Schaffer Heads to 1105 Media
TSW publisher takes opportunity to recharge growing media firm
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 8/27/2007
Los Angeles—After five years, and a host of innnovations at Tradeshow Week, Publisher Adam Schaffer is becoming more than just a publisher. He's moving on to the tradeshow business as well.
On Sept. 10, Schaffer will begin his new job as group publisher at 1105 Media, based in Chatsworth, Calif. His primary responsibility will be to oversee the Recharger Group of magazines and global tradeshows, and he will be involved with other businesses within 1105 as well.
With the backing of private equity firms Nautic Partners and Alta Communications, media executive Neal Vitale formed 1105 Media in April 2006. One of the company's first acquisitions was 101 Communications, owner of Recharger. 1105 has made five other acquisitions since then.
In addition to the magazine and online publications for the rechargeable cartridge business, the Recharger brand includes Recharger World Expo held in August in Las Vegas, as well as spinoffs in China, India, Brazil and the Czech Republic. Organizers reported that the 2006 U.S. show attracted 4,900 professional attendees and 285 exhibitors filling 216,705 gross square feet.
"I would like to think it's a natural progression for the publisher of Tradeshow Week to eventually get into the tradeshow business," Schaffer said. "My new responsibilities will involve print and online media, as well as a number of tradeshows around the world."
Since joining Tradeshow Week in August 2002, the former Penton Media executive made considerable changes. He oversaw two redesigns of the weekly magazine; launched TSW's Fastest 50, an event celebrating growth in the tradeshow industry; launched a suite of electronic products; and significantly grew the research and consulting practice.
Charlie Koones, president and publisher of Reed Business Information's Entertainment Division (to which TSW belongs), said, "Adam was a tremendous leader for TSW and, like any great leader, his legacy is the outstanding organization he leaves behind. All of us at RBI are grateful to Adam for his work and confident in the TSW team to continue innovating for the benefit of the tradeshow business."
Schaffer added that he was proud of the TSW team and expected it to keep the momentum it had gained under his leadership. "For the past five years I have been blessed to get to know the industry, and now I get to keep my hand in it and work with many of the close friends I have made," he said.
