EDPA Access 2025 shattered attendance records with 354 participants while raising $122,000 for industry scholarships. Outgoing President Chris Griffin reflects on the leadership transition to Tara Erickson and shares how strategic networking at industry conferences drives real business growth in the experiential marketing sector.

What You’ll Learn

• How EDPA Access achieved record-breaking attendance and sponsorship revenue
• Strategic networking approaches that generate measurable business outcomes
• Key economic insights for experiential marketing companies in 2026
• Leadership transition strategies that maintain association momentum
• Community-building tactics that strengthen industry relationships

Time Stamps

• 00:00 - End of an Era: Farewell to the EDPA President
• 00:26 - Introducing the New Leadership
• 02:03 - Recap of a Record-Breaking Event
• 05:25 - Networking Highlights and Success Stories
• 15:29 - Keynote Insights: Building Community and Connection
• 21:39 - Economic Insights and Predictions
• 26:49 - Private Equity and Business Growth
• 32:03 - Cigar Rolling and Karaoke
• 34:29 - Reflections and Future Plans
• 37:07 - Holiday Plans and Family Time
• 37:53 - Las Vegas Christmas
• 38:57 - Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes

Snippets from the Episode

• "You can't see eye to eye without being face to face."- Chris Griffin (quoting Warren Buffett)
• "I had 15 great meetings, one-on-one, not five or ten-minute pickup meetings, but good, great encounters. Four of them I would say are game-changing relationships for my company in 2026."- Chris Griffin
• "Jack of all trades, master of none. You can either spread yourself thin or you can go deep. What stood out was how structured his approach was, using what he calls associative thinking."- Chris Griffin (quoting Leo Chan)
• "The only way to know how valuable it is is to look back; there's no looking forward."- Chris Griffin (referencing Steve Jobs' calligraphy story)

Key Takeaways

1. Record-Breaking Conference Success
2. Strategic Leadership Transition Planning
3. Measurable Networking ROI from Industry Events
4. Economic Challenges and Opportunities for 2030
5. Innovation Through Associative Thinking
6. Community Building Through Shared Values
7. Foundation Impact with $122,000 Fundraising

Resources

• Seth Godin's ⁠9,000 vs 9 blog⁠
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