Around the World: Who You Need to Know
The Editors -- Tradeshow Week, 7/25/2005
Everybody's always looking for an edge. Regardless of whether it's the largest publicly held business-to-business company, or the smallest mom-and-pop looking for just the right tradeshow to introduce its first product, the need to grow businesses is relentless.
That need to expand means reaching beyond the shores of the United States to corners of the world few Americans imagined they'd ever travel to — let alone do business in.
With that in mind, Tradeshow Week has compiled the following list of 25 people to know if you're thinking of doing business globally. While certainly not exhaustive (and not intended to necessarily be an Intl. Who's Who), the list gives readers an idea of who to go to for information and advice.
AsiaNicolas Borit
Title: CEO, AsiaWorld-Expo
What he does: Has taken lead on building new convention center near Hong Kong Intl. Airport, with 750,000 square feet of exhibition space available soon ... Center to open in December with 22-plus trade fairs planned for 2006, including ITU World Telecom, providing an alternative to the in-town Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
Justin Chew
Title: Regional director of the Americas, Singapore Tourism Board
What he does: From New York office, oversees Singapore Tourism Board's U.S. marketing and operations ... First person to go to for exhibition pros wanting to do business in Singapore ... Joined STB in 2004 after six years with Singapore's Monetary Authority, where he promoted the island republic as an international financial center ... Graduate of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore
Ravinder Sethi
Title: Managing director, Rogers India
What he does: Manages growing Indian operation of Rogers Worldwide, international freight-forwarding firm ... Chairman of Intl. Exhibitions Logistic Associates, worldwide organization of freight forwarders ... Involved for years in the now fast-growing exhibition industry on the Indian subcontinent, frequently offering advice to those looking for opportunities ... Co-founder of Asia-Europe-Americas Bank ... Graduate of University of Notre Dame
Peter Sutton
Title: President and CEO, CMP Asia
What he does: Runs Asia's largest Western-owned tradeshow operation ... Company owns dozens of shows in mainland China as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Korea and Singapore ... Sutton has been based in Hong Kong since CMP Asia was created in 1994, long enough to smile now when people speak of China as a "tradeshow frontier"
Cliff Wallace
Title: Managing director, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
What he does: Runs the 2.7 million sq. ft. convention center in downtown Hong Kong, presently the largest exhibition hall in the city ... Planning major expansion in order to effectively compete with soon-to-be completed AsiaWorld-Expo near the airport ... Has held leadership positions for UFI, World Council of Venue Management, Asia Pacific Exhibition and Convention Council, and IAAM ... President of New Orleans Superdome and CEO of venue management firm in United States before taking Hong Kong position in late 1990s
Paul Woodward
Title: Manager, UFI Asia/Pacific chapter
What he does: UFI's go-to man in Asia, and a fountain of information on the continent ... Been involved in the Asian exhibition industry for more than 20 years ... Formerly with Miller Freeman Asia and a governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong ... Also principal in Business Strategies Group ... Deep background in potential of continent's off-the-beaten-track exhibition markets
EuropeSandy Angus
Title: Chairman, Andry Montgomery
What he does: Heads the holding company that includes the 110-year-old Montgomery Exhibitions, one of Europe's largest and most-established show and venue operators ... Began exhibition-industry career in South Africa in 1968 ... Outgoing president and current vice president of UFI, former chairman of aeo, incoming chair of IAEM
Francois Aumas
Title: Business development manager, Geneva Palexpo
What he does: Former Olympic runner, has managed Swiss facility's business development since 1993 ... Has spent that time cultivating strong ties with people in the MICE industry worldwide ... Can help organizers and exhibit managers access venue that offers logistical and management support, in addition to space
Trevor Foley
Title: Group chief executive, aeo
