New Shepard Partnership With Soles4Souls Encourages Positive Change at Expo! Expo! and Beyond
November 24, 2021
As the excitement builds to be reunited once again for “The Show of Shows” in Philadelphia Dec. 7-9, full-service event production company Shepard is making notable strides for the greater good, while inviting IAEE Expo! Expo! attendees to do the same as well as share their next steps for the future during this pivotal time.
As part of its Shepard GO (Go Outwardly) philanthropic initiative, the company believes Expo! Expo! is the ideal place to unveil its new alliance with Soles4Souls. The organization turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity by putting them to good use—providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty.
Kicking the Soles4Souls partnership off at Expo! Expo! was the perfect timeline and synergy for the initiative, according to Lauren Bauer, director of sales, West region for Shepard.
The purpose is to focus on, support and create a dialogue around everyone’s next steps in this new era of events and at the same time do something great by stepping into Shepard’s booth, according to Lauren Bauer, director of sales, West Coast region for Shepard.
“Expo! Expo! is the place where people come to share ideas and learn about future opportunities, so what better place to start?” she said.
Shepard is inviting attendees to lend a hand by visiting its booth (#738) and sharing how they plan to move forward in the next generation of events in 2022 and beyond. By sharing their success tips and strategies with the community, they will be helping to make a contribution to Soles4Souls and be entered to win a pair of one-of-a-kind celebrity artist-designed shoes.
“As a longstanding supporter of Shepard’s philanthropic efforts, I am so pleased to be able to provide a platform for our Expo! Expo! community to get involved with Soles4Souls,” said Steve Basch, CEO of Shepard. “As event industry professionals, we know the incredible power of lifting people up, and providing them with resources can be the key to taking that step towards a better life.”
Attendees will also learn how Shepard can support their mission and needs and the ways they may work together for the future.
“We want to be able to guide that conversation about how attendees are approaching the future, and as they step into our booth, just continue that discovery with current clients, prospective clients and partners in the industry,” Bauer said.
Meanwhile, the Shepard booth will feature fun new activations by PopShap, a digital partner that creates compelling experiences with interactive technology. At the Shepard booth, PopShap will offer pre-loaded, engaging content for attendees to explore Shepard’s offerings, and they can even spin a wheel to win a prize.
“The goal with Shepard is to help trade shows move into the digital age by becoming more interactive with their presentations,” said Eitan Magid, CEO of Popshap.
“We also want to bridge the digital gap for exhibitors, especially for Shepard’s clients.”
Located just across the aisle from Shepard in booth #743, TSNN is also looking forward to helping support Shepard’s Soles4Souls initiative in creative ways as their show neighbor and partner. TSNN’s very own Rachel Wimberly and Arlene Shows, for example, will donate their own shoes at the Shepard booth.
“This will be two amazing women giving up their shoes so that somebody else can now take the next steps in life—but it’s more than just the shoes,” Bauer said. “It’s what they represent—an industry that is fortunate to have survived and able to come back together to make a big impact.”
The TSNN booth will be packed with free resources to help attendees connect and perform their jobs with the highest level of excellence. The company will also feature a social media wall and snapshots of attendees to Tweet out their brand and message to TSNN’s industry audience of more than 300,000 event professionals. In addition, TSNN is hosting an Ugly Sweater Contest during the IAEE chapter receptions and offering a $100 Amazon gift card for the winner. The winner will be announced during the general session on Dec. 8 and can come to the TSNN booth to take a picture with their prize to be Tweeted out.
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The Shepard booth at Expo! Expo! is #738, and the TSNN booth is #743.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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