Executive Summits · by the Future of Manufacturing Alliance
Industrial Gases & Chemicals Summit for Manufacturing Plants
Meet the plant leaders paying cylinder rent on gas they could make themselves.
Each summit is capped at 20 sponsors. Talk to Joe before it fills.
Who’s coming so far
21 manufacturers have confirmed they will send people. The target is 100+ plant leaders in the room by each summit.
- Honda
- GE Aerospace
- General Motors
- Stellantis / Jeep
- Procter & Gamble
- Cleveland-Cliffs
- Whirlpool
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber
- Parker Hannifin
- Swagelok
- Crown Equipment
- Lincoln Electric
- Sherwin-Williams
- + 8 very large manufacturers, not named at their request
Two days with plant, engineering, maintenance and purchasing leaders from Midwest manufacturers who buy nitrogen, oxygen, argon, CO2, welding gases and process chemicals. Pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings. No expo hall.
The people who sign the PO for gases and chemicals projects.
Invited from plants across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Every delegate is screened by title and plant.
1,470plant leaders from 495 manufacturers have come to past FMA summits.1,033 of them pick the vendor, own the budget or sign off.
Who decides a plant purchase, and how many came
- Step 1287Find the problem, write the specEnergy Engineer, Facilities Engineer, Environmental Engineer
- Step 2560Pick the vendorFacilities Manager, Environmental Manager, Energy Manager
- Step 3337Own the budgetDirector of Engineering, Director of Operations, Director of Manufacturing
- Step 4136Sign offPlant Manager, General Manager, President
Who we invite to this summit
Each title, and what that person owns.
- Plant ManagerSigns off on supply
- Plant Engineering DirectorOn-site generation
- Welding EngineerShielding gas, weld quality
- Purchasing ManagerSupply contracts
- EHS ManagerStorage and handling
Where past delegates worked
Plant leaders at past FMA summits, by industry.
Industries we are inviting to this summit: Metals and fabrication (welding, cutting, heat treat) · Automotive and parts (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana) · Food and beverage (nitrogen, CO2, freezing) · Chemicals and plastics (inerting, blanketing) · Glass and electronics (oxygen, high-purity gases).
Counts are past FMA delegates, each counted once. They show who this audience is; they are not 2027 attendees.
Past speakers and delegates, by industry
Food and beverage
12 speakers · 161 delegates
Automotive
10 speakers · 192 delegates
Machinery, equipment and electronics
7 speakers · 209 delegates
Chemicals, plastics and rubber
6 speakers · 120 delegates
Steel and metals
2 speakers · 82 delegates
Aerospace, pharma, building and consumer products
29 speakers · 667 delegates
They came back.
Past FMA sponsors, and how many summits each one sponsored, from the printed programs.
- 7BASFConstruction materials · 7 summits
- 2The Dow Chemical CompanyBuilding insulation · 2 summits
- 18US LED18 summits
- 17Kaeser Compressors17 summits
- 14Covanta14 summits
- 14Solution Dynamics14 summits
- 10Advanced Power Technologies10 summits
- 8Smardt Chiller Group8 summits
- 7EQUIDEX Energy7 summits
- 7LG Electronics7 summits
- 6AgriPower6 summits
- 6Greenstar Recycling6 summits
See the other 102 companies that sponsored two or more FMA summits
