EACA Hall of Fame

Established in 2003, the EACA Hall of Fame was established as a means of celebrating the achievements of those industry professionals who helped establish the EAC service category and whose efforts pioneered the manner in which modern exhibit servicing is delivered.    The EACA believes that many who make their living in the trade show industry as exhibit servicing professionals owe a debt of thanks to those that have gone before.   And, not only do we honor the contributions of those who helped make trade show exhibit servicing what it is today, we want to chronicle their accomplishments and their stories.

Inductee to the Class of 2008

Dick Gorbett

Career History

Class of 2007

Carl Birsa

Career History

Mid 1950’s – started in the trade show industry working for Poirot under the tutelage of Jim Fisher, a mentor to CB.
1961 – formed Ray Display Service in Chicago with his wife Annie and Ralph Prokaski.
1969 – formed CB Display Service, Inc. with Annie in Chicago.
1976 – opened CB Las Vegas with his son Dennis and Paul Willet.
Mid 1980’s – expanded the companies focus to include general contracting and exhibit rental systems.
1990 – CB passed away. His trademark Sherlock Holmes style hat continues to conjure up fond memories of a founding father of our industry. CB left behind family, friends and clients who knew that “Trade Shows were no mystery to CB.”

Class of 2006

Tony Amodeo, Pat Alaqua, and Jack McEntee

Founded I&D, Inc. in 1979, Leading providers of Labor Services

Industry Innovations :

• Gang Boxes
• Same leadman on Up and Down
• 14' Ladders
• Leadman Training
• Sales & Marketing of I&D Services
• Participation in Industry Meetings International Exhibit Servicing

Class of 2005

Elwood H. ("Woody") Hasemann

Significant Accomplishments

Oversees growth of IMTS to one of the largest industrial shows in the world.
1996 - Removed exclusivity clause on Millwright work.

Career History

1968 - 98 Association for the Manufacturing Technology
1982 - 98 Director - Exhibitions of IMTS

 Class of 2004

Jim Fisher

Significant Accomplishments:

Instrumental in the founding of the Trade Show Services Division of Poirot.

General Manager of one of the country’s first exhibit services and I&D companies.   Jim’s accomplishments in the field are punctuated by the number of other industry giants that he helped to bring into the industry and start on their respective roads to success.   Carl Birsa (CB Displays), Art Ursin (founder of Metro Exhibits now known as The TERM Group), and Lee Robeson (Nevada Exhibitors Service) all began their careers under the tutelage of Jim Fisher.

 Class of 2003

Andrew J. Codamo,Sr.

Significant Accomplishments:                  

•     Major pioneer in the creation of the exhibitor appointed contractor industry.

•     EDPA Board of Directors

•     HCEA Distinguished Service Award

Career History:

1965-72                 First employed in our industry as General Manager of Sho-Aids, Inc.which at that time was the exhibit service arm of Lewis Barry, Inc. Display House.

  1972 to present.    Andy purchased Sho-Aids from Lewis Barry in 1972, which afforded him the opportunity to expand his service offering from a one city operation to a national exhibit servicing company.  Today Sho-Aids maintains both a general contracting division and an I&D division – to our knowledge the first general contractor to establish a division of their company specifically focused on the needs of individual exhibitors.

Since 1972            Andy has contributed to our industry in many other ways as well.   He has maintained memberships and supported a number of industry associations including HCEA, EDPA, ESCA, CEIR, IAEM, TSEA, PCMA and the EACA.    He as served as an advisor to the HCEA Board of Directors, has served on the National Board of the EDPA, has served as Director on a local Board of the EDPA, and has served as committee member of the IEA (now TSEA) Industry Relations Committee.

Donald Shaw "Buck" Freeman

Significant Accomplishments:

•  Instrumental in founding EDPA and ESCA.

•  Charter Inductee of the Convention Liaison Council Hall of Leaders

• Credited with the “systemization” of  exhibit servicing and the development of one of our industry’s first nationwide trade show servicing companies.

Career History:

                       1927     Forms Freeman Decorating Company in Des Moines, Iowa

                       1950     Opens second office in Dallas, TX

                       1961     Purchases Sullivan Transfer

                       1967     Forms Freeman Design Display company

                       1975    AVW Audio Visual becomes part of Freeman Companies

                       1977     Passes away, leaving behind company with 6 branch offices, 200 employees and  $23 million in sales.

DonaldA.Stacy

    
Significant Accomplishments:

•     Credited with authoring the exhibit industry tariff for the shipping of high value exhibit properties while with Global Van Lines.

•     Twice served as EDPA President

Career History:

                              1946-53     NorthAmerican Van Lines

                              1953-54     Owl Moving & Storage - First work in the exhibit industry moving Chrysler’s new car introduction around the country.

                              1954-65     Allied Van Lines - Sales manager for exhibit transportation

                              1965-75          Global Van Lines - VP of Sales.   Assisted in the writing of the exhibit industry freight tariff.

                             1975-79     Young & Rue - Managed freight operation for this Las Vegas based general service contractor.

                             1979- 91   Stacy Exhibit Services - Founder and president of EAC servicing company which handled many aspects of exhibit services including freight and I&D.

                              Don retired from Stacy in 1991.

Click Here for Hall of Fame Criteria 

Hall of Fame Nomination Ballot 

2008 Hall of Fame Ballot