ELX News

Event Leaders Exchange (ELX) brought its community together in Las Vegas for a new half-day ELX Forum focused on leadership growth, before taking the conversation to the wider IMEX America audience through a panel exploring what professional development looks like at the top of the events profession.

On October 13, 2026, ELX members and partners came together in Las Vegas for the 2026 ELX Forum at IMEX America, followed on October 14 by the panel Inside ELX: Professional Development for Event Leaders, which brought perspectives from within the ELX community to the wider IMEX America audience.

The two sessions reflected a challenge identified through ELX’s Future Ready Leaders research and ongoing conversations with members: expectations of event leaders continue to increase, while the time and resources available for meaningful professional development remain limited.

Welcoming Two New ELX Strategic Partners

The Forum opened with the introduction of two new ELX Strategic Partners: Discover The Palm Beaches and Visit San Antonio.

Images courtesy of Discover The Palm Beaches and Visit San Antonio

ELX’s partner relationships are built around long-term engagement, relevance to the community, and meaningful participation in conversations that matter to senior corporate event leaders. The Forum gave members an opportunity to meet both teams.

“Discover The Palm Beaches and Visit San Antonio each bring a distinct perspective and deep expertise in destinations that are evolving to meet the needs of today’s business events”, said Nicola Kastner, CEO of ELX. “We’re pleased to welcome them to ELX and look forward to the insight and experience they’ll share with our members over time.”

“The best partnerships are built around meaningful exchange, and that’s what makes ELX such a valuable community. Being closer to senior event leaders gives us an opportunity to better understand what is shaping their decisions while contributing our destination expertise to conversations about the future of the industry.”

- Milton Segarra, CDME, President & CEO, Discover The Palm Beaches

“ELX brings together some of the most influential corporate event marketers in the meetings industry, and we're excited to have the opportunity to introduce them to San Antonio,” said Tyler Orwig, Chief Sales Officer for Visit San Antonio. “We have a great story to tell, and what really sets San Antonio apart is how we create memorable events and experiences. We're looking forward to building relationships with these leaders.”

A New, Focused Format for the ELX Forum

This year marked a change in structure for the ELX Forum at IMEX America.

In response to member feedback, the Forum moved to a half-day format this year. Held at Mandalay Bay Convention Center under the Chatham House Rule, it created dedicated time for professional development and peer exchange during IMEX America.

The program was hosted by Chloe Richardson, Head of Content at ELX, with Holly Ransom, CEO of Emergent Global, leading the central professional development masterclass.

Ransom is a global voice on leadership, change, and high-performance cultures. Through Emergent Global, she advises Fortune 500 companies, governments, and global organizations on building future-ready teams, navigating complexity, and leading through change.

The session focused on how leaders can identify their next areas for growth, recognize resistance to change, and expand their performance and influence. It also explored how energy affects performance, with exercises designed to help participants reflect on how they sustain their own energy and support their teams.

The Forum gave members practical frameworks they could apply within their own roles, teams, and organizations.

"The ELX Forum was a great way to connect with other senior event leaders and have a targeted professional development session in the middle of the broader IMEX Conference. IMEX is a huge event, and it was nice to have a more intimate setting to network and learn.”

- Michelle Eggers, ELX Member.

Taking the Conversation to the IMEX America Stage

On October 14, the conversation continued with Inside ELX: Professional Development for Event Leaders, giving the wider IMEX America audience a look at some of the thinking taking place within the Event Leaders Exchange community.

Emceed by Chloe Richardson, the 45-minute panel brought together four ELX members:

Julie Lehnis, Global Strategic Meetings Manager at Apple
Elena Overton, Executive Director, Events Management at Wells Fargo
Megan Garrett, Director of Travel, Meetings and Events at Mintz
Andrew Hoag, Category Manager, Meetings & Events at Biogen

The panel explored how senior leaders make development a priority, apply new thinking to their teams and decision-making, and navigate the pressures shaping event leadership.

The public discussion brought selected perspectives to the wider IMEX America audience while preserving the confidential peer exchange of the ELX Forum.

Strengthening Leadership at the Top of Corporate Events

The two sessions formed part of a wider ELX focus on strengthening leadership at the top of corporate events.

As event functions become more closely connected to business strategy, senior leaders are increasingly expected to influence across organizations, manage through continued change, develop high-performing teams, and demonstrate the strategic value of events.

For ELX, creating opportunities for leaders to learn from peers and develop the perspective and capabilities their roles demand is a vital part of what the community offers. The Forum and panel brought that work into focus at IMEX America 2026.

About Event Leaders Exchange

Event Leaders Exchange (ELX) is an invitation-only community for senior corporate event leaders from the world’s largest global brands.

ELX strengthens leadership at the top of corporate events by creating trusted opportunities for peer exchange, shared learning, research, and professional development.

Senior corporate event leaders interested in joining the ELX community can learn more and request an invitation at https://www.eventleaders.com/join-elx

For more information, visit https://www.eventleaders.com/