3M 2 · Acuity Brands 4 · Advanced Green Technologies 3 · Advantix Systems 8 · AERCO International 5 · Air Balance 2 · AmbiRad 3 · Ameresco 2 · Armstrong Fluid Technology 5 · Badger Meter 2 · Be Power Tech 2 · Bio-Reaction Industries 2 · BLUEFIN 4 · Bosch Thermotechnology 2 · Burns & McDonnell Engineering 3 · Camfil 2 · Capstone Turbine 2 · Chelsea Group 2 · Cleaver-Brooks 4 · ConDex Energy 2 · Constellation Energy 5 · Control Instruments 2 · CopperTree Analytics 3 · Cushman & Wakefield 2 · Cypress Envirosystems 5 · Doosan Fuel Cell America 3 · DTE Energy Services 2 · Dyson 4 · Eaton 3 · EcoSafe Zero Waste 2 · EDF Renewable Energy 2 · Edison Energy 2 · Emerson Climate Technologies 2 · Energy Management Systems 4 · Energy Source 2 · EnerNOC 2 · Enertech Global 2 · EnterSolar 2 · Environmental Resources Management 2 · ERS International 3 · ETwater Systems 2 · Every Watt Matters 2 · Eye Lighting International 3 · Facility Solutions Group 2 · FacilityConneX 2 · Fellon-McCord & Associates 3 · GDF SUEZ Energy NA 2 · GE Distributed Power 2 · GE Solar 2 · Gexpro 3 · GI Energy 2 · Green Ballast 2 · Greenworks Energy Solutions 3 · Harris Lighting 2 · Heritage Interactive Services 2 · Hurst Boiler & Welding Co. 2 · IBM 4 · ICETEC Energy Services 2 · ICONICS 3 · Invensys Operations Management 2 · JLL 4 · Jorgensen Facilities Services 5 · K+S Services 2 · KDC Solar 2 · KERAMIDA 2 · Knauf Insulation 2 · KVAR Energy Savings 3 · LEDtronics 2 · Lutron Electronics Co. 3 · MaxLite 2 · MCEnergy 2 · MEP Associates 2 · MPC Energy 5 · Munters 2 · Newton Distributing Company 2 · Nortec 3 · North America Power Partners 2 · North American Roofing 2 · OAKLEAF 4 · Optimum Energy 2 · Orion Energy Systems 2 · OSRAM SYLVANIA 5 · Pfister Energy 2 · PowerSecure 5 · Rinnai America 2 · Rockwell Automation 2 · ROXUL 2 · Rubicon Global 2 · SAP America 2 · Schneider Electric 6 · Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure 5 · Sloan 2 · Solar UV Solutions 3 · Solatube International 3 · Steril-Aire 2 · Synergy Investment 6 · Thermal Energy International 3 · Trane 2 · Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance 2 · Viridity Energy 2 · Wahaso - Water Harvesting Solutions 2 · Zurn Industries 2
In writing, from past sponsors and delegates.
Their words, not ours.
“We go through two dozen prospects here and get almost two dozen good, qualified leads to turn into business.”
Past sponsorWayne PerryTechnical Director, Kaeser CompressorsRead the whole quote
“…We come to these because we get to see the people that we spend months and months trying to get to at our other shows and never get to the actual decision makers. And the decision makers come to this show. We’ve been very successful with the quality of people and with the business that we get out of the show- that’s why we keep coming back. We go through two dozen prospects here and get almost two dozen good, qualified leads to turn into business.”
“…these contacts in many cases oversee programs that encompass many facilities rather than a single local facility”
Read the whole quote
“FMA has always proven to provide higher level contacts- these contacts in many cases oversee programs that encompass many facilities rather than a single local facility”
Past sponsorBill MehallSenior Manager, Key Accounts, Kaeser Compressors“Every year we are able to find new partners to develop breakthrough projects”
Read the whole quote
“FMA Summit has been a very friendly business event for General Motors. Every year we are able to find new partners to develop breakthrough projects”
Past delegateBreitner MarczewskiDirector of Energy Engineering, General Motors“We will be partnering with a couple of the presenters at the Summit”
Read the whole quote
“…The expertise represented at this Summit (solar, lighting, etc.) was impressive and very informative. We will be partnering with a couple of the presenters at the Summit…”
Past delegateScott CullenAmericas Environmental Compliance Manager, BostikSee 8 moreShow fewer
“I like the fact that there is a single track of presentations. All attendees see all presentations. Most other events have multiple presentations going on at the same time.”
Past sponsorWayne PerryTechnical Director, Kaeser Compressors“I found the experience well organized and full of opportunities to network with vendors I was interested in.”
Past delegateWarren VoughtCorporate Facilities Manager, Archer Daniels Midland“…Enjoyed the Summit and met some good contacts.”
