Inside Freeman's Transformation: Leadership, Culture, and the Future of Events

In Part 2 of this Global Exhibitor Podcast interview, Jeff Hannah continues the conversation with Carrie Freeman Parsons, Chair of the Board at Freeman. Carrie shares powerful insights about Freeman's organizational transformation, the lessons learned through crisis, and her deep passion for leadership grounded in human dignity and flourishing.

From reflecting on the post-recession pivot to reimagining the company during COVID, Carrie explains how Freeman has become more consultative, nimble, and mission-driven — without losing sight of its culture-first values. Carrie also discusses her recently co-authored book, Inside Live Events, and why it serves as a vital guide for both newcomers and seasoned professionals navigating the changing landscape of face-to-face marketing.

Reinvention at the Core: Staying Relevant in a Changing Landscape

Freeman's staying power — 98 years and counting — is no accident. Carrie outlines a three-pronged approach to staying agile:

"First and foremost, we are healthily paranoid… There's always a healthy paranoia around like, what if we're disrupted?"

That mindset is paired with a relentless customer focus and a "learning mindset" embedded in Freeman's culture. From embracing design thinking to proactively studying emerging trends like AI, Freeman is constantly reinventing itself to stay ahead.

Vision 2025 and a Strategic Shift

A key turning point came after the 2008 recession — the first time the trade show industry had taken a real economic hit. Freeman recognized that just delivering logistics wasn't enough anymore.

"It sort of smacked us in the head… if we don't help our customers solve these problems, then we're not going to have work to produce."

In response, they launched Vision 2025 — a bold initiative to evolve Freeman into a strategic, consultative partner, not just an executional one. That vision included investing in creative and strategic services, enhancing efficiency, and redefining how Freeman delivers value.

How COVID Accelerated Change

While devastating, the pandemic forced Freeman to put transformation into overdrive.

"We had no business to produce… so we used that time to reimagine operations, reduce costs, and help our customers rethink their events."

The crisis pushed clients to rely more heavily on Freeman's strategic services — and allowed the company to emerge leaner, smarter, and better positioned for the future.

Culture Is the Engine

At the heart of everything Freeman does is its culture — one Carrie fiercely protects and nurtures.

"There is not a moment that we take our eye off the ball… If you take your eye off that ball, bad things can slip in."

She reflects on the evolution of Freeman's explicit values, the importance of appreciation, and how good leadership is ultimately about creating an environment where people thrive.

"What if everybody went home feeling valued — and that made their families stronger? That's the ripple effect we want."

Advice to Newcomers: Events as a Human-Centered Industry

To those just entering the events world, Carrie offers encouragement and inspiration:

"This industry is human-centric. It's about creating meaningful connections — and if you do your work well, you're part of something that has real impact."

She emphasizes the diverse opportunities the industry offers — from lighting design to marketing strategy — and the importance of joining a team-oriented, dynamic environment.

Final Takeaway: Events Are a Team Sport

As Carrie says, live events are "a team sport." The energy, challenge, and impact of the industry are powered by collaboration — and by leaders who care deeply about people.

References & Links:

Part 1 of my interview with Carrie

Inside Live Events (book by Carrie Freeman Parsons & Bob Priest-Heck)

Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family (book by Bob Chapman & Raj Sisodia)

The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life (book by Lynne Twist & Jack Canfield)

High Point University – Event Management Program

LinkedIn: Carrie Freeman Parsons

Website: Freeman

www.globalexhibitor.com

Featuring the Chair of the Board at Freeman

In this episode of The Global Exhibitor Podcast, Jeff Hannah sits down with Carrie Freeman Parsons, third-generation leader and Chair of the Board at Freeman, one of the world's largest and most influential event production companies. Carrie shares her deep insights into the evolution of the trade show and live events industry — and why today's environment demands faster innovation, more strategic thinking, and a deeper commitment to audience needs than ever before.

Carrie also discusses her recently co-authored book, Inside Live Events, and why it serves as a vital guide for both newcomers and seasoned professionals navigating the changing landscape of face-to-face marketing.

Why Inside Live Events Matters Right Now

The pace of change in the events industry has accelerated dramatically. Carrie notes that in the past, professionals had the luxury of years of hands-on learning, mentoring, and apprenticeship. Today, that model simply doesn't fit.

"In today's world, you don't have the luxury of time to learn all the nuances of the business," Carrie explains.

That's one of the reasons she and co-author Bob Priest-Heck felt compelled to put their ideas and practices into a book — to provide a faster, more effective way for people at all stages of their careers to understand how to create successful, impactful live events.

The Four-Phase Methodology and Design Thinking at Freeman

One of the major frameworks discussed in the conversation is the four-phase methodology developed in partnership with renowned designer Bruce Mau.

Rather than simply reacting to client requests, Freeman developed a proactive, strategic model that starts with defining the opportunity, involving all necessary stakeholders early, executing with excellence, and critically — debriefing after every project to capture what worked and what could be improved.

"Debriefing isn't optional — it's essential. You have to ask what worked, what didn't, and why," Carrie emphasizes.

Freeman's adoption of design thinking principles has transformed not just how they build exhibits and events, but how they help clients solve the real, underlying problems they face.

Addressing the Workforce Challenge: The Retirement Cliff

Another important issue Carrie raises is what she calls the "retirement cliff" — a looming challenge where experienced professionals are leaving the industry faster than new talent can be trained and onboarded.

Freeman, like many organizations, is focusing heavily on workforce development, leadership training, and system transformation to make it easier for newer employees to ramp up quickly and succeed without the long apprenticeship periods that used to define the industry.

Meeting Evolving Audience Expectations

Carrie also highlights a major shift in audience behavior and expectations.

Where previous generations were content to simply walk the show floor and hope for serendipitous encounters, today's attendees — especially younger ones — expect highly personalized, curated experiences that are memorable and valuable.

Creating those meaningful face-to-face connections requires a much deeper understanding of both audience psychology and technological tools to enable smarter matchmaking and engagement.

Takeaway: Live Events Must Evolve, But Their Power Remains

As Carrie says, the live events industry still holds incredible power to connect, inspire, and drive business forward — but only if companies are willing to rethink how they design experiences, engage audiences, and foster continuous improvement.

Events are living, breathing connections. They demand strategic innovation, courageous creativity, and an ongoing commitment to adapting to a rapidly changing world.

Part 2 of my interview with Carrie.

LinkedIn: Carrie Freeman Parsons

Website: Freeman

www.globalexhibitor.com

This is Part 1 of a two-part interview with international industry leader and designer Francisco Collazo, Partner and CEO of SISTEXPO (Sistemas de Exposición) in Mexico City, Mexico.

In this fascinating conversation, Francisco Collazo shares his extensive journey into the exhibition industry, tracing the evolution of his career from its inception as a young boy working with his father. More than 40 years later, Francisco's company is now well into its third family generation and has established an outstanding reputation for themselves globally in the industry.

Host Jeff Hannah asks Francisco to share the transformative shifts he has witnessed in the Mexican exhibition landscape over the years, offering valuable insights into the dynamic nature of the industry in Mexico. Nowadays, most of the exhibits are custom-built, wooden exhibits versus system exhibits; many are still build and burn (one time use).

Francisco highlighted his knowledge of system exhibits, shedding light on the diverse range, some of the history, and how he became an expert in this area. He mentions his past interactions with historical system influencers, such as Hans Bruder (global leader of OCTANORM for over 50 years). Some of the systems they discussed are beMatrix, Aluvision, Agam, OCTANORM, SYMA, and meroform,

They discuss the primary exhibition venues in Mexico, and how those have evolved over the years in their respective areas:

Palacio de los Deportes

World Trade Center Mexico City

Centro Citibanamex

Expo Guadalajara

Jeff and Francisco share their common bond of their pathways to becoming an industrial designer. Francisco shares how he is particularly passionate about giving back to future generations of designers and design programs at various universities. Francisco's heavy involvement in international and local industry associations underscored his commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing with others across the industry.

Francisco's international work experience is a key focal point, illustrating the intricacies and nuances of navigating business across borders – particularly in Latin America.

Francisco opens-up about the unique experience of collaborating with family members in the industry, providing a glimpse into the dynamics of working alongside loved ones. He shares his outlook on navigating some of those challenges – and well as the reward of working with his family in the formation of this third-generation business. They specifically mention the work that his son Paco Collazo is doing with Happy Projects, based in Atlanta.

Jeff asks Francisco about his legacy, where he emphasizes continuous innovation, building connections, and providing the highest level of service possible (beyond what is happening on the trade show floor).

Host Jeff Hannah summarizes this interview by stating, "good stuff to build a business on; good stuff to build a life around."

SISTEXPO are international exhibit and event builders, headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. They are uniquely positioned to work across North America and South America, with a reach far beyond – into Europe and elsewhere around the world. SISTEXPO designs and builds exhibits for trade shows, works as a general contractor for entire exhibitions, provides international pavilions, and produces full-scale events. Well into their third family generation, SISTEXPO has a strong track record of over 40 years and continues to be heavily involved in international associations and works with many global brands. They are proud members of IFES, EDPA, ESSA, bePartner Network, MPI, OSPI, and AMPROFEC.

This interview was recorded live at the amazing Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, in Bonita Springs, Florida (USA) with host Jeff Hannah.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francisco-collazo-ortega-23601639/

Website: https://www.sistexpo.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews digital genius, Mazi Farzam, CEO of Inhance Digital, an agency based in Los Angeles, California. Mazi is focused on the intersection of science, technology, and storytelling. Under his leadership, Inhance has built a global reputation for content generation, user experience creation, visual effects, and immersive storytelling. Inhance works across a wide range of industries where their work finds application in museums, trade shows, executive briefing centers, and other types of experiences.

Mazi is from the Middle East, but is an American now, having worked and traveled extensively around the world. He has a fantastic understanding of cultural differences and how those impact business, interpersonal relationships, and the design of experiences. He is passionate about technology, experiences, and entertainment.

