting impact? What tactics do they find valuable, and which ones feel like a waste of time? You’ll gain firsthand insights into how HCPs navigate the convention floor, how they prioritize their time, and what influences their clinical thinking. Even better—you’ll have the chance to ask your own questions, test your assumptions, and leave with clearer direction on how to make your programs more relevant, respectful, and results-driven.

• Michael Young, Principal, BiomedwoRx Life Sciences Consulting

The Last Stop: Closing Reflections with Our Road Family

• Laine Mann, Director, Congress Excellence, Insmed