Past delegateRuss DelozierDirector of Sustainability, J+J Flooring Group“Great Summit to attend and see the diversity of industry and government. Several vendors presented new ideas to problems we all face in the industry.”
Past delegateEd HagerstromDirector EHS, Refresco Beverages US Inc.“Excellent set of presenters on a wide range of subjects, lots of new and forward thinking. Great networking with small groups- startup dinners and circulation times.”
Past delegateJohn DeVinneySenior Project Manager, Perdue Farms“I’ve been to a lot of conferences and I found the FMA sessions to be excellent, engaging and interesting. I think it had some of the best speakers I’ve ever seen in a conference I’ve been to. I certainly liked the format, the 20 minutes sessions, so you can get the top level ideas or thoughts without having to hear in infinite detail. The format is well structured, the speakers were really, really good and I would highly recommend this conference to anybody in this field.”
Past delegateBrendan SullivanExecutive Director, Facilities, Estée Lauder“The Summit was truly ‘eye-opening’. I got an excellent sense of momentum building for companies and institutions making significant changes for the future. Woe betide those organizations who turn a blind eye to the need and benefits of changing how they manage and operate their facilities.”
Past delegateChris WendtFacilities Manager, Standard Motor Products, Inc.“As a global leader, it’s extremely important for me to stay current on technological advances. The FMA Summit brought current advances and best practices to me in an efficient 1.5 day event”
Past delegateMaria WatsonSr. Manager Global Energy, Pall CorporationWhat sponsors closed, and what buyers said.
Past sponsors on the business that came from an FMA introduction, and past buyers on the vendors they met there.
Set up Wednesday. Two full days of meetings. Home Friday afternoon.
Same schedule in Columbus and Detroit.
- Wednesday afternoonSponsors set up their exhibits. Everyone checks in.
- ThursdayThe full day: plant case studies, booked 1-on-1s, the reception and dinner.
- FridayMorning case studies, more 1-on-1s, closing lunch. On the road by mid-afternoon.
The hour-by-hour plan and the venues
| Time | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast at your company table | Breakfast at your company table | |
| 8:00–10:00 AM | Plant case studies | Plant case studies | |
| 10:00 AM | Coffee and shop talk in the exhibit room | Pre-booked 20-minute 1-on-1s at your table | |
| 11:00 AM | Plant case studies | Plant case studies | |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch with your booked 1-on-1 meetings | Closing lunch with your booked 1-on-1 meetings | |
| 1:00 PM | Plant case studies | Plant case studies, then head home | |
| 2:00 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Pre-booked 20-minute 1-on-1s at your table | |
| 3:00 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Coffee and shop talk in the exhibit room | |
| 3:30 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Plant case studies | |
| 5:00–7:00 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Reception and dinner, with more 1-on-1s |
The full package's 15 pre-booked 20-minute 1-on-1s run Thursday and Friday: in the meeting blocks above, at lunch, and at the reception. Each is with a plant leader who asked to meet you, at your company table. You get your meeting schedule before you arrive, and the delegate list, with names, titles and companies, 30 days before the summit.
Venue photos via Wikimedia Commons: Hilton Columbus Downtown by Ɱ (CC BY-SA 4.0); Renaissance Center by Crisco 1492 (public domain).
The program: plant leaders come to hear how other plants fixed it.
The program is built from projects plants actually finished, presented by the plant and the company that did the work. Every industrial gases and chemicals category has room for more. If you've solved a problem like these, your story belongs on this program.
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On-site gas generationInvited
How Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey, Pennsylvania is working toward making its own CO2
A CO2 reclamation system whose activated carbon bed is heated and cleaned with nitrogen from a Generon nitrogen generator rated at 10 scfm and 95% purity; the carbon capture project is expected to produce 65% of the brewery's CO2 needs (expected; as reported by Compressed Air Best Practices, September 30, 2024; the CO2 recovery equipment maker is not named).
The problem: Tröegs bought liquid CO2 by the pound for its brewery and wanted protection from CO2 shortages, while its own fermentation released about one million pounds of CO2 a year.
