Why Do We Have Sponsors at AIHce EXP?
Perhaps it seems to you that sponsorship is just high-profile advertising. Or perhaps you think about it the same way you do any other piece of conference scenery—that is, barely at all. But maybe you’ve wondered whether sponsorship does anything for you as a conference attendee. Think of it this way: sponsorship helps you connect with individuals and organizations that share your values and helps AIHA put together a more complete conference experience.
Sponsorship as Communication
Sponsorship allows organizations to communicate with attendees in creative ways. This communication can be as simple as highlighting a product or service, but for a better idea of the purpose of sponsorship, let’s take a look at two AIHce EXP industry partners.
SGS Galson, a company that offers equipment for industrial hygiene sampling and analysis, states that its mission is to “provide industrial hygiene, environmental health, and safety professionals with the most effective means to obtain data to protect people from hazardous exposures.” The company’s page adds that it will do so “on time with unmatched service, quality, and integrity.”
The website of another sponsor, Casella, highlights the company’s dedication “to reducing occupational and environmental health risks through effective monitoring solutions.” Casella further claims to have been in business since 1799, provided scientific instruments to Charles Darwin and other distinguished figures, and developed the first personal air sampling pump in 1961. “Our continuing innovation and training support ensure the next generation has the latest technology and expertise to aid health risk measurement,” Casella states.
Compare these values with AIHA’s mission statement: “Empowering those who apply scientific knowledge to protect all workers from occupational hazards.” Sponsorship at AIHce EXP is a way for organizations to convey that their missions and values align with those of AIHA and its members. The visibility of sponsors’ names is a way of signaling to you as an industrial hygiene or occupational and environmental health and safety professional that these organizations are prepared to support you on your journey to protect worker health.
Sponsorship as Investment
In 2022, sponsors will play a more significant role compared to previous years in developing and hosting educational programming. This enables AIHce EXP to produce a greater depth and breadth of content than it could have otherwise, resulting in a richer experience for attendees and benefitting the whole profession.
Sponsors offering products that will make AIHce EXP attendees' lives and work easier can book 25-minute Innovation Station presentations to show off their products in the Expo Hall. Organizations that have participated in research, developed new technology, or otherwise created knowledge that can't easily be conveyed within 25 minutes are eligible to host hour-long Learning Pavilion presentations. These private sessions go beyond sales pitches—for attendees, Learning Pavilion sessions are a chance to learn about significant new developments in the IH/OEHS field and earn CIH certificate maintenance points.
In addition to supporting IH/OEHS education and professional development, sponsoring organizations also aim to demonstrate their commitment to investing in the IH/OEHS community and the future IH/OEHS professionals. Participating in this year’s American Industrial Hygiene Foundation Fun Run/Walk, which will occur May 24 and is sponsored by Amazon, Alliant Insurance, and Half Draft Acres, helps fulfill AIHF’s mission of raising scholarship funds for education and professional development IH/OEHS.
Open to AIHce EXP attendees and their families, this highly anticipated event offers three options for participation: a 2.5K walk, a 5K run, and the “sleep in” option, which allows individuals to donate to AIHF without making an athletic commitment. The Fun Run/Walk is not only an opportunity for its sponsors to invest in the literal and metaphorical health of the IH/OEHS profession; it’s also a chance for you to enjoy yourself and give to your professional community as well. Sponsorships such as this benefits everyone.
At AIHce EXP 2022, you might connect with an organization that you plan to work with in the future, possibly by purchasing their products or paying for their services. But, essentially, AIHce EXP is an opportunity for you to improve yourself, and sponsorship is a tool that AIHA uses to empower that.
