Category Archives: The Company

The Company

Messe Frankfurt and its Dedication to IAEE

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With more than 10,000 industry professionals who support and conduct exhibitions globally, The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) forms a strong synergistic group of individuals.  The endless networking and educational opportunities IAEE provides its members have lead many at Messe Frankfurt North America to get involved. 

Over the years, Messe Frankfurt has been very active not only within the IAEE Southeastern Chapter but also on the national level. This year has been very exciting for us and IAEE SE, with our very own Chris Pendley joining the Board of Directors for The Southeastern Chapter of IAEE, co-directing the Young Professionals Committee of IAEESE. The YPs of IAEE makeup a large group of like-minded professionals that are immersed in the events and trade show industry.

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The panelists at IAEESE YP Spotlight event in April

Chris’ first project was a luncheon in April called “Young Professional Spotlight,” co-organized with fellow YP Chair, Shyanne Robinson. The event focused on breaking the barriers between different age groups in the workplace, featuring young professional panelists from different sectors of the business and discussed the challenges millennials face in the events industry. Attendees of different age groups were encouraged to ask questions that they are often afraid to ask millennials, and vice versa.   Continue reading Messe Frankfurt and its Dedication to IAEE →

Meet The Team, The Company

Meet the Team: Jeffery Johnson

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Year started: 2014
Department: Sales
Position: International Sales Manager

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Intellectually Innovative Renegade

Tell us about your typical day at Messe Frankfurt?
On any typical day at Messe Frankfurt, I am making magic happen. We are the facilitators of dreams. We create opportunity out of thin air…literally a slab of concrete and a vision.

What is your favorite/best thing about your job?
Sales….I love sales…I love the easy sell…I love the hard sell. I love turning no into yes. I never take no for an answer.

Where can we usually spot you outside of Messe Frankfurt?
Staying active…working out, eating too much, climbing trees and playing with fireworks…I’m a Continue reading Meet the Team: Jeffery Johnson →

The Company

First time at Expo! Expo!

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As IAEE announces the location for Expo! Expo! 2017, our IT Director, Brian Hays reminisces on his first Expo! Expo! experience. Brian took a trip to Anaheim, CA along with some of the Messe Frankfurt North America team, last December for the annual trade show industry meeting and exhibition.

img_22411. IT takes everyone on the team working together in constant communication to make a trade show successful – before, during and after the show!
I was really amazed at how well-organized the event was, from registration to the closing ceremony. From the promotion of the event to follow up emails after the event. Expo! Expo! hosted 262 exhibitors and more than 2,200 attendees. I’m really impressed with how they provided something for everyone — they also made it informative and fun. The exhibit hall and the Tech Swim Up Lab were my favorite parts of the trade show. With these developments and technology, I’m very excited for the future of IT in this industry.

 

img_22952. IT is always evolving and the landscape is ever changing. Networking and education are the keys to keeping up-to-date in the trade industry.
Another thing I learned from the expo is Continue reading First time at Expo! Expo! →

About MFI, For Our Exhibitors, The Company

Messe Frankfurt North America 2016 Highlights

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2016 was a year filled with excitement and growth for Messe Frankfurt North America! From hosting ten shows to adding a new valuable employee to our team. Here are five highlights from this past year.

1. We added new shows
As our company continues to grow, we added two shows in 2016 to further expand our already diverse portfolio. In August we announced our partnership with fashion industry veterans, Arnold and Bruce Zimberg and launched Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale which will showcase value and off-price merchandise, giving global retailers the opportunity to network with brand-name apparel, accessory and footwear companies in one location. Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale will have two editions every year: Spring and Fall. Continuing the partnership between Avanprint Paris and World Textile Information Network (WTin), we launched Avanprint USA to bring together the digital printing pioneers of North America’s top apparel design and sourcing professional in New York City.

2. We welcomed Patrick Nohilly as our new Co-President and CFO
Amidst launching shows in August and September, we added a new member to our team, Patrick Nohilly, who now oversees our company with Co-President and CEO, Dennis Smith.

3. We celebrated our 25th Anniversary
Together with our parent company, Messe Frankfurt GmbH, we celebrated a successful milestone of serving the North American market for 25 years. Co-President and CEO Dennis Smith thanked our talented staff in Atlanta, Mexico City, and Alberta, as well as the many others that have worked with us in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico over the years.

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Co-President and CEO, Dennis Smith welcomes the North America team to the Holiday Party + 25th Year Celebration
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Information Systems Manager, Erin Terrell talks about her 13 years of experience with Messe Frankfurt North America

4. We attracted around 37,000 visitors
Across all of our shows, we hit a new record total visitors for the year of 2016 and we anticipate a higher level of Continue reading Messe Frankfurt North America 2016 Highlights →

Meet The Team

Meet the Team: Scott Couey

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Year started: 2012
Department: e-Media
Position: e-Media Coordinator

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Introvert, creative, and loyal

Name 5 of your favorite things

  • I love to read (favorite authors include: C.S. Lewis, Ted Dekker, and Donald Miller)
  • I have a huge Blu-ray collection (favorite actor: Chris Evans/favorite actress: Anna Kendrick)
  • Favorite color is cobalt blue
  • Favorite tv show: Smallville
  • Favorite holiday: Christmas (even though I missed being born on Valentine’s Day by about 6 hours too early)

Tell us about your typical day at Messe Frankfurt?
As e-Media Coordinator, I rarely have a “typical” day. One day I Continue reading Meet the Team: Scott Couey →

The Company

Messe Frankfurt North America goes to Expo! Expo!