Jeff and Mazi talk about how culture plays into design of interactives and storytelling. They take a deeper look at the differences between basic translation and localization. Mazi stresses the importance of having locals to help craft the story – understanding the connotations of the local language, colloquialisms, and sensitivities to various topics and issues. He explains how most of their projects are designed to be used across a spectrum of different cultures.

Mazi talks how the most effective experiences are those in which the digital and interactive elements are seamlessly integrated into the physical architectural spaces; some refer to this as phygital. Both elements are critically important. But they need to be fully understood, appreciated, and designed together to achieve this level of integration.   

Looking into the future, Mazi talks about how the metaverse will change the way we go about our daily lives. He talks about how the technology itself may become more transparent in some ways: more integrated into everything but less obviously visible. He indicates that we are just on the precipice of an exciting new era in technology – one which has the potential to improve humanity in ways that we have yet to see. This could help us build a better world – improving communications, awareness, healthcare, and the environment, just to name a few!

Jeff asks Mazi about what makes Inhance truly unique in their work, as they have achieved an outstanding reputation in the past twenty-plus years. He notes that being in Hollywood helps them to attract some of the best talent in this world. Many of their team members work in feature films, visual effects (VFX), and as AAA game developers. They are distinctly client focused, nimble, and fast in their development.  

Inhance Digital is an award-winning interactive agency that helps tell complex stories. Their services span content generation, visual effects, physical brand activation/immersive experiences, and virtual brand exhibits and events. Inhance is at the forefront of delivering custom, cutting-edge interactive experiences for both in-person brand activations as well as virtual and online customer engagement.

This interview was recorded live at EXHIBITORLIVE in Las Vegas, Nevada with host Jeff Hannah.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maziar-farzam-2695718/

Website: https://www.inhance.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

Industry veteran Mark Johnson is re-shaping the world of exhibitions with his deep passion, foresight, and encompassing vision for the future. Mark has garnered significant attention with his recent acquisitions of EXHIBITOR Group, as well as Featherlite Exhibits. In this episode, host Jeff Hannah asks Mark about his acquisition of EXHIBITOR Group, and how he is re-imagining the future of it. Mark introduces Dan Raynak as the new CEO/President of EXHIBITOR Group, and talks about the unique and ongoing mission for the company. Mark's fiery passion for the exhibition industry can be felt as he discusses a more inclusive future for EXHIBITOR – with the introduction of additional tools and resources. Mark also discusses the outlook for EXHIBITORLIVE 2023 and beyond, including future potential show locations.

EXHIBITOR is widely recognized as a producer of educational conferences – and is exploring ways to build upon this globally recognized brand – including potential international expansion of educational programming and CTSM Certification. EXHIBITOR and the EDPA (Experiential Designers & Producers Association) have recently formed a partnership to provide ongoing professional education to EDPA members through EXHIBITOR's Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) program.

Mark Johnson is the Founder / CEO of Star Exhibits & Environments, and also owns several other companies. Mark built an outstanding reputation in the exhibition industry through decades of international work and leadership in industry associations such as EDPA and IFES. He was formerly President (2005) of EDPA (Experiential Designers & Producers Association). He was involved in the creation of the EDPA Foundation, where he continues to serve as Treasurer. He was instrumental in supporting and promoting IFES (International Federation of Exhibition & Event Services) over the years in various ways. Mark has been instrumental in the exhibit design education programs at both Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and Bemidji State University (BSU), from the early stages of development to current day. In 2021, Mark was honored as one of the Ten Most Admired CEOs by the MSP Business Journal.

EXHIBITOR Group is the global leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education. EXHIBITOR does this through many platforms, including: EXHIBITOR Magazine, EXHIBITORLIVE, the Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) program, EXHIBITOR FastTrak, EXHIBITOR eTrak, and others.

A leading global marketing solutions provider, Star Exhibits and Environments values a customer-intimate approach, lasting partnerships, powerful strategic direction, and consistent execution. Star's comprehensive design, fabrication, installation, and property management services support trade show, retail, corporate interior, event and selling environment initiatives.

This interview was recorded live at EXHIBITOR FastTrak in Providence, Rhode Island, with host Jeff Hannah.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjohnsonstar/

Website: https://www.exhibitoronline.com/index.asp

www.globalexhibitor.com

This is an interview with an industry legend, Bendict Soh, Chairman and Co-Founder of Kingsmen Creative Ltd., based in Singapore.

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah and Bendict Soh discuss the return of the industry since the COVID-19 pandemic brought the exhibition industry to a complete halt over two years ago. Shows and events are recovering well, with a number of large corporations hosting their own private customer events and product launches. Ben talks about the importance of face-to-face marketing, and the need as an industry to demonstrate excellent ROI for the client stakeholders.

Ben talks about how the trade show industry has evolved over the years, and has excelled at integrating all of the other aspects of technology and marketing. He also talks about how business has changed due to the blending of cultures globally.

Jeff asks Ben about the challenges of running a large corporation with offices in many countries. Jeff asks Ben to give advice to people considering a career in this industry. He talks about mentors, sources of inspiration, and about how he got started in this industry. He also talks about the concepts of work/life balance and work/life integration. And, he talks about what he feels is his greatest achievement. 

Bendict Soh is internationally known across the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry and amusement park industry segments. Benedict has been awarded the prestigious Hazel Hayes Award, as well as the Lifetime Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism by the Singapore Tourism Board. Benedict co-founded Kingsmen Creatives over 45 years ago, and is also Chairman. Kingsmen has now gown to 21 offices across major cities in Asia, the Middle East, and the USA, with global headquarters in Singapore.

Kingsmen are creators of experience, harnessing the power of creativity and design to tell engaging stories that bring brands to life. Kingsmen delivers seamless, innovative and engaging experiences that connect, engage and empower. From conception to completion, their integrated capabilities built over the last 45 years have enabled them to be the one-stop creative solutions partner, delivering memorable, successful campaigns around the world.

This interview was recorded live in Singapore at the Kingsmen Experience, the global headquarter tower of Kingsmen Creative Ltd., in the Changi District of Singapore, with host Jeff Hannah.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benedict-soh-819b614/

Website: https://www.kingsmen-int.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

This is Part 2 of a two-part interview with Han Leenhouts author of Sales & Pepper, based in The Hague (Den Haag), The Netherlands.   

This is one of the most fun, exciting, and inspirational episodes that we've had on The Global Exhibitor Podcast! In this interview, hosted by Jeff Hannah, you can experience Han's electric personality, and magnetic passion through his dynamic, engaging, and direct (Dutch) style. The primary focus of this episode is the importance of booth staff selection, training and engagement.

In this episode, Jeff asks Han to differentiate between the Dutch culture and mindset in comparison to other countries in Europe. Han talks about what Americans might not understand when working with the Dutch. They talk about the direct communications style, and the importance of being authentic and genuine.

Han emphasizes the importance of booth staff training and what the process generally looks like – involving both pre-show training as well as on-site coaching. He talks about setting goals for the show and how to measure where those goals are met.

Han elaborates on how asking the "right" questions is an important step in learning how to engage with people you have never met before. The right questions help to quickly qualify your potential leads and determine where to take the conversation. Han is a firm believer in being bold, taking risks, and stepping out of your comfort zone – which is what it takes in order to be really successful in trade show marketing.  

As a side note, Jeff and Han briefly discuss perspectives on the war in Ukraine, as well as how Dutch DJ's compare to others in the world! You don't want to miss that!

Han Leenhouts is an internationally acclaimed author, keynote speaker, trainer, and coach in the trade show industry. Han is the author of Sales & Pepper, a book focused on the best ways to engage with people on the trade show floor, in conjunction with an effective exhibit. He is also the author of Peppertalk 2.0, which is focused on open-ended, thought-provoking questions which can be used to effectively engage with others on the show floor. Han owns Sales & Pepper, a training and coaching firm based in The Netherlands.

This interview was recorded live in Las Vegas at the luxurious Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, with host Jeff Hannah. Please also join us for Part 1 of this interview with Han Leenhouts.  

Email: han@salesandpepper.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanleenhouts/

Website: https://salesandpepper.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

This is Part 1 of a two-part interview with Han Leenhouts author of Sales & Pepper, based in The Hague (Den Haag), The Netherlands.   

This is one of the most fun, exciting, and inspirational episodes that we've had on The Global Exhibitor Podcast! In this interview, hosted by Jeff Hannah, you can experience Han's electric personality, and magnetic passion through his dynamic, engaging, and direct (Dutch) style. The primary focus of this episode is the importance of booth staff selection, training and engagement.

Han is focused on outcomes! But, far too many get it wrong! As part of his consultative, training, and coaching initiatives, Han works globally with brands to help establish and reach goals for their trade show participation. With clearly defined goals in mind, you can then work to achieve those goals - and recognize when you have or haven't. Having the goals is important, but is not everything. Making the most of show floor interactions can make or break any trade show participation. Staff training is the next, hugely important component. Much of the booth staff training can happen in the planning phases, but some of it must happen on the show floor, in the actual physical environment in order to fully utilize the exhibit in the way it was designed to be used.

Jeff asks Han about his views on staffing a booth with marketing team members vs. sales vs. technical staff. Han talks in detail about how to select the right people to fill the various roles required on the show floor. Han gives his recommendations on the ideal mix of profiles for the roles, and how to play to people's strengths. He focuses on the importance of booth staff attitude and outlook on working on the show floor. It is critical for them to understand their purpose, as well as the best ways to approach people and start meaningful interactions.

Respect for cultural differences is important for working across cultures. But, when looking for ways to engage with others, Han urges people to tap into the most basic and common human characteristics – those things we share in common – rather than focusing on our differences. Shaping questions in just the right way to capture a visitor's attention immediately is essential in the busy, distracting, and fast-paced show floor environment. Han is a master at engaging both individuals and audiences.  

Han Leenhouts is an internationally acclaimed author, keynote speaker, trainer, and coach in the trade show industry. Han is the author of Sales & Pepper, a book focused on the best ways to engage with people on the trade show floor, in conjunction with an effective exhibit. He is also the author of Peppertalk 2.0, which is focused on open-ended, thought-provoking questions which can be used to effectively engage with others on the show floor. Han owns Sales & Pepper, a training and coaching firm based in The Netherlands.

