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Review All Articles > May 23rd 2007 - Vol 10, Issue 21

EACA Showfloor Buzz
Vol. 10, Issue 21, May 23, 2007

EACA NEWS

EACA Conference Materials Have Been Sent ! The EACA is hosting its 9th Annual Conference in Washington DC on July 30-31, 2007.   This year’s event will place a special focus on Business Development in the 21st Century.     EACA members and their sales forces will learn how to transition from “transactional selling” to “strategic selling” by way of our high powered conference program.
 
Your Annual Conference materials were sent out earlier this week.   If you have not received your EACA conference info please send an email to jimwurm@eaca.com.
 
2007 Intrepid Award Nominees!     The Intrepid Award is awarded to the individual, organization or consortium that has made great contributions to the cause of customer service in the trade show industry. The EACA Intrepid also recognizes the quality of character combining courage and staying power.   In business, and specifically in the trade show business, grace and fortitude under pressure is the capacity to focus attention on the needs of the customer at all times; particularly when the pressure hits.
 
The Five Finalists for this year's Intrepid Award are:
 
David Causton, MPEA.       David is the General Manager for McCormick Place in Chicago.   He is constantly looking for innovative ways to deliver more value to exhibitors at McCormick Place, and is often seen reaching out to all industry stakeholders to find ways to improve the exhibitor’s experience at Chicago’s McCormick Place.    In the past year, Causton has overseen the development of a Labor Management Committee to find ways to improve the offerings made by Chicago’s workforce to exhibitors, as well as authorized a customer service training program for the employees of Focus One, the McCormick Place in-house exhibitor servicing agency.     For his tireless efforts to improve value to exhibitors at McCormick Place, Dave is a most deserving nominee for the Intrepid Award in 2007.

Joe Mondelli, EACA Chicago.       Joe is the EACA Chicago Chapter President (formerly with MC2) who has spearheaded EACA’s efforts to develop a showfloor worker training program there.    Through Joe’s vision, energy and careful guidance the EACA Customer Service Training program will be taking place in Chicago on June 25-27, 2007.     Joe  has personally shepherded the very first formal customer service training program into existence by identifying the trainer (who has a Ph.d. in Human Resources), helping to develop the curriculum, and finding sponsors necessary to launch the first program. For his tireless efforts to improve Chicago area customer servicing, Joe is a most deserving nominee for the Intrepid Award in 2007.

Bob Lessin, Business Rep., Local 831    One of the most popular places for I&D companies to  provide services for their exhibitor clients is in Southern California.  That’s because the quality of the workers in Decorators Local 831 and their service minded approach to display installation is second to none.   A large part of the credit for the high service quotient for this Local is due to the leadership of their Business Representative, Bob Lessin.  Bob has facilitated the development of a tradeshow installers training program that has been so successful that he has been recognized nationally by the IUPAT.  With their ongoing programs in  power tool safety, scaffolding/ladders, fall protection, first aid, forklift, electrical, genie lift use and many more, Local 831 has greatly improved the quality of their Southern CaliforniaLabor force. So much so, Bob now has been officially designated the International Representative of the IUPAT  and will bring the same program to Decorator locals in San Francisco, Dallas,  and several other east coast Decorator locals.   For all these reasons and more, Bob is a terrific nominee for our 2007 Intrepid Award.
 
Cecil Wynn, IBEW.    Cecil has been the International Representative to the trade show industry for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ever since the EACA has come into existence.    He has been a steadfast supporter of the idea engrained in the EACA charter to “raise the level of service excellence on the showfloor”, and was personally responsible for getting the IBEW more involved on this and other industry=wide initiatives to improve showfloor exhibit servicing – including his involvement and participation in the Exhibit Industry Task Force.   Cecil is retiring from the IBEW in May 2007, confident that he has done an outstanding job of establishing a solid customer service legacy in the IBEW for the benefit of all trade show industry customers.   For a lifetime of effort at improving exhibitor servicing, Cecil is an outstanding nominee for our 2007 Intrepid Award.
 
Ken Viscovich, Int’l Rep., United Brotherhood of Carpenters.     A constant supporter of the EACA’s efforts to innovate improvements in trade show customer service, Ken has also been front and center at the initiative to develop drug and alcohol testing in all carpenter jurisdiction convention cities.    
 
Another significant feather in Ken’s cap, and list of achievements, is the development of the Exhibit Industry Task Force.  While on the Board of the EACA, Ken suggested the development of an industry task force that could take on huge projects such as drug testing, and the development of the Universal Photo ID protocol.

Ken has succeeded in helping to facilitate Drug Testing in Washington DC, and now has his sites set on several other trade show cities.    For all his tireless efforts to improve exhibitor servicing and to make the trade show floor a safer place to work, Ken is a highly regarded nominee for the 2007 Intrepid.