What he does: Heads non-profit, London-based group that aims "to increase the significance of exhibitions within the marketing mix, and to satisfy the needs of both exhibitors and visitors" ... Also heads Assn. of Event Venues and Assn. of Exhibition Contractors ... Went from Audit Bureau of Circulations to aeo in 1998 ... Credited with expanding membership dramatically
Francois-Regis Picolet
Title: Managing director, North America, GL Events
What he does: Point of contact for North American tradeshow and exhibit managers ... Serves as liaison to GL Europe ... Company founded 27 years ago as French venue and event management firm ... Runs 15 venues throughout Europe, including Barcelona, London and Paris ... Provides event management to both organizers and corporate exhibitors
Joachim Schafer
Title: President, Hannover Fairs USA
What he does: Started Hannover Fairs USA in 1985 ... Primary U.S. liaison with Hannover-based parent company Deutsche Messe AG ... Has helped U.S. companies like Novell, Genentech and AMD ... Formerly German accounts manager for an international marketing agency and administrator of a German Marshall Fund research program ... Offers marketing programs at international tradeshows, delivering distribution contacts to American exhibitors
Mark Shashoua
Title: Chief executive, Expomedia Group
What he does: In 2000, with father Roger, founded London-based Expomedia Group ... Runs privately held EXPO XXI Intl. Expocentres ... CEE Exhibitions division offers exhibition organizing services in partnership with organizers and media groups in Poland, Russia, India, Germany, Netherlands, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, and Morocco ... Founded Intl. Trade and Exhibitions, later ITE Group, with family in 1992
Frank Thorwirth
Title: President, Messe Duesseldorf North America
What he does: Started as project manager with Messe Duesseldorf in 1990 ... Now heads the company's North American office in Chicago ... The man to go to when planning a launch, pavilion or exhibit in Duesseldorf ... In 1998, oversaw coordination of MD's newly acquired Messe Bruenn, a large Eastern European trade fair company ... Also offers guidance to Americans interested in Asia, where MD is very active
John van Stolk
Title: Director of international exhibitions, congresses and events, Amsterdam RAI
What he does: Point of contact for foreign exhibition organizers interested in launching shows or taking pavilions to Amsterdam RAI ... Got his start at the RAI in 2001 as a show manager with the company's ITS Trade Shows ... Co-founded Amsterdam Convention Circle, a coalition of the RAI and seven hotels to offer groups an all-in-one package ... Currently working on study of attendance promotion
Latin AmericaPatricia Farias Barlow
Title: Manager, Farias Global Expos
What she does: Runs Mexico City-based Farias Global Expos ... Founding president of AMPROFEC, Mexican tradeshow association ... Former president of Fapezal Communications, Reed Exhibitions (Mexico), and Banamex Convention Center in Mexico City ... Founded Fapezal in 1983 ... Sold Fapezal to Reed Exhibitions in 1993 ... IAEM chairwoman in 2000, group's first non-U.S. chair ... Administers IAEM's CEM program in Latin America ... Official representative of Messe Duesseldorf in Mexico ... In 2003, won IAEM's Distinguished Service Award, and IAEM Chairman's Award in 1997
Arturo Gamboa de Buen
Title: President of AMPROFEC, the Mexican Assn. of Exhibition, Fair and Convention Professionals
What he does: Presides over Mexico's most significant exhibition-industry organization ... Has played a part in the introduction of the IAEM's certification program in Mexico
Juan Quiros
Title: President, APEX-Brasil
What he does: As head of government trade promotion agency, facilitates Brazilian trade associations' participation in U.S. shows, including Intl. Fancy Food & Confection Shows and Coverings ... Agency provides 49 percent of funding for more than 200 Brazilian trade promotion projects ... Helps Brazilian associations participate in 500 international events ... Former director of Intl. Relations & Foreign Trade Department of the Sao Paulo Industry Federation
Paul St. Amour
Title: Director general, E.J. Krause de Mexico
What he does: Runs the 50-person Mexican subsidiary of E.J. Krause, the country's largest tradeshow organizer ... Manages E.J. Krause shows and joint ventures with others, such as Reed Exhibitions and Hanley Wood ... Instrumental in the launch of World of Concrete Mexico ... Former member of the Canadian Foreign Service, attached to Canadian embassy in Mexico City ... A 13-year resident of Mexico
Multi-RegionalSteve Barry Jr.