Published result: A CO2 reclamation system whose activated carbon bed is heated and cleaned with nitrogen from a Generon nitrogen generator rated at 10 scfm and 95% purity; the carbon capture project is expected to produce 65% of the brewery's CO2 needs (expected; as reported by Compressed Air Best Practices, September 30, 2024; the CO2 recovery equipment maker is not named).
Invited: Generon, with Tröegs Independent Brewing · Read the published case
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Process & specialty chemicalsInvited
$300,000 a year saved on grinding coolant at a U.S. automotive OEM plant
QUAKERCOOL 2776-XT synthetic coolant with QH FLUIDCONTROL XMS monitoring and control on the central system: operational costs reduced by $300,000 annually and machine downtime reduced by 75%, over 1,000 hours of additional production time per annum (as reported by Quaker Houghton, 2024; customer not named).
The problem: Fungal and bacterial growth in the coolant serving 17 gear grinding machines on one central filtration system forced the plant to shut the system down for 5 days every quarter for deep cleaning.
Published result: QUAKERCOOL 2776-XT synthetic coolant with QH FLUIDCONTROL XMS monitoring and control on the central system: operational costs reduced by $300,000 annually and machine downtime reduced by 75%, over 1,000 hours of additional production time per annum (as reported by Quaker Houghton, 2024; customer not named).
Invited: Quaker Houghton · Read the published case
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Industrial gasesInvited
How Custom Alloy in California raised aluminum melt output over 15% with new oxy-fuel burners
Messer OXIPYR LEAF air-oxy-fuel burners, commissioned in January 2023: melt output up by over 15%, natural gas use down 15%, oxygen use down 25-30% and CO2 emissions down by over 15%; official emissions results were still pending (as reported by Messer, originally published in Light Metal Age, August 2024).
The problem: Custom Alloy needed more output from its aluminum furnace to meet customer demand while cutting emissions ahead of tighter California standards.
Published result: Messer OXIPYR LEAF air-oxy-fuel burners, commissioned in January 2023: melt output up by over 15%, natural gas use down 15%, oxygen use down 25-30% and CO2 emissions down by over 15%; official emissions results were still pending (as reported by Messer, originally published in Light Metal Age, August 2024).
Invited: Messer, with Custom Alloy · Read the published case
See all 7 stories, in 4 categories, and how a session runs
- 1The problemWhat was happening at the plant.
- 2The costEnergy, maintenance, downtime or lost output.
- 3The decisionThe options they weighed, and why this one.
- 4The workWhat changed, how long it took, what went wrong.
- 5The resultsMeasured before and after. Achieved, estimated or identified, said plainly.
- 6The lessonsWhat another plant should check first.
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Industrial gases
1 story invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
How Custom Alloy in California raised aluminum melt output over 15% with new oxy-fuel burners
Messer OXIPYR LEAF air-oxy-fuel burners, commissioned in January 2023: melt output up by over 15%, natural gas use down 15%, oxygen use down 25-30% and CO2 emissions down by over 15%; official emissions results were still pending (as reported by Messer, originally published in Light Metal Age, August 2024).
The problem: Custom Alloy needed more output from its aluminum furnace to meet customer demand while cutting emissions ahead of tighter California standards.
Published result: Messer OXIPYR LEAF air-oxy-fuel burners, commissioned in January 2023: melt output up by over 15%, natural gas use down 15%, oxygen use down 25-30% and CO2 emissions down by over 15%; official emissions results were still pending (as reported by Messer, originally published in Light Metal Age, August 2024).
Invited: Messer, with Custom Alloy · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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On-site gas generation
3 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
How Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey, Pennsylvania is working toward making its own CO2
A CO2 reclamation system whose activated carbon bed is heated and cleaned with nitrogen from a Generon nitrogen generator rated at 10 scfm and 95% purity; the carbon capture project is expected to produce 65% of the brewery's CO2 needs (expected; as reported by Compressed Air Best Practices, September 30, 2024; the CO2 recovery equipment maker is not named).