 
All employees of EACA member companies are eligible to vote.     You can fax in your vote on an official Intrepid Award ballot or simply email your vote to jimwurm@eaca.com .   

EACA PEOPLE IN THE NEWS


Rossi Replaces Plescia at OCCC.    The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando has announced that Michaal Rossi will replace John Plescia at the OCCC as the Assistant Operations Manager.        Rossi was the former Director of Event Services.
 
Plescia has left the OCCC to join Freeman as the Director of their Electrical Services and I&D departments.
 
JOHN CHADWICK JOINS AIRWAYS FREIGHT CORPORATION.   John Chadwick, a well-known veteran of thirty years in the tradeshow industry has joined Airways Freight Corporation to promote business development for this freight forwarding concern headquartered in Arkansas.     Chadwick comes to Airways from TWI Group, Inc., an international freight forwarding company based in Las Vegas, NV where he was the VP of Business Development and Industry Relations.
 
EACA CHAPTERS

ATLANTA CHAPTER ANNOUNCEMENT

Get Out of the Gutter to Benefit RSMGC     

The SE Chapter of the EDPA is organizing its first ever bowling event called “Get Out of the Gutter” to benefit the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic.  
Get Out of the Gutter will take place at 300 (2175 Savoy St, Atlanta) on June 6, 2007 from 5pm to 8pm.
Your investment of $45 enttitle you to an event with fun, food, bowling and prizes.   There are also Corporate Sponsorships available!!
To sign up for this first ever event, or to look up additional information go to the Southeast EDPA web site at www.123signup.com/calendar?org=southeastedpa
 

CHICAGO CHAPTER ANNOUNCEMENT
 
Customer Service Training

The Chicago Chapter of the EACA, in conjunction with the MPEA and EACA National will be sponsoring a Customer Service Training initiative for showfloor workers in Chicago.
 
The Customer Service Training Program will take place on June 25 and 26 at McCormick Place in Room N427.   Showfloor workers in Chicago will have the option of taking part in this four program on either June 25 or June 26.   The 4 hour program will be delivered 4 different times over the two day period – with one program delivered each morning, and one each afternoon.
 
The EACA Customer Service Training Program was developed and will be delivered by Randy Eppard, Phd in Human Development.  Eppard is an associate professor for University of Maryland University College,    Prior to his professorship, Eppard worked for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters as Director of Training Curriculum.   Randy developed th customer service program under the direction and guidance of Chicago Chapter EACA President Joe Mondelli.
 
EACA members will also be able to take advantage of a Train the Trainer session which will be offered on June 27 in Room N427 at the McCormick Place.  The Train the Trainer session will allow designated EACA members, and staff, to become certified in delivering future Customer Service Training programs.
 
WEST HALL TOURS FOR EACA MEMBERS

Any EACA members interested to take a tour of the new West Hall of McCormick Place can do so on June 26, 2007.
 
There will be two tours available on that day (maximum capacity of 50 for each).  The first tour will take place at 10am on June 26, and the second tour will take place at 11:15am.
 
To secure your spot on either of those tours please respond by email to jimwurm@eaca.com.
 
Remember space is limited and requests will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.   There will be no other offering of this kind so this is your best chance to get a look at the West Hall before it.
 
 
NO SMOKING REMINDER
 
All EACA members are reminded that McCormick Place is a NO SMOKING facility.    Whether you are on the show floor, in your storage cage, or in your office at McCormick Place the No Smoking policy must be observed.
 
Building management at MPEA has observed violations to this policy recently and wants to notify members of the EACA that the Fire Safety department will continue to issue smoking tickets.
 
Your cooperation is appreciated!
 
Chicago RSMGC Golf Tournament Announcement
 
The Chicago EACA / EDPA Chapters have announced that the 5th Annual Charity Golf Tournament benefiting the RSMGC will take place on August 6, 2007 at Maple Meadows  Golf Club in Wooddale, IL.    Please mark your calendars!!
 
There will be a Shot Gun Start at 1pm.   
 
For more information, or to register for the event, contact Nancy Virene at The TERM Group.   She can be reached at 630-766-TERM, or at njvirene@thetermgroup.com.
 

ORLANDO CHAPTER ANNOUNCEMENT

Orange County Convention Center Parking Advisory

From Thursday, May 24, through Saturday, May 26, all staff and business partners who normally park in the Canadian Court flat lot or the Canadian Court parking garage are to instead park in the North/South Building’s parking lots.  An Employee Shuttle will be provided for transportation from the North/South Building parking lots to the West Building.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Roy Figueroa at 59838 or Terry Mulvihill at 55931.
 
Thank you in advance for your assistance and cooperation.

 
 
POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Chicago area exhibit builder/EAC seeks:



Job Title:   EAC Labor Account Executives

Description: Through aggressive prospecting you’ll create opportunities to sell labor services for trade shows, sales meetings and events, themed environments, and retail installations.  
 