Title: Chairman, TWI Group
What he does: Guru of logistics services for companies participating in domestic and international tradeshows ... Founded TWI, which provides services to U.S., Canadian and foreign exhibitors participating in international exhibitions, in 1972 ... A year later, compiled a logistics package for Sundstrand and shipped 29,000 pounds of freight for 27 exhibitors to Paris Air Show ... Intl. Exhibition Logistics Assn. founding member ... Served two terms on board of Intl. Exhibitors Assn. (now TSEA) ... Winner of Hazel Hays Award and IAEM's Chairman's Award
Don Huber
Title: Manager, Trade Fair Certification Program, U.S. Department of Commerce
What he does: Has directed program for 10 years, growing it from 20 international shows to more than 100 per year ... Provides international shows with DOC seal of approval ... Provides on-site personnel and U.S. pavilions at international shows ... Client Bill Warnes of Marketing Intl. said he has seen Huber "convert a government service into a proactive marketing program"
Gerald Kallman Sr.
Title: Managing director, Kallman Global Consulting
What he does: Formed Kallman Associates in 1961 ... Represented Munich Trade Fair Authority, 1963–2000 ... Hallmark is forming U.S. pavilions at trade fairs in 20 countries, bringing U.S. exhibitors overseas ... Past president of InterEXPO Congress, international association of organizers of national pavilions at trade fairs ... In 1998, turned over day-to-day operations of Kallman Associates, which now works with organizers on over 50 events on four continents, to sons Jerry Jr. and Tom ... Still managing director of Kallman Global Consulting and director of Kallman Travel Services ... Former IAEM board member and director of IAEM Services ... In 2001, received IAEM's Pinnacle Award
Cherif Moujabber
Title: President, Creative Expos & Conferences
What he does: Former top executive with Cahners Expo Group (now Reed Exhibitions) and IDG World Expo ... Now heads active international consultancy from Walpole, Mass., headquarters ... Helps show organizers, exhibit managers and venue operators identify key foreign markets and increase business with wide variety of countries ... Fluent in five languages ... Works with VNU Expositions, SMG and a long list of TSW 200-ranked association shows
Jacqueline Russo
Title: Vice president and general manager, KN Expo Service, Kuehne + Nagel
What she does: Global logistics provider specializing in the transport of exhibition cargo export, import and within the United States ... Connects U.S. clients to 95 countries ... Offers 44 offices to manage international freight forwarding and trade compliance needs, more than 30 distribution centers and overland transportation service ... 18-year industry veteran ... As 2003 chairwoman of IAEM, was first associate member to hold that office ... Licensed U.S. Customs broker ... CEIR board member ... Formerly vice president of Panalpina forwarding and logistics services firm
Denyse C. Selesnick
Title: President, Intl. Trade Information
What she does: Helps U.S. shows set up exhibit sales agents worldwide and promotes U.S. ethnic and international visitor attendance ... With E.J. Krause, expanding animal farming exhibition in Mexico ... In 1975, organized first international tradeshow in Mexico, an apparel manufacturing show in Mexico City ... Produced shows and magazines in fashion, textiles, and manufacturing in Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico ... Sold U.S. publications and tradeshows in '80s and '90s to concentrate on Latin America ... Assisted Consumer Electronics Assn., American Feed Industry Assn. and A/E/C Systems with their first exhibitions in Mexico ... Sold Expo Comida Latina to Diversified Business Communications in 2002
Stephen Sind
Title: President and CEO, Global Event Strategies
What he does: Has developed and organized events worldwide for more than 30 years ... Has offices in the United States, Hong Kong and Beijing, plus associates in more than 20 countries ... Advises and consults on events and publishing businesses ... Recently negotiated and concluded three event licenses in Asia and one in U.K. for clients ... A former vice president and director at Penton Media, responsible for expansion of company's tradeshow business in Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America; once chairman of Penton subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Australia ... Former president and CEO of CEIR