The problem: Tröegs bought liquid CO2 by the pound for its brewery and wanted protection from CO2 shortages, while its own fermentation released about one million pounds of CO2 a year.
Published result: A CO2 reclamation system whose activated carbon bed is heated and cleaned with nitrogen from a Generon nitrogen generator rated at 10 scfm and 95% purity; the carbon capture project is expected to produce 65% of the brewery's CO2 needs (expected; as reported by Compressed Air Best Practices, September 30, 2024; the CO2 recovery equipment maker is not named).
Invited: Generon, with Tröegs Independent Brewing · Read the published case
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Invited
How Morey cut its nitrogen bill by more than $270,000 a year by making its own
Two South-Tek nitrogen generators producing more than 5,000 scfh at 99.999% purity: about $350 per 8-hour shift before and about $100 after (about 70% savings), annual nitrogen cost from over $360,000 to about $90,000, annual savings of over $270,000, and production independence in six weeks (as reported by South-Tek Systems in Compressed Air Best Practices, March 24, 2026; plant city not stated).
The problem: Morey, an electronics design and manufacturing company, relied on delivered bulk liquid nitrogen under a long-term contract with escalating prices, inflexible termination terms, tank maintenance and the risk of a supply cutoff stopping production.
Published result: Two South-Tek nitrogen generators producing more than 5,000 scfh at 99.999% purity: about $350 per 8-hour shift before and about $100 after (about 70% savings), annual nitrogen cost from over $360,000 to about $90,000, annual savings of over $270,000, and production independence in six weeks (as reported by South-Tek Systems in Compressed Air Best Practices, March 24, 2026; plant city not stated).
Invited: South-Tek Systems, with Morey · Read the published case
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Invited
Ending bulk liquid nitrogen deliveries for laser cutting at Giles Foodservice Equipment
An on-site nitrogen generation system designed by Mobile Mechanical Services around a 100 hp ELGi EG75 VFD rotary screw compressor (approximately 375 CFM at approximately 100 PSI): approximately $500,000 in savings over 10 years (projected; as reported by ELGi, May 4, 2026; plant location not stated).
The problem: Giles' laser-cutting lines depended on truck-delivered bulk liquid nitrogen that boiled off continuously, so over-ordering wasted money, under-ordering risked a shutdown, and supplier pricing and delivery timing were hard to predict.
Published result: An on-site nitrogen generation system designed by Mobile Mechanical Services around a 100 hp ELGi EG75 VFD rotary screw compressor (approximately 375 CFM at approximately 100 PSI): approximately $500,000 in savings over 10 years (projected; as reported by ELGi, May 4, 2026; plant location not stated).
Invited: ELGi and Mobile Mechanical Services, with Giles Foodservice Equipment · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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Welding gases & supplies
Open: no story invited yet -
Process & specialty chemicals
3 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
$300,000 a year saved on grinding coolant at a U.S. automotive OEM plant
QUAKERCOOL 2776-XT synthetic coolant with QH FLUIDCONTROL XMS monitoring and control on the central system: operational costs reduced by $300,000 annually and machine downtime reduced by 75%, over 1,000 hours of additional production time per annum (as reported by Quaker Houghton, 2024; customer not named).
The problem: Fungal and bacterial growth in the coolant serving 17 gear grinding machines on one central filtration system forced the plant to shut the system down for 5 days every quarter for deep cleaning.
Published result: QUAKERCOOL 2776-XT synthetic coolant with QH FLUIDCONTROL XMS monitoring and control on the central system: operational costs reduced by $300,000 annually and machine downtime reduced by 75%, over 1,000 hours of additional production time per annum (as reported by Quaker Houghton, 2024; customer not named).
Invited: Quaker Houghton · Read the published case
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Invited
Over $1M a year saved at one drivetrain plant through chemical management services
Supplier-neutral chemical management: over $1M/yr cost savings at one site, including reconstituting and re-using quench oil (saving $500k/yr), consolidating and recycling coolants (saving $400k/yr), lower prices for floor soap and machine cleaners (saving $150k/yr), $300k less working capital in chemical inventory, and a 30% reduction in leaks (as reported by Incora; customer not named).