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Pictured above (L-R) Dennis Smith – President & CEO, Carina Whitaker – Operations Director, Kari Martin Bush – Marketing and Conference Manager, Carrie Kittrell – Sales Manager, Brian Hays – IT Director along with (not pictured) Patrick Nohilly – President & CFO and Austin Berry – Business Analyst are all excited to attend this year’s Expo! Expo!  December 6 – 8 in Anaheim, CA!

Almost every trade show professional attends IAEE‘s annual “show for shows” to stay up-to-date with industry trends and technology while networking with like-minded professionals. This year’s Expo! Expo! provides an “inside out” approach, focusing on five key strategies: Interaction and Engagement, Innovation, Giving Back: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Encouraging a Global Spirit and Community, Learning: Plan, Perform and Lead.

Two of our employees who have attended Expo! Expo! in the past share their experience: Continue reading Messe Frankfurt North America goes to Expo! Expo! →

About MFI, The Company

What it’s Like to Work at Messe Frankfurt North America?

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Our HR Director, Vickie Ralls shares what it’s like to work at one of the top trade show companies in the world.

We’re Diverse
One of the most fascinating aspects of the business is the incredibly different industries in which the teams work. From Automechanika to Texworld USA and Boulevard-Pret-a-Sale, from Beautyworld Middle East, and Paperworld to Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas. These just name a few and how diverse the shows are. It’s very exciting when a team is ready to take off for their show. There’s a kind of frenzy and excitement that’s a contagious energy which spreads around the office.

Our employees have a strong desire to contribute and are committed to providing excellent service to our customers. We value our diversity and different perspectives. The employees are encouraged to develop further and progress in their field with the support of management. We take pride in all of our employees and collectively share in the prosperity of the business.

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We Know How To Have Fun
As hard as everyone works, we also have fun. One year for a team building event, we went bowling. We bowled three games. The second game, you had to do things like Continue reading What it’s Like to Work at Messe Frankfurt North America? →

Meet The Team, The Company

Meet the Team: Kia Ford

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Year Started: 2016

Department: International Sales
Position: International Sales Associate

Describe yourself in 3 words.

  • Silly (a “good” silly of course)
  • Creative
  • Positive

Tell us about your typical day at Messe Frankfurt?
A typical day on the job for me begins when I make my signature cup of coffee. I will then check my email and follow up with inquiries pertaining to my shows from exhibitors and exhibitor prospects, the office team, as well as from Frankfurt. I do some data entry and update my files. Normally, after this, I consider what show(s) need to be touched on that particular day after I Continue reading Meet the Team: Kia Ford →

The Company

Ways We Give Back

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By Valerie Pound

As an Executive Assistant for two Presidents, my plate stays pretty full. I definitely get to wear multiple hats, like today when I had the opportunity to play an elf and select a family to help for Christmas. I was very excited to speak on air about the family, our company, employees and our decision to give back to the communities that we serve.
Click here to listen.

This year wasn’t the first time we, as a company, have participated in giving back. Last year we were able to bless a family of three with all of their Christmas wishes. So it is with a joyful heart this year, we celebrate a growth within our own corporate family and the ability to give back on a greater level. We selected a family of five for this Christmas. When I spoke with the mother, she could not believe her family was selected and started crying with the hope that her kids would have a Christmas after all!

We bless others in all different ways. From a smile and a kind word to donating not only our money but our time. Several of Continue reading Ways We Give Back →

The Company

Meet The Team: Dennis Smith, President, Messe Frankfurt North America

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Dennis SmithFrankfurt, Hong Kong, Moscow, Chicago or Dubai: organizing trade fairs is our passion – and has been for over 775 years for Messe Frankfurt GmbH. As the North American subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, we opened our doors in 1991 and in 2015 are bursting at the seams with new shows that are reaching thousands of consumers and businesses in exciting cities all over the world.

Welcome to the Messe Frankfurt North America Blog where you will learn about our company, our events and tradeshows and our team. Today, let’s learn about one of our Presidents, Dennis Smith.

1. Tell us a little bit about your background.
I was born and raised in Colorado and left at a young age to serve in the US Military. Following a tour overseas, I headed off to college and then moved back overseas where I cut my teeth in the international trade show industry with a few years in the aerospace industry. Currently, I have a business administration degree and an MBA in International Business. I began my trade show career in Europe and was fortunate to Continue reading Meet The Team: Dennis Smith, President, Messe Frankfurt North America →