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| July 7, 2009 | |
People Making News:
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GES announces
Las Vegas additions
LAS VEGAS — GES Exposition Services, a leader in exhibition and event services, announced the promotion of Rich Demeter to vice president of operations for Las Vegas and the recent hiring of John Hinkell as vice president of tradeshow electrical services.
Demeter has 25 years experience in the exhibitions industry and was previously general manager of GES’ New York/New Jersey operations. Prior to joining GES, Demeter held leadership positions with Freeman.
Prior to relocating to Las Vegas Demeter served on the board of directors for the New York chapter of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events. He received his bachelor of arts degree in communication arts from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Hinkell joins GES with more than 20 years of electrical experience including 15 years in the exhibitions industry. Prior to joining GES, he was vice president of account management for Champion Exposition Services.
His career includes many positions ranging from electrical foreman and general foreman to general manager. Hinkell received his associate degree in project management from UNLV and graduated from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers five-year apprenticeship program. He is a member of the Las Vegas Hospitality Association.
Both Demeter and Hinkell are located at GES’ Las Vegas flagship facility and report directly to GES Senior Vice President and General Manager of Las Vegas Lenny Izzo.
Industry vet appointed GM, The Hilton Inn at Penn in Philadelphia
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Gregory C. Stafford has been appointed General Manager of The Hilton Inn at Penn, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A hospitality industry veteran with over 25 years of hotel management experience, Stafford will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of this upscale.238-room hotel situated in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania’s campus in University City, a section of Philadelphia bounded by the Schuylkill River.
Stafford has an outstanding track record in hospitality management, having served in a multitude of both General Manager and Opening General Manager roles with distinctive hotels in various parts of the country, including such major urban markets as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Atlanta and Orlando.
Most recently, acting as General Manager of the Four-Diamond rated, award-winning Providence Hotel, located in Providence, Rhode Island, he restructured operations and marketing staff and recruited a new management team.
“Greg’s dynamic leadership style, results-driven track record and his skill in recruiting talented individuals and developing a strong team management approach, makes him the ideal candidate for this position,” stated Ted Ratcliff, Senior Vice President, Operations, Eastern North America, Hilton Hotels Corporation. “His exceptional educational background coupled with his membership with leading professional affiliations in the areas of education, marketing, community, hospitality and travel/tourism, is a perfect fit for managing the hotel, which is owned by the University of Pennsylvania, considered one of the most prestigious schools in the state and country,” Ratcliff said.
“I am honored to join the exceptional team at the Hilton Inn at Penn, which brings together two of my lifelong passions – elite education and luxury lodging,” said Stafford. “We intend to build on the outstanding service tradition which Hilton and the University of Pennsylvania have established at this fine hotel,” he added.
Prior to his tenure at The Providence Hotel, Stafford spent 10 years serving as General Manager for the upscale, boutique-style Liaison Capitol Hill (former Holiday Inn on The Hill) in Washington, DC. As GM, he facilitated performance in the areas of finance, marketing and operations with a heavy emphasis on service quality and profitability.
Throughout most of the 1990s and 1980s, Greg served in various opening GM positions and operational managerial roles with such distinctive properties as the Hamilton Crowne Plaza in Washington, D.C., the Hilton Suites Hotel in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, Embassy Suites Downtown Chicago, Embassy Suites Downtown, Washington, DC, and the Hyatt Suites Hotel (formerly Pickett Suites Hotels), Atlanta.
Stafford has an outstanding educational background and possesses a wealth of academic credentials. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Philosophy, and holds two MBA degrees. He received an MBA in Management from Averett University and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago in Marketing and Finance. He is also a Doctoral Candidate in the Executive Leadership Development Program from George Washington University.
He will reside in the Philadelphia area with his two children.
Mills named director of strategic marketing and brand management for Unigroup
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Jason Mills has been named director of strategic marketing and brand management for UniGroup, Inc., the parent company of United Van Lines, Mayflower Transit, and other transportation-related companies. The announcement was made by Steve Burkhardt, Chief Marketing Officer of UniGroup.
In his new capacity, Mills will provide marketing and brand management support for each of the brands and business units. Mills brings more than 10 years of experience in marketing and operations with extensive experience in product development and brand building.
Prior to joining the company, he held progressively responsible positions at other organizations including Bayer Corporation and The Coca-Cola Company. Most recently, he served as the director of business development at Spectrum Brands.
Mills, a resident of St. Louis, Mo., holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va., and a master’s degree in business administration from UNC Kenan-Flager Business School, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Mills also serves on the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Development Board.
