Welcome to ESSAE!

GUIDE. EMPOWER. LEAD.
The Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) is a nonprofit professional organization for persons engaged in the management of voluntary trade and professional organizations. ESSAE provides quality educational, leadership, and professional development opportunities to association executives and supplier members, to encourage high professional standards in the management of associations. ESSAE membership comprises over 475 members statewide and is an approved provider of continuing education for those holding the CAE designation.

Annual Conference & Trade Show

This is it, we're in the home stretch! Only five days until #ESSAEAnnual. This means there's still time to register, but don't delay! You won't want to miss out on all the excitement, education, networking, and community activism! Many of our activities are complimentary to qualified buyers, however, registration and proof of vaccination and/or a negative COVID test (taken no sooner than Friday, September 10) is required! Walk-ins will not be admitted. Masks are required for ALL NON-VACCINATED individuals and encouraged for vaccinated individuals.

Get Involved! Complimentary activities for qualified buyers:

• Morning Trade Show to meet with vendors who understand YOUR business needs!
• Afternoon Closing Reception to network with vendors, sponsors, and colleagues!

Why should YOU walk the floor this year?

• Meet with vendors who are looking to reconnect and understand your changing needs! 
• Engage & connect with your fellow association and meeting professionals.
• Win fabulous giveaways and prizes! Don't forget your business cards!
• Do business on the trade show floor! Bring your RFPs!
• Make Qualified Buyer-Vendor Appointments! Whether you are attending in person or walking the floor virtually, our exhibitors want to meet with you! Select vendors for a 1:1 appointment by completing our online form!

Trade Show Floor access and the Networking Reception are BOTH FREE to qualified buyers only! ESSAE Membership is NOT required! Advanced registration is required as walk-ins will not be admitted. Qualified buyers are association or meeting professionals. This includes trade, professional, or business association (staff who are engaged in the management of the association, meetings/events, or other association business), president/CEO/executive directors/staff, meeting professionals, etc. 

We can't wait to see you in person! As a leader in the association industry and community, we are looked to for standard-setting and showcasing how best to host events. In an effort to make everyone feel comfortable about attending our first in-person event, we are making your safety and health a top priority. Take a look at the measures we have put in place for this year's conference. 

Association Conferences: We're Seeking Your Input!

Here at ESSAE, we've experienced a lot of change lately and we're sure your associations are going through the same thing! We'd like to take a quick pulse of when association annual conferences are being held in 2021-2022. If you have 2 minutes, please take this quick association survey!