#exhibitor fasttrak

[kangocorp]

Exhibitor FastTrak 2023

[8thdiamond]

Join me and the one and only Trade Show Bob Milam on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 from 3:15 pm - 4:45 pm at the EXHIBITORFastTrak in Denver!

[jana-hallford]

Summer 2017 Snapshots

Here in the United States many people informally think of summer as the time between Memorial Day, at the end of May, and Labor Day, in early September. But summer does not actually begin until well into June and lasts a few weeks past Labor Day. This year summer in the Northern Hemisphere officially ended Friday, September 22nd. 

Before it gets any later, here are some snapshots from my summer activities that didn’t make it in to previous posts.

Episcopal Night at the Padres

Each year I look forward to going to Episcopal Night at Petco Park. This time Neal and I did not enter through our usual gate, and this gave us the opportunity to walk through the area commemorating important people and events in the Padres team history.

Hall of Fame area. 

The Padres went to their first World Series in 1984.

Neal at Petco Park.

In my Padres jersey, before the game.

We like the Toyota Terrace.

On the way to our seats.

We had a good view of the Jerry Coleman Broadcast Center, named for the famous sports broadcaster. 

The San Diego Padres played the Detroit Tigers. The Padres won!

Bishop James Mathes threw out the ceremonial first pitch. This was his last Padres Night with us. July 1st was his final day as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego.  He resigned to accept the position of  associate dean of students and chaplain at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. He has been a good leader and I know he will help train and counsel future leaders.

Mother’s Birthday Celebration

Birthday cake for my mother’s 92nd birthday celebration. Mary and Amy came from Boston, and the Aztec dance group from the church my mother and father joined about 58 years ago honored her with dance. 

My sister Mary with my mother and me. Aztec dancers from the church my mother and I belong to are behind us.

Brush Clearing Goats and Goat Herding Dogs

On the way home from Mother’s birthday celebration, Neal and I stopped to look at goats clearing brush on an empty lot. 

Goats clearing an empty lot.

Here in Southern California property owners are responsible for keeping brush cleared to minimize fire danger. Goats are sometimes rented to accomplish this. 

Two dogs were watching over the goats. (Neal and I worried that both dogs seemed to need veterinary care.) The male barked a lot and was leery of us. This dog, a female, approached us cautiously. She seemed to know I was a female too, and showed me a baby goat. 

San Diego County Fair

The American Cancer Society office was closed for the Fourth of July holiday, including on Monday, July 3rd. I had free passes from work for the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, so Neal and I went. Happily, when we arrived Monday morning it was not overly crowded. We enjoyed seeing our favorite attractions, including the art and photography exhibits, displays of collections and crafts, woodworking and gemology pavilions, and of course, animals.

This year’s theme was “How the West is Fun.”  (Or “was Fun” depending on the sign.)

Old Western movie posters.

The Western theme was everywhere, including the floral and landscape displays.

Hello Kitty, Peppa Pig, and friends.

Lovely carousel horse adorned with roses. This is the type of carousel horse I often chose when I was a girl.

Midway minion.

We didn’t see much of the crazy foods that dominated the Fair for a long time. (I don’t mind if the deep-fried Twinkie era has peaked. )This booth had chicken and curly fries.

Traditional fair concessions.

Fair food. We saw more vegetables this year.

Sky ride.

Funnel cakes are a Fair tradition for us.

Neal and funnel cake.

Sweet donkey.

This turkey was named Mae West.

Turkey.

Big fiberglass animals like this chicken were common when I was growing up. I’m fond of them. 

Goats.

A pig enjoying some time outside of a pen.

Hand-washing station near the livestock displays.

“Where the West Was Fun,” the Fair theme this year. This banner is by the jockey quarters at the fairgrounds.

