The Expo Group Acquires Brede/Allied
January 15, 2020
The Expo Group, an Irving, Texas-based exhibitions and events partner that invests in growth, today acquired Orlando-based Allied Convention Service, commonly known as Brede/Allied. The move gives The Expo Group an expanded footprint in the Southeast and deeper operations to better serve its clients, according to company officials.
“This acquisition expands The Expo Group’s service capabilities in an important region and brings together the top personnel in this business,” said Randy Pekowski, president and chief operating officer for the company. “This is an extenuation of our long-term corporate strategy to grow in the right places at the right time with the right people.”
Brede/Allied’s Jon Mills will continue his executive and operational role for The Expo Group in Orlando and report directly to Pekowski. Charlie Premone will also be part of the executive team and support employees and clients.
Brede Exposition Service will continue as before in its other five locations under the Brede name. Both firms have long enjoyed a cooperative business relationship that is expected to continue as The Expo Group integrates Brede/Allied Convention Service Inc. in Orlando.
Allied clients will now have access to The Expo Group’s array of services, including proprietary tools such as Single Source and the ExpoSuite portfolio of technology tools, plus enhanced creative strategy and Level5 Events offerings.
“This expanded North American footprint allows us to elevate experiences for all our clients and all their stakeholders,” Pekowski says.
The Expo Group’s new Orlando location creates an immediate boost in personnel and operational capacity for the growing firm. The integration plan spans six months and includes the acquisition of Allied’s 160,000-square-foot facility and marshalling yard. The former Brede/Allied office and warehouse will serve as Southeast Distribution Center for The Expo Group, which also has distribution centers in Chicago, Irving and Las Vegas.
“This is the next generation,” Pekowski says. “Our company has grown double digits each of the last five years with Randy at the helm. We retain a tight focus on our mission of ‘Helping People Perform at a Higher Level,’ which means continual improvement, enhanced technology capabilities and commitment to servant leadership.”
For more information related to the acquisition, go here.
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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