PRESS RELEASE

2004 The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year Award Winners Revealed

Contact Dana Freker Doody
The Expo Group
972-580-900 x1644
ddoody@theexpogroup.com

Irving, Texas - Oct. 21, 2004 - Five deserving members of our industry have been selected to receive the 2004 The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year (SMOTY) Award. In its fifth year, the SMOTY Awards program recognizes show managers exhibiting innovative practices, a strong customer service philosophy, a commitment to success and an ability to overcome obstacles.

For 2004, The Expo Group Show Managers of the Year are:

O        Tier I - 1 to 150 booths: Nancy Hammervick, CMP Media, XChange Conferences

O        Tier II - 151 to 300 booths: Cindy Ferguson, Association of Progressive Rental Organizations, APRO Convention & Buying Show

O        Tier III - 301to 700 booths: Jim Cohen, Unicomm Travel Shows, Adventure in Travel Expos

O        Tier IV - 701 to 1,500 booths: Nancy Janssen, Food Processing Machinery Association, FPM EXPO

O        Tier V - 1,501+ booths: Jennifer Hoff, National Trade Productions, Coverings

"The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year Awards is our way of honoring show managers who exhibit attention to detail, creativity, customer service and innovativeness. We feel it is important to recognize those true can-do spirits," says Ray Pekowski, President and CEO of The Expo Group. "Anyone responsible for the production of a trade show is eligible. This award is about the person and not the show itself."

This year's SMOTY award winners will be honored at the gala dinner and ceremony on Dec. 2 at the Watermark Hotel and Spa in San Antonio, Texas. Honorees receive $1,000 for their favorite charity as well as a trophy to recognize their efforts.

The SMOTY Awards are open to anyone in the industry responsible for producing a show, regardless of any affiliation with The Expo Group. This year's nominees were suggested by co-workers, vendors, exhibitors, board members and themselves.

Nominations are judged by an independent panel. The 2004 SMOTY judges are Robert Dallmeyer, President of RD International; Michael Hough, President, MRH Associates; Donna Sanford, Publisher, EXPO Magazine; Adam Schaffer, Publisher, Tradeshow Week; and Donald Svehla, Publisher, Exhibit City News.

The Expo Group is the tradeshow industry's Single Source SolutionR for its patent-protected business process. The company is widely recognized as the industry's customer service and technology leader. The Dallas-based company has sales offices in Washington D.C. and San Jose, Calif., and a distribution center in Las Vegas. In addition to general service contracting, The Expo Group has a large team of exhibit professionals who provide services including installation, dismantle, custom exhibit purchase, rental exhibits, logistics and graphics.

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