Episode description

In this episode, we had a conversation with Chris Brown, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Global Connections and Events, for the National Association of Broadcasters. After 25 years with the association, Brown recently announced he’s leaving the organization following the 2024 NAB Show. 

Under Brown’s stewardship, the NAB Show portfolio has continually innovated to provide a superior event experience for broadcast, media and entertainment industry professionals. 

Brown talked about his departure from NAB and what might be next for this industry leader. He reflected on the 100th NAB Show held earlier this year in Las Vegas. The 2023 NAB Show recorded double-digit growth year-over-year in both attendance and exhibitors with 65,013 attendees and 1,208 exhibiting companies. 

He also offered a sneak peek into the plans for NAB Show New York in October and for the 2024 NAB Show in April. Plus, find out how NAB Amplify, the association’s digital platform, has evolved under his leadership.

Podcast host Danica Tormohlen also shared the top five new stories from Trade Show News Network, Exhibit News Now and Corporate Event News that were published in the first half of August 2023.

Our guest

Brown has accumulated more than 35 years of experience in the non-profit sector, serving various industries by building programs designed to inform, educate and drive business transactions. Much of his career has been focused on producing large-scale trade shows and events.  

For the last 25 years, he has served the broadcast and wider media industry by shaping and leading NAB’s Global Connections and Events (GCE) Team, which is responsible for serving NAB’s membership and the wider media industry, through creating events, digital products and other services that drive industry innovation and growth.  

Among the major events produced by the team are the NAB Show, an annual convention for the media and entertainment industry, and NAB Show New York.  The team also produces and manages NAB Amplify, a year-round digital hub for the media and entertainment sector.  

Brown is an active leader within the live events industry and has served as past chair of the International Association of Exhibition and Events (IAEE; www.iaee.com) and the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR; www.ceir.org).

He holds a BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an Executive Masters of General Administration from the University of Maryland University College.  He and his wife, Sherry, live in Fairfax, VA and are the proud parents of four amazing children and the proud grandparents of three even more amazing grandchildren.