Mar 11, 2021
U.K-based Tarsus Group has made two key appointments in its senior ranks with the current CFO, Dan O’Brien, being named as COO.
In this newly created role, O’Brien will oversee the company’s business operations and core group functions.
Mark Pennington, who currently is the Group’s director of finance, has been appointed to the role of CFO as part of the senior management restructure.
O’Brien and Pennington will both take up their new roles on March 31.
Having joined Tarsus Group in 2011 as CFO, O’Brien has been an integral part of the senior management team working closely with group… more
Mar 10, 2021
As we move toward the second quarter of 2021, event organizations and suppliers are announcing new hires and promotions far and wide. Check out who’s been moving forward in the trade show industry lately:
Dana Freker Doody has joined the leadership team of live and on-demand digital platform provider JUNO as vice president of marketing and communications. In her new role, Freker Doody will work to develop strategies to serve clients and secure business, while developing a brand-defining communications platform.
She most recently served as vice president of communications and public… more
Mar 10, 2021
Good luck trying to have a conversation about events in 2021 without using the word “hybrid.” The consensus is that a vast majority of conferences, conventions and trade shows will incorporate a virtual element when returning face-to-face, most convening in-person for the first time since 2019. Dig beyond that general thought process, though, and the specifics are a bit hazy. “There’s a reason you’re hearing about those generalities,” said Alon Alroy, co-founder, CMO and CCO of Bizzabo. “No one has cracked it yet.”
Truth be told, that code for hybrid success might be different for each event… more
Feb 24, 2021
When Jon Taffer ran the Nightclub & Bar Show, his biggest fear was that an exhibiting company would skip a year. That exhibitor would then have the opportunity to see if it could succeed without that event. If so, they might never return. In 2020, “Everyone skipped the year,” said Taffer, who served as the event’s chairman in 2019.
In the downtime since the pandemic changed work patterns and put many trade shows and conferences on hold, the world learned to work differently. There might not be any coming back, either, if event organizers are not careful. “The technology industry is… more
Feb 18, 2021
Like many trade show industry professionals, Marie Browne didn’t plan to pursue a career in events, she “fell into” it. After earning a masters degree in business administration and taking a job as director of membership and events at a business development organization, she quickly realized that the events component was the most significant part of her role — and that she had a knack for it. As if by fate, Browne’s subsequent career choices continued to land her more firmly in the events world, with a focus on connecting businesses and people.
Now, as group vice president for Reed… more
Feb 17, 2021
Swapcard announced on Wednesday that events industry leader Julius Solaris has joined its team as head of engagement.
With more than 15 years of experience in event management, long standing relationships with some of the world’s most respected brands and deep knowledge of the global events industry, Solaris was a clear choice for the role, according to Swapcard.
Prior to joining Swapcard, he served as founder and editor-in-chief of EventMB, a respected resource on event technology, where he operated at the forefront of the event app revolution, integrating social media with both live and… more
Feb 15, 2021
It’s noon on a Wednesday (somewhere) when Intrado Digital Media President Ben Chodor jumps on a Zoom call. There is no ballgame to catch, rush hour to beat or train to hop on. Gone are the days of the easy excuses to take a break from work. Chodor is, for better or worse, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On the bright side, Intrado employs 1,500 workers in 17 countries. The flexibility to meet with a team across multiple time zones has distinct advantages. It allows for more brainstorming sessions, which, in turn, facilitates innovation. Given Intrado’s crucial role in advancing… more
Feb 09, 2021
A slew of new hires and promotions at event-related organizations are a positive sign of growing confidence in the resurgence of the trade shows and events industry this year. Check them out:
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has tapped Marie-Laure Bellon to serve as its next COO, effective March 1. She will work out of the organization’s Paris headquarters.
Bellon is currently the CEO and general manager of French exhibition organizer Eurovet, a trade show organizer for lingerie and swimwear, and a subsidiary of Comexposium and the French Knitting and Lingerie… more
Jan 29, 2021
Louisville Tourism is about to get a new president and CEO. Cleo Battle, the CVB’s current chief operating officer, will assume his new role upon the forthcoming retirement of current president and CEO Karen Williams, who will close out her 30-year tenure at Louisville Tourism June 30.
This is Battle’s second time filling Williams’ shoes. The 34-year hospitality veteran was appointed executive vice president in 2013 before being named COO in 2019.
Prior to coming to Louisville, Battle spent 12 years as vice president of sales and services for the Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau… more
Jan 21, 2021
Twenty-eight-year industry veteran David Audrain is a who’s who of the trade show industry. Besides serving as president of Clarion Events North America and Messe Frankfurt NA, Audrain has held executive and senior positions at ConvExx, Advanstar, Hanley-Wood and Miller Freeman during the course of his storied career. Under his skilled leadership, top shows including MAGIC, SEMA Show and SURFACES achieved strong growth and success.
When he’s not leading up Exposition Development Company (ExpoDevCo), a trade show production and management company he launched in 2012 with his business partner… more
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.