Articles this week:
Also read exhibit expert Barry Siskind’s column
Association News
Kuhn, Luteran, Areno to receive ASAE & The Center’s highest individual honors for 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. — ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership will honor Thomas R. Kuhn, CAE, president, Edison Electric Institute, with this year’s Key Award; Larry Luteran, senior vice president of sales, Hilton Hotels Corporation, with the Academy of Leaders Award; and Patricia M. Areno, CAE, senior vice president, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, with the Professional Performance Award. The awards will be presented at ASAE & The Center’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition, August 15-18 in Toronto, Canada.
“Our 2009 award recipients truly exemplify the leadership, integrity and compassion that our association management community fosters and promotes. They set an example worthy of emulation by us all,” said Curtis C. Deane, CFRE, CAE, president, Association of Fundraising Professionals Foundation for Philanthropy and chairman of the 2009 Awards Committee.
“Kuhn, Luteran and Areno have committed significant time to the association profession and portray skills of true association leadership,” said ASAE & The Center President and CEO John H. Graham IV, CAE. “Their numerous contributions over the years both for ASAE & The Center as well as for many organizations in our community represent the highest standards of conduct and both personal and professional commitment to the association community. We are proud to recognize them with this year’s highest individual honors.”
Kuhn is the 160th recipient of the Key Award, ASAE & The Center’s highest honor bestowed upon association chief staff executives. The Key Award recognizes executives who demonstrate exceptional qualities of leadership in their own organizations and an exemplary commitment to the association management profession.
Kuhn joined the Edison Electric Institute in 1985 as executive vice president, was named chief operating officer in 1988, and was elected president in 1990. He serves on the boards of the United States Energy Association, the Alliance to Save Energy, the Electric Drive Transportation Association and the American Council for Capital Formation. He is chairman of the Committee of 100 of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, chairman-emeritus of ASAE and past chairman of ASAE's Key Industry Association Committee and the Trade Association Liaison Council. He has also served on the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Luteran is the 22nd recipient of the Academy of Leaders Award, ASAE & The Center’s highest honor given to industry partners who have demonstrated exemplary support of ASAE & The Center and the entire association community.
He oversees the group segment of Hilton Sales Worldwide in the Americas. He currently serves as chair of the International Board of Directors for Meeting Professionals International (MPI). In the past, he has also served on the ASAE Board of Directors and is an ASAE & Center Fellow. His industry experience also includes service on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Business Travel Management (IBTM).
Areno is the third recipient of ASAE & The Center’s Professional Performance Award, which recognizes invaluable contributions made by association executives who are at the top level within their organizations but are not CEOs.
With more than 35 years of experience in association management, Areno directs all BOMA divisions and the association’s Partnership Program, and is responsible for developing and executing the association’s annual business plan. She is a member of ASAE’s Associations Advance America Committee.
In 2008 she was nominated for the Greater Washington Network Women Who Advance Excellence in Associations Award. She has served as an officer of the Empire State Society of Association Executives and was a member of ASAE & The Center’s Education Committee and Meetings and Expositions Section Council.
Destination Management
PRA Destination Management expands US market share
BOSTON, Mass. — PRA Destination Management, Inc., a leader in destination management services and the only firm to offer franchise opportunities, formally announces the official opening of PRA New England, according to Madelyn Marusa, vice president of PRA Destination Management, Inc.
Heading up the PRA New England team is President, Dusty S. Rhodes, a well-known leader and pioneer in the event management industry, as well as the Director of Destination Management Services, Chris Meierhoefer.
With this official opening of PRA New England, Allied International, parent company of PRA Destination Management, Inc. now provides destination management services on three continents and in eight countries from 29 destination management office locations worldwide.
Nth Degree awarded production of RSA Conference
DULUTH, Ga. — Nth Degree, a leading full-service global event marketing and management company, announced it has been selected to continue to produce and manage RSA Conference, the world’s leading information security conference and exposition.
Nth Degree was selected for both its six-year track record of successful event management with the conference and its innovative and forward-looking solutions that will support the conference’s future growth.
“The event marketing industry is facing a period of fundamental change,” said Sandra Toms LaPedis, VP/GM, RSA Conferences. “We are tasked with continuing to develop the conference to meet the changing needs of our audiences and Nth Degree is the best team to help us through this important evolution.”
