10/18/2021

Highlight New Products To Up Excitement at Events

Improve events by incorporating feedback from members and exhibitors

ASAE's seventh planner of productivity is Blake Swango, vice president of trade and membership for the American Sportfishing Association. Established in 1933, ASA includes more than 900 member organizations representing all aspects of America's $50 billion recreational fishing industry.

Swango, who has a background in both political science and environmental studies, joined ASA in 2016 to direct the organization's premier event: the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST. ASA is based in Alexandria, Virginia, but since 2014 has chosen to host ICAST at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center.

This past July, more than 10,850 exhibitors and members attended the event, creating an estimated economic impact of $27.9 million. Attendees participated in new product launches and networking, as well as virtual product demos and webinars. Partnering with Visit Orlando, the Convention Center and Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission allowed Swango to pull off a safe event.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Associations Now.