#glenda brungardt

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EXHIBITORLIVE 2019 Scrapbook

Earlier I covered the 2019 CTSM Dinner and exhibit trends I observed on the show floor. Here now is my annual “scrapbook” of other aspects of my conference experience, including the journey to Las Vegas.

Neal and I decided to drive to EXHIBITORLIVE 2019, rather than fly. A week before the conference we questioned our decision, as SNOW was on the ground in Las Vegas! It’s not unusual to see snow on the nearby mountains, but having the famous Strip blanketed in white is rare. One attendee said she remembered it snowing at EXHIBITOR more than 20 years ago, but I must have missed that year. (I’ve attended every year since at least 2003.) 

We had a fun road trip. Stops included Baker, California, home of the World’s Tallest Thermometer and Alien Fresh Jerky.  Since our last visit, Alien Fresh  Jerky upgraded its exterior, added a coffee place that looked about ready to open, and has a little UFO theme hotel in the works! This is something I’ll keep in mind for creative meetings or unusual event venues.

Alien Fresh Jerky.

Alien Fresh Jerky had a makeover since our last visit, with a new, improved façade, a coffee place in that back that looked ready to open, and, behind that temporary wooden fence, a UFO-theme hotel under construction.

Luckily by the time we left Southern California the roads were clear. We did see snow all the way up to the pavement in a few places when we neared the California-Nevada border.

The roads were clear, but there was still some snow on the ground as we neared the California-Nevada border.

This year the speaker hotel was The Delano, rather than Mandalay Bay. I had not stayed at The Delano since its THE Hotel days. I’ve always liked the suites. A sitting room and a guest bathroom are perfect for business meetings or just having visitors. 

Cute postcards with puppies welcomed us to our suite at The Delano.

The décor has gone to lots of WHITE to off-white and a few soft neutrals. That took a little getting used to, but the suite was as comfortable as ever, and the plain look worked well for turning the living room into a temporary film studio.

The bedroom. It was quite white.

Our living room at The Delano only looked like this when we first arrived and when we checked out. The rest of the time it functioned as a temporary film studio.

Neal and I took children's books to the book drive for Spread the Word LV, a non-profit that gives books to children and youth who otherwise might not have the joy of book ownership. This is what we brought this year.

Books for the book drive: Go Dog, Go!; Counting on Katherine (two copies); I am Sonia Sotomayor; Animals Helping with Healing; and Little Ladies: Bold Women in Black History.

We were told Go Dog, Go! is one of their most-requested titles. Next year we will bring multiple copies! We were given book marks to inscribe, and I asked Neal to write “Read Dog, Read!” on the bookmark for that classic.

On Monday my first session was a new one, “Optimize Program Performance: How Illumina Prioritizes Shows and Drives Results,” presented by Dave Frazer, Manager of Research and Analytics at GES and Vanessa Schultz, CTSM Gold, Senior Manager, Corporate Marketing, Events Center of Excellence at Illumina. I was glad to hear their thoughts on ranking and scoring shows, and compiling and reporting results.

Immediately after, I attended another new session, “Escape the Tyranny of ROI and Measure What Actually Matters.” My main complaint is the presenter allowed way too much time for questions, and the session ended at least fifteen minutes earlier than it should have. That is not supposed to happen.

Tuesday was my day to present, so I took my final class on Wednesday, “F&B, Hotels, and DMCs: Information to Bring More to Your Bottom Line,” by Kathleen Gunderson, CTSM Diamond, AVP Tradeshows and Events Project Manager, Wells Fargo. This was worthwhile, as a refresher course on Food and Beverage, and a good reminder of how the market changes. Many of us remember how much we could negotiate for when hotels were struggling, but that’s not the case these days. 

The session Bob Milam and I taught on “Effective Exhibiting for Companies with Niche Markets and Long Sales Cycles” sold out! And I was surprised that some of my fellow CTSM Diamonds came to “Ordering Electrical Services,” the very basic 45-minute session I presented with shiny new Diamond Glenda Brungardt. They said they always wanted to be more confident about this, and I was delighted. This is EXACTLY why I created this class! 

Another surprise with the electrical session -- the room was set with different types of custom furniture. Apparently this was done as an experiment for some of the sessions. Most attendees liked sitting in comfy chairs or on couches, but at least one sat towards the back at a high table, because it provided a surface for writing.

As always, I loved being part of this conference. The dates for the next EXHIBITORLIVE will be March 29 through April 2, 2020. I hope to see you there! 