This interview was recorded live in Las Vegas at the luxurious Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, with host Jeff Hannah. Please join us for Part 2 of this interview with Han Leenhouts.  

Email: han@salesandpepper.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanleenhouts/

Website: https://salesandpepper.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

This is Part 2 of an interview with Lee Ali of Expo Stars Interactive, based in Manchester, England. Host Jeff Hannah asks Lee about the Five E's of Engagement, booth staffing recommendations, and getting the right people in the right places in an exhibit.  

Lee and Jeff discuss various outlooks regarding the attendee experience model in the post-COVID world. How have expectations of engagements and interactions changed during the past couple of years? What problems are we seeing now? And how are expectations continuing to change? It is more important than ever to staff your booth in the right way in order to achieve more successful outcomes.

A key insight that Lee has is that booth staffers tend to do too much talking and not enough listening as they are working an exhibit. Additionally, Lee makes some somewhat controversial statements about whether or not exhibiting is a marketing activity or a sales activity. Jeff asks Lee about how to find the right mix between sales, marketing, product or technical specialists, and senior executives.

Lee Ali is an international speaker, entrepreneur, business coach, mentor, sales strategist and a qualified iMA practitioner. He is widely regarded as the go-to source for attendee engagement and lead generation at global tradeshow exhibitions, conferences and live marketing events.

Lee's passion from very early on in his business career has been understanding what makes people buy and how to truly connect with them so that they are deeply engaged with what you do.

As well as contributing his valuable insights to industry press and media, Lee has been invited to speak at various conferences across the world on audience engagement including; UFI Asia Pacific Conference in Malaysia, Middle East Event Show in Dubai, Sales and Marketing Expo in LA, The Business Show in London, Expo Expo! in Las Vegas, EXHIBITORLIVE in Las Vegas, Event Tech Live in London and more. Lee also hosts the "In Conversation with Expo Stars" podcast interviewing experts from the tradeshow industry.

Lee founded Expo Stars Interactive, an award winning exhibition engagement company, to support exhibitors worldwide to engage more attendees to their booth, convert them into qualified sales leads, raise their brand awareness, and deliver measurable results.

Since 2007, the Expo Stars team have been supporting exhibitors at all the major global exhibitions including Arab Health, Mobile World Congress, CES, GITEX, BAUMA, HPE Discover, Cisco Live, Black Hat, Microsoft Convergence, Conn Expo and many more.

Lee is also passionate about health and well-being. He is a qualified Reiki practitioner and incorporates the power of positive energy into his unique 5 E's framework for personal, business, sales and marketing success.

This interview was recorded online from both Manchester, England (UK) and Dayton, Ohio (USA) with host Jeff Hannah. 

Email: lee@expostars.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeali5/

Website: https://www.expostars.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Lee Ali of Expo Stars Interactive, based in Manchester, England. In this episode, Jeff asks Lee about several unique aspects of his work and business model. This is part one of a two-part series with Lee.

Lee discusses his Remote Exhibiting Model, which is a new development born in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, when companies were prevented from traveling due to restrictions of one kind or another. This Model allows companies to still participate in trade shows in a very real, legitimate, and effective way, even when their own staff members cannot attend IRL.

Lee also discusses his outlook regarding the attendee experience model in the post-COVID world. How have expectations of engagements and interactions changed during the past couple of years? And how do they continue to change? Due to show attendance still down from the previous era, exhibitors are spending similar (if not more) dollars but getting access to fewer attendees. So, what can and should exhibitors do to address that in the most effective way possible?

Lee shares insights on cultural differences and their relative importance in the exhibition world and on the show floor. And he talks in depth about a new phrase which he recently coined, "Tradeshow Engagement Optimization" – also known as TEO.

Lee Ali is an international speaker, entrepreneur, business coach, mentor, sales strategist and a qualified iMA practitioner. He is widely regarded as the go-to source for attendee engagement and lead generation at global tradeshow exhibitions, conferences and live marketing events.

Lee's passion from very early on in his business career has been understanding what makes people buy and how to truly connect with them so that they are deeply engaged with what you do.

As well as contributing his valuable insights to industry press and media, Lee has been invited to speak at various conferences across the world on audience engagement including; UFI Asia Pacific Conference in Malaysia, Middle East Event Show in Dubai, Sales and Marketing Expo in LA, The Business Show in London, Expo Expo! in Las Vegas, EXHIBITORLIVE in Las Vegas, Event Tech Live in London and more. Lee also hosts the "In Conversation with Expo Stars" podcast interviewing experts from the tradeshow industry.

Lee founded Expo Stars Interactive, an award winning exhibition engagement company, to support exhibitors worldwide to engage more attendees to their booth, convert them into qualified sales leads, raise their brand awareness, and deliver measurable results.

Since 2007, the Expo Stars team have been supporting exhibitors at all the major global exhibitions including Arab Health, Mobile World Congress, CES, GITEX, BAUMA, HPE Discover, Cisco Live, Black Hat, Microsoft Convergence, Conn Expo and many more.

Lee is also passionate about health and well-being. He is a qualified Reiki practitioner and incorporates the power of positive energy into his unique 5 E's framework for personal, business, sales and marketing success.

This interview was recorded online from both Manchester, England (UK) and Dayton, Ohio (USA) with host Jeff Hannah. 

Email: lee@expostars.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeali5/

Website: https://www.expostars.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Martin Besaris (Martijn Besaris) of The Inside Standbouw, based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Martin describes the exhibition industry as the "best industry in the world" – and describes the amazing degree of fulfilment and excitement that it creates for him personally and professionally.

Jeff talks with Martin about how the Dutch have been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the never-ending stream of variants. They discuss it from an industry perspective, including how the government of The Netherlands worked with companies (early in the pandemic) to put together plans for dealing with employee reductions, finances, and business survival. Martin talks about the current outlook regarding recovery and return of the exhibition industry. He also discusses the return of international travel, and the administrative challenges with that.

Jeff and Martin take a deeper look into the Dutch mindset and culture regarding personal behavior, freedoms, and lack of written rules. People in the society are generally free to "do as they please" in terms of beliefs and behaviors. The Dutch tend to have a strong outlook on business, with a high degree of focus on international. Education is important and expected. It is typical to start learning English and German in preschool. Martin also talks about similarities and differences the Dutch have with other European countries as well as the USA.

Recent societal and business shifts in The Netherlands has led to more people working with their "heads" instead of their "hands." This (along with the pandemic) has created a shortage of carpenters and other skilled craftspeople, especially for the exhibition industry. Martin urges industry associations, companies, and individuals to make a more concerted effort to expose youth to this unique industry so that they can consider it as a career option. He discusses how this industry is fun, beautiful and exciting – and offers a very broad range of exposure to other industries.

Martin talks about the various languages that he speaks, as well as how he found his way into the exhibition industry, with the help of The Inside founder, Michael Hermans. Martin discusses his current role, which primarily focuses on international sales.

Jeff asks Martin for his insights into trends and developments that he is seeing in the industry across Europe – and recommendations on how companies should adjust their approach. They discuss the value of good exhibit design and the importance of differentiation and the need to quickly capture attention on the show floor. Martin believes that companies need to more carefully consider the geographic location of where a show is located, and the targeted attendees. Too often companies create graphics in their own native language, which is okay for some situations. But in others, it's not the best approach (i.e. Germany). Either way, companies generally use too much written text (copy) for their graphics, which nearly always gets overlooked. QR codes are growing in popularity, especially during COVID.

The Inside Standbouw (Stand Builder) has been in business for more than 25 years, and provides turn-key services for exhibitions, interiors, and events in The Netherlands, across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and in many other locations. Michael Hermans is the founder, and owner / CEO. The Inside is well known for their award-winning design capabilities and their thoughtful, strategic, comprehensive approach to projects.  

This interview was recorded during EDPA ACCESS 2021 at the The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood Curio Collection in Hollywood, Florida with host Jeff Hannah. 

Email: Martin@the-inside.nl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martijnbesaris/

Website: https://www.theinside-standbuilding.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Mexican industry globetrotter Alejandro (Alex) Escalante from Guadalajara. Alejandro is part of the family-owned company, Omega Group, where he is involved in sales, project management, logistics, and many other activities. He has worked in many regions of the world, such as Europe, Latin America, and the USA.

They discuss cultural, mindset, and industry differences between Mexico and the USA, as well as Mexico and other Latin American countries. Alejandro discusses how to reach Mexican clients, and the importance of building long-term, personal relationships.

They discuss the impact that COVID-19 has had on the exhibition industry in Mexico, on the economy there – and how the recovery is progressing.

On a personal note, Jeff asks Alex about his years of industry experience, and what he learned working at notable European companies, such as Atelier Damböck in Germany. Alex shares how those cross-cultural work experiences helped to shape his approach to business.  

This interview was recorded during EDPA ACCESS 2021 at the The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood Curio Collection in Hollywood, Florida with host Jeff Hannah. 

Email: aez@omegagroup.com.mx

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-escalante-a50394105/

www.omegaexp.com.mx

www.globalexhibitor.com

In Part 2 of this insightful conversation, host Jeff Hannah continues his discussion with Laura Palker, President of the Exhibitions & Events Workforce Development Federation and a Top 100 Most Influential People in the Industry (Eventex Awards) honoree.

They explore how the trade show industry is gaining recognition through the modernized National Career Cluster Framework, making careers in exhibitions more visible in schools and workforce development programs. Laura shares updates on O*NET & NAICS codes, the Career Fair in a Box initiative, and the growing role of apprenticeships and veteran outreach in attracting new talent.

Jeff and Laura also discuss the Trade Show Basics training course, its successful launch in Atlanta, and its expansion to more cities. They emphasize why industry leaders must invest in training and advocacy to secure the next generation of trade show professionals.

