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Stories this week:
Also read exhibit expert Barry Siskind’s column
Mike Hough, founding member of SISO, passes away
 HARTFORT, Conn. — Mike Hough passed away on December 25 at the age of 65. He was a founding member of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO). He also was a founding partner of A/E/C Systems, a worldwide trade show for the design and construction industry.
The date of a public memorial service has yet to be announced.
Besides his wife, Michael is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Thomas Walter and Jeanne Hough of Calabash, N.C.; a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Scott Tracey of Norwalk; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary-Ellen and Todd Wildman of Westford, Mass.; and three grandchildren, Madeleine Tracey, Edward John Tracey II and Trey Wildman.
He was born April 5, 1942 in Staten Island, N.Y., son of the late Thomas and Bridie (Donnellan) Hough, and had lived in Newington and then Avon since 1966. Michael was a 1963 graduate in civil engineering from Manhattan College in New York. He worked for the Federal Highway Administration and The Maguire Group before co-founding the A/E/C SYSTEMS show, a worldwide tradeshow for the design and construction industry. Michael was a founding member of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and has lectured and written extensively on the various aspects of producing trade shows, including authoring two books, The Profitable Tradeshow and its second edition. He went on to become a business consultant and private investor.
A private family service was held January 5, at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon with burial at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Avon. A public memorial service will be held at a date to be announced in the future. Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, PO Box 628, Hartford, CT 06103.
Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, PO Box 628, Hartford, 06103.
TRADE SHOW PHOTOS
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Kevin Costner performs at the Gibson Guitar booth
at this year's CES show
in Las Vegas on
Monday, Jan. 7.
For more information on Gibson Guitar at CES go to www.gibson.com.
www.cesweb.org |
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Microsoft's Bill Gates takes a look at the latest technology on the floor of CES moments before the official opening of show floor in Las Vegas.
Photo by Vincent Hernandez TSE |
Free trade, cutting-edge technology,
dynamic keynotes highlight day one of
2008 International CES
Leaders from Panasonic, Intel and Yahoo!
kick off world’s largest technology trade show
LAS VEGAS – The 2008 International CES opened Monday, Jan. 5 with an explosion of cutting-edge technologies, with more than 2,700 innovative exhibitors spanning a record 1.85 million net square feet of exhibit space, as well as dynamic industry keynotes and conference sessions. Produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2008 International CES, the world’s largest tradeshow for consumer technology, runs through Thursday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
[CLICK HERE to read more]
DESTINATION MANAGEMENT NEWS
PRA Destination Management New Orleans earns coveted ADME certification
NEW ORLEANS — PRA Destination Management New Orleans, a leading destination management company in the southern region, has earned the highly coveted charter accreditation certification from the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) of Accredited Destination Management Company (ADMC), according to Laura Rednour, president of PRA Destination Management, Inc. an Allied International Company.
 "This accreditation process reinforces PRA's commitment to delivering first class service to our clients", commented Rednour. "Time and time again, PRA New Orleans has set standards unmatched in our industry and we are so proud of this team and the work they have completed in order to achieve this very well-deserved accreditation."
The ADMC charter group consists of 24 destination management companies (DMCs), representing 33 office locations that met the ADMC program standards, including PRA New Orleans, PRA San Diego, PRA San Diego North, PRA Orange County and PRA Los Angeles. Each office completed a successful review of the application by the ADMC commission. Program standards include requirements that measure the longevity and stability of the company, their commitment to the DMC industry and their service levels to clients.
ADME's Destination Management Company Accreditation program designates firms that demonstrate advanced knowledge and experience essential to the practice of destination management. The Accredited Destination Management Company (ADMC) designation assists the meeting planning community by identifying and qualifying standards and criteria that are indicative of the highest quality destination management service providers. This program recognized DMCs that meet and adhere to these standards.
"By earning this charter accreditation, we've set a standard within our meeting planning community that produces the utmost in quality DMC services," said Jeff O'Hara, president and owner of PRA New Orleans. "We are thrilled to be a part of this charter group and to be a part of an organization that elevates professional standards within our industry."
"I congratulate those companies who have achieved the Charter designation and applaud them for taking this important step for our industry," says ADME's President Ilene Reinhart, DMCP, CMP. "The program is designed to set the standards and industry best practices for Destination Management Companies and will enable clients to identify professional DMCs when they are searching for an industry partner," Reinhart said.
ADME is the only global non-profit association dedicated to increasing the professionalism and effectiveness of destination management through education, promotion of ethical practices, and availability of information to the meetings, convention, and incentive travel industries, as well as the general public.
EXHIBITOR SERVICE NEWS
dmgworld media announces implementation of
EMC Online Exhibitor Service System
ATLANTA — dmg world media, a leader in international exhibitions and publishing, announced its intention to utilize the EMC Online Exhibitor Service System across a number of their events.