The problem: A drivetrain manufacturer buying over 500 chemicals, including coolants, lubricants and other fluids, lacked the bandwidth to optimize them.
Published result: Supplier-neutral chemical management: over $1M/yr cost savings at one site, including reconstituting and re-using quench oil (saving $500k/yr), consolidating and recycling coolants (saving $400k/yr), lower prices for floor soap and machine cleaners (saving $150k/yr), $300k less working capital in chemical inventory, and a 30% reduction in leaks (as reported by Incora; customer not named).
Invited: Incora · Read the published case
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Invited
Less cleaning chemistry, fewer plating rejects: an automotive parts maker's 35% saving
After an on-site audit, Aquaease Infinity cleaner with membrane technology: the plating reject rate dropped, cleaner bath life went from a couple of weeks to not dumped in 18 months, and chemistry and equipment-lease costs fell from $100,000 to $65,000 (period not stated; as reported by Hubbard-Hall; customer not named; date not shown).
The problem: An automotive parts manufacturer spent over $100,000 a year on cleaning chemicals and had persistent quality problems in its plating operation, believed to come from poor cleaning.
Published result: After an on-site audit, Aquaease Infinity cleaner with membrane technology: the plating reject rate dropped, cleaner bath life went from a couple of weeks to not dumped in 18 months, and chemistry and equipment-lease costs fell from $100,000 to $65,000 (period not stated; as reported by Hubbard-Hall; customer not named; date not shown).
Invited: Hubbard-Hall · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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"Invited" means invited: none of these companies has confirmed. Results are as published by the supplier; we ask every presenter for dates, baseline costs and verified results before the program is final.
Real FMA Summit rooms. No stock photography.
Get in front of the decision makers, not the crowd.
Full package
- 15 guaranteed pre-scheduled meetings
- A 20-minute case-study session
- A fully furnished exhibit
- Your corporate dining table
- Three people at full access
Add meetings up to 40 at $1,500 each.
- Any booked meeting that doesn’t happen is added to your next summit, written into your sponsor agreement.
- Each summit is capped at 20 sponsors, each solving a different problem for the people in the room.
Want the category to yourself? Each summit is capped at 20 sponsors. To talk about your category, .
- Plant leaders ask to meet you. We seat the ones who asked at your table.
- Your booked meeting schedule arrives before the summit.
- Any booked meeting that doesn't happen is added to your next summit: miss 3, and you get 15 plus 3. It's written into your sponsor agreement.
- You get the delegate list 30 days before the summit: names, titles and companies.
- Three people are included with full access. Extra passes are $2,900 each.
Or pick only what you wantMeetings from $15,000, talk $15,000, exhibit $15,000, dining table $10,000
One category, one summit. Prices in USD. Whatever you pick includes three people with full access. Meetings are booked on an opt-in basis before the summit; any booked meeting that doesn't happen is added to your next summit.
No vendor walks the show. Solution providers attend only as sponsors. A vendor that has not sponsored cannot register, attend or work the room, so the plant leaders you meet are not being chased by your competitors in the hallway.
The ten questions every sponsor asks.
Past sponsors answer all ten in one 5-minute film. Pick a question and the film jumps to its answer.
Now ask your own questions.
Answered on camera by past FMA sponsors. Recorded at past FMA summits.
Who's behind it.
Started FMA in Montreal in 2007 and has run every summit himself: 35 of them, 17,000+ meetings. Capped at 20 sponsors per summit, meetings booked before anyone arrives, and no vendor walks the show.
Read the full story
30 printed programs, with every sponsor and speaker as printed.
Open any programBASF sponsored 7 times. The summit is capped at 20 sponsors.
Twenty minutes with Joe Piazza: who is coming to your summit, where your company fits among its 20 sponsors, and what the agreement says. The sponsor brief has the delegate profile, the full agenda and the itemized pricing.
35 summits since 2007. Joe Piazza, who founded FMA, runs every summit himself. The videos on this page are from past summits.