New Company, Blue Sky Events, Will Launch 5-city Parenting Expo
October 22, 2013
Based in Akron, Ohio, and led by a team of veteran trade show, sales and marketing executives, a new business-to-consumer and business-to-business event company – Blue Sky Events – has unveiled its first venture – Parenting Expo – which will launch in five Midwest cities in 2014.
“Our team has a long and successful track record in understanding, targeting, and connecting buyers and sellers,” said Bob Simmons, CEO and president of Blue Sky Events.
He added, “We are committed to bringing original content to all our events and creating an environment of connecting people with common interests. We are excited and passionate to present our first series, Parenting Expo.”
Parenting Expo will debut in March in Pittsburg at the Monroeville (Pa.) Convention Center and will focus on the needs of parents.
The series of events will have professional speakers, exhibitors and networking opportunities so parents have an opportunity to find information they need to know – from prenatal care to raising teens.
The events will partner with physicians and children’s hospitals to give the event even more depth of knowledge.
Besides Pittsburgh, the event also will go to Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.
The team behind the launch of Blue Sky Events has a combined more than 150 years of experience in the trade show, sales and marketing fields.
Simmons has more than 35 years of publishing and sales experience, launching Plastic News and Waste & Recycling News, as well as several shows and conferences such as the International Tire Exhibition & Conference, International Latex Conference and the International Silicon Conference, to name a few.
Other team members include Director of Sales Chris Harris, with 25 years of B-to-B publishing and sales experience; Director of Operations Jeff Mundson, with 24 years of marketing and operations management experience for national and international B-to-B events; and Director of Marketing Gary Vernon, with 21 years as creative director of communications agency, among other highly qualified employees.
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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