Some key points from this episode:

·         The impact of trade show careers being added to career cluster frameworks

·         The push for industry-wide workforce development and apprenticeships

·         How Trade Show Basics is helping train newcomers

Jeff and Laura also discuss the important launch of Jeff's new Trade Show Basics course, which is designed to support newcomers to the industry.

Laura Palker is the CEO of the Trade Show Solution Center, and a Top 100 Most Influential People in the Industry (Eventex Awards) honoree.

This episode was recorded at the amazing ET Global USA Headquarters in Suwanee, Georgia.

Part 1 of my interview with Laura.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapalker/

Website: https://ee-wdf.org/

Website: http://www.tssolutioncenter.com

www.globalexhibitor.com

This 3-part mini-series interview provides a wealth of solid insights and recommendations for restaurants, food, and excursions / activities in five international cities. This is quite different from most of our episodes. But, it's extremely interesting – and provides an abundance of first-hand recommendations from international travel influencer David Hanger, whose reviews on TripAdvisor have been read by more than 100,000 people. Besides being a "critic of food," David is an international business executive and consultant based in the USA. Host Jeff Hannah interviewed David during a trip to Singapore.  

In Part 1 of this interview, David and Jeff focus on Singapore and Amsterdam. Part 2 of this series covers the Greek Island of Santorini, and the city of Shanghai in China. Part 3 of this series covers the cities of Prague in the Czech Republic, and the US cities of Chicago and Santa Barbara.

It's quite important to ensure that any restaurant you choose for business meetings or entertainment are excellent choices – not only in terms of food quality, but in terms of atmosphere, location, service level, and cultural fit, to name a few. Hopefully this mini-series will be a great resource for those of you who may be planning shows, events, or personal travel in these cities. 

Please feel free to connect with David Hanger if you would like to get other recommendations or information directly from him, as he is a tremendous wealth of knowledge for food and dining globally. His contact info is listed below.

Links to restaurants / activities mentioned in this podcast episode:

Praque:

Sasazu (Asian meats & gastronomy restaurant)

U Glaubicu (traditional, very old restaurant, near castle)

Pilsner Urquell (beer / local specialty)

Chicago:

Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder (Chicago pizza pot pie)

Santa Barbara:

Stonehouse Restaurant – at San Yisidro Ranch (Santa Barbara restaurant – reservations required)

This interview was recorded at the Urbana Rooftop Bar & Pool at the Marriott Courtyard Singapore Novena Hotel in Singapore with host Jeff Hannah. 

Email: davidhanger88@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshanger/

www.globalexhibitor.com

This 3-part mini-series interview provides a wealth of solid insights and recommendations for restaurants, food, and excursions / activities in five international cities. This is quite different from most of our episodes. But, it's extremely interesting – and provides an abundance of first-hand recommendations from international travel influencer David Hanger, whose reviews on TripAdvisor have been read by more than 100,000 people. Besides being a "critic of food," David is an international business executive and consultant based in the USA. Host Jeff Hannah interviewed David during a trip to Singapore.  

In Part 1 of this interview, David and Jeff focus on Singapore and Amsterdam. Part 2 of this series covers the Greek Island of Santorini, and the city of Shanghai in China. Part 3 of this series covers the cities of Prague in the Czech Republic, and the US cities of Chicago and Santa Barbara.

It's quite important to ensure that any restaurant you choose for business meetings or entertainment are excellent choices – not only in terms of food quality, but in terms of atmosphere, location, service level, and cultural fit, to name a few. Hopefully this mini-series will be a great resource for those of you who may be planning shows, events, or personal travel in these cities. 

Please feel free to connect with David Hanger if you would like to get other recommendations or information directly from him, as he is a tremendous wealth of knowledge for food and dining globally. His contact info is listed below.

Links to restaurants / activities mentioned in this podcast episode:

Greek Island of Santorini:

Fira Town (Santorini) (capital of Santorini)

Oia Village (Santorini) (village / town in Santorini)

Best Beaches of Santorini (list of top beaches of Santorini)

Santorini Cable Car / Lift (cable car / lift transport to Fira Town)

Amoudi Bay (beaches & port area of Santorini)

Cliff Jumping – Amoudi Bay (how-to guide to cliff jumping at Amoudi Bay)

Shanghai:

House of Roosevelt (historical building with restaurants)

Roosevelt Sky Restaurant (restaurant on top of House of Roosevelt)

Roosevelt Sky Bar (speakeasy bar on top of House of Roosevelt)

The Bund (waterfront & historical district in central Shanghai)

The Captain (Bar / Speakeasy) (speakeasy bar)

Confucian Temple of Shanghai (ancient Confucian temple with special tea service)

Shanghai Tower (world's second tallest building – and has observation deck)

Fairmont Peace Hotel (hotel)

Fairmont Peace – Jazz Bar (jazz bar at the Fairmont Peach Hotel)

This interview was recorded at the Urbana Rooftop Bar & Pool at the Marriott Courtyard Singapore Novena Hotel in Singapore with host Jeff Hannah. 

Email: davidhanger88@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshanger/

www.globalexhibitor.com

This 3-part mini-series interview provides a wealth of solid insights and recommendations for restaurants, food, and excursions / activities in five international cities. This is quite different from most of our episodes. But, it's extremely interesting – and provides an abundance of first-hand recommendations from David Hanger, whose reviews on TripAdvisor have been read by more than 100,000 people. Besides being a "critic of food," David is an international business executive and consultant based in the USA. Host Jeff Hannah interviewed David during a trip to Singapore.  

In Part 1 of this interview, David and Jeff focus on Singapore and Amsterdam. Part 2 of this series covers the Greek Island of Santorini, and the city of Shanghai in China. Part 3 of this series covers the cities of Prague in the Czech Republic, and the US cities of Chicago and Santa Barbara.

It's quite important to ensure that any restaurant you choose for business meetings or entertainment are excellent choices – not only in terms of food quality, but in terms of atmosphere, location, service level, and cultural fit, to name a few. Hopefully this mini-series will be a great resource for those of you who may be planning shows, events, or personal travel in these cities. 

Please feel free to connect with David Hanger if you would like to get other recommendations or information directly from him, as he is a tremendous wealth of knowledge for food and dining globally. His contact info is listed below.

Links to restaurants / activities mentioned in this podcast episode:

Singapore:

Fotia (Mediterranean / Greek restaurant)

Chao Chao Gyoza (Japanese restaurant)

NOX (total darkness restaurant)

The Other Room (speakeasy bar at Marriott Tang Plaza)

Club Street (restaurants / various types of entertainment / nightlife)

CBD (Central Business District)

Novena Square Area

KF1 (go kart circuit)

Singapore Grand Prix (Formula 1 night race)

Haji Lane (near Suntec City & Duo Galleria)

Amsterdam:

De Belhamel (romantic atmosphere with French & Italian cuisine)

Stubbe's Haring (seafood street vendor / restaurant)

Vondelpark (nature park)

This interview was recorded at the Urbana Rooftop Bar & Pool at the Marriott Courtyard Singapore Novena Hotel in Singapore with host Jeff Hannah. 

Email: davidhanger88@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshanger/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Scott Wojda, President of Global Creative Group based in the Czech Republic. Jeff interviewed Scott during EuroShop 2020 in Düsseldorf, Germany.  

Jeff has a very interesting conversation with Scott about his agency's approach to storytelling, strategy, creating engagements, and the overall design of exhibitry. Scott has a deep understanding of how to capture peoples' interest, and a unique approach to translating that into outstanding environments.

Growing-up in California, Scott is bilingual and of Czech heritage. He earned a degree in Industrial Design at the highly acclaimed Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. He now lives with his family in the Czech Republic, where his company, Global Creative Group is headquartered.

Global Creative Group is a digital event agency with locations in Southern California and in the Czech Republic. Global Creative Group works with brands from around the world to design outstanding exhibits which attract, engage, and tell meaningful stories.

This interview was recorded during EuroShop 2020 at the Messe Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf, Germany at the Exhibitor Magazine booth on the show floor.

This trade show (EuroShop) was one of the last major trade shows to be held before the COVID-19 Pandemic caused shows globally to be cancelled. EuroShop is the world's largest trade fair for the retail industry, trade shows and associated sectors. There are over 90,000 attendees at the show, with more than 2,000 exhibitors from 56 countries.

Global Creative Group

Email: scott@globalcreative.eu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwojda

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Marcela Medrano, President of Dodecaedro Group, based in Buenos Aires. Jeff interviewed Marcela during EuroShop 2020 in Düsseldorf, Germany.  

Jeff talks with Marcela about the unique distinctions of the trade show (trade fair) industry in Argentina. They discuss the typical approach to exhibit fabrication, which is mostly custom fabrication versus modular systems. They also get into some details about printed graphics – and the fact that silicon edged graphics (SEG) are not readily produced in Argentina. 

Marcela also discusses the economic realities and challenges of working in Argentina and Latin America. In the past several years, prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the trade show industry was hard-hit in Argentina, due to multiple years of hyper-inflation and currency devaluation. Client budgets cannot keep pace with the growth of inflation, making it harder for brands to participate in trade shows and events. With most materials being imported, along with skyrocketing labor costs, the industry has suffered greatly.

Marcela reviews several of the major convention centers in Buenos Aires, such as La Rural, Tecnópolis, The Buenos Aires Convention Centre (CEC), and the various types of international shows that are typically held in Buenos Aires.

Jeff also asks Marcela to explain more about the cultural perspectives in Argentina, as well as the ethnic landscape, and what has been happening recently in terms of immigration.

Dodecaedro Group is a global alliance between Dodecaedro (Argentina), Dodecaedro (Brazil), and Dylunio (Spain). Marcela is from Mendoza, Argentina, and holds a degree in architecture from the Universidad de Mendoza. She is currently based at their HQ office in Buenos Aires.

With more than 20 years of experience and developed projects in more than 40 countries, Dodecaedro Group has a proven track-record in design and stand construction globally. Dodecaedro Group is member of the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES), the Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), the Argentine Association of Organizers and Suppliers of Exhibitions, Congresses, Events and Convention Bureaus (AOCA), and Buenos Aires Convention and Visitors Bureau.

