May 08, 2019
April showers brought May new hires to many companies in the trade show and destination marketing world. Here’s all the news you need to know.
Big news for the Events Industry Council: The Washington, D.C.-based organization appointed a new CEO in April. Following an extensive global search, Amy Calvert is now leading EIC. She brings more than three decades of experience in the industry to her new role, and was most recently with Visit Baltimore. (Stay tuned for more on Calvert in an upcoming Q&A on TSNN!)
Dawn Holden joined Destinations International as vice president of membership… more
Apr 30, 2019
Last year was a monumental one for Informa, with the purchase of UBM in January 2018 forming the largest exhibition company in the world. Today the London-based company announced another big change: a new brand identity for one of its divisions. Going forward, Informa Exhibitions will be known as Informa Markets.
This new identity reflects the company’s ongoing development and expansion, along with its focus on enabling the success of its customers and the specialist markets in which they work, from health and nutrition to construction, pharma, agriculture and more.
Informa Markets consists… more
Mar 22, 2019
Today in Atlantic City, N.J, an announcement was made through a group of family, friends and associates of Gary Musich that they will produce several fundraising activities on Gary’s behalf.
Gary is a long-time member of the MeetAC team with deep roots in the convention and meeting industries.
He recently was diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing aggressive treatment.
As part of the ongoing effort to solicit donations to help the Musich family with their high medical expenses, the group announced Fishing for a Cure, which is a concert being held at the Steel Pier in Atlantic… more
Mar 13, 2019
You could say the team members behind MAD Event Management are masters of creativity. Based in Warwick, New York, they’re owners and operators of several large pop culture conventions, from Long Beach Comic Expo to C3: Comic Creator Conference. As such, they’re frequently managing events that involve large numbers of attendees dressed in costume, as well as in-depth education sessions designed to help high-level comics creatives learn and grow in the industry.
Yet for its latest challenge, MAD stepped into a similar, yet different role in a new location: Havana, Cuba. Working with the… more
Mar 04, 2019
See who’s making big strides in their career this month. Have more people news to share? Send it to kogletree@tsnn.com to be included in our next story.
Jim Kelley has joined Fern, a national marketing support and trade show services provider, as vice president of marketing and industry relations. His career has spanned roles with exposition service contractors, convention centers and hotels, and he was most recently with Production Resource Group. In his new position, Kelley will lead strategy for Fern and NexxtShow’s industry events, as well as be part of its sales leadership team.
The… more
Mar 04, 2019
The Society of Independent Show Organizers’ long-time general counsel Henry Schaffer. passed away March 1 after a lengthy disease with Alzheimer’s.
He leaves his wife Barbara, daughters - Emily (Deiwson Nogueira Araujo) Schaffer, Katherine (David Bamman) Schaffer, and four grandchildren Ruby, Sam, Theo, and Leo.
Henry served as SISO Legal Counsel from the 1990’s through his retirement in October of 2014.
“Henry served SISO for most of its existence and was a valued member of its leadership. His knowledge and expertise of our industry was vast,” said David Audrain, SISO executive director… more
Feb 18, 2019
Thirty-year event veteran Danny Phillips has joined media M&A firm Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips as managing director for events.
For 16 years, Phillips was executive vice president of Advanstar (now UBM/Informa), where he was responsible for technology, automotive, licensing, entertainment and healthcare divisions in the U.S., France, Brazil, Germany, the UK and Hong Kong.
Previously, he led European technology media business units for both International Thomson and EMAP from London, and also served as CEO of Argyle Executive Forum, a B2B and media and events company, where he oversaw its… more
Feb 06, 2019
Diversified Communications’ President and CEO Theodore Wirth promoted Mary Larkin to President of Diversified Communications’ U.S. operating division.
“In 2014, we took the unusual step and established a three-person EVP team. Bill Springer, Mike Lodato and Mary Larkin were able to grow the business, but three-person leadership teams are challenging at best and we felt it was the right time to appoint one leader,” Wirth said.
He added, “We greatly appreciate what Bill, Mike and Mary accomplished together and throughout their careers here and look forward to the future of Diversified… more
Feb 04, 2019
By Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group Managing Director
Firstly a big thank you to everyone who has sponsored me for the Boston Marathon. I really appreciate it, and it will go a long way to help the charity achieve its goals this year.
For the first time, I’ve got corporate sponsors and a huge thank you to them - details of my various supporters are below - you have gone above and beyond. Finally, a big thank you to Rachel, Brian and Jeffery for their Herculean efforts on the fundraising - a fantastic team effort.
Training in January hasn’t quite gone to plan. I’ve picked up a hip injury -… more
Jan 29, 2019
To say that last year was a monumental one for Informa Exhibitions, which is led by CEO Charlie McCurdy, would be quite an understatement.
2018 marked the largest mergers and acquisitions deal in history, with Informa buying fellow U.K.-based exhibition company, UBM, for a whopping $5.2 billion.
Now that the deal has been closed for several months, TSNN sat down with McCurdy to talk through what’s next and some overall exhibition market trends.
The Informa/UBM deal was completed in June, and McCurdy said there was an accelerated plan put in place immediately to integrate the two… 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.