Highlights from EXHIBITORLIVE 2018
My annual pilgrimage to EXHIBITORLIVE is one of the highpoints of the year. This conference was especially fun, and I got to do some new things.
Neal was able to travel with me for the first time in three years, and we stayed at the conference hotel, Mandalay Bay. We arrived in Las Vegas earlier than usual, and took in a show Friday. I was busy from then on. That Saturday I spent the day on a jury panel for EXHIBITOR Magazineās 15th Annual Corporate Event Awards. It was educational to hear the perspectives of the other members of the panel, and I appreciate the balance and the consensus we were able to achieve. Thank you, Linda Armstrong, for inviting me!
CTSM Dinner
On Sunday the Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) Dinner was back at the Four Seasons, and it was lovely. āMyā advisee Keri Estrada, Convention/Exhibit Manager at Oregon Catholic Press in Portland, Oregon, was among the new graduates, but she was not able to attend. I took photos of the CTSM booth in The Square, featuring portraits of the latest CTSMs.Ā
Keri Estrada (center, with long blonde hair), is Exhibit Manager for Oregon Catholic Press.
CTSM booth in The Square featuring portraits of the latest graduates. Congratulations to all! CTSM Executive Director Jan Nelson is seated at the reception desk.
Reviewing the CTSM Dinner program before the doors open.
Janice Nelson welcomes everyone to the CTSM Dinner. The CTSM program owes so much to this wonderful lady.
Melanie Swanson begins announcing the new graduates.
Diane Benson continues introducing the new graduates.Ā
It was my privilege to announce the Silver Level certification upgrades. (I even changed the outfit I had planned for the dinner so I could wear a silver jacket.) New Silver Level CTSMs include David Saef, Executive Vice President of Strategy & MarketWorks at GES. He created an excellent portfolio for his initial certification, and it does not surprise me at all that he has gone on to become an outstanding Portfolio Advisor.
Announcing the Silver Upgrades.
Back at my table.
Katharine Chesnut prepares to introduce the newest Diamond Level CTSMs.
This was also an extra special evening because my good friend Janice Breuer was honored as a new Diamond Level CTSM.
The newest Diamonds are (in order of achievement): Janice Breuer, CTSM Diamond, Tradeshow Specialist, FFF Enterprises, Temecula, California; Bill Jackson, CTSM Diamond, Tradeshow/Exhibit Manager, AW Hastings & Co., Enfield, Connecticut; and Kathleen Gunderson, CTSM Diamond, AVP, Trade Shows & Exhibits Manager, Wells Fargo Meetings & Events, Odebolt, Iowa.
Three new Diamonds! Left to right: Kathleen Gunderson, Bill Jackson, and Janice Breuer.
Bill Jackson, Melanie Swanson, Gail Hernandez, Janice Breuer, and me.
Half of the worldās Diamond Level CTSMs: Katharine Chesnut, Kathleen Gunderson, Steve Marchese (back row), Bill Jackson (front row), Melanie Swanson (back row), Gail Hernandez (front row), Janice Breuer (back row), and me.
Having fun after the dinner with Gail and Janice.Ā
With my dear friends Gail Hernandez (left) and Janice Breuer (right).
I love the CTSM Dinner, because it recognizes achievements in the trade show industry, and also because it is my chance each year to see some of the best people I know. I feel the same way about the EXHIBITORLIVE conference itself.
Sessions Presented
Itās always a pleasure to co-present our session on āEffective Exhibiting for Companies with Niche Markets and Long Sales Cyclesā with my colleague Bob Milam, AKA Trade Show Bob. Bob and I also hosted a roundtable later on the same topic.Ā
In addition, Glenda Brungardt and I introduced a new, 45- minute session onĀ āOrdering Electrical Services.ā Ordering electrical services is more complex than arranging for booth furniture, carpet, or plants. Last year I asked Glenda if she would present this session with me, and luckily she immediately said āIām in!ā Glenda has managed trade shows for HP for 40 years, and brings a wealth of knowledge to the class. We had a small but very engaged group for that session. (We must have done something right, as both classes will also be offered at the FastTrak in December.)Ā
Sessions Taken
I was finally able to attend āLean Six Sigma White Belt for Exhibitors,ā a half-day workshop I had been curious about for a long time. I enjoyed it, and it is good to know more about Lean Six Sigma.Ā As an outside consultant, I donāt have any immediate plans to go on to the Orange Belt classes. However, Orange Belt would be of benefit to someone with an in-house management role.
Professional and personal development coach Pete Smith spoke atĀ the CTSM dinner, and I happened to be signed up for his āDare to Matterā session the next day. One of the things he talks about is the danger ofĀ āplaying it safeā with your life and career. Heās funny but addresses some serious issues.
I also took a 45-minute session onĀ āTrade Show Objectives: Why You Need Them and How to Make It Happenā by Beth Nicholson. I liked how she set core sales and marketing objectives as the foundation for all other trade show objectives. (This was her first time presenting, and she did quite well!)
Due to a scheduled event, Tuesday was my last active day at the conference. Next year I hope to stay longer!
The Square and Exhibit Hall
Some signage brought back theĀ āconnect with your speciesā theme used in the past, but there were also some real innovations. There was an excellent blend of tradition and newness.
āThe Square,ā leading into the Exhibit Hall, had a fresh look this year. Gone was the high wall blocking the view of the exhibit area -- this year you could see onto the show floor! This welcome change was an Advisory Board recommendation.
This year the area between The Square and the Exhibit Hall was moreĀ āopen.ā Visitors still needed a badge to get onto the show floor, but it was nice to have aĀ āpreviewā of what waited inside.
2018 Conference Advisory Board members.
The wonderful tradition of a book drive for Spread the Word Nevada continued. This organization gives under-served children and youth books they can keep, to encourage reading.Ā
I brought a Black Panther book to the book drive.
This year on the show floor I did not see as dramatic a shift in booth design, although the wood and wood-look trend continues. Thatās fine -- after last year, I was expecting to see more subtle changes, if any.
Something that did catch my eye were some small booths that stood out or made creative use of limited space.
Radiant Mfg booth.
XM-IQ had a good inline booth.
Highway 85 Creative brought the same booth as last year, but this time they had an area for podcasting from the show floor. I was one of the people interviewed.
EliteExpoās diner-theme booth was one of my favorites.
Acme Designās booth featured display props theyāve created for clients.
My worlds collided in this booth! Acme created this figure of Gigi Edgely of Farscape fame. Gigi is also the star ofĀ āThese Haunted Hills,ā an episode of the Uncharted Regions audio drama series my husband and I co-produce.











