Acquisition strengthens Etherio’s Life Sciences expertise, expands its Chicago presence, and welcomes an experienced team of meeting professionals.
ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, August 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Etherio, a leading provider of strategic meetings and events, association management, marketing, and business growth solutions, today announced its acquisition of River West Meeting Associates, a Chicago-based meetings and events firm with nearly three decades of experience serving life sciences organizations, as well as corporate and association clients.
The acquisition brings River West’s experienced professionals into Etherio, further strengthening the company’s rapidly growing life sciences division while expanding its presence in the Chicago market.
Founded in 1997, River West Meeting Associates has earned a reputation for delivering exceptional meetings and events for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and other organizations. The addition of the River West team enhances Etherio’s ability to support increasingly complex meetings requiring specialized expertise in healthcare compliance, regulatory requirements, stakeholder engagement, and the unique operational demands of the life sciences industry.
“We’ve never been interested in growth for growth’s sake,” said Eric Altschul, CEO of Etherio. “When we look at opportunities like this, we ask one question: Will this make us a better partner for our clients? With River West, the answer was an immediate yes. Beyond the strategic fit, we found a team whose culture, approach to client service, and commitment to excellence felt remarkably familiar. That’s what made this opportunity so compelling.”
The acquisition reflects Etherio’s continued commitment to growing its life sciences practice, a strategic focus area for the company. By combining River West’s specialized industry experience with Etherio’s broader capabilities, clients will gain access to deeper life sciences expertise, expanded program capacity, additional geographic reach, and integrated support across meeting management, compliance, creative, marketing, and digital services. They will also benefit from greater flexibility as their needs grow, while continuing to receive the responsive, personalized service and dedicated client teams both organizations are known for.
“This acquisition reinforces Etherio’s commitment to being the industry’s leading partner for life sciences meetings and events,” said Eli Sananes, Managing Director of Etherio’s life sciences division. “River West strengthens our expertise across all meeting types, particularly HCP-attended medical meetings, and global congresses. Together, we’re better positioned to grow our existing clients, expand the service we provide, and win new clients looking for a trusted partner with deep life sciences expertise.”
For River West Meeting Associates, joining Etherio creates new opportunities for both team members and clients while preserving the values and relationships that have defined the company since its founding.
“Over the past 29 years, we’ve built our business around outstanding client service and an incredible team of dedicated professionals,” said Mary Ann Doherty, President of River West Meeting Associates. “Joining Etherio allows us to continue doing what we love while providing our team and our clients with access to broader capabilities, additional resources, and exciting new opportunities for growth. From our very first conversations, it was clear that our organizations share the same values and commitment to delivering exceptional experiences. We couldn’t be more excited about what comes next.”
Clients of both organizations can expect continuity as existing teams and client relationships remain in place while gaining access to expanded expertise, enhanced capabilities, and additional resources.
Etherio is a leading provider of strategic meeting management, life sciences meetings, incentive travel, and association management solutions that help organizations create meaningful experiences and measurable business outcomes. From highly regulated medical meetings and global corporate events to member engagement and governance, Etherio combines strategic expertise, creative thinking, and operational excellence to deliver programs that strengthen brands, inspire audiences, and accelerate growth.
Recognized among the industry’s leading meeting and event management companies, Etherio was named one of Skift Meetings’ Top 15 Most Powerful and Influential Event Companies and has earned a place on MeetingsNet’s prestigious CMI 25 list for 18 consecutive years. Headquartered in Atlanta with team members across the United States, Etherio serves clients across the corporate, association, and life sciences sectors. Learn more at etherio.com.
About River West Meeting Associates
Founded in 1997, River West Meeting Associates is a Chicago-based meetings and events management firm specializing in the planning and execution of meetings for life sciences organizations and corporate clients. For nearly three decades, the company has built lasting client relationships through personalized service, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of the unique requirements of highly regulated industries.
Jena Dunham
Etherio
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