Customer Experience and AI Futurist Address Icfa Elevate 2025

Furniture World News Desk on 10/14/2024

Dan Gingiss and Tom Edwards will deliver keynote presentations that launch each day of ELEVATE 2025, the International Casual Furniture Association’s annual educational conference slated on February 3-5. Next year, the event takes place at The Westin Tampa Waterside Hotel with an agenda also including breakout sessions and roundtable discussions.

“ELEVATE 2025 is the largest, must-attend learning event for the outdoor furnishings industry that brings together retailers, designers, manufacturers, sales representatives and Solution Partners to gain business insights and share best practices,” said Jackie Hirschhaut, ICFA executive director.

Gingiss has charted more than 20 years leading companies and well-known brands in customer experience, marketing and customer service for his opening keynote address, “A Remarkable Customer Experience is Your Best Competitive Advantage.” Conference attendees will receive a copy of his book, “The Experience Maker,” where he demonstrates ways of improving the customer experience so that clients, in turn, become the best marketers for the business.

As the generative AI leader at Ernst & Young LLP, Edwards has built a multi-faceted background as chief marketing officer, chief digital officer, chief data officer and chief innovation officer that qualifies him to connect the dots of digital and data transformation, artificial intelligence and innovation. His opening presentation on the second morning, “Emerging Technology, A Futurist’s View of Using AI to Transform Business,” is intended to explain how technology shapes experiences and defines the future.

Mark Vitner, chief economist for Piedmont Crescent Capital, will present an economic outlook of national and regional conditions, and Chris Andresen, a lobbyist for AHFA/ICFA at Dutko in Washington, D.C., will deliver a political report. Also, a number of favorite annual conference sessions are planned, including a consumer focus group, peer roundtables and a vendor showcase. A retail design tour of nearby outdoor furnishings retailers and a golf outing at TPC Tampa Bay are scheduled on February 3 before the opening reception and dinner.

Early bird registration is available until October 31 at https://form.jotform.com/242544771351153. Sponsorship opportunities are available at https://form.jotform.com/242734632363153. Group reservations at The Westin Tampa Waterfront Hotel can be made at https://book.passkey.com/event/50828966/owner/2002/home until January 6.

About The International Casual Furnishings Association
The International Casual Furnishings Association supports and promotes the growth of the outdoor and casual furnishings industry through professional education, networking and development. It is the only trade organization committed to promoting the sales of its members’ quality products and services. It is a powerful partnership of manufacturers and importers, retailers, sales representatives and designers of outdoor furnishings plus suppliers to the industry. For more information, please see  www.icfanet.org.