2025 Conference Program

EVENT AGENDA (schedule subject to change)

8:00 am – 8:30 am – Course Check-In/Coffee
8:30 am – 10:00 am – Program
10:00 am – 10:15 am – Morning Break
10:15 am – 12:00 pm – Program
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Lunch (on your own)
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Program
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm – Afternoon Break
2:15 pm – 3:30 pm – Program
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Self Study
4:00 – 5:00 pm – Exam (Optional)

Click here to register

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First time joining us at the CAEM Annual Conference? Don’t miss the First-Timers’ Reception, where this year’s CAEM Team, Conference Co-Chairs and Board of Directors are excited to welcome you and offer some tips and tricks to get the most out of your CAEM and Conference experience.

Join us for a drink and get a head start on this year’s exciting conference Monday between 5:00PM-6:00PM!

Please note: This event is open to first time conference attendees, the CAEM Board and the Conference Co-Chairs (by invitation only).

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Join us for the Kick Off Reception at Dolan’s Pub!

Reconnect with colleagues, meet new faces, and enjoy great food, drinks, and local vibes in one of the city’s favorite spots. Let’s raise a glass to a great start – See You There!

Address: 349 King Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 1B2

The Monday night opening reception is included for all full delegate registrations.  Additional tickets can be purchased for $130 plus applicable taxes.

**By attending this event you agree to be photographed.

Please note that photographs and footage will be taken throughout the Tuesday night event. These will be used by the Association for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website and, in social media or in any third-party publication. Please contact the event organizer if you have any concerns or if you wish to be exempted from this activity.

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WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

The Annual General Meeting is your opportunity to hear what the association has done and what it plans to do. You are encouraged to attend and exercise your basic membership rights. 

WHO MAY ATTEND?

Any CAEM member may attend the meeting. In accordance with our membership participation rights policy, this means any exposition member, or named representative of an associate member company for whom a fee is paid.

 WHO MAY VOTE?

Any exposition member in good standing, and the primary designated representative of an associate member company (one per associate member company) in good standing may vote. 

Please contact the CAEM office if you are not sure whether you are a voting member. A membership status review will take place prior to the meeting.

WHAT DOES ‘MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING’ MEAN?

It means simply that your 2025 fees have been paid and that the payment has been deposited and cleared. If a fee payment is made at the meeting or a few days before, it must be made by certified cheque or by credit card.

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Realizing Resilience: Key Strategies for the Rocky Roads

Dr. Ryan Hamilton, Associate Professor, Mental Performance Coach, & Professional Speaker

This talk will tackle topics related to resilience, mental wellness, motivation, and the characteristics of high-performance people and cultures. Participants will learn about the different types of stress we all encounter, and critically, be given strategies to deal with them. Through anecdotes and exercises Ryan will share insights from his professional and personal life that make real just how common stress is, and how we can all get a little bit better at coping with the curveballs life inevitably throws our way.

Click here to read Dr. Ryan Hamilton’s Bio

ExpoCAN Lunch Sponsored by:

Mimosa Station Sponsored by:

Navigating Trends in Today’s Media Landscape

This presentation will take a clear, engaging look at the shift from traditional to digital marketing, why AI is changing the game, how creative drivers and classic brand awareness still play a key role, and the impact of real-time tech—all tying back to one core goal: driving ticket sales.

Speakers:

Kevin Brault, VP, VMC Media

John Marraffino, CEO, VMC Media

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7 Trends Shaping How We Plan, Produce and Promote Events

Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes, Marketing Strategist, Entrepreneur, & Business Consultant

This dynamic session will dive into essential new event industry insights you can’t afford to ignore, including everything from strategic planning to campaign execution to the onsite experience. Kimberly will discuss how generational and societal shifts will require a fresh approach to event design, how event organizers should adapt in the face of geopolitical disruption, why it’s imperative we begin experimenting with new communication channels (and break our over-reliance on email) and how to minimize the uncertainty of last-minute registrations.  Participants will be given an opportunity translate these insights into tangible actions in peer-to-peer table discussions.

Click here to read Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes’ Bio

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Location: Picaroon’s Roundhouse (website), 912 Union Street, Fredericton, NB E3A 5M5

Join us for an unforgettable evening at our Tuesday night event!

• Come raise a glass to celebrate some of the best beers the region has to offer!  Picaroon’s is pouring a curated selection of craft brews, with special releases, flights, and friendly faces all night long.
• Get ready to enjoy some live tunes, featuring one of the best local bands!
• Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner with a variety of tasty options for everyone!