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CTSM Dinner 2019

New Graduates, New Diamonds, and the End of an Era

The annual CTSM Dinner is always a special occasion.The 2019 event honored 40 new Certified Trade Show Marketers. In addition, dozens of CTSMs received certification upgrades, including two at the Diamond Level. It was also memorable because Janice Nelson, Executive Director of the CTSM Program since 2001, announced her retirement just a month ago. Therefore this was the last CTSM Dinner presided over by Jan.

Under Janice Nelson’s guidance, the CTSM program has flourished, When Jan took the helm 18 years ago there were 50 graduates. Today there are more than 650. During her tenure FastTrak conferences and online classes were implemented, giving candidates more opportunities to take required classes and electives. Through all of this, Jan has been calm, kind, wise, and very committed to the educational and ethical integrity of the program. And like the true leader she is, Jan has helped many become leaders in the program, encouraging graduates to become mentors and advisers to new candidates. In 2011 the Diamond Level was created, and today there are 18 people with that designation. Jan not only made service to the industry and the CTSM program key requirements of Diamond status, but also charged all who achieve it to continue that service as part of their leadership role. She did mention her departure during the dinner, but urged everyone to remember “we” are the program, and to keep it moving forward. We had a moment to cheer for her and thank her for her contributions.

Jan will stay on board until around June, when a new Executive Director will take over.  She is leaving the program in great shape, poised for further growth.

Going over the 2019 CTSM Graduate Dinner program with Janice Nelson, Executive Director of the CTSM Program, before the festivities begin.

The featured speaker was Amy Sondrop, President of Access TCA. Access TCA sponsors the CTSM activities at EXHIBITORLIVE. Amy is young, with tremendous energy, and her company’s continued support is much appreciated.

After the speakers concluded, Dominique Cook and Steven Marchese announced the Bronze upgrades, then Janice Breuer announced the Silver and Gold and the Gold upgrades. (Kathleen Gunderson, originally scheduled to announce the Golds, was delayed in travel.)  

After Katharine Chesnut and I announced the new graduates, Diane Fox Benson announced the new Diamonds, Glenda Brungardt and Betsy Earle. Betsy, our 17th Diamond, is the founder and managing director of Event Driven Solutions LLC, a trade show and event consultancy based in Tampa Bay, Florida. Glenda, our 18th Diamond, is a member of the Customer & Partner Experience team for HP Inc. and is responsible for executing strategic pan-HP tradeshows and events. 

Janice Breuer, above announcing the Silver upgrades, the Silver and Gold upgrades, and the Golds. (Kathleen Gunderson, who was to announce the Gold upgrades, was delayed in travel.)

Announcing the second half of the new graduates. Katharine Chesnut introduced the first group. I was delighted that my list included Lindsay Nation, “my” advisee.

Diane Benson introducing the new Diamonds. This year we welcomed Glenda Brungardt and Betsy Earle.

With “my” advisee, Lindsay Nation, Event Planner, Corporate Events, for CVS. 

Our newest Diamonds, Glenda Brungardt and Betsy Earle. Betsy (right) is  the founder and managing director of Event Driven Solutions LLC, a trade show and event consultancy. Glenda (left)  is a member of the Customer & Partner Experience team for HP Inc. and is responsible for executing strategic pan-HP tradeshows and events. 

Janice Nelson with the Diamonds. Front row, left to right: Glenda Brungardt, Gail Hernandez, Dominique Cook, Janice Nelson, BJ Seyler, Melanie Swanson, Diane Fox Benson. Back row, left to right: Betsy Earle, Janice Breuer, Sue Hatch, Katharine Chesnut, Steve Marchese, Jana Hallford. 

Our newest Diamond, Glenda Brungardt, generously brought Cristal for everyone to a post-CTSM dinner party!

Betsy Earle, the 17th Diamond, and Glenda Brungardt, the 18th Diamond, at a post-dinner celebration.

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CTSM 25th Anniversary Celebration

The annual CTSM New Graduate & Alumni Dinner held Sunday evening, March 12th, 2017 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas was also the 25th anniversary celebration of the Certified Trade Show Marketer program. The annual dinner, with its Certification Awards ceremony, is always an excellent event, but this year the organizers outdid themselves, with lovely silver anniversary decor and special guests, including founding and early staff members and instructors. Representatives from each decade of the program spoke or were acknowledged.

2017 CTSM Dinner program on the table. In keeping with the Silver Anniversary theme, tablecloths were a glittery silver, setting off beautiful blue orchid centerpieces.

