Bowers Resigns From Chicago Bureau

CCTB CEO returns to the private sector to reunite with colleague

By Rachelle Crum -- Tradeshow Week, 7/25/2005

Chris Bowers, Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau CEO, has resigned not quite halfway through his three-year contract.

Bowers will step down in early August after 16 months on the job to take a position as senior vice president of customer strategy, sales and marketing for NES Rentals, a Chicago equipment rental firm.

"This unexpected opportunity presented itself only very recently," Bowers said, adding that the chance to return to the private sector was too lucrative to ignore. "I have been honored to be a part of Chicago's hospitality industry, but this position with NES was simply one I could not refuse."

Bowers joined the bureau in March 2004, after a four-month search to replace Jim Reilly, who announced his decision to leave the post in October 2003 to become an independent consultant. Previously, Bowers held senior positions in sales, marketing and operations with United Airlines.

CCTB Chairman Phil Stefani said: "We respect Chris' decision to take this new opportunity, and wish him much success. He's back in the private sector. It's a good match."

Bill Utter, vice president of marketing for the bureau, said Bowers brought a "fresh perspective" to the organization. "Obviously, we would have liked Chris to stay longer," Utter said. "He got a good opportunity that he simply couldn't pass up."

Nevertheless, Stefani said that Bowers had had "enough time to redirect the office. We've added some personnel, got rid of some personnel ... he put us on a good solid ground."

Among the staff changes during Bowers' tenure:

• CCTB President Deborah Sexton left to become president of the Professional Convention Management Assn.
• Mark Tester, vice president for convention sales, became senior director of convention sales with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (owner and operator of McCormick Place and Navy Pier).
• Brad Lewis, vice president for tourism, became vice president for convention and tourism sales.

At press time, Stefani said, the bureau board already had a candidate "that we're speaking to right now" to replace Bowers. Although Sexton had been mentioned as a candidate for CCTB CEO before Bowers took the position, she told Tradeshow Week that she's not interested in it now.

"I'm pleased with where I am," Sexton said. However, she added, "It was a position that I was interested in when Mr. Reilly left. I didn't get it — Chris Bowers did."

Nevertheless, Sexton said she is happy for Bowers. "It's a great opportunity for Chris. It was probably a no contest once the offer was made."

Stefani said the board would use the opportunity to change the CEO's role, making board members and officers more responsible for the bureau funding program. Otherwise, Stefani noted, "I don't see any changes to be made at the bureau, outside of just signing contracts."

Sexton agreed. "Everything's going to be fine (at the bureau). They'll move forward."

The CCTB this month announced that Chicago attracted a record number of visitors in 2004: 31.9 million, up 7 percent over 2003 and eclipsing the 2000 record of 31.8 million visitors. A total of 13.2 million business travelers visited Chicago in 2004, a 5.5-percent increase over the previous year.

Bowers saw Chicago through a change in convention center labor practices. The MPEA and Chicago labor representatives in May unveiled several labor regulation modifications, deemed much needed by managers of several major tradeshows, some of whom had considered leaving the city if reform weren't forthcoming.

In his new post, Bowers will be reunited with a longtime colleague, former United Airlines COO Andrew Studdert, now NES president and CEO.

"This is a very exciting opportunity to return to the private sector and team with Andy in his efforts to make NES Rentals a successful and profitable leader in its industry," Bowers said.

Studdert was equally enthused. "Chris brings tremendous knowledge and insight to our organization, as well as a long history of successful business leadership," he noted.

At NES, Bowers will oversee sales, marketing and customer service strategies. The firm, with nearly 3,000 employees at 130 locations in 34 states, rents construction equipment. NES is also a supplier of traffic safety services to the construction industry.

A former U.S. Army captain, Bowers earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Ill. Bowers also previously ran his own management consulting firm with an emphasis on marketing, sales development and strategic planning.