Hough Leaves ECEF, Tradeshow Biz

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 7/24/2006

Michael Hough, longtime industry consultant and co-founder of the Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum, is withdrawing from all his tradeshow activities to open a gourmet food and wine catering business in the Hartford, Conn., area where he lives.

Hough and fellow consultant Sam Lippmann started ECEF five years ago as a forum for industry executives to discuss issues in the field. They also founded the semi- annual Large Show Roundtable in 2001. Both were invitation- only events that targeted top executives and managers of the largest exhibitions.

Hough said his new business, which will open early next year, presented an excellent opportunity, but that it wouldn't involve tradeshows in any way. He said he has a long-standing predilection for launching new businesses and, since ECEF has become well established, he felt it was time to move on.

Hough won't actually be doing the catering or cooking — he has a partner for that — but will contribute his marketing expertise to the business, which he called "something new that will keep me fresh."

Hough co-founded the A/E/C Systems show, was senior managing director for Penton Media, and a founding member of the Society of Independent Show Organizers. As a consultant, he has advised clients on strategies for organizing successful exhibitions.

Lippman said he was grateful to Hough for the energy and dedication he has invested in the industry, ECEF and the Large Show Roundtable. He said he can't replace Hough, but remains excited about assuming more of the responsibility for the two events.

"I'll spend more time with my customers, which is a good thing," Lippman said.

The next Large Show Roundtable will be held Dec. 7 in Philadelphia; the next ECEF will be May 10, 2007, in Washington, D.C.