Previous high was set in 2007, also in Chicago; entertainment includes events at city's Navy Pier, Soldier Field

CHICAGO—The number of people attending ASAE's Annual Meeting & Exposition topped 6,000 for the first time, according to CEO John Graham.

#ASAE18, being held in Chicago through today, drew 6,068 total attendees, including association executives and exhibitors, Graham said at his annual news conference.

"We are delighted with that attendance," Graham said.

The previous record was 5,972 total attendees in 2007, the last time ASAE was held in the Windy City, which is the second-largest association hub in the country.

David Whitaker, CEO of Choose Chicago, called ASAE his organization's most important partner because of the presence at the annual meetings of so many meeting planners who might schedule future events in Chicago.

Whitaker said Choose Chicago raised $3.8 million from its sponsors to attract #ASAE18. The money covers entertainment, food and other expenses. Rhythm and blues and gospel singer Mavis Staples performed Monday evening on Navy Pier as part of The Classic, ASAE Foundation's annual fundraiser. That was in addition to the entertainment lined up for ASAE attendees at Saturday night's opening reception (country singer/songwriter Brett Eldredge) and the closing celebration tonight at football stadium Soldier Field.

Graham is a firm believer in face-to-face meetings. But thousands of new, early-career ASAE members added through the association's two-year old organizational membership option can't afford to attend the annual meeting.

For that reason, he told CEO Update, ASAE has expanded its online educational offerings. ASAE membership has doubled in the past two years, to 43,000.

"Most of those folks are younger, not as senior, and don't have the budget to attend. But what they do value are our career resources and the online education they can access very inexpensively," he said.

Asked if the influx of new members has lifted ASAE revenue, Graham said that was not the purpose of the new hybrid membership model.

"It's designed as an engagement model," he said.

"This model has a heavily discounted membership associated with it based on the idea that we will be able to engage a larger cohort. (The younger cohort) values most our career services and online learning," Graham said.

Jacob Wilder, chair of ASAE's Young Professionals Committee, said the online learning, along with the annual meeting sessions, helps his generation prepare for executive roles. Wilder is director of communications and technology at the Building Owners and Managers Association of Georgia, and has his sights set on a CEO position someday.

#ASAE18 is Wilder's third ASAE annual meeting. In previous years, he followed the young professionals learning track exclusively, in part to help him earn his CAE. This year, he is attended sessions both on the young professionals and the CEO track.