Do you have a spark? »Exhibition City News

Marlena Sullivan, exhibiting urban news

How do you know that tradeshows are suitable for you?

For Iman McFarland, it was not until she did not go to college at Chapel Hill at the University of North Carolina. Entrepreneur spirit inspires her proposal “Good idea. It turns out that I like business. Facts prove that we have business. What do you think of me to join a family business?”

Her parents respectfully refused.

For many companies in the entire trade exhibition industry, families are literally. Children take over their parents, and the heritage is intertwined in the fiber of the ecosystem. Although many families may be ecstatic, some people are hesitant. After all, who can determine that this industry is their industry?

Iman grew up at the trade exhibition. The earliest memory of this industry was when she was about four to five years old, sitting on her father’s shoulders, at the first trade exhibition of Expo Group in the 21st century. “I have a photo of my nap in the curtain box, and I am glad to be in the exhibition hall.” It was her playground, where she could go there to a stunning city and build a fortress in the warehouse. Nevertheless, until that class, it was not her intention to take over family business.

The trade exhibition industry is an industry of relations and perseverance. It must be proved that they are good partners in dialogue and action. No business may fail, but for this reason, the industry’s weaving power is so close. Winning respect and respect will cause you to grow.

Eman began to work at the trade exhibition according to his parents’ suggestions. She started at some general service contractors and then moved to Destination DC. “If you have a chance, I will work in the industry more part of the industry: an AV company or a custom exhibition hall. I originally wanted to build more knowledge for myself. It is important to understand how these are all of these. Better employees and employers. ”

She is lucky. There is a company full of different individuals who can add their own knowledge to support herself. She is the perfect combination of parents. Her father’s innovation and vision and her mother’s fiscal thoughts and operations.

Iman (Iman) work and prove herself, become a member of the 21st Century Expo Group, and eventually become the owner. She is a member of the board of directors of the Federation of Exhibition and Event Labor Development. She helped her parents to continue their general contract services, but keen to further expand its business. It enables her to play her creativity and innovation.

Her parents like new directions. “They are in awe. They are very excited. This makes them think that I will survive and the heritage will survive in this crazy industry.”

In a business that might change with a hat, her parents discovered their trust as business owners. She acts between her parents and children as a new and new guard. She is the translation of the new world and keeps trying to grow. She is agile and willing, she is facing challenges, and she uses her parents and further planting.

In the next 30 years, another generation will be changed. The old guard will begin to eliminate and must fill the gap left. For every new employee who has been taught and brings to the industry, there is another future CMO, CFO, CEO or chairman of the board of directors. For everyone who is supported, there is an intern waiting for a professor in a distant future.

“I’m fascinated,” Eman said. “I have been living and breathing trade exhibitions for 33 years. When I saw that the color of the exhibition was on when I was a kid, I was as excited as me. My goal is to do my best to bring as many new members as possible to this. industry.”

How do you know if tradeshows are suitable for you? You may not know. Maybe this is the business of your parents. Maybe this is what you see at the invited trade exhibition. Maybe you like AV, graphics or design. Maybe you like to build things and production work will make you tick. Maybe you like to travel. Maybe you want to find an industry. When someone knows your name, you will feel it. And know that they will support you, they will believe you.

No matter what you have, you just need to ignite a single spark of trying the desire to try.

This story was originally a truncated version that appeared in “Exhibition City News” in 2025 in the first quarter. 50. For the original layout, please visit