The historic Don Diego Clock Tower at the San Diego County Fair grounds in Del Mar. Built in 1953,  the Clock Tower had been scheduled for demolition but fortunately it was preserved and relocated earlier this year. Its new location, at the O’Brien Gate, was unveiled March 14, 2017. The image is of Don Diego, the symbol of the San Diego County Fair. Actor Tom Hernandez portrayed Don Diego for 37 years, until his death in 1984. I remember him greeting people as they came through the gates. Symbolizing hospitality, the Don Diego character was based on Don Diego Alvarado, a real-life Del Mar landowner in the late nineteenth century,  well-known as a welcoming host.

Neal and I at the San Diego County Fair, Monday, July 3rd, 2017.

A Rescued Goat, a Green Dinosaur, & a Lovely Lake

On Saturday, July 8th Neal and I drove to Campo, a rural part of San Diego County (about 50 miles from downtown).  It was hot, and our van’s air conditioner was not working, but we still managed to have a good time.

View from the van.

San Diego is a chapparal biome (more rainfall than a desert biome), featuring scrubby, drought-resistant plants. 

Our first stop was a farm animal sanctuary. Neal met this sweet pig.

I was able to spend time with Chance, a little goat born with deformed back legs.

Chance the goat. I was happy to see he is able to walk. (In fact, the little guy gets around at a faster pace than I expected.)

Even in this condition, this tree is beautiful.

More of our beautiful back country.

Sinclair dinosaur in Campo, California.

It was a hot day, without air conditioning in our vehicle. We’re glad the Sinclair gas station had a convenience store with cold drinks. And I enjoyed seeing this dinosaur.

The building that is now the Campo Stone Store Museum was built in 1885.

Boulders with lichen. 

Our van by the Old Stone Store in Campo. This side has a decal depicting the Hitchhiking Ghosts from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion on the back window. (Zero from “Nightmare Before Christmas” is on the opposite side.)

View of Lake Moreno County Park.

Lake Moreno County Park, Campo, California.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with Amy and Mary

Tuesday, July 11th I flew to Providence, Rhode Island to attend sessions and and teach at the EXHIBITOR FastTrak conference. I was just there for Wednesday the 12th. It was an excellent experience, and I liked staying at Hotel Providence, but I did not have a chance to explore the area. However, once my sessions were done, I was able to have a delightful visit with Mary and Amy, who live nearby in the Boston area.

It was a joy to see their beautiful home and grounds, including Amy’s art glass studio. Wednesday evening they took me to dinner at Tomasso Tratoria in Southborough (I ate well!). Then I spent the night in their guest room. Summer rain was falling on and off, and that continued Thursday, July 13th, so we decided to go to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Amy in front of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. 

I love this museum! I visited by myself three years ago when I was in Cambridge for speaker training required of all EXHIBITOR conference speakers. I took the train into Boston and spent hours going through different permanent collections at the MFA. This visit, we focused on temporary displays.

Amy and Mary view David Ortiz’s World Series Championship rings from 2004, 2007, and 2014, plus his World Series MVP ring from 2013. His number, 34, was retired at Fenway Park on June 23, 2017.

Display of World Series rings belonging to Boston Red Sox icon David Ortiz. 

We spent a good amount of our time in this exhibit, “Memory Unearthed: The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross.”

“Memory Unearthed: The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross was a  powerful exhibit. Following Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939, Jews and Roma (Gypsies) were rounded up and forced into overcrowded ghettos. Over time the residents were sent off to concentration camps, where most were killed upon arrival.

I knew something about the infamous Warsaw Ghetto, but almost nothing about Lodz. Conditions were dreadful in all of the ghettos, but Lodz was especially cut off from the outside, without the black market connections that helped some residents of the Warsaw Ghetto stave off death by starvation. Security at Lodz was very heavy, and the only money was Nazi-issued scrip that was worthless anywhere else.

Photographer Henryk Ross, a Polish Jew, was given work by the Nazis, taking identification card photos and publicity images in the Lodz Ghetto. With the help of his wife Stephania he repeatedly risked his life to secretly document  the community. He was only given enough film to do his assigned work, but he built a three-level platform in his studio that allowed him to photograph up to twelve people at once. The film he conserved allowed him to take clandestine photographs.

