MARIETTA, Ga. – Trade Show Executive learned today that David Audrain, Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) CEO, will be relinquishing this role at the end of the year. A pivot, as at the end of December, it was announced that Audrain, who is also CEO of Exposition Development Company (ExpoDevCo), had signed a three-year extension to the management services agreement in place that would run through the end of 2024.
“David is staying in his role through the end of the year, providing us plenty of time to find a great next leader,” Cassandra Farrington, SISO Chair and Founder of MJBiz, said.
Services provided by ExpoDevCo include association staff, member services and event management, with Audrain serving as CEO, a position he has held since the end of 2015. Audrain demonstrated strong leadership during the pandemic, increased membership among other significant accomplishments.
“SISO is in a different position than when David took over the role seven years ago,” Farrington said. “When David took on the SISO role, it was a part-time role, and because of his strength in the role, it now encompasses full-time responsibilities.”
The search is now on for a new company to manage SISO. “We will look at all the options open to us. The events world has changed, as has the world around us. We will cast a wide net for what is best for the organization. We thank David for his commitment and strength. SISO is better off as a result of his dedication,” Farrington said.
In December, when SISO extended its contract with Audrain, he said, “SISO is an incredibly important group to me personally. Over the last 20 years, it has been the catalyst for many of the business partnerships and opportunities that we have developed at ExpoDevCo. This is the case for a great many of the SISO members, both large and small, and the exceptional support we receive year after year for the SISO CEO Summit and other SISO events shows. Personally, I have made exceptional friendships in this business over the last 30 years, and managing SISO is the best way I know to give back to the industry that has been very good to me.”
Reach Cassandra Farrington at cassandra.farrington@annehollandventures.com or (720) 213-5802; David Audrain at (404) 334-4585 or david@SISO.org