According to Mike Cooke, CEO of dmg world media, "We have been utilizing the EMC Online Exhibitor Service System on a number of shows with success. This product has proven user friendly, and capable of providing comprehensive event services online. EMC has allowed dmg world media to offer better customer service to our exhibitors."
EMC's Online Exhibitor Service System is a neutral exhibitor kit that provides the services of the general service contractor, the facility, and the specialty contractors online. EMC is differentiated from other online exhibitor service manuals because of its ability to provide one — stop shopping for exhibitors who are in the process of planning their presence at trade shows. With the orders being handled electronically, there are fewer input errors, and the cut-off time for orders is reduced, giving exhibitors more flexibility with their orders.
"We are proud to introduce this technology to our events and to be able to offer our exhibitors additional online, user friendly services through EMC and their online exhibitor manual," said Cooke. "Being able to proactively manage the exhibitors using EMC will help dmg world media deliver a first class exhibitor experience, increasing exhibitor satisfaction"
John Whitaker, VP of online strategy at dmg world media adds, "EMC, with their global platform helps us deliver a consistent exhibitor experience regardless of the country, venue or contractor; this gives our exhibitors a single view of their exhibition planning reducing necessary support calls
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LIGHTING DESIGN NEWS
Q-TRAN celebrates 15th anniversary
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Gean Tremaine, John Tremaine and Jordan Nodelman of the family-owned Q-Tran Inc. |
Transformer, power supply manufacturing leader for low voltage lighting used throughout industry reaches milestone
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Q-Tran Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality, power supply systems, transformers and components for low voltage lighting, has announced that the firm is celebrating its 15th Anniversary this year. Q-Tran power supply centers and transformers power the low voltage lighting fixtures used throughout the industry.
John Tremaine, an accomplished lighting designer born into a family of lighting entrepreneurs and innovators, founded Q-Tran in 1993. He began his career with The Miller Company, a firm acquired in the 1930's by his great grandfather, Burton Sr., who established the National Electric Lamp Association (NELA). In the early 1920's NELA became General Electric's lamp division in Cleveland, Ohio. NELA, the first corporate campus in the nation, was later transformed into a prestigious research institute that is still thriving today.
The Miller Company, a lighting company specializing in fixtures used for commercial, industrial and institutional applications, was later sold to John's grandfather, Burton, Jr., who eventually sold it to John's father, Burton, III. The business was eventually sold again in the 1980's, but it is where John cut his teeth in the lighting business.
John started his own lighting design practice in 1980, and in 1985, opened Primo, a high-tech lighting showroom based in South Norwalk, Connecticut that offered a creative alternative to functional lighting. He began working with low voltage lighting and discovered flaws in the way power was fed to low voltage fixtures.
Determined to resolve those challenges inherent in power supplies available at the time, John established Q-Tran in the basement of his showroom. He began to design and engineer a series of flexible remote transformers that eliminated noise and heat while enhancing the quality of light output. The company pioneered innovative transformers that offered a high level of safety, reliability, performance and convenience for users of low voltage lighting, in both residential and commercial installations.
Over the years, Gean Tremaine, VP of Sales and Marketing, and Jordan Nodelman, VP of Operations, would take their place by their father's side, helping to build Q-Tran's product line and presence throughout the industry.
Operating with its mantra "EnlightenedThinking," Q-Tran was the first company to develop an entire power supply center designed specifically for low voltage lighting. Today Q-Tran has evolved into a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality power supply systems, transformers and components, supplying its growing product line to distributors and designers across North America.
DESIGN NEWS
Cyclonix creates new exhibit for Citrix Systems
MORGAN HILLS, Calif. — Cyclonix, a creator of dynamic brand architecture, has completed the design and fabrication of a new exhibit for Citrix Systems. The exhibit, which made its debut at Interop New York, was also used at Oracle Open World in San Francisco.
 Cyclonix design director, Greg Bailey says the inspiration for the exhibit, which utilizes leaning elements and curved beams, was architect Santiago Calatrava's Milwaukee Art Museum. "The nature of Citrix products-application delivery infrastructure-led us to the decision that the design should be very structural in nature," Bailey said.
Cyclonix was selected to design the exhibit from a field of four contenders. Debbie Margulies, Senior Manager of Marketing for Citrix said that the process of selection was very exciting as great designs were submitted. "We selected Cyclonix because they included our promotion as an integral part of the design-not simply as an afterthought-and we were very comfortable with them," says Margulies.
The exhibit will be used by Citrix Worldwide Integrated Marketing Division in various configurations at four shows in 2008, as well as by Citrix North America Corporate Marketing team at HIMSS.
Cyclonix uses creativity and innovative design solutions to bring passion, energy and momentum to exhibits and environments. Capabilities include strategy, design, fabrication, management and execution. Learn more at www.cyclonixinc.com.