The ideal candidates will have at least two years of successful tradeshow labor sales experience.  Excellent prospecting and communication skills, and the skills for building and maintaining long term client relationships are required.
 
Competitive compensation package includes full company benefits.
 
Job Title:    Senior Account Manager
Description:   The Account Manager position requires flexibility and an exceptional client service attitude.  This position coordinates and oversees entire projects, from shop production through on-site supervision, for a variety of accounts.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of successful tradeshow account management experience. Knowledge of billing, collections, and pricing structures is required.  
 
Compensation package includes a base salary and full company benefits.
 


Job Title:   Senior Account Executives

Description:   Primary focus is generating new business opportunities in exhibit marketing including tradeshows, museums, corporate interiors, retail design and fabrication, and supporting field services.   

Candidates will have 3 – 5 years successful sales experience in exhibits or related marketing-communications medium. We offer a guaranteed salary leading to a draw against earned commissions, performance bonuses, expense reimbursement, and full company benefits.
  
Please forward resumes to Jim Wurm,  jimwurm@eaca.com.

 
Nationwide I&D Company seeks
Job Title:            Full and Part Time Account Executives

Description:            We are looking for motivated people with excellent communication skills, basic computer skills (Outlook,MS Word, MS Excel ) and basic knowledge of trade show and event operations to fill positions in New York and Las Vegas.
 
Responsibilities include development of new business in the area of Nationwide Event Labor Services including but not limited to Installation and Dismantle and show decorating, overseeing operations of ones clients with our team of professionals, traveling and what ever it takes to get the job done. Cold calling and networking skills are required. Must be a self motivator, understand the importance of deadlines and be an overall smart worker.
 
Territory is unlimited and so is the income potential, top performers with a strong book of business earn high six figures +. Optional base salary plus commissions or a straight commission structure is available. Existing book of business is a plus. We offer 401k and health Benefits to motivated full time employees. Minimum 3 years event/trade show industry experience


If you are interested to apply for the position above, please email your resume in confidence to jimwurm@eaca.com.




INDUSTRY NEWS
 
Exhibitgroup/Giltspur is pleased to announce the following additions to its corporate leadership in Dallas

Frank Laudo has been appointed Vice President, Chief Creative Officer. In this newly created position, Frank will be helping EG clients make meaningful connections with their customers through experiential exhibit and marketing solutions. Before joining EG, Frank established a stellar track record at Rapp Collins Worldwide where his creative executions produced outstanding results for his clients as well as winning awards for the agency.

Ken Revenaugh is the new Director, Sales Operations. During 18 years at Fed Ex Kinko’s where he ushered the company into a new age of information delivery, Ken has been recognized as a strategic leader who understands profitable systems and processes. By developing innovative programs to increase sales effectiveness and revenue growth, he has been able to grow strategic accounts by establishing cost-effective support networks.

Steve Taylor has joined EG as Senior Vice President, IT and Customer Relationship Management. Steve is a thought leader in the field of customer relationship management and loyalty initiatives. After a long career at Sprint where he transformed its marketing information systems, he distinguished himself at Brierley Partners and Rapp Collins Worldwide by designing successful programs for clients such as Sony, Chrysler, Pfizer, Pharmaceuticals, Reuters International and Experian.

Condolences to the family of Bill Stinson, past owner of the Laser Las Vegas office who passed last week.    The funeral was in Brea, CA .

Industry Pushes to Right Flawed Javits Plan   <Trade Show Executive> A controversial marshaling garage that is part of the planned $2 billion expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is so flawed that it could actually strangle the trade show industry in New York rather than revitalize it, according to top organizers and general service contractors who have banded together in a group known as „Friends of Javits.‰  The group is heavily engaged with the state redevelopment agency to convince the state and the city to re-draw the plans to include a separate marshaling yard. The group‚s fear is that the multi-story garage would bog down the move-in and move-out processes to the point that union labor costs would skyrocket and ultimately drive a number of events out of the Big Apple. „The garage will increase the cost by about 40 percent over what it is now,‰ predicted Reed Exhibitions Senior Vice President Ken McAvoy.  
 
Trade Show Executive Moves to Number One in Market Share in First Quarter  <Trade Show Executive>   After reaching Number One in market share in December 2006, Trade Show Executive magazine has again climbed to Number One in market share, this time  for the entire First Quarter of 2007, according to statistics independently compiled by IMS, an ad tracking firm based in Toronto that tracks ad pages for over 2,000 magazines.   Trade Show Executive grew 98% over  the First Quarter of 2006, selling 123 ad pages versus 68 pages in Q1 2006.  Tradeshow Week moved down to second place, with 114 ad pages sold during the first Quarter of 2007, and EXPO dropped to third, with 68 ad pages.


THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK


Don’t find fault.  Find a remedy.

--Henry Ford    
 

Publisher's statement.   The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to "raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor."  
 
This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.
 
EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.
 
If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry's customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com