The Tom Brady of Exhibitions » Exhibit City News

Spending time with David DuBois

By Chris Kappes, Exhibition City News

NFL legend Tom Brady has set a standard for longevity and achievement that is difficult to replicate. So does David DuBois, a towering figure in the exhibition industry who for more than three decades has led the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), and Meeting Professionals International Association (MPI), and exhibitor groups.

Like Brady, who found it difficult to leave the game, Dubois also faced the challenge of hanging up his proverbial cleats — or in his case, considering he spent 25 years as a hockey referee. The challenge of hanging up your skates. “I announced my retirement from the IAEE in June, and shortly thereafter I was named President of the Exhibitor Group (TEG),” DuBois recalled.

However, just one year later, Du Bois retired from TEG and embarked on a new venture: establishing the Du Bois Group, a strategy and development business focused on the exhibitions and business events sector.

For Du Bois, change was always synonymous with opportunity. He began his career in the hospitality industry, moving frequently with his young family as he held expanding sales and marketing roles at Sheraton and Ritz-Carlton hotels. “It was a storm of career changes,” DuBois shared. It was during this period that he became obsessed with exhibitions at the Sheraton in Washington, D.C., a 1,500-room hotel dedicated to live events. “This is where I cut my teeth in the meetings business.”

Making his mark in the industry also meant learning important lessons that would shape his approach to leadership and mentoring. One of those lessons comes from Kathy Ray, a mentor who offers timeless advice: “Never overpromise. Always overdeliver. Protect and build your personal brand around trust, credibility and integrity ”

Exhibition tour

Initial interest in exhibitions and events soon ignited a full-scale enthusiasm for Du Bois. His career is a testament to his deep commitment to the industry as he has held top leadership positions such as President, CEO, COO, etc. in major associations representing the exhibition and business meetings ecosystem. With a 360-degree view of the industry, DuBois is uniquely positioned to address the most pressing challenges.

“We face three major challenges. The elephant in the room for all stakeholders is ROI (return on investment). Think of our industry as a four-legged stool: program owners, program producers, program suppliers and program attendees. In order for programs to thrive, all programs must have measurable returns,” DuBois explained.

“Workforce development is the second challenge. There are over 600,000 hospitality industry job openings in the United States alone. We have low unemployment right now, and without workers, we can’t produce programming and provide hospitality.”

Finally, Du Bois identified the cost of inflation as a critical issue. “We need solutions that make it more affordable to host, produce and attend conferences. We need to get back to and exceed 2019 levels in terms of sales and revenue.”

When DuBois looks back on his illustrious career, it’s clear what he’s most proud of: “Developing great teams,” he shared. “Build back and bounce back. Helping lead the industry through this pandemic has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the most rewarding.”

Just as Tom Brady looks ahead to new opportunities in retirement, David DuBois is starting a new chapter with the DuBois Group. “As a free agent, I look forward to providing business advice and doing whatever I can to help the organization increase revenue and profits,” he said. Although DuBois joked that he would eventually retire for a third time, he remained focused on his legacy. “When I retire for the third time,” he said with a smile, “I want my legacy to be a person of integrity, caring, results-oriented.”

In an industry that is constantly evolving, David DuBois not only keeps pace, he sets the standard. For an industry that thrives on innovation and resilience, Du Bois is its enduring champion, proving that true leadership lies in leaving a lasting impact that resonates long after the last quarter.