Association Leaders To Know

For many, the tradeshow world is split right down the middle into two parallel universes: the for-profits and the associations. Those in the first universe usually have a simple plan of attack: Make a profit.

But for those in the second universe, it's not always that easy. Association leaders who run tradeshows – and therefore qualify for Tradeshow Week's list of 25 Association Leaders to Know – have more than one bowling pin to juggle.

All some associations want from their managers is an annual tradeshow that gives members a chance to get together and share information about their products. Others expect their managers to generate enough income to fund the group's activities, sometimes to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. There are association leaders who operate with great latitude; and some with strong, very involved boards of directors. There are association managers who concentrate solely on their shows, and there are others with a great many more responsibilities.

No matter what the size, shape or function of the association, it's an almost impossible balancing act – that those on this list perform incredibly well.

In the next few pages, you will find Tradeshow Week's 25 Association Leaders to Know: individuals and, in a few cases, teams who have moved both their associations and their tradeshows far along the path to success.

–The Editors

Executive vice president • American Film Marketing Assn. • American Film Market • Began career in 1978 with Deloitte & Touche … Joined AFMA in 1993 and, since 1998, has guided growth and repositioning of major motion picture trade event AFM … Responsible for new strategic relationship between the AFM and the American Film Institute's AFI Los Angeles Intl. Film Festival (AFI FEST) … Previously was president of Studio Three Film, CFO of New World Intl., and held various finance positions with CBS Broadcast Intl.

Corporate relations and exhibits director • American Assn. of Critical-Care Nurses • Natl. Teaching Institute & Critical-Care Exposition • Spent 20 of 28 years in the convention and exhibition industry with state, regional and national associations … Produced shows (both trade and consumer) in the electrical energy, woodworking, equipment leasing, industrial safety, health care and home improvement industries … Dick Ruecker got him started in association management, and Art Schwartz presented opportunity to grow

Exhibit manager • American Dental Assn. • American Dental Assn. Annual Session • A 15-year veteran of the tradeshow industry, with experience in nearly every aspect of show management: hotel sales, convention transportation, general contracting and association management ... Previously worked in sales for Freeman Decorating in Chicago … Experience as show contractor helped him develop pricing and production skills, and ability to view an event from perspective of exhibitor, show manager and show contractor

Vice president, exhibitions • AMT-The Assn. for Manufacturing Technology • Intl. Manufacturing Technology Show • Involved with IMTS since 1980, first as an exhibitor, then on the show committee, then on the marketing and communications committee … Joined the association full time in 1996 … Now oversees biennial show that topped the TSW 200 in the year 2000 … He managed AMT shows in China, Brazil and Mexico … Also active in IAEM, CEIR and the Friends of McCormick Place

Exhibition manager • American Public Health Assn. • American Public Health Assn. Annual Meeting & Exposition • Hired in 1996 to fill newly created position of exhibition manager … Took 400-booth, 40,000 net square foot "swap meet" and turned it into structured, 625-booth, 62,000 net sq. ft. tradeshow … Negotiates with and maneuvers through the 25 medical associations the show serves in order to keep the event running smoothly … Previously exhibits manager with American Speech Language Hearing Assn.

Fair director • Assn. of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers • AWFSFair • Ran the gamut of marketing and sales positions for second-largest exhibitor at AWFSFair, SCM Group USA, joining the company in 1992 to create in-house marketing department … Worked as volunteer member of AWFSFair's advisory committee and its board of directors while exhibiting with SCM … Named fair director of AWFSFair in mid-July 2003, two weeks before the TSW 200-ranked show opened

Vice president of conventions and meetings • California Building Industry Assn. • PCBC The Premier Building Show • Joined association in 1991 as meeting planner … Put in charge of tradeshow in 1994, during real estate downturn … The 34-year-old event grew from 450 exhibitors and 115,700 net sq. ft. in 2000 to 596 exhibitors and 164,200 net sq. ft. in 2003 … Last year added two conferences and training sessions to PCBC … Plans to add a 20,000 net sq. ft. technology area in 2005 … Active in IAEM

Vice president of events and conferences • Consumer Electronics Assn. • Intl. CES • With CEA for 13 years, doing everything from business development, to industry relations, to show sales … Before that, held positions at Gartner, Natl. Assn. of Manufacturers and University of Pittsburgh … Recently assumed responsibility for CEA's member relations and recruitment, customer service and market research sales … Named one of top 40 industry leaders under 40 by Dealerscope in 2002 … Serves on the IAEM board