Early images include some happy scenes -- family groups,  celebrations -- before conditions became dire. At first people were permitted to exchange jewelry and other valuables to obtain food, but as such resources ran out, hunger became a widespread problem. Most residents had very little to eat. Ross captured on film people digging for spoiled food the Nazis discarded, residents being carted off for deportation in box cars, public hangings, and more. 

Those who worked for the Nazis lived relatively well and had more food to eat. As a photographer, Ross did not encounter the level of resentment faced by the members of the Jewish Police Force -- Jews who enforced the Nazi rules and laws.

The most hated man in the Lodz Ghetto was Chaim Rumknowski, the Nazi-appointed leader of the Jewish Council. He did some things that prolonged lives, particularly convincing the Nazis to build factories where Jews could produce goods. This may be why Lodz was the last ghetto to close. But he was an autocratic ruler who expelled anyone who disagreed with him, sending them to concentration camps. He molested girls and young women who knew too well what their fate would be if they resisted. He urged families to give up their young children to be sent off for extermination. When the ghetto was drained in the fall of 1944 and even he was finally sent off Auchwitz, fellow inmates apparently murdered him.

Before the ghetto was liquidated, Ross buried photos and negatives in a box, hoping they would be retrieved later to bear witness of what happened. Ross and his wife survived. After the Red Army liberated Poland he returned to Lodz to dig up his photos. About half of them were damaged or destroyed by water. Today’s technology could restore some of them, but for this exhibit the decision was made to show the images without enhancement. Some of the photos were ravaged, but still told their stories.

Here is a web site with more information:

http://agolodzghetto.com/view/objects/asimages/67397?t:state:flow=5349a8a1-4076-4866-a055-12c9704177f4

Mary and Amy took me to lunch at Bravo, a lovely restaurant in the museum. We saw yet more beautiful art, and enjoyed visiting the museum book store. I bought a box of Helen Frankenthaler note cards, and made notes about books I hope to buy.

Then it was time for me to go to the airport for my flight home.

Area just outside the main book store at the MFA. It’s a wonderful shop.

Neon art from the museum’s permanent collection: “PLEASE...” by Jeppe Hein, 2008, acquired by the MFA in 2011. The artist is Danish and was born in 1974.

Mary, me, and Amy at the airport just before I flew home. My sisters were wonderful hosts.

[8thdiamond]

Highlights of 2019

Looking back on 2019, here are some of my highlights. (I’m not including  reports about EXHIBITORLIVE, since that is already well documented in previous posts.)

Comic-Con International San Diego

As some of you know, Neal and I own a small creative business, Swords & Circuitry Studios. We are storytellers, for film, audio drama, computer games, and more. We promote S&C by being visible at various events each year, including at Comic-Con International in San Diego, and by organizing panels that our audience finds compelling. 

We had two panels at Comic-Con this year, one on podcasting, moderated by Neal, and one on writing for computer games, moderated by me. These are topics we often cover, with variations on panelists, as they are in-demand topics. Many attendees are aspiring writers and podcasters.

Ready to moderate the “Designing Narrative for Computer Games” panel at San Diego Comic-Con International, July 19th, 2019.

Our distinguished narrative design panelists: Neal Hallford; Anne Toole, Xavalier Nelson, Jr.; John Zuur Platen; Desiree Proctor; and Erica Harrell.

Portfolio Power Working Weekend, San Diego

Portfolio Power Working Weekend participants in San Diego, July 27, 2019.

Candidates in the Certified Trade Show Marketer program must successfully complete a portfolio documenting their work as a requirement for certification. Jobs and other aspects of daily life can make that a challenge. A group of candidates gathered in San Diego the last weekend of July 2019 for distraction-free work on their portfolios. I’ve been an on-site advisor for this many times, but this was the first time I led the workshop, along with fellow CTSM Diamond Janice Breuer, and Christine Sionne, who is at the Gold Level and well on her way to reaching Diamond status. Outgoing director Janice Nelson called in for questions.

