What young event professionals should know about UFI
CHICAGO — From Canada to Chile, event professionals work tirelessly around the world. But no matter where you are, UFI (Universal Association of the Exhibition Industry) has your back. The association has been advocating for events around the world for nearly a century and plans to continue its efforts for the next or more events. UFI recently launched a new logo and updated branding to mark the start of its centenary year and announced that Chris Skeith, OBE, will become its next chief executive in 2025. trade show director (TSE) spoke to UFI's current CEO Kai Hattendorf about its rich history and bright future, and how young professionals can get involved. ANDREW: What should new event professionals know about UFI? Kai: We are the global association for the exhibition industry, a global community of industry leaders and professionals. When you want to connect with people in your home country, you can do so through your country's industry associations, such as…
What young event professionals should know about UFI
CHICAGO — From Canada to Chile, event professionals work tirelessly around the world. But no matter where you are, UFI (Universal Association of the Exhibition Industry) has your back. The association has been advocating for events around the world for nearly a century and plans to continue its efforts for the next or more events. UFI recently launched a new logo and updated branding to mark the start of its centenary year and announced that Chris Skeith, OBE, will become its next chief executive in 2025. trade show director (TSE) spoke to UFI's current CEO Kai Hattendorf about its rich history and bright future, and how young professionals can get involved. ANDREW: What should new event professionals know about UFI? Kai: We are the global association for the exhibition industry, a global community of industry leaders and professionals. When you want to connect with people in your home country, you can do so through your country's industry associations, such as…
Global Exhibitors Launch Trade Show Basics Training Course
CHICAGO – Global Exhibitor, a leader in trade show training, consulting and international business strategy, announces the launch of Trade Show Basics – a live training series for those new to or interested in the trade show industry. This course provides an introduction to the trade show industry ecosystem and is curated for professionals on the supplier side, but is open to anyone who wants to get involved. Trade Show Basics will teach participants the basics of trade show production, the various roles and companies in the industry, and on-site logistics. Jeff Hannah, founder and president of Global Exhibitor, will teach the course, incorporating decades of experience in various roles around the world into the roles and educational content. Jeff Hannah, Founder and President, Global Exhibitor. Who should come? The course is geared towards the supplier side of the events ecosystem but is open to anyone with less than five years of industry experience, regardless of role or company. “I…
Discover professionalism with Megan Hurley
CHICAGO — A typical day in the events industry may look different for every professional, whether at a showroom in Las Vegas, an office in Chicago or working remotely from home. Regardless of one's schedule, however, professionalism is key in every work environment and can help people succeed in their roles, stand out and find new opportunities. trade show director (TSE) discusses professionalism with Meghan Hurley, RX US Director of Human Resources and RX Rewards Partner. ANDREW: Is professionalism different in the events world compared to other industries? Megan: It’s a little different – the work we do requires us to go to these interesting places, and when people come into the industry and are immediately sent to a place like Las Vegas, sometimes it’s hard to remember that you’re still an employee . You work during the day and interact with colleagues and customers after get off work. It's a little different than other industries because you have to…
Eight travel tips for event professionals
CHICAGO — Going to a business event can feel like taking a train, a plane or an Uber. From biking to the airport to catching flights to making connections in an unfamiliar environment, attending a trade show can seem overwhelming, especially for someone new to the industry. Here are eight tips for traveling to events, with insights from Stephen Hess, senior marketing manager at Restaurant Events, LLC. Carry more than you think you need While it's tempting to travel light, Hess says it's important to bring more than you anticipate using on any professional trip. Stephen Hess shares travel tips with TSE. "I would just recommend dressing up...usually the days are longer than a typical workday, so you're going to want to change clothes," he said. "That's the nature of the beast. You're high on your feet...(and) you just want clean socks." related. Networking 101 with TSE: YP's Guide to Networking Success Always check traffic conditions If you're going to…
Help your career take off: Nancy Walsh’s networking tips
Chicago — Nancy Walsh, President, North America Information Market and twice Trade Show Executive (TSE) cover star and has held many leadership positions in the events industry. In 2024 SISO CEO SummitShe received the Krakow Industry Excellence Award for her professional achievements. TSE reached out to Nancy for networking tips for young event professionals. Andrew: Why is networking important? Nancy: Networking is so important because it opens doors to all kinds of opportunities, provides ways to learn and grow, and builds relationships that can propel you forward personally and professionally. We are in the networking business, and I think in the trade show industry, more than any other industry, networking and building relationships can truly propel your career forward. Andrew : How have you changed your approach to networking over the course of your career? Nancy: Early in my career, I was pretty blind to the networking landscape. I was enthusiastic and loved making connections, but I wasn’t very intentional.…
Learn more about PCMA’s 20 20somethings with Cole Sales
Eastern Securities Spoke with Cole Sales (Marketing Manager) Electronic transport and founder of Brand Repairmanshe was nominated for PCMA’s 2023 “20 in 20s” Recognition Program guide For young professionals. How did you learn about the PCMA 20 in Their Twenties program?rape: I learned about the PCMA 20 in Their Twenties program through industry research and peer recommendations. It was first mentioned in a professional association update and then a mentor mentioned it in a conversation, which piqued my interest. I have always been eager to stay up to date on the latest industry topics and trends and found communities like PCMA to be an exciting opportunity to further my involvement and leadership in the field. What is the application process like (time consuming? easy? etc.)?rape: The application process was fairly straightforward, but fairly time-consuming. It involved submitting personal information, detailing professional achievements, and articulating my goals and ambitions. Selecting key mentors and colleagues to complete parts of the application added…
