Board_Of_Directors

- Ron began his career in 1985 with I&D, Inc. (now known as Nth Degree) in Stone Mountain, GA as an operational coordinator. He was then promoted in 1986 to become an Assistant City Manager for I&D in New York City. In 1988 he left I&D to become an officer and partner with Eagle Management Group, Inc. In 1992 he left Eagle Management Group along with Sam Miserendino (who was also an officer and a partner) to establish Spectrum Show Services, Inc. He is a principal owner and President of Spectrum Show Services, Inc. which has been in business for fourteen years. "I feel extremely fortunate to have had such a long career in such a dynamic industry."

Director - Jack Savage YRCN, Inc. After graduating from the University of Mississippi, Jack began his career with Roadway and Yellow Freight, in Sales and Operations. He then took a position with GES, where he spent 10 years in the National Freight division and then GES Logistics.

At present Jack is the Director of Exhibit Sales with YRC North American Transportation, based in Las Vegas.

Director John Perry / Teamsters

Director Al Kirschner Vice President Corp. Account Mgt., Freeman Company -

Al has been in the Event Marketing/Trade Show industry for 25 years. First employed in 1984 by an Atlas Van Lines agency in Detroit, MI he began his career on the transportation/warehousing side of the industry. In 1996 Al accepted a position at The George P. Johnson Company and in the eleven (11) years of planning and coordinating exhibits and events, attained the position of Executive Director, Event Services. In July, 2006 Al joined The Freeman Company, relocated to Dallas, TX and currently holds the position of Vice President, Corporate Account Management / I & D.

Director Bob Ryley GES

Director - Peter Eelman / IMTS Mr. Eelman joined AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology in 1996 and has been involved in worldwide exhibitions in the manufacturing industry for over 20 years. As Vice President – Exhibitions, Mr. Eelman is responsible for AMT events world wide, including trade shows, open houses and special events.
The signature event sponsored by AMT is the biennial IMTS Show in Chicago . During his tenure as Vice President, The International Manufacturing Show reached the #1 ranking in the Trade Show 200 for the first time in 2000. With a total size of over 1,150,000 square feet, the show is perennially ranked in the top ten shows.

Throughout his career, Mr. Eelman has coordinated events around the world, including shows and special events in China , Japan , Brazil and Mexico , as well throughout Europe . As a member of show management, Mr. Eelman brings the unique perspective of having been an exhibitor earlier in his career. He is actively involved in several trade show groups, including IAEM, CEIR, TSEA and Assn.net. He is also a member of The Chicago Advisory Council and The Chicago Labor – Management Council.

Director - Anthony Lopez / MPEA Anthony Lopez has been the Assistant General Manager of McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois since May 2006. He spent the prior nine years at the Minneapolis Convention Center, six as Executive Director / Assistant City Coordinator. During his tenure in Minneapolis, he led the Minneapolis Convention Center through a 700,000 square foot expansion which opened in 2002. Prior to the Minneapolis Convention Center, he held positions with the Iowa State Center in Ames, Iowa, Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Target Center in Minneapolis, MN. Anthony attended college at Iowa State University.

Director - Geri-Dee Shaffer. Geri is one of several medical device leaders in the exhibit industry and, in fact, pioneered the model for the "employee of the future" by becoming one of the first "telecommunicating employees" over 13 years ago. In 1979 she began her employment with Aesculap Inc, a U.S. medical device manufacturer & distributor presently located in Center Valley, PA. At the time, the company exhibited at 6 meetings annually. Today, Geri holds a Director position at Aesculap, is a member of the company's Executive Team, oversees the implementation of more than 80 tradeshows, and produces 20 accredited educational programs annually. She's held every Office with HCEA (Health Care Convention Exhibitors Association, Atlanta, GA), and was President in 1997 - 1998. Chair of numerous Exhibitor Advisory Committees, Guideline Committees, and related sub-committees, Geri is an active member of CEIR, TSEA, and HCEA.

Ex-Officio Director - Don Svehla. Don is founder and publisher of Exhibit City News. He has worked in the industry since he was 15 yrs. old, working with his father at McCormick Display, which was purchased by Osgood Display Company. His experience on the show floor, made Don recognize the need for an industry news source. He founded and published the first issue of ECN in June of 1994. Since that time the Exhibit City News has evolved into a monthly tabloid bearing the tagline "Uniting the Nation's Tradeshow Community". Don played a key role in the formation of the EACA and contributes to the continued growth of the Association.