American Chemical Society, San Diego

My smart big sister Dr. Mary Ondrechen is a distinguished chemist, university professor and researcher. I am a trade show professional. For the first time, we were both at the same trade show: the American Chemical Society conference in San Diego (our hometown) in August.

Somehow in all the excitement we didn’t get a photo together, but we did each get a photo with one of the Society’s cute mascots.

The quiet before the show!

Meg A. Mole with my sister Mary.

With Meg A Mole at the American Chemical Society Conference.

My sister liked this T-shirt.

Recording for an Upcoming Audio Series

Recording another audio drama, September 2019. Swords & Circuitry is creating an audio drama series called “Uncharted Regions.” (Think Twilight Zone in audio format.) 

EXHIBITOR FastTrak Denver

The EXHIBITOR FastTrak conference in Denver was at The Curtis. This hotel had a fun, retro-inspired vibe. (Our floor had a hallway with a “hair” theme -- a big portrait of Marge Simpson with her signature blue beehive, “hair band” guys, and more. Another floor featured old-school record players.) It was a good venue for a small conference. Neal accompanied me for this short trip.

Bob Milam and I presented our session on exhibiting for companies with niche markets and long sales cycles. Before that, I attended two sessions. So many CTSM candidates reference Jerry Gerson’s “Basic Project Management and Reporting Skills” I took it again just to refresh the information. The other was about events.

As always, I loved talking to attendees about the CTSM program, and am now advising two of them. 

After the sessions, Neal and I took part in a Downtown Denver Walking Tour networking event with many of the FastTrak participants. It was fun.

Union Station, Denver.

One of the stops on our food tour: Zoe Ma Ma near Union Station.

Our flight left late the next day, so Neal and I had a chance to explore Denver a little more.

Lawrence Argent’s beloved 40-foot “Blue Bear” sculpture at the Denver Convention Center.

"The Dancers,” a pair of 50-foot high statues by Jonathan Borofsky at the Denver Performing Art Complex Sculpture Park. The Performing Arts Complex is impressive, with multiple theatres.

While Neal and I were distracted by Denver’s charm, he got a call from a journalist for an interview that had been arranged. We promptly sat down at an outdoor table at Chow Morso Osteria, and I ordered food while Neal talked. Lunch was quite good.

Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver. (Photo from their web site.) Neal first visited Denver as a child on a family road trip, and was enchanted by the book shops. This trip did not disappoint. We had a great time at Tattered Cover Book Store. It is a beautiful shop, in the historic Morey Mercantile Building. Contrary to the name, though, most of their books are new. I assume the idea is that their books will become well worn by people who love them.

A few of the books at Tattered Cover.

Courtyard with another charming Denver restaurant.

[8thdiamond]

CTSM: A Brief Overview

What is the CTSM Program?

The Certified Trade Show Marketer program is a three-step program of professional development and education for trade show and event marketers. The classroom portion consists of 28 sessions (23 core courses plus 5 electives), a comprehensive exam, plus an in-depth portfolio showing the candidate’s professional background and responsibilities, and demonstrating how knowledge from the program was implemented in a trade show or event.

The Sessions

Classes are offered at the annual EXHIBITORLIVE conference in Las Vegas, at the EXHIBITOR FastTrak conferences held at different locations across the United States, and through the eTrak classes available online. In addition to registering for classes, you need to enroll in the CTSM program, online or at the CTSM office at EXHIBITORLIVE. (You only need to enroll once, but do update your contact information if it changes.) A quiz is taken after each required course, and an affidavit is signed for each elective. Keep the materials provided for your sessions, for your own reference and to study for the comprehensive exam. 

Once classes are completed, the candidate takes the comprehensive exam and creates the portfolio. There was more learning during these two steps than I’d anticipated.

