Let’s examine the key challenges facing today’s industry professionals and explore the strategic approaches needed to navigate political protests, staffing shortages, crowd scares, and the evolving threat landscape while building resilient response systems that protect both attendees and event success.

The Rising Tide of Event Disruptions

Today’s exhibition professionals face an unprecedented array of challenges that extend far beyond traditional security concerns. Political protests have surged dramatically, often appearing at events regardless of their connection to the demonstration’s cause. These disruptions can transform a carefully planned event into a chaotic situation, drawing attention away from intended activities and creating safety concerns that ripple through entire venues.

Labor disputes have emerged as another significant factor, creating tensions that extend beyond the immediate workplace into surrounding communities. When hotel workers or transportation staff engage in strikes, the effects cascade directly to event attendees, complicating logistics and potentially compromising the overall experience. These disputes can affect everything from accommodation availability to transportation access, forcing event organizers to develop contingency plans for scenarios previously considered peripheral concerns.

Perhaps most concerning is the rise of crowd scares fueled by social media and misinformation. A single loud noise or minor disturbance can trigger panic that spreads instantaneously through connected crowds, leading to rapid evacuations that may be entirely unnecessary but nonetheless dangerous. The speed at which misinformation travels through social platforms means that perceived threats can become real emergencies in moments, regardless of their actual validity.

Compounding Challenges: The Staffing Crisis

Current staffing shortages have created a perfect storm for event security vulnerabilities. Security and cleaning sectors, already experiencing high turnover rates, now face critical personnel gaps that directly impact event safety and quality. When experienced security professionals are unavailable, venues must rely on less trained staff who may lack the expertise to recognize threats early or respond effectively to emerging situations.

This staffing crisis extends beyond mere numbers to fundamental capability gaps. Slower response times to potential threats become inevitable when teams are understaffed or undertrained. The quality of service suffers, affecting not only immediate security concerns but also attendee satisfaction and the overall success of events. Exhibition organizers must now factor these limitations into their planning, often requiring additional oversight and backup systems to compensate for reduced personnel capacity.

Strategic Risk Assessment: Beyond Traditional Threats

Effective event security now requires comprehensive risk assessments that consider factors previously overlooked in traditional planning. Location characteristics have become critical, with seemingly minor details like train crossings, public parking arrangements and nearby sports events now requiring careful evaluation. These venue-specific risks can create hazardous conditions for attendees, particularly when combined with high-stress situations or crowd dynamics.

The assessment process must examine concurrent events, controversial program elements, participant profiles and transportation logistics as interconnected factors that influence overall risk levels. A sports event occurring nearby might seem unrelated to a business conference, but the combined crowd dynamics and infrastructure strain can create unexpected challenges that require proactive management.

Prevention Through Proactive Management

Success in event security depends heavily on prevention rather than reaction. Access controls and credential verification have become fundamental requirements, not optional enhancements. Comprehensive crowd monitoring systems enable early detection of potential disruptions, allowing intervention before situations escalate into emergencies.

The coordination between venue and event security teams requires unprecedented clarity in roles and responsibilities. Regular training and rehearsals ensure both teams understand their specific duties and can work seamlessly together during high-pressure situations. This coordination extends to communication systems, where clear protocols and direct contact channels between teams can mean the difference between controlled management and chaotic response.

Service provider accountability has emerged as a critical component of prevention strategies. Organizations must audit their providers for staff training protocols, deployment plans, and service standards, ensuring that expectations are clearly documented and regularly reviewed. Proactive communication with providers helps identify potential gaps before they become problems during events.

Building Resilient Response Systems

Emergency response plans must be accessible, actionable, and regularly updated with input from all stakeholders. Staff require practical tools including resource cards, reliable communication systems, and clear protocols that can be executed under pressure. The coordination between event public address systems and building alarm systems requires careful planning to prevent unnecessary disruptions that could trigger crowd scares.

The path forward requires continuous improvement and industry-wide sharing of best practices. As threats evolve and new challenges emerge, the event industry must maintain collaborative approaches to security, emphasizing shared goals of creating safe environments for all participants while fostering cultures of proactive risk management rather than reactive problem-solving.

The post Is Your Event Security Playbook Up to Date? appeared first on IAEE.