This trade show (EuroShop) was one of the last major trade shows to be held before the COVID-19 Pandemic caused shows globally to be cancelled. EuroShop is the world's largest trade fair for the retail industry, trade shows and associated sectors. There are over 90,000 attendees at the show, with more than 2,000 exhibitors from 56 countries.

This interview was recorded at the Messe Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf, Germany at the Exhibitor Magazine booth on the show floor.

Email: mmedrano@dodecaedrogroup.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcela-medrano-9a003328/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, we are re-airing a webinar with Jeff Hannah called The Great Global Reset, presented by IFES (International Federation of Exhibition & Event Services), as part of an ongoing series called IFES Solutions. All countries and cultures on the planet are feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact is monumental – and will likely have more significant repercussions on humanity than any other crisis we have seen in our lifetimes. The coronavirus pandemic is already permanently reshaping culture as we speak. The trade show and event industry is being hit particularly hard as well – and is being forced to shift, innovate, and re-think. In this webinar we will explore COVID through the eyes of culture – and some elements of the Great Global Reset.

This interview was recorded in Dayton, Ohio but broadcast globally in April 2020.

Email: jhannah@exhibitconcepts.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyhannah/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, we are re-airing a panel interview with Jeff Hannah and Joey DiFranco from the main stage at Rethinking Events, a recent virtual event which explores how virtual events are exploding and developing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joey is a media futurist and expert in experiential technology. Joey is also the Director of the NEXT Lab at Exhibit Concepts – "New Experiential Technologies" – which is focused on all things technology-related, such as virtual events, augmented reality, virtual reality, audio-visual, and much more. Jeff Hannah is the Vice President of Interiors, International, and Creative at Exhibit Concepts, and has oversight of the NEXT Lab. Both of these industry thought leaders are interviewed by Masten Worley, Director of Sales at Exhibit Concepts.  

This is a dynamic conversation which explores the role of virtual events in the overall marketing mix, what kinds of mistakes companies often make when implementing online events. They talk about the challenges and difficulties of creating and managing virtual events. And, they discuss what the future may look like in terms of the mix between virtual and in-real-life (IRL) events.

This interview was recorded in Dayton, Ohio.

Email: jdifranco@exhibitconcepts.com; jhannah@exhibitconcepts.com; mworley@exhibitconcepts.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-difranco-creative/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyhannah/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mastenworley/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Bin Yu, Ph.D, Founder & CEO of HitLights, a top provider of LED technologies for trade show exhibits, and other industry sectors. Bin is a native of China, but pursued his American dream by earning his Ph.D. at Louisiana State University (LSU) in the USA. He shares part of his fascinating entrepreneurial journey, what inspires him, and the mindset which has helped him to succeed in so many areas of life.

Jeff also discusses with Bin the differences between the Chinese and American cultures and business environments, the concept of guanxi, learning as a lifestyle, and leading millennial employees.

HitLights has offices in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in Chino, California, and in Shenzhen, China.

As founder of HitLights, Bin makes a positive impact by developing loyal and caring relationships. His company HITlights has won 2017 and 2016 Honoree of the LSU 100: Fastest Growing Tiger Businesses, The Company doubled the revenue in 2018 and launched the China-Shenzhen E-commerce office. Bin Yu has been nominated 2016 Young Businessperson of the Year by Business Report. Bin is a man of many passions, entrepreneurship, connecting/bridging, environmental protection, and LED lighting solutions. These passions have helped to sculpt the way he does business. As an EOer-Orange county, he is really grateful for the benefits that EO has brought in the last 6 years.

Giving back to the community is deeply important to Bin, and he likes to make business reflect that. So, his company Hitlights gives internship opportunities to LSU Fellowship (Entrepreneur) Program every year, and they sponsor the 2nd and 3rd LSU Student Incubator's annual Venture Challenge.

His personal and family life purpose is to make an impact and spread positive energy by learning and connecting. He is an active runner and love scuba-diving and meditation.

This interview was recorded at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Email: byu@hitlights.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/binyuled

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah speaks at EuroShop 2020 in Düsseldorf, Germany as part of the IFES Expo & Event Stage. Jeff's lecture was titled Cultural Frameworks – which highlights the need for focusing on the dimensions of national culture. Jeff states that cultural differences are one of the most ignored aspects of international trade show programs.

Neglecting subtle nuances in cross-cultural business can be devastating, as unrealized components of culture can damage business relationships and nullify marketing efforts. Recognizing that all business is conducted within the "context of culture" helps one to see things from a totally different perspective. This session provides a brief overview of the various dimensions of culture which should considered when exhibiting in other countries, such as:

• ethnocentric vs. cultural context approach
• individualism vs collectivism
• age vs. youth
• perspectives on time
• power distance index
• communications – verbal and non-verbal
• gender views and masculinity index

IFES is the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services, headquartered in Europe. Jeff's lecture was hosted by IFES as part of their series called, The Art of Exhibition, an important aspect of the educational program provided at EuroShop.

EuroShop is the world's largest trade fair for the retail industry, trade shows and associated sectors. There are over 90,000 attendees at the show, with more than 2,000 exhibitors from 56 countries. It is the source of information and inspiration for professionals and decision-makers on every conceivable aspect of retailing. It is the showcase for trends and innovations. A hot spot for sales and marketing experts seeking new ideas to spotlight and sell their company's products and services even better.

This interview was recorded at the Messe Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf, Germany – and moderated by the infamous Han Leenhouts from The Netherlands.

Jeff Hannah on LinkedIn

Email: jeff@globalexhibitor.com

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Uta Goretzky, the Executive Director of the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services, headquartered in Europe. Uta has a vast knowledge of what is happening in the trade show and event industry on a global basis. She works diligently to ensure that the industry is well-represented globally within various government contexts, as well as from an economic standpoint. They also provide a platform for global collaboration between companies across the exhibition industry.

Uta discusses trends that she is observing, initiatives that IFES is pursuing currently, the significance of cultural concerns, as well as best practices for exhibitors. Uta is based in Frankfurt, Germany, but spends much of her life on the road in many places around the world.

Prior to joining IFES, Uta spent more than 20 years with FAMAB e.V., the German association for the exhibitions and events industry. Uta studied economics at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster in Germany.

This interview was recorded in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona in the USA.

Uta Goretzky on LinkedIn

Email: uta@ifesnet.org

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this first episode, host Jeff Hannah sits down with Laura Palker, President of the Exhibitions & Events Workforce Development Federation, to discuss the critical challenges facing the trade show industry today. They explore the massive workforce shift post-COVID, the impact of the "Silver Resignation", and the need for skilled workforce development.

Laura shares insights into the ongoing efforts to secure industry recognition through O*NET and NAICS codes, the importance of apprenticeship programs, and how industry associations must work together to secure the future of exhibitions and events. If you're passionate about the future of trade shows and workforce development, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

Some key points from this episode:

·         The trade show workforce before and after COVID

·         The urgent need for industry coding and classification

·         How apprenticeship programs can fill the skills gap

·         Collaboration between trade show industry associations

Jeff and Laura also discuss the important launch of Jeff's new Trade Show Basics course, which is designed to support newcomers to the industry.

Laura Palker is the CEO of the Trade Show Solution Center, and a Top 100 Most Influential People in the Industry (Eventex Awards) honoree.

This episode was recorded at the amazing ET Global USA Headquarters in Suwanee, Georgia.

Part 2 of my interview with Laura.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapalker/

Website: https://ee-wdf.org/

Website: http://www.tssolutioncenter.com

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Chloe Richardson, a linguist – and sales strategist within the exhibition and trade show industry globally. She speaks about 5 or 6 languages – and teaches language. She also works in the exhibition and trade show industry, specializing in sales strategy, rebook consultancy, sales team support, business development, client engagement, the customer journey and process management. And she also does translation work on a regular basis.

Chloe's home base is in London, where she is today. But, Chloe works in a diverse array of industries across the world, including Europe, North America, Russia and Eurasia, China, India, South East Asia and Africa.

Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French and Portuguese from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. One little secret about Chloe…is that she has spent a significant part of her life working in the entertainment industry, being a vocalist, pianist and actress. Chloe is just super-talented, extremely articulate and just fun to be around!!

Chloe shares lots of great insights across this 3-part series. She discusses the importance of language in relation to travel - and to the trade show and exhibition world in general; she talks about cultural differences, travel tips, how to engage with strangers, how to create trust & respect, perceptions across borders, and developing a better understanding of the audience you are trying to engage with.

This interview was recorded in London, United Kingdom & Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Chloe Richardson on LinkedIn

Email: chloe@acierevents.co.uk

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Chloe Richardson, a linguist – and sales strategist within the exhibition and trade show industry globally. She speaks about 5 or 6 languages – and teaches language. She also works in the exhibition and trade show industry, specializing in sales strategy, rebook consultancy, sales team support, business development, client engagement, the customer journey and process management. And she also does translation work on a regular basis.

Chloe's home base is in London, where she is today. But, Chloe works in a diverse array of industries across the world, including Europe, North America, Russia and Eurasia, China, India, South East Asia and Africa.

Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French and Portuguese from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. One little secret about Chloe…is that she has spent a significant part of her life working in the entertainment industry, being a vocalist, pianist and actress. Chloe is just super-talented, extremely articulate and just fun to be around!!

Chloe shares lots of great insights across this 3-part series. She discusses the importance of language in relation to travel - and to the trade show and exhibition world in general; she talks about cultural differences, travel tips, how to engage with strangers, how to create trust & respect, perceptions across borders, and developing a better understanding of the audience you are trying to engage with.

This interview was recorded in London, United Kingdom & Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Chloe Richardson on LinkedIn

Email: chloe@acierevents.co.uk

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Chloe Richardson, a linguist – and sales strategist within the exhibition and trade show industry globally. She speaks about 5 or 6 languages – and teaches language. She also works in the exhibition and trade show industry, specializing in sales strategy, rebook consultancy, sales team support, business development, client engagement, the customer journey and process management. And she also does translation work on a regular basis.