Instrumental in the start of the CTSM program: Lee Knight, Editor-in-Chief of EXHIBITOR Magazine; Dee Silfies, Chief Learning Strategist; Christine Christman, first Director of the CTSM program;  Jim Andersen, original speaker and our connection to San Francisco State University (the original university affiliation); and Joe Ries, CTSM Academic Advisor for 23 years.

Still standing: Gail Hernandez, CTSM Diamond, was honored as the second graduate (and first female) in the program. As Jan Nelson pointed out, Gail took a chance on a new program, and has been an important contributor to its success. In 2014 Gail became of one of only two people to receive the CTSM Lifetime Achievement Award.  She is the earliest CTSM to remain active.

It was a joy to see Joe Ries again! Our CTSM Academic Advisor for 23 years, Joe had to miss last year’s conference and dinner, but he came back with a roar.

“Trade Show Bob” Milam, long-time instructor and well-known consultant and columnist, with one of the original speakers, Steelhead Productions Founder Jim Anderson, and  Rhiannon Andersen.

Required speakers: Mim Goldberg, an associate of Marketech360; Ian Sequeira, EVP, Exhibit Surveys Inc; and Marc Goldberg, Founder of Marketech360. All three are long-time speakers who teach core sessions in the CTSM program.

Glenda Brungardt, CTSM Silver, Trade Show/Event Manager at HP . She’s an excellent CTSM session speaker, drawing on nearly 40 years of trade show experience with the same company.

Jim Anderson, Founder of Steehead Productions. Jim was one of the original speakers, and remains a CTSM-required speaker to this day.

Sharon McAvoy,  CTSM Gold, Event Planner for Waters Corporation.

Matt Volk, representative of Northern Illinois University Outreach, the CTSM program’s university affiliation.

Christine Christman, original Director of the CTSM program. I took my first classes at “EXHIBITOR Show” during her tenure. Christine has been in charge of the eLearning Content Development for the CTSM program since 2009.

Sharon McAvoy, CTSM Gold, Event Planner for Waters Corporation and Bobbie Jo Seyler, CTSM Diamond, Trade Show & Event Manager at MilliporeSigma (Supelco). BJ and I received our initial certification the same year, and our Diamond upgrades the same year as well, standing next to each other each time. (I was slightly ahead of her in both cases, but after all, I’m older.)

New CTSM graduate Maddie Ogren, Director, Client Services at Access TCA.  Maddie created an excellent CTSM portfolio!

New CTSM graduate Athena Helmer, Trade Relations Management at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare

3 CTSM graduates from RealPage, Inc. in Carrollton, TX, along with their exhibit house partner, new graduate Brandi Edwards of Shabang Exhibits. Left to right: Katie Schmidth, Stacey Blackwell, Brandi Edwards and Michael Nielson. 

17 of the 39 new Certified Trade Show Marketers. (Travel delays, nearly all of them weather-related, caused some graduates to miss the photo.)

7 of 12 CTSM Diamonds. Back row: Melanie Swanson; our newest Diamond, Kathleen Meadowcroft;  Steven L. Marchese; Diane Fox Benson; and Katherine Chesnut Klang. Front row: Dominique Cook and Lisa Harper Lawley. (Our colleague Dana Tilghman was unable to attend due to trade show work, and a few others had travel delays. Gail Hernandez and I missed this photo shoot because we were stuck in hotel check-in lines, but at least we, along with Bobbie Jo Seyler, made it to the reception and dinner!)

CTSM Program leaders today: Chief Learning Strategist Dee Silfies; Academic Advisor Joe Ries, and Executive Director Jan Nelson.

There were many speakers, most of us with two-minute time limits. This is what I said:

It’s said that real leaders don’t create followers, true leaders create MORE leaders. That describes the CTSM experience.

The valuable learning and the contacts I’ve gained in the program have served me well, whether I’ve been working for an exhibit company, coordinating corporate trade shows, or doing marketing and events for non-profits. This has been true in good times and in tough times.

Back when I was finally getting somewhere with my portfolio, I was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. And… it was serious. But I kept working in the field I love, and very happily completed my portfolio on time. I considered it part of my treatment. Later, when I found myself in a job hunt that dragged on (and on), I took on contract work, inspired by successful self-employed colleagues.

I love serving as a portfolio advisor. I’m proud that many of my 15 or so graduates have gone on to be portfolio advisors themselves. I’ve continued to learn a lot about advising from Jan Nelson, and honestly, I’ve learned from my advisees too.  There is wonderful give-and-take in this group. I love learning, and when I saw a need for a session that didn’t exist, I created one, and colleagues shared tips and gave encouragement.

My husband gets a big kick out of it when I have to take my own advice – not to gloat, but because he knows I am my own worst critic.