The Exam

The exams are taken at EXHIBITORLIVE or at a FastTrak conference, and must be scheduled in advance. The exam is not to be confused with the short quizzes taken after sessions. This is a comprehensive proctored exam, based on the Essential Learning Components (ELCs) of the required sessions, and takes two and a half to three hours to complete.  Candidates who fail any sections must retake those sections at a later EXHIBITORLIVE OR EXHIBITOR FastTrak conference.

You’ll need to study, and many candidates form study groups or find study buddies. I prepared for my exam while my husband was in an especially busy phase at work. On weekends, I even joined him at his office, studying in a quiet conference room by myself. It was good being away from distractions. I reviewed course material, wrote key information on color-coded 5x7 index cards and studied them until I knew I would pass. Schedule and invest the time to study, using the method you prefer.

The Portfolio                                                

Samples of recent portfolios are available online, and hard copies can be viewed at the CTSM office during EXHIBITORLIVE.  Seeing actual examples helps de-mystify the process. Look through several portfolios and start thinking about your own. Choose your focus carefully. Go over the requirements for each section, and decide on a recent exhibit or event that will offer the best showcase for what you’ve learned.

After completing your 28 classes, you can register online for the portfolio phase. You’ll be assigned an advisor to help you. If you know a CTSM graduate willing to serve as your advisor, you can request them. Otherwise, one will be selected for you.  You have one year after registration to complete your portfolio, but please don’t wait until time is running out to get going. Schedule regular time to work on your portfolio, and send sections, or partial sections, to your advisor as you write them.  If life is too hectic, try going to a library to draft one section at a time. Also, check online for Portfolio Power Working Weekend dates and locations. These are weekend events for portfolio candidates with advisors on hand, designed to give you a dedicated chance to write. I highly recommend this option, especially if you are feeling stuck.

Detailed guidelines, including a checklist, are available to help you make sure your portfolio contains everything required in the appropriate sections. Follow the checklist and include all the information it describes.  Use charts and tables to make key information stand out. Caption all photos or illustrations. Sometimes you may feel like you‘re stating the obvious, but think of it as making everything easy and clear for your review committee. To you, it might be self-evident which photos are of your old booth and which photos show the new build, but if you caption them properly, your reviewers won’t have to guess.  Don’t bury information in the Appendix. In fact, you can do without an Appendix entirely, unless you have a very extensive show calendar or other unusual circumstances. Your portfolio will read better if your reviewers aren’t constantly having to flip to the back pages, or connect a lot of dots on their own.

Write in a professional but natural tone. This is the story of your business life, and it should sound like you. Have someone proofread your final draft before submitting it.

Portfolio Approval

Your advisor must sign off on your portfolio before you submit it for review.  If your advisor asks you to re-work any sections or add material, you’ll need to do so. Expect to go through this process more than once. Your advisor is not trying to drive you crazy. Your advisor wants you to succeed! Once your advisor signs off you can send in your portfolio.

The CTSM section of the EXHIBITOR web site has information on when portfolios are reviewed. Once your review committee accepts your portfolio, you will be notified, then you can begin using the CTSM designation right away. If you are asked to make any revisions, you’ll need to submit them and get them approved before certification is granted.

New graduate portraits at the CTSM booth at EXHIBITORLIVE 2016.

Upgrades After Certification

Once certification is obtained, upgrades to the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Levels may be earned through continued education. The Diamond Level also includes an educational component, but is heavily based on demonstrated leadership in the trade show industry.  Professional contributions including teaching sessions, publishing articles, judging exhibit awards, and serving the CTSM program in various capacities, including mentoring and advising candidates, are tallied on a point value system.

Some Personal Thoughts on the CTSM Program

Earlier this month I was profiled on LinkedIn in the EXHIBITOR group as part of a series on CTSM graduates. This is what I had to say about the program:

For More Information

For the best and most-up-to-date information, go to the Certification tab at exhibitoronline.com.  There is a CTSM group and a CTSM graduate group on LinkedIn. You are also welcome to contact me.