Nth Degree was selected following a rigorous RFP process that included some of the best and most recognized companies in the industry. Nth Degree will continue its turnkey logistical management of the U.S. and European conferences, from space and sponsorship sales and general session design and production to exposition management and meeting logistics.
“We’re thrilled to continue the production of this dynamic industry event,” said John Yohe, President, Nth Degree. “We appreciate RSA Conference’s confidence in our ability to support their events now and in the future.”
Throughout its 18-year history, RSA Conference consistently attracts the world’s best and brightest in the field, creating opportunities to learn about information security’s most important issues through first-hand interactions with peers, luminaries and emerging and established companies. RSA Conference is the one place organizations can turn to for a 360-degree view of the industry.
Company Accolades
Freeman wins three awards in Infocomm/LSA Awards competition
DALLAS — Freeman has won the top awards in three of five categories in the InfoComm/Lighting & Sound America Staged Events Awards 2009. The award was presented at a ceremony to held at the annual InfoComm International Show on June 17.
Freeman received the award for Best Overall Staging for a Corporate or Association Event with a budget of $50,000 — $199,000 for the Miller Brewing Annual Distributors’ Conference. Its work in staging the Microsoft Management Summit won the award for Best Overall Staging for a Corporate Event with a technology budget over $200,000. Freeman will also receive the award for Best Use of AV Technology for the AETN exhibit at the 2008 National Association of Cable Television trade show.
“We are proud that our work has gained the recognition of our peers in this dynamic industry,” said Ken Sanders, president of Freeman’s U.S. audio visual division. “AV technology and production performance standards are continually advancing. We are committed to providing the very best AV solutions available to clients in the face-to-face marketing arena.”
The InfoComm/LSA Staged Events Award judges were David Barbour, editor-in-chief of Lighting & Sound America magazine; Tom Stimson, MBA, CTS, president of The Stimson Group; Janne Mummert, director of business development, VER/Video Equipment Rentals; Jack Kelly, owner and designer of Eye Dialogue; and Bob Leon, president of Colortone Staging & Rentals.
The annual awards are sponsored by Lighting & Sound America magazine and InfoComm International.
Freeman’s audio visual division is no stranger to winning the InfoComm/Lighting & Sound America Staged Events Awards.
In 2007 Freeman won in three of the five categories: Best Overall Staging for a Corporate or Association Event with a technology budget over $200,000, for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Convention; Best Use of AV Technology for a Trade Show Booth for Hitachi at the 2006 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Technical Exhibition; and Honorable Mention in Staging for a Corporate or Association Event with a technology budget $50,000 to $199,000 for work on the RE/MAX Awards for Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
In 2008 Freeman was honored in two of the five categories: Best Use of AV Technology for a Trade Show Booth for a Corporate Client, for work on the Bio globe exhibit at the Bio International Convention; and Best Overall Staging for a Corporate/Industrial Entertainment Event at the 2007 Rotary International Convention General Session.
Venue News
Ethan Allen Design Center to open at Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — Home furnishings industry icon Ethan Allen will open its Ethan Allen Design Center at Las Vegas Design Center in September. It will be the company’s first foray into a true design center.
The opening of the new concept Design Center, operated by the 77-year-old industry leader, will correspond with the September 2009 Las Vegas Market.
Located in showroom C-196, Ethan Allen’s 10,000-square-foot company-owned Design Center will attract prospective worldwide licensees during the biannual Las Vegas Market while catering to designers and consumers visiting Las Vegas Design Center throughout the balance of the year.
“Las Vegas Design Center and World Market Center give Ethan Allen a unique opportunity to be part of a design-focused destination that fits perfectly with our business model, as well as with our ability to offer our clients in the Las Vegas area design expertise and a diverse and eclectic range of home furnishings,” said Farooq Kathwari, chairman, president and CEO of Ethan Allen.
How to measure exhibit staff training
By Barry Siskind
It’s an age-old problem. Managers intuitively know that providing staff with specialized training makes them more proficient, helps increase confidence and improves the bottom line. So, you might ask, what is the problem? The answer is simply they can’t prove it. And, proof is what’s needed in order to justify the time and cost of providing training.
The challenge of creating a ROI for training is that it needs something to be compared to and without the ability to know what the training investment is being compared to, calculating the ROI is next to impossible. The root of the issue is the establishment of benchmarks.
Here is where many exhibit managers fall down in their ability to collect meaningful data from their exhibit experiences and to use that data to establish a benchmark from which future performance is compared.
Here is an example of a few of the bits of data that should be included in a post-show statistical analysis:
NEW YORK — The 