Chloe's home base is in London, where she is today. But, Chloe works in a diverse array of industries across the world, including Europe, North America, Russia and Eurasia, China, India, South East Asia and Africa.

Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French and Portuguese from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. One little secret about Chloe…is that she has spent a significant part of her life working in the entertainment industry, being a vocalist, pianist and actress. Chloe is just super-talented, extremely articulate and just fun to be around!!

Chloe shares lots of great insights across this 3-part series. She discusses the importance of language in relation to travel - and to the trade show and exhibition world in general; she talks about cultural differences, travel tips, how to engage with strangers, how to create trust & respect, perceptions across borders, and developing a better understanding of the audience you are trying to engage with.

This interview was recorded in London, United Kingdom & Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Chloe Richardson on LinkedIn

Email: chloe@acierevents.co.uk

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Charles Pappas, author of Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords, and senior writer at Exhibitor Magazine. Charles is like the Indiana Jones – Captain Ahab – Mr. Peabody of the exhibition industry. He dug up lost expo photos in Shanghai and located forgotten fair buildings in Mexico City. He has spent years sleuthing out not just the economic IMPACT but cultural IMPRINT of trade fairs – which is a key point of his book. The impact of trade fairs last long beyond the end of the event. Charles has covered the expo industry for Exhibitor Magazine for many years – and is the industry's de facto historian.

In part 2 of this interview, Jeff explores the things that Charles has learned from his extensive international travels, in particular how those things relate to good and bad practices in exhibitions. Charles explains the Dunning–Kruger effect, and how business can be impacted by a lack of knowledge of certain subjects. They discuss the use a sensory attractions – kinetic structures, technology, sand painting, art, fragrances and storytelling. Jeff talks to Charles about his level of interest in cultures and how that knowledge can and should be applied to the exhibition world.

This interview was recorded in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords Book on Amazon

Charles Pappas on LinkedIn

Exhibitor Magazine

Email: cpappas@exhibitormagazine.com

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Charles Pappas, author of Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords, and senior writer at Exhibitor Magazine. Charles is like the Indiana Jones – Captain Ahab – Mr. Peabody of the exhibition industry. He dug up lost expo photos in Shanghai and located forgotten fair buildings in Mexico City. He has spent years sleuthing out not just the economic IMPACT but cultural IMPRINT of trade fairs – which is a key point of his book. The impact of trade fairs last long beyond the end of the event. Charles has covered the expo industry for Exhibitor Magazine for many years – and is the industry's de facto historian.

In part 1 of this interview, Charles explains how he became interested in world's fairs and exhibitions, and the many shows that he has personally visited and studied. They talk about how governments use their pavilions at world fairs to market and sell themselves to the world, something Charles refers to as culture to consumer (C2C). Through fascinating examples Charles reveals interesting past exhibits which have really changed the world. They also discuss opportunities that companies often miss when exhibiting, and some of the huge mistakes that they make. Charles provides an incredibly insightful and historical perspective on the importance of trade shows, exhibitions, and world's fairs to the global economy.

This interview was recorded in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords Book on Amazon

Charles Pappas on LinkedIn

Exhibitor Magazine

Email: cpappas@exhibitormagazine.com

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Steve Tustain of MDL Expo International GmbH. They discuss the separation between private and professional life in Germany, and building credibility with German colleagues. They discuss the Bavarian (Bayern) region of Germany and how business and mindsets differ there from some other regions of Germany. Steve talks about the looming issue of Brexit, how it might impact the UK as well Europe in general. Steve gives some fantastic advice to exhibit managers and event planners who are planning shows or events in Germany and throughout Europe.

Jeff also asks Steve about how he got started in this industry with his background in architecture.

Steve Tustain was born in the UK, and studied architecture at The University of Hull in Yorkshire, England. He also studied at the Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom, before moving to Germany.

Jeff and Steve had overlapping tenures at Gielissen Interiors & Exhibitions, based in Eindhoven. Steve was based in Germany, where he has lived for more than 20 years now. He has broad global experience and works across multiple industries for many recognized brands. Steve Tustain is currently the Sales Manager for MDL Expo International GmbH, based near Frankfurt.

This interview was recorded in Dayton, Ohio.

MDL Expo International GmbH

Steve Tustain LinkedIn English

Steve Tustain LinkedIn Germany

Email: steve.tustain@mdl-expo.com

The Global Exhibitor

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Steve Tustain of MDL Expo International GmbH. They discuss how exhibits should be designed differently for Germany, and how the exhibit may be used different in Europe than in other places such as in the USA. Steve emphasizes the importance of pre-show planning and promotion in order to reach the audience you want to have. They also talk about preparing to meet with - and negotiate with - German businesspeople. And Steve shares his views on how in-booth activities such as engagements, gamification and gimmicks are viewed by Europeans.

Steve delves deeper into the mind of the German with his views on how people desire to be perceived by others, especially in the business world. Competence is important. But, pride and being too "showy" with success can quickly backfire when trying to connect with someone from Germany.

Jeff also asks Steve to share how his life is different in Germany in comparison to his upbringing in Great Britain.

This interview was recorded in Dayton, Ohio.

https://www.mdl-expo.com/index-en.html

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-tustain-30291b31/

https://de.linkedin.com/in/steven-tustain-30291b31

Email: steve.tustain@mdl-expo.com

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah concludes his interview with exhibition industry legend Larry Kulchawik, author of Trade Shows from One Country to the Next. They discuss some of the biggest mistakes that companies make, how to approach working internationally, some of the most difficult places to work, the most rewarding aspects of the industry, and Larry's legacy in the global exhibition industry.

Trade Shows from One Country to the Next is tailor-made for exhibit managers and event planners who are working across borders. It outlines the venues, top trade shows, rules, regulations, exhibit and cultural differences. It is designed to help you recalculate your strategies and tactics when exhibiting internationally – covering 45 countries.

While earning a degree in Design at Southern Illinois University, Larry Kulchawik had the privilege to study under world class designer Buckminster Fuller. Starting as an exhibit designer, Kulchawik has spent the last 43 years making his mark on the exhibit industry globally!

Larry has worked for three of the leading exhibit companies in the USA - in design, management and sales - with a focus on international trade show marketing. He served as President of IFES (International Federation of Exposition Services) and as President of EDPA (Experiential Designers and Producers Association). Larry also served on the boards of many industry associations (Center for Exhibit Industry Research (CEIR), Octanorm Service Partner International (OSPI), and the World Trade Center. As president of EDPA he assisted to launch the first master's degree program in exhibit design at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City; during that time he also led a task force to create an Underwriters Laboratory (aka UL) - Standards for Safety for building trade show exhibits.

Larry has been awarded two of the industry's highest honors - the Hazel Hays Award (given by EDPA), and the Roger Taurant Award (given by IFES) for his contributions to the exhibit industry.

This interview was recorded in Naples, Florida.

https://www.larrykulchawik.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-kulchawik

Email: larrykulchawik@gmail.com

Twitter: @LarryKulchawik

https://www.facebook.com/Larry-Kulchawik-Consulting

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews exhibition industry legend Larry Kulchawik, author of Trade Shows from One Country to the Next. They discuss how to approach working internationally, how the industry has changed over the years, the importance of recognizing and learning about cultural differences, and some of the contributions that Larry has made to the global exhibition industry throughout his career.

Trade Shows from One Country to the Next is tailor-made for exhibit managers and event planners who are working across borders. It outlines the venues, top trade shows, rules, regulations, exhibit and cultural differences. It is designed to help you recalculate your strategies and tactics when exhibiting internationally – covering 45 countries.

While earning a degree in Design at Southern Illinois University, Larry Kulchawik had the privilege to study under world class designer Buckminster Fuller. Starting as an exhibit designer, Kulchawik has spent the last 43 years making his mark on the exhibit industry globally!

Larry has worked for three of the leading exhibit companies in the USA - in design, management and sales - with a focus on international trade show marketing. He served as President of IFES (International Federation of Exposition Services) and as President of EDPA (Experiential Designers and Producers Association). Larry also served on the boards of many industry associations (Center for Exhibit Industry Research (CEIR), Octanorm Service Partner International (OSPI), and the World Trade Center. As president of EDPA he assisted to launch the first master's degree program in exhibit design at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City; during that time he also led a task force to create an Underwriters Laboratory (aka UL) - Standards for Safety for building trade show exhibits.

Larry has been awarded two of the industry's highest honors - the Hazel Hays Award (given by EDPA), and the Roger Taurant Award (given by IFES) for his contributions to the exhibit industry.

This interview was recorded in Naples, Florida.

https://www.larrykulchawik.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-kulchawik

Email: larrykulchawik@gmail.com

Twitter: @LarryKulchawik

https://www.facebook.com/Larry-Kulchawik-Consulting

www.globalexhibitor.com

This episode is a podcast of a podcast – where Jeff Hannah recently appeared on The Don and Mike Show! Jeff is interviewed by Mike Morrison and Don Svehla, the hosts of The Don and Mike Show. Mike asks Jeff about how he got started in doing international work, about the major differences between shows in the USA and abroad, some specifics about German culture and more.

Jeff Hannah shares from his more than 25 years of experience in working globally. Mike asks Jeff about The Global Exhibitor Podcast and blog, how that was developed, the purpose, and some of the challenges.

This interview was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia and Dayton, Ohio.

https://exhibitcitynews.com/the-don-and-mike-show-podcast/

https://exhibitcitynews.com

http://www.wsdisplay.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-morrison-94395913

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-svehla-21484a9

https://twitter.com/DonandMikeShow1

https://twitter.com/donsvehlaecn

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In this third episode, Jeff Hannah welcomes Pat Alacqua back for a rare look into his ventures since selling Nth Degree. Pat reflects on leadership and his vision for the future. Pat shares how perseverance, determination, and resilience have fueled his successes, including his role in business turnarounds and his recent endeavors.