President and CEO • Consumer Electronics Assn. • Intl. CES • Heads the association that owns this year's largest U.S. show … Despite being very hands-on in the management of the show, finds time for writing, lobbying and other activities to advocate for the consumer electronics community … With a law degree from Georgetown University, worked on Capitol Hill before joining CEA … Also an active member of the tradeshow industry, having served on IAEM's board and spoken on its behalf before Congress

President • Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers • CONEXPO-CON/ AGG, IFPE Intl. Exposition for Power Transmission, World of Asphalt, Intl. Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition • Heads association that co-owns and -operates North America's largest tradeshow, the triennial 1.8 million sq. ft. CONEXPO-CON/AGG … Active in the tradeshow business and equipment manufacturing business, currently chairing IAEM … Wisconsin native holds degrees in journalism, political science and history from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis.

President and CEO • Intl. Concrete Aggregates Group • CONEXPO-CON/AGG, IFPE, the Intl. Exposition for Power Transmission, World of Asphalt Shows and Conference • Started with aggregates association in 1989 as manager of CON/AGG exhibits ... Became executive vice president and COO of the association in 1997, then president and CEO in 1999 ... Now co-manages North America's largest tradeshow with AEM ... Has experience with Natl. Wooden Pallet and Container Assn. and Intl. Council of Shopping Centers

Vice president of conventions • Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Assn. • CTIA Wireless, CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment • Built up wireless component of Intl. CES from 1988 to 1993 … Launched and grew wireless association PCIA's The PCS Show into U.S.'s largest wireless show … Joined rival wireless association CTIA in 1998 … CTIA Wireless on TSW 200 list since 2000, also a Fastest 50 winner in 2003 … Show now billed as largest telecom event in the United States, largest wireless event in world

Director of marketing and expositions • Helicopter Assn. Intl. • HELI-EXPO 2004 • Ninth year with HAI … recently completed fourth successful HELI-EXPO, with record numbers ... Previously director of communications, serving as editor and liaison between association president and the press … Particularly proud of Helicopters 1948 - 1998, for which she was editor, business manager and associate publisher … Over 13 years with Natl. Agricultural Aviation Assn. as financial & membership director, state regulatory liaison and managing editor

Manager, convention and tradeshow operations • Intl. Assn. of Amusement Parks and Attractions • IAAPA Convention & Tradeshow, IAAPA Asian Expo • Joined IAAPA in 2001 after holding exhibit manager positions with The Motley Fool and Natl. Trade Productions … Pulled 30,500 attendees to last year's stateside show, the largest attendance ever … Within IAAPA conventions and meetings department, works with IAAPA's education, publicity and communications departments to structure tradeshows to fit members' needs

Director of leasing/ deal making • Intl. Council of Shopping Centers • Intl. Council of Shopping Centers Fall Marketing & Management Conference & Trade Show, Intl. Council of Shopping Centers Spring Convention, Leasing Mall & Trade Expo • Former publicist with Macmillan Publishing … Joined ICSC in 1978 as assistant to public relations director … Began working with tradeshows in 1985 … Promoted to current position in 2001 … Now oversees spring convention, U.S.'s 14th-largest convention in 2003

Vice president, tradeshows and meetings • Intl. Housewares Assn. • Intl. Home & Housewares Show • Joined IHA in 1991 … Became tradeshow director in 1994 … In 2000, title was changed to vice president … Began career in 1987 with corporate sales group of The Freeman Companies … Has been involved in several industry organizations over the years, including IAEM, MATSO and Assn. Net … Show currently attracts 60,000 attendees annually and is ranked No. 10 in the TSW 200

Senior vice president of expositions • Intl. Sign Assn. • ISA Intl. Sign Expo, ISA Midwest Sign Show, ISA Northwest Sign Show, ISA Southern Sign Show, ISA Western Sign Expo • Responsible for coordination and administration of show, and membership functions of association … Assists with internal administrative functions of ISA … Past IAEM board chairman, member of ASAE … Primary mentor in early career was Steven Fine, account manager at United Expositions … Says key to success is building quality teams

President and CEO • Intl. Woodworking Fair • Intl. Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair-USA • Since 1994, has run United States' largest woodworking show on behalf of its three sponsoring associations … Got into show management after working as tour guide for minimum wage at 1983 World's Fair … Stayed 11 years with World's Fair manager Klapp & Poliak, bought by Cahners Expositions, now Reed Exhibitions, which managed IWF until associations gave job to LaFramboise … Graduate of Washington State University

