PRESS RELEASE
The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year Award Winners Revealed
Irving, Texas – Oct. 7, 2008 – Five winners have been chosen for The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year (SMOTY) Awards, which will take place Nov. 6 in Baltimore. The 9th annual SMOTY award winners are: · Tier I – 1 to 150 booths: Kendra Nicastro, Co-Owner, KC's Creative Events LLC · Tier II – 151 to 300 booths: Paul Kent, Vice President and General Manager, IDG World Expo · Tier III – 301 to 700 booths: Sandra Toms LaPedis, Area Vice President and General Manager, RSA Conferences · Tier IV – 701 to 1,500 booths: Robert Brice, Vice President, Cygnus Business Media · Tier V – 1,501+ booths: Larry Schur, President and Show Manager, All Baby & Child Inc. These five show managers demonstrated innovative practices, a strong customer service philosophy, a commitment to success and an ability to overcome obstacles. All nominations were judged by an independent panel consisting of Robert Dallmeyer, President of RD International; Michael Hughes, Associate Publisher, Tradeshow Week; Sam Lippman, President, integrated show management & marketing; and Donna Sanford, Publisher, EXPO Magazine. “The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year award is all about how one person can make a difference in an organization,” says The Expo Group President and CEO Ray Pekowski. “I realize there are awards for size of show and growth already exist, but we started these awards eight years ago to honor the people who make a difference and make our industry great.” Award winners will be honored at a dinner and ceremony on Nov. 6 at The Walters Museum in Baltimore. The awards this year are sponsored in part by Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Wyndham Jade. Honorees receive $1,000 for their favorite charity as well as the iconic SMOTY crystal obelisk. Winners’ charities will be posted at http://www.theexpogroup.com so their peers and friends will have the ability to show their support by making a donation online. The Expo Group 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. The Expo Group a Single Source® general service contractor fulfilling the needs of show organizers, corporate planners and exhibitors. The Dallas-based company also has offices in Las Vegas, San Jose, St. Louis, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. For more information and/or photos, contact Dana Freker Doody at 972-580-9000 or send an email to ddoody@theexpogroup.com. ###