I’ve often told my advisees “you’re closer than you think.” I had just said that to one three years ago when Jan asked me to submit my application for the Diamond level. That was totally unexpected, and I didn’t see how it could be possible. But when I filled out the application, I realized I wasn’t just closer than I thought – I was THERE.  Sometimes it takes another perspective to help you see where you are. This program does that.

We all have a lot to offer the industry, and to each other. In the CTSM community, leadership is contagious, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

[8thdiamond]

EXHIBITORLIVE 2017 Scrapbook

I had a great time at EXHIBITORLIVE 2017.  This year’s conference began in a big way with the CTSM Dinner, described in my previous blog entry. 

On Monday night Gail Hernandez, CTSM Diamond and I helped with the First-Timers Meet-Up reception, and Gail organized our own version of “Dinner with Strangers” from the group afterward at The Peppermill Restaurant & Fireside Lounge. (We made a brief appearance at the Welcome Reception in between.) I met some great new people and we had fun!

At The Peppermill. 

The session I taught with Bob Milan, “Effective Exhibiting for Companies with Niche Markets and Long Sales Cycles,” went very well, as did the roundtable discussion later on the same topic. The roundtable discussion inspired me to add a few slides to the presentation deck. I still hope to find some good case studies to add in the future.

The sessions I took were very good. 

I think every trade show professional should take “Show Floor Labor: Busting the Myths About Unions.” Taught by Amanda Helgemoe, Glenda Brungardt, CTSM Silver, and Ken Viscovich, this session gives a good picture the roles of unions, associations, and general contractors, and why show services cost what they do.

“Pay it Forward: How to Integrate Cause Marketing Into Your Program,” by Lisa Lawley, CTSM Diamond and J. Kismet Mikos, CTSM Silver, presented good ideas for offering community service activities to attendees, coordinating donations, and more. Over the past several years I’ve done a lot of work for nonprofit organizations, and it was valuable to hear the corporate perspective on helping good causes.

“40 Ways to Make the Last Day of Your Show Productive,” by Deanna Krause, CTSM Gold, gave ideas for making the most of any slow times on the show floor. 

“The Event Disaster Recovery Support Group: A Six-Step Program” by CTSM Candidate Felicia Kaban, Roger May, and Marc Crosier, is another class I believe every trade show manager should take. I’m not going to give away all of the steps, but the first one is to accept it when you are faced with disaster. As Felicia said, “being suspended in disbelief is a luxury people in our position cannot afford.” The presenters covered some alarming scenarios they’ve faced and told what they did to save or salvage the day. I’ve had my “Plan B” moments, but nothing like some of their situations! They made it clear that getting angry and blaming people only makes a tough problem worse -- how I wish more people in charge knew that.  I appreciated that Felicia shared how she transformed over time from anxious, unconfident, reactive, and stressed to calm, confident, and solutions-focused. It’s heartening to know people can change!

During my stay in Las Vegas I found time to go through the Mandalay Bay complex and walk down the Strip, relax, and take stock of what was new and different since my last visit. Here’s what I found.

Park Theater at Monte Carlo, part of a three-acre dining and entertainment area.

The T-Mobile Arena opened in April of 2016, along with a dining and entertainment area in a three-acre park near Monte Carlo/MGM Grand.

“Bliss Dance,” a 40 foot sculpture of model Deja Solis by Marco Cochrane, at The Park on the Las Vegas Strip.

Sculptor Marco Cochrane said, "What I see missing in the world is an appreciation and respect for feminine energy and power that results when women are free and safe. It seems obvious to me that feminine energy is being suppressed and that this must change.  If we are to find real, lasting solutions to the problems facing humanity, men and women must be able to work together as equals. Bliss Dance is intended to focus attention on this issue."

Just for fun, here are some additional snapshots from my trip.

I took a hardcover Frog and Toad anthology to the book drive. Spread the Word Nevada encourages children to read and gives children books they can keep and enjoy.

Adventures of Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel

After I finished presenting, I went to Mandalay Place for lunch

The Guinness Store had this large green-clad St. Patrick’s Day figure, and I stopped for a snapshot.

Guinness toucans.

I had a good lunch by myself at Burger Bar.

I liked this black and white dress on the middle mannequin at Angl. It looked like something Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly might have worn.

Las Vegas was unusually warm for March. But anyone missing snow didn’t have too look far to find some.

The light was beautiful as I prepared to leave Las Vegas. I took this shot while I waited for my airport shuttle.

I am grateful for this opportunity to learn, teach and spend time with good people, including some who have become dear friends. I’m already looking forward to EXHIBITORLIVE 2018.