Can’t wait to see you there!

**Tuesday evening night out is included for all full-delegate registrations. Additional tickets can be purchased for $155 plus applicable taxes.**

**By attending this event you agree to be photographed.

Please note that photographs and footage will be taken throughout the Tuesday night event. These will be used by the Association for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website and, in social media or in any third-party publication. Please contact the event organizer if you have any concerns or if you wish to be exempted from this activity.

Unlocking Business Brilliance

Jason Cyrus delivers a practical approach to ingraining goals and enhancing business performance. Recognizing that motivation often fades within days, Jason emphasizes that true, lasting change comes from structured, science-backed strategies rather than fleeting inspiration. As an unconscious coach, Jason explores the habits of top performers and how anyone can adopt these to excel in their careers and personal lives. His engaging and humorous presentation reveals three powerful techniques to help you and your team internalize business goals, boost performance, and achieve unprecedented success.

Speaker:

Jason Cyrus, Motivational Hypnotist | Keynote Speaker | Author | Naturopath (N.C) | Unconscious Coach

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How to Unleash the Power of an Event Brand to Increase Attendance 

Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes, Marketing Strategist, Entrepreneur, & Business Consultant

Kimberly Hardcastle, mdg president and chief marketing strategist, will show and tell how several events have truly unleashed the power of their event brands to increase visitor attendance, exhibitor participation and market share. More importantly, she’ll provide insights that will help you appropriate the lessons learned with an emphasis on accentuating competitive differentiators, finding your authentic voice, translating an event brand to the onsite experience and convincing bosses, boards and stakeholders of the changes that must be made to ensure an event stays relevant to a new generation of visitors.

Click here to read Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes’ Bio

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Someone’s Going to Pay – An overview on insurance for the convention and trade show industry

Speakers:

John Neofotistos, Managing Partner, exhibitorinsurance.com

John Argyropoulos, Chief Operating Officer, exhibitorinsurance.com

Scott La Croix, Vice President, Head of TMHCC Specialty Canada Operations, HCC Specialty Underwriters, Ltd. & Tokio Marine HCC

Click here to read John Neofotistos’ Bio

Click here to read John Argyropoulos’ Bio 

Click here to read Scott La Croix’s Bio

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State of the Industry: Navigating Change in Exhibitions and Events

As the exhibitions and events industry continues to evolve in the wake of global disruption, technological innovation, and shifting attendee expectations, staying informed is more critical than ever. This thought-provoking fireside chat brings together leading voices from across the sector to discuss the current landscape, key challenges, and emerging opportunities shaping the future of live events. Topics will include attendee engagement, hybrid and digital trends, sustainability, labour and logistics, and the economic outlook for organizers and exhibitors. Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and candid perspectives from those at the forefront of the industry.

Speakers:

Fred Cox, President, National Event Management

Stephen Dempsey, General Manager, Canada, Diversified Communications

Lerna G., CEM, Director, National Events, Restaurants Canada

Chuck Grouzard, EVP, Business Development, GES

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Roundtables – Continue the Connections

Build on the momentum and dive deeper into meaningful conversations during this interactive roundtable session. Continue the Connections offers a chance to engage with peers and experts in focused discussions around key topics including insurance, event branding, media buying, and the evolving landscape of social media and AI. Whether you’re looking for practical insights, innovative strategies, or new collaborations, this session is designed to keep the dialogue going and ideas flowing.

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Join us as we celebrate outstanding achievement at our Awards of Excellence celebration. This prestigious program honors individuals and organizations that exemplify excellence across the industry. From creative ingenuity to operational impact, we’ll shine a spotlight on those setting new standards and inspiring others through their work. Don’t miss this inspiring tribute to the best in the business.

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As we wrap up an inspiring and productive conference, we invite you to join us for a special closing dinner at First Light Distillery

Come raise a glass, enjoy a delicious meal, and connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed and celebratory atmosphere. Let’s toast to shared successes and new connections.

Address: 73 Fairway Drive, Hanwell, New Brunswick, E3C 0M2
Dress Code: Smart Casual

We look forward to sharing this memorable evening with you!

**Closing dinner is included for all full delegate registrations.  Additional tickets can be purchased for $155 plus applicable taxes.**

**By attending this event you agree to be photographed.

Please note that photographs and footage will be taken throughout the Closing Night Dinner. These will be used by the Association for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website and, in social media or in any third-party publication. Please contact the event organizer if you have any concerns or if you wish to be exempted from this activity.