Professional Exhibits & Graphics Helps To Build Unique Custom Trade Show Exhibits for Paramount Farms
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Professional Exhibits & Graphics — a premiere full service trade show exhibit company headquartered in Sunnyvale, Ca., was selected by Paramount Farms to create two unique trade show displays exhibited at simultaneous trade shows recently.
According to Mike Finein, Vice President of Sales, "PE&G was chosen for its outstanding design capability and the quality of its staff and stellar reputation in the trade show exhibit field. The creative design and synergy of our people with the client definitely gave PE&G the edge over its competition."
The challenge was to design two custom trade show displays for simultaneous trade shows which included PMA's 2007 Fresh Summit International Conference & Exhibition in Houston, Texas held Oct. 12-15 and the Anuga Show in Cologne, Germany Oct. 13-17.
The design concept captured an old country store look and feel. It was displayed in a 40-foot by 50-foot two-story custom trade show exhibit with a conference room on the second floor at the Houston, Texas trade show. This innovative design showcased the same country store look in a 20-foot-by-30-foot trade show display in Cologne, Germany. Both trade show booths were highly successful and received rave reviews.
Kimberly Franklin, senior promotions manager, Paramount Farms, remarks, "PE&G worked extremely hard with us to come up with the right design solutions for both shows. The end results really brought the designs to life. Both exhibits got positive comments from our staff, the attendees, as well as other exhibitors."
"I am pleased to have our company work with Paramount Farms as they are truly known for their exceptionally high quality standards," said Dick Wheeler, president of Professional Exhibits & Graphics.
By Barry Siskind
When it comes to creating a powerful exhibit, the old saying, less is better, has never been truer. Often exhibitors have a tendency to simply put too much into their display. They mistakenly assume that they need to tell everyone everything as quickly as possible and their back-wall ends up looking like a brochure. Let’s take a step back and look at the problem and see if there isn’t a better solution.
The first thing to focus on is those people that you are designing for – the visitors. Put yourself in their position. You chose to go to the show for a number of reasons. Likely at the top of the list are to see new products and services and learn about new tools and technologies. That’s good and bad news. The good news is that as a visitor if you have chosen the show well, you have an excellent chance of learning and seeing lots of new products. The bad news is that there is simply too many. It’s like drinking from a fire-hose. Eventually your brain shuts down and you can’t take in additional information. You suffer from information overload.
[CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF SISKIND'S COLUMN…]
Experient names vice president in D.C. office
 TWINSBURG, Ohio — Experient, the source for integrated meeting and event solutions, announces Nancy DeBrosse has taken the position of vice president in the Experient Washington D.C. office.
DeBrosse has more than 20 years of experience in the event industry and is member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
"Nancy is highly professional and highly qualified," said Ian Twentey, Experient senior vice president, eastern region. "She will lead our D.C. team on many levels, including account management and office operations. We are happy she has chosen to join Experient."
As vice president of the Experient D.C. office DeBrosse is responsible for Experient strategic account management teams based in D.C. Her previous professional experience included regional and national sales, marketing, communications and operations positions with Projection Presentation Technology. DeBrosse is the 2008 IAEE D.C. chapter chair and the 2008 president elect for the Capital Chapter of PCMA. She has also served on several PCMA and IAEE national committees.
Experient is the source for integrated meeting and event solutions. With a vision to perfect the event experience and a mission to help bring people together to drive business, we have joined together the three leading event services companies (Conferon, ExpoExchange and ITS) into one centrally managed resource for full-service, customized registration, housing, event management and lead retrieval services. This year, Experient will create memorable event experiences at more than 3,000 events attended by 3 million-plus people who will occupy more than 4.72 million room nights.
TradeshowLogistics adds industry veteran Charlie Robinson to sales team
 ATLANTA — TradeshowLogistics, a national general contracting company, has announced the addition of industry veteran Charlie Robinson as Vice President of Sales. In his new position, Robinson will be continuing to win over Associations to TradeshowLogistics' collaborative approach to general contracting, which enables show management to generate new profits and improve exhibitor service.
Robinson, who was most recently Director of Sales with Meeting Management Services, Inc., has over thirty years of sales and marketing experience including from his long career with Sheraton Hotels, later Starwood Hotels and Resorts. He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and an ASAE Fellow. He is also a member of the Professional Convention Management Association and the Association of Meeting Professionals.
"I look forward to introducing TradeshowLogistics to accounts which can benefit from our unique business model that enables TradeshowLogistics to be fully aligned with its customers in a true partnership relationship. As a strategic partner, we have a vested interest to improve exhibitor services, increase show ratings, significantly improve cash flow and provide a new source of revenue for associations," Robinson said.
"Charlie started as one of our referral partners. The chemistry was so great that he joined our sales team full time. His knowledge and expertise compliments our existing team and we are all looking forward to working with him on a day-to-day basis," said B.J. Enright, president of TradeshowLogistics.
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