Pat discusses purchasing a local sports complex and transforming it into a national brand through innovative processes for player development, training, and an event model. He talks about his "3C's Process for Faster Growth," as well as his upcoming book, Obstacles to Opportunity: Transforming Business Challenges Into Triumphs. Pat also reveals plans for an online membership platform offering daily tips on professional growth and business building - and highlights his collaboration with Jane Gentry on the "Optimum Value Blueprint" for the trade show industry.

Jeff and Pat explore the concept of legacy, with Pat reflecting on his desire to create a "ripple effect" by inspiring and sharing wisdom to help others grow. Pat emphasizes that success is not only about personal achievements but about enabling others to thrive.

The conversation shifts to collaboration, including the importance of working with competitors for the greater good of an industry. Pat reflects on identifying common interests and fostering partnerships that drive collective success.

When asked about the future of the trade show industry, Pat highlights the importance of shifting the "industry DNA" from a focus on individual performance to building high-performing teams. He emphasizes scaling businesses through coaching, mentoring, and empowering others, redefining success as team growth and achievement.

Jeff and Pat conclude by discussing the launch of Jeff's new Trade Show Basics course, which is designed to support newcomers to the industry. This episode is rich with lessons on leadership, growth, and the power of collaboration.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patalacqua/

Website: https://www.patalacqua.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Kathy Welsh, Director of Client Services at The Display Builders Australasia, headquartered in Sydney, Australia. They discuss a wide variety of topics, primarily around the important things that foreigners need to know in order to be successful in exhibiting or managing events in Australia. As one example, having the "right" kind of coffee – and the best coffee are important factors that many don't realize!

Kathy shares from her more than 20 years of experience in working with world class brands to develop engaging and successful experiences all across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asian Region. In this interview, Kathy talks about working with healthcare companies, which is a specialty for her, along with aerospace clients. Kathy talks about the growth of The Display Builders Australasia, which has become one of the largest exhibit builders and agencies in the region. Jeff talks with her about the use of building materials, raised platforms, hospitality, cultural differences, and the importance of trust and relationship building.

The final segment of the interview also contains a passionate plea from both Kathy and Jeff to help save the Great Barrier Reef – the largest ecosystem on earth – which is under threat of survival.

This interview took place from the show floor during EXHIBITORLIVE 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

http://www.displaybuilders.com.au/work/

https://www.facebook.com/www.displaybuilders.com.au/

Kathy Welsh LinkedIn          

www.globalexhibitor.com

In Part 2 of this captivating two-part interview with host Jeff Hannah, Geoff Thatcher discusses the use of authentic storytelling to reach audiences around the world. Geoff also talks about the evolution of the experience economy. Geoff shares his advice for clients. Jeff askes Geoff about how international travel has changed him over the years. And, they talk about the importance of maintaining your faith while being on the road.

Geoff Thatcher is Founder & Chief Creative Officer at Creative Principals. He has a tremendous amount of truly world-class experience – and is a brilliant thinker, writer, and creative director. Geoff believes that experiences are distinguished by great story telling. Geoff spent many years as Executive Creative Director at The Brand Experience. Recent projects include the grand opening of Warner Brothers World Abu Dhabi, a traveling exhibition for the King Abdullah Foundation in Saudi Arabia, a new lobby experience for Palo Alto Networks and new concepts for the executive briefing program at Dell Technologies.

Other highlights from his career include his work on the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, the Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health in Washington, DC, the Lockheed Martin Space Experience Center and Honeywell's Industrial Safety Customer Experience Center (Shanghai & many other cities).

Geoff also served as Creative Director at the Tom Peters Company where he worked with many top industry leaders – and helped to facilitate leadership training within Microsoft, John Deere, Deloitte and The CIA.

He also worked for more than seven years as a writer at Jack Rouse Associates (JRA) – where he helped develop many experiences, such as the CNN Studio Tour (Atlanta), and the Battleship Missouri Memorial. 

www.creativeprincipals.com

@geoffthatcher

Geoff Thatcher LinkedIn          

www.globalexhibitor.com

In Part 1 of this captivating two-part interview with host Jeff Hannah, Geoff Thatcher discusses the use of authentic storytelling to reach audiences around the world. Geoff also talks about the role that culture plays in designing experiences. They address the question about whether or not there are certain types of profiles who are less likely to engage in an experience versus others. And, they talk about common misconceptions that foreigners have about Americans.

Geoff Thatcher is Founder & Chief Creative Officer at Creative Principals. He has a tremendous amount of truly world-class experience – and is a brilliant thinker, writer, and creative director. Geoff believes that experiences are distinguished by great story telling. Geoff spent many years as Executive Creative Director at The Brand Experience. Recent projects include the grand opening of Warner Brothers World Abu Dhabi, a traveling exhibition for the King Abdullah Foundation in Saudi Arabia, a new lobby experience for Palo Alto Networks and new concepts for the executive briefing program at Dell Technologies.

Other highlights from his career include his work on the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, the Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health in Washington, DC, the Lockheed Martin Space Experience Center and Honeywell's Industrial Safety Customer Experience Center (Shanghai & many other cities).

Geoff also served as Creative Director at the Tom Peters Company where he worked with many top industry leaders – and helped to facilitate leadership training within Microsoft, John Deere, Deloitte and The CIA.

He also worked for more than seven years as a writer at Jack Rouse Associates (JRA) – where he helped develop many experiences, such as the CNN Studio Tour (Atlanta), and the Battleship Missouri Memorial. 

www.creativeprincipals.com

@geoffthatcher

Geoff Thatcher LinkedIn          

www.globalexhibitor.com

Jeff Hannah interviews Steve Riches of Laguna Displays in Part 2 of this two-part series. Steve Riches is an experienced trade show and event marketing executive, and has worked in various sales and management roles in the exhibit industry. He has extensive experience in international exhibiting, trade show program management, and show-site project supervision. Steve is trilingual (Spanish, French, English), and a dual citizen (US & UK). He is a graduate of Pepperdine University and a member of the faculty at EXHIBITORLIVE, where he speaks about international exhibit design.

www.lagunadisplays.com

@LagunaDisplays

Steve Riches LinkedIn         

www.globalexhibitor.com

Jeff Hannah interviews Steve Riches of Laguna Displays in Part 1 of this two-part series. Steve Riches is an experienced trade show and event marketing executive, and has worked in various sales and management roles in the exhibit industry. He has extensive experience in international exhibiting, trade show program management, and show-site project supervision. Steve is trilingual (Spanish, French, English), and a dual citizen (US & UK). He is a graduate of Pepperdine University and a member of the faculty at EXHIBITORLIVE, where he speaks about international exhibit design.

www.lagunadisplays.com

@LagunaDisplays

Steve Riches LinkedIn         

www.globalexhibitor.com

Ms. Terri Morrison, known worldwide for her series of books called Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands. Her books have sold over 450,000 copies.

Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands® has been translated into everything from Mandarin to Estonian, and is on INC. Magazine's 7 Best Books on How to Negotiate.

Her new book Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands®: Courtrooms to Corporate Counsels was just released for pre-orders online this week by the American Bar Association – and will start shipping on August 31, 2018!  Her clients include the American Bar Association, AT&T, Accenture, American Airlines, American Express... and many more!

Terri has been profiled and quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Asia Times, Investor's Weekly, the Washington Post, Fast Company, National Geographic Adventure, Nature, ESPN, Fortune, the Huffington Post, and many others.

Terri Morrison has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, and repeatedly on NPR, and the BBC – and finally on the Global Exhibitor Podcast!

www.kissboworshakehands.com

www.TerriMorrison.com

Terri Morrison Facebook

@KissBowAuthor

Terri Morrison LinkedIn

www.globalexhibitor.com

Ms. Terri Morrison, known worldwide for her series of books called Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands. Her books have sold over 450,000 copies.

Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands® has been translated into everything from Mandarin to Estonian, and is on INC. Magazine's 7 Best Books on How to Negotiate.

Her new book Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands®: Courtrooms to Corporate Counsels was just released for pre-orders online this week by the American Bar Association – and will start shipping on August 31, 2018!  Her clients include the American Bar Association, AT&T, Accenture, American Airlines, American Express... and many more!

Terri has been profiled and quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Asia Times, Investor's Weekly, the Washington Post, Fast Company, National Geographic Adventure, Nature, ESPN, Fortune, the Huffington Post, and many others.

Terri Morrison has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, and repeatedly on NPR, and the BBC – and finally on the Global Exhibitor Podcast!

www.kissboworshakehands.com

www.TerriMorrison.com

Terri Morrison Facebook

@KissBowAuthor

Terri Morrison LinkedIn

www.globalexhibitor.com

Chris Dorn is Founder and President of Idea International (www.idea-intl.com), an Asian-based trade fair exhibit design and fabrication company, with headquarters in Osaka, Japan.  

Chris has spent more than twenty years helping clients deliver their message through face-to-face marketing, world-wide. "Service, Quality, Peace of Mind," are the hallmarks of his approach.

Chris Dorn has a very unique perspective as a designer and entrepreneur, working and living in Japan with his family. He grew-up in the USA, and has been living in Japan for more than seventeen years. He has also spent many years working in other countries, but has a specific focus on countries within the APAC region.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exhibit Design from Bemidji State University in the USA.

Recently, Jeff Hannah spent a full day with Chris Dorn and the team of Idea International at their HQ offices in Osaka, Japan. Chris shared his knowledge and insights with Jeff during this interview for the Global Exhibitor Podcast.

During this interview, Chris and Jeff discussed design, culture, the concept of face, connecting with the Japanese audience, perceptions and much more.

www.globalexhibitor.com

Ignacio Rosenberg (known as "Iggy" to his friends and clients) is a well-known lighting and visual designer who works for a distinctive global agency called Lightswitch. Iggy grew-up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but is now based in Chicago. He has spent more than 20 years designing and implementing large touring shows around the world for top rock groups such as Def Leppard, The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Shakira, and many more!

Iggy is a really neat guy – extremely brilliant as a designer, articulate, sophisticated, but really down to earth! He spends time working with people that most of us will never have the privilege to meet. This gives him a very unique perspective as a designer working on large, high-profile projects – while also working across cultures around the world.