Learn more about UFI’s Next Generation Leadership Grant Program
for Young Professionals Recognition Program Guidelines, TSE spoke with Joe Kowalsky, 2022 UFI Next Generation Leadership (NGL) Award winner, Events Director at CloserStill Media and 2024 TSE Trailblazer, about his experiences. What was the application process like and was it difficult/easy to get your organization to support your application given the nature of the project the awardees had to complete? Joe: The NGL application process is deceptively simple. We give you a topic that our industry is looking for new perspectives on and ask for your thoughts. The entire process is you sharing your thoughts on what you think a certain topic could bring to our industry. It seems simple: write a short letter introducing your idea and submit a video presenting your concepts and understanding. However, the amount of times I had to rewrite the letter and have to stop the video and start over from scratch made the process challenging. There was always something I wanted to add…
Learn more about the IAEE Young Professional of the Year Award
Eastern Securities spoke with Lauren Miller, CMP, CEM, Smithbucklin Event Services Manager and 2023 IAEE Young Professional of the Year Award winner, Guide to the Young Professionals Recognition Program. Did you know you were nominated for the IAEE Young Professional of the Year Award? Lauren: Yes, I am aware that I was nominated for the IAEE Young Professional of the Year Award. My supervisor, Jerry Murphy, Portfolio Director of Smith Bucklin Event Services, also expressed his intention to nominate me. I have great respect for this move, as the process involved soliciting feedback from colleagues and writing a nomination. When both Jerry and the IAEE told me that I had won, I remember feeling both honored and excited for the opportunity that lay ahead. Most importantly, I am grateful for Jerry’s confidence in my work and abilities, and for the IAEE’s willingness to give me this opportunity. What do you think are the two to three most important benefits or…
Young Professionals Recognition Program Guide
CHICAGO – Recognition programs and initiatives hold great appeal for young professionals who seek not only a sense of accomplishment in their work but also recognition for a job well performed and validation for the impact they are having on their organization and industry. According to Gallup, recognition is a low-cost, high-return initiative because it increases recipients’ productivity, employee engagement, and company loyalty. Trade Show Executive (TSE) has researched some of the recognition programs in the trade show industry and provided an outline of programs young professionals can apply for and be nominated for. Application-based courses 20 20-somethings at PCMA The Professional Convention Management Association’s (PCMA) “20 in Twenty” program recognizes the best and brightest young professionals in the business events industry. The program accepts applications and has clear criteria and submission instructions. One of the criteria is that applicants must work full-time in the meetings, conferences and business events industry and demonstrate leadership, among other things. Notably, they do…
How to run a trade show?
CHICAGO — Hosting a trade show can seem like a daunting task. From planning to marketing to budgeting, it can be hard to know where to start, especially in today's economy. Trade Show Executive Connect with Glenn Celentano Pizza Tomorrow SummitFounder and CEO Comprehensive event management Partner and CEO of Restaurant Events, LLC. and CEM, Food Truck Owners Expo Vice President of Events and Technology at FTO Expo Convert Exxget tips on hosting a successful exhibition. Tip 1: Find your niche Both Celentano and Kaye identified problems in specific industries that they thought trade shows could help solve. Kaye was inspired by data showing that about 60 percent of food trucks fail within their first year of operation. “We thought we could adapt some of the models we were already using and help them be commercially successful… (and) connect them with the right suppliers and vendors,” Kaye said. He also couldn’t find a competitive event, which solidified FTO Expo’s niche.…
New Era of Event Entrepreneurship
CHICAGO – Reflecting the changing nature of industries, communities, and human interaction, live events continue to play a vital role in moving the world forward by providing innovative ways to bring people together and inspire impactful action. Whether through business or consumer events, top matchmaking or meaningful education and development programmes, events have the power to revolutionise the lives of all. Events come in all shapes and sizes, and some are at different stages of the maturity cycle, but all have great potential. That’s why Events Venture Group focuses on sourcing investments for emerging events. EVG has a growing membership base that includes industry giants and many entrepreneurs, and the organization’s goal is to provide opportunities for promising businesses in the events industry. To learn more about the organization, Trade Show Executive spoke with Monique Ruff-Bell, one of the EVG board members, to learn about the collaborative's vision, process, and impact. MADDY: You are a board member of the newly…
ASAE 2024 Annual Conference: Uncovering the Key to a Prosperous Future
Listen to Audio Annual Meeting and Expo Answer: Unity The ASAE logo will be displayed on the terminal tower during the 2024 ASAE Annual Meeting The streets of Cleveland were bustling with 5,069 attendees from August 11-13 for the 2024 ASAE Annual Meeting & Expo. Hotels were full, local volunteers in pink shirts cheered attendees and welcomed them to the city, and the iconic Terminal Tower was illuminated by projector lights each night during the event, displaying the ASAE logo on a red and blue diamond. All of this sets the stage for a gathering that will not only inspire people over the days and weeks ahead, but will also reconnect attendees with their roles as association professionals around one main point: that in order for them – and the wider world – to thrive in the future, it is vital to create and maintain solidarity. As ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason said, "(It's) really about inclusion. It's about…
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