Senior vice president, conventions and expositions • Natl. Assn. of Broadcasters • NAB, NAB Radio Show • Nearly 20 years experience in exhibitions business, mostly managing large association-owned events … At for-profit CMC, launched new division to provide show management services for associations … With Personal Communications Industry Assn., managed Personal Communications Showcase … Last five years at NAB, responsible for annual tradeshow (currently 800,000 net sq. ft. and 97,500 attendees) and NAB Radio Show

Senior vice president, events, marketing and supplier relations • Natl. Assn. of Convenience Stores • The NACS Show • Has 22 years in association management … With NACS since 1996 … Overall responsibility for strategic direction and execution of show and supplier membership … Publishes NACS Magazine … Show attracts more than 24,000 attendees and 1,400 exhibiting companies … Formed strategic partnerships with Petroleum Marketers Assn. of America and Petroleum Equipment Institute to expand services offered at the show

Senior staff vice president • Natl. Assn. of Home Builders • THE INTL. BUILDERS' SHOW • Has managed NAHB's show 26 of its 62 years of in-house ownership and operation … Show has averaged 4-percent growth every year for last 15 years … Spiked to 20 percent with 2003 move to Las Vegas, causing quick thinking and diplomacy to rearrange schedule for next decade ... Helped avert politically unpopular move out of Atlanta ... New Orleans still up in the air ... Show placed 15th on most recent TSW 200 with 714,787 net sq. ft.

Senior vice president, conference operations and sales • Natl. Assn. of Television Program Executives • NATPE • Hired in 1984, when association decided it wanted to add an exhibition to its annual meeting … Had worked for the Hotel Americana (now the Sheraton Center) in New York and CMC before that … Helped grow NATPE from 80,000 net sq. ft. in its first year, to 450,000 in 2001, before massive industry consolidation and 100-place drop in the TSW 200 … Has seen show through recent stabilization

Show manager, vice president of meetings and shows • Recreation Vehicle Industry Assn. • Annual Natl. RV Trade Show • Joined RVIA public relations department in 1975 … In 1976, transferred to show department, serving as assistant to vice president … Moved up to vice president of meetings and shows in 1984 … In addition to the annual RV show, oversees California RV Show, 50 to 75 seminars, workshops, and RVIA committee and board meetings

Vice president, conventions and seminars • Natl. Business Aviation Assn. • NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention • Joined NBAA as senior manager in 1992, when annual meeting drew 636 exhibitors and generated $3.6 million in revenue … 2003 convention brought in 1,068 exhibitors and $11 million revenue … Launched European, Latin American and Asian versions of the annual meeting and convention … Blouin and staff of eight also oversee 25 seminars … Formerly with McGraw-Hill aviation magazine

Director of expositions • Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute • PACK EXPO • Former show manager and operations specialist with VNU Expositions … Joined PMMI in 2000, now oversees both the Chicago- and Las Vegas-based editions of TSW 200 show … About to defy tradition and take over service contracting with a license to use The Expo Group's know-how … Holds bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from Roosevelt University in Chicago

President • Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute • PACK EXPO • 14-year leader of PMMI stays actively involved with the association's two top-200 PACK EXPO shows, the 1.3 million sq. ft. Chicago version and the 500,000 sq. ft. Las Vegas version … Got his association and association-show chops as a senior executive at the American Meat Institute from 1973 to 1990 … Has a bachelor's degree in social science from Illinois State University

Manager, tradeshow logistics • Produce Marketing Assn. • PMA Foodservice Conference, Tour & Expo; PMA Fresh Summit Intl. Convention & Exposition • Hired in March 2000 by PMA to manage conference housing and overall logistics planning for various events … In 2002, earned Certified Meeting Professional designation and named "Up and Coming Planner" by Meeting News Magazine ... Member of IAEM and PCMA … Professional horseback riding instructor, currently teaching 20 students

Senior manager, meetings and exhibits • Society of Petroleum Engineers • Offshore Technology Conference • Joined SPE in 1986 as meetings manager … Left to work as independent meeting planner and act as director of operations for American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Petroleum Division … Returned to SPE in '99 and, since then, has grown OTC by 40 percent … Also manages the 35 to 40 other North American meetings SPE puts on each year