Iggy recently spent most of a day with Jeff Hannah and the Creative Team at Exhibit Concepts, at their HQ offices in Dayton, Ohio. Iggy shared his knowledge and inspiration with the creative team and say down with Jeff for this podcast interview.

During this interview, Iggy and Jeff discussed design, culture, lighting, creating experiences and much more.

www.globalexhibitor.com

Global Exhibitor Podcast Host, Jeff Hannah had the opportunity to interview Ulrich Kaiser of NCR Germany – on the trade show floor at the most recent EuroShop show in Dusseldorf, Germany. Ulrich is based in Munich, Germany – and has been with NCR for more than 25 years.

Jeff and Ulrich had a great conversation around messaging, cultural differences, architecture, design, the importance of hospitality, how to conduct meetings, and establishing spending priorities in the trade show arena.

In this second episode, Jeff Hannah delves into Pat Alacqua's journey as a leader and entrepreneur, exploring the emotional and strategic dynamics of building and eventually selling Nth Degree. In this rare interview, Pat Alacqua also candidly reflects on the toll of seeing valued team members move-on over time – a natural yet bittersweet reality of leading a fast-growing business in a thriving industry where the demand for trained and skilled professionals constantly grows.

Pat discusses the complexities of growth, including the decision to hire people from outside the trade show industry to drive transformation and innovation. Jeff emphasizes the importance of a rigorous hiring process, which included assessments supported by an industrial psychologist to ensure alignment with the company's values and culture – an approach that was uncommon for entrepreneurial companies at the time. Pat also shares his philosophy on hiring and leading great people, underscoring the value of surrounding oneself with individuals who bring diverse mindsets and perspectives to the table.

A lifelong learner, Pat reflects on how leadership is more about asking the right questions than it is about having all the right answers. He shares how continuous learning has shaped his approach to influence—building alignment, securing support, and inspiring others—all of which require patience and intentionality.

Pat also opens up about some of his greatest life challenges, the lessons they taught him, and how mentorship has been a cornerstone of his career. He passionately believes in "paying it forward" by mentoring and guiding others, and he credits much of his own success to those who mentored him along the way.

Jeff also asks about Pat's decision to sell Nth Degree, his perspective on that decision, and his broader view on defining success. Pat talks about how growth is not just about transforming a company but about how it also transforms the people involved in that journey. He reflects on how rare and fulfilling it is to build a business with a continuous growth trajectory.

This episode is packed with insights on leadership, learning, and the power of mentorship, offering listeners valuable lessons from Pat's remarkable career.

Stay tuned for more insights in Episode 3.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patalacqua/

Website: https://www.patalacqua.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In this first episode of the three-part series, Jeff Hannah conducts a rare interview with Pat Alacqua, co-founder of Nth Degree, exploring the foundational strategies and challenges that defined the company's early days. Beyond co-founding Nth Degree, Pat has built multiple successful businesses across other industries and continues to collaborate with business leaders through his consulting services and online leadership and business growth tools, guiding them through challenges to achieve sustained growth. Together, they reflect on how the trade show industry has evolved, Nth Degree's innovative approach to building a labor management company, and the critical importance of training and education in shaping their team and culture.

Pat shares how Nth Degree carved out its niche in the industry by focusing on differentiation, emphasizing core values like education, training, and exceptional customer service. He explains how they anticipated customer needs and proactively solved problems to set themselves apart in a fast-growing competitive landscape. Pat reflects on the high levels of risk involved in starting Nth Degree and scaling it to handle increasingly large and complex projects.

Listeners will gain insight into the legendary antitrust legal case in Dallas, Texas, where Nth Degree and its partners faced significant challenges. Although the directed verdict was not in their favor, over time they won in the court of public opinion, ultimately changing the direction of the trade show industry. This led to the development of new industry categories like "independent labor contractors," which are now commonly referred to across the industry as "exhibitor appointed contractors" (EACs).

This episode also highlights how Nth Degree developed industry practices and terminology still in use today, such as "leadmen" and "floor managers." They recognized the need for robust systems and processes to effectively manage rapid growth and scale the company without sacrificing quality or service. Pat's reflections provide valuable lessons on leadership, perseverance, and innovation in a dynamic industry. Drawing on his extensive career experience, Pat also shares actionable insights to help business leaders overcome challenges and scale their companies successfully.

Stay tuned for more insights in Episodes 2 and 3 of the three-part series as Jeff and Pat continue to explore the challenges and triumphs that shaped Nth Degree and the trade show industry at large.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patalacqua/

Website: https://www.patalacqua.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com

In Part 2 of this two-part interview, host Jeff Hannah talks with trade show strategist Jessica Turnbull of The Exhibit Company in Australia, during EXHIBITORLIVE 2024.

Continuing our enlightening conversation with Jess Turnbull, we delve deeper into the world of exhibitions and client engagement in Australia.

In this episode, you will join us for a conversation about:

• Insights garnered from advising and training clients on maximising returns
• The more selective approach to hospitality for trade shows in Australia
• How to maximize opportunities on the show floor
• Strategies and tactics that define successful exhibition experiences
• Gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of trade shows in Australia

The Exhibit Company is an international custom exhibit agency, headquartered in New South Wales, Australia. They are uniquely positioned to work with brands for shows all across Australia. Their unique approach is based on strategy, creative design solutions, and solid project management. The Exhibit Company is not simply focused on providing an exhibit. Their holistic approach encompasses pre-show promotional activities, determining and tracking ROI, lead tracking & management, and booth staff training, among many other services.

To learn more from Jess, please listen to Part 1 of this interview.

This interview was recorded live at the amazing  Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee with host Jeff Hannah.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-turnbull-32556950/

Website: www.theexhibitcompany.com.au

In Part 1 of this two-part interview, host Jeff Hannah talks with trade show strategist Jessica Turnbull of The Exhibit Company in Australia, during EXHIBITORLIVE 2024.

During this conversation, Jess shared insights into her journey, having co-founded The Exhibit Company with her stepfather, Chris Lamb some years ago. Their approach to the business is truly distinctive, placing strategy at the forefront – followed by outstanding design. Their forward-thinking mindset has positioned them ahead of the curve, consistently delivering clear value to their clients.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The significance of a holistic approach to maximize opportunities on the show floor
• The shifting landscape of exhibitions in the Post-COVID era and why face-to-face interactions are here to stay
• The current attendee profile at trade shows and what this means for how you exhibit

This conversation with Jessica Turnbull provides invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of exhibitions and the importance of strategic thinking in producing impactful experiences, with more to come in Part 2.

The Exhibit Company is an international custom exhibit agency, headquartered in New South Wales, Australia. They are uniquely positioned to work with brands for shows all across Australia. Their unique approach is based on strategy, creative design solutions, and solid project management. The Exhibit Company is not simply focused on providing an exhibit. Their holistic approach encompasses pre-show promotional activities, determining and tracking ROI, lead tracking & management, and booth staff training, among many other services.

This interview was recorded live at the amazing Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee with host Jeff Hannah.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-turnbull-32556950/

Email: jess@theexhibitcompany.com.au

Website: www.theexhibitcompany.com.au

This is Part 2 of a two-part interview with international industry leader and designer Francisco Collazo, Partner and CEO of SISTEXPO (Sistemas de Exposición) in Mexico City, Mexico.

In this fascinating conversation, Francisco Collazo shares his extensive journey into the exhibition industry, tracing the evolution of his career from its inception as a young boy working with his father. More than 40 years later, Francisco's company is now well into its third family generation and has established an outstanding reputation for themselves globally in the industry.

Host Jeff Hannah asks Francisco to share the transformative shifts he has witnessed in the Mexican exhibition landscape over the years, offering valuable insights into the dynamic nature of the industry in Mexico. Nowadays, most of the exhibits are custom-built, wooden exhibits versus system exhibits; many are still build and burn (one time use).

Francisco highlighted his knowledge of system exhibits, shedding light on the diverse range, some of the history, and how he became an expert in this area. He mentions his past interactions with historical system influencers, such as Hans Bruder (global leader of OCTANORM for over 50 years). Some of the systems they discussed are beMatrix, Aluvision, Agam, OCTANORM, SYMA, and meroform,

They discuss the primary exhibition venues in Mexico, and how those have evolved over the years in their respective areas:

Palacio de los Deportes

World Trade Center Mexico City

Centro Citibanamex

Expo Guadalajara

Jeff and Francisco share their common bond of their pathways to becoming an industrial designer. Francisco shares how he is particularly passionate about giving back to future generations of designers and design programs at various universities. Francisco's heavy involvement in international and local industry associations underscored his commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing with others across the industry.

Francisco's international work experience is a key focal point, illustrating the intricacies and nuances of navigating business across borders – particularly in Latin America.

Francisco opens-up about the unique experience of collaborating with family members in the industry, providing a glimpse into the dynamics of working alongside loved ones. He shares his outlook on navigating some of those challenges – and well as the reward of working with his family in the formation of this third-generation business. They specifically mention the work that his son Paco Collazo is doing with Happy Projects, based in Atlanta.

Jeff asks Francisco about his legacy, where he emphasizes continuous innovation, building connections, and providing the highest level of service possible (beyond what is happening on the trade show floor).

Host Jeff Hannah summarizes this interview by stating, "good stuff to build a business on; good stuff to build a life around."

SISTEXPO are international exhibit and event builders, headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. They are uniquely positioned to work across North America and South America, with a reach far beyond – into Europe and elsewhere around the world. SISTEXPO designs and builds exhibits for trade shows, works as a general contractor for entire exhibitions, provides international pavilions, and produces full-scale events. Well into their third family generation, SISTEXPO has a strong track record of over 40 years and continues to be heavily involved in international associations and works with many global brands. They are proud members of IFES, EDPA, ESSA, bePartner Network, MPI, OSPI, and AMPROFEC.

This interview was recorded live at the amazing Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, in Bonita Springs, Florida (USA) with host Jeff Hannah.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francisco-collazo-ortega-23601639/

Website: https://www.sistexpo.com/

www.globalexhibitor.com