Besides being surrounded in an incredible setting of dynamic chefs and creative products that will be arriving in restaurants in the next few months, I had the great opportunity to network with peers and others who manage larger trade shows. To say being an event planner is unique is an understatement. To then find a sub-group that fits with your event size and has similar challenges and opportunities with cities, venues, vendors and technology is incredible. I was honored to be among peers from leading events in the industry and among thought leaders who are changing the way large trade shows create a better experience for attendees and exhibitors.

I was impressed by the willingness of everyone, even would-be competitors, to share their tactics and challenges.  A few of my key take-aways from the MATSO Spring Event:

• Technology continues to be the largest influence on everything we do, driving the constant evolution of trade shows with new technologies such as virtual reality, data capture and geo-tracking and networking. More importantly, the infrastructure needed to support those efforts is greater than ever in venues and destinations.
• Attendee engagement will be a key contributor to how any event organizer ties in the larger event experience. The expectation is that content, digital and social marketing is year round and that it can be easily consumed and done so on any device.
• Continue to challenge the traditional trade show model. If any competitor could challenge your event with another, how would it be different?  Push your organization, venues and host cities to get uncomfortable and challenge conventional models and engagement at events.

A huge thank you to the NRA team, there is nothing like hosting other event planners, but what a great opportunity and a lot of fun to learn more about their organization and show planning.

I am looking forward to Expo! Expo! this December 6-8, where you too can network to find a group or forum that most closely aligns with your business and events. I look forward to seeing you in one of my favorite cities to host an event, Anaheim, for Expo! Expo! December 6-8!

The post The MATSO Perspective from Adam Andersen, Managing Director of New Hope Network, a division of Penton appeared first on IAEE.

How did you get your start in the exhibitions industry?

It is a long story, but essentially I thought I wanted to be in politics. However, in each of my early jobs of writing boring legislative briefs I ended up doing some meeting planning work, since there was no one else to do it. I finally had a boss who told me I was really good at meeting planning and asked if I had considered a career in it. I don’t know if she really thought I was good at or whether my briefs were just not that great, but either way I decided she was right and started pursuing a career in this industry.

What advice would you give a new IAEE member or person joining the exhibitions community?

Take advantage of all the education and networking opportunities available. And volunteer! It is a great way to expand your knowledge and network.

What is the biggest challenge in running your show?

Keeping it fresh, keeping it growing, being able to pivot and respond quickly to change.

Tell us a fun fact or story that most people would not know about you.

Golly, a tough one.  I think that most people don’t know I went into labor while at work 10 days before my scheduled due date. My husband was at a luncheon when I called him so he let the phone go to voice mail and apparently joked with his colleagues that maybe I was calling to say I was in labor. It was literally four hours from when I went into labor to when my son was born, so thankfully he wisely called me back as soon as he paid the check!

What do you think is the biggest benefit of being an IAEE member?

IAEE is the one place where someone who is in the trade show business can go to learn, grow, and succeed. No other organization addresses the challenges and provides leadership for the trade show industry like IAEE does. It is obviously a great place to go when you are just getting started, but even as someone who has been in the industry for many years, I still find IAEE to be a tremendous resource for me and my organization. No doubt, IAEE has helped me become the successful professional that I am today.

The post From the MATSO Perspective…An Interview with Justine McVaney, SVP of Event Operations & Planning, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) appeared first on IAEE.

How did you get your start in the exhibitions industry?

I was hired through Sheraton’s first hotel training program. After four years my client, NADA, hired me to manage their trade show. The rest, you could say, is history…

What advice would you give a new IAEE member or person joining the exhibitions community?

Learn, participate, network and get involved where ever you can. IAEE chapters and volunteer opportunities are great ways to make lifelong friends and mentors in this industry.

Ever thought about becoming an IAEE Mentor or an IAEE Mentee? Check out the IAEE Mentor Match Program

What is the biggest challenge in running your show? And why?

Staying relevant, on the cutting edge and knowing that you are only as good as your last show. We have to adapt to the rapidly changing technology and integrate that with all of the generations that participate in our convention and show or we will lose them. There is NO room for big mistakes in this fast paced environment.

Tell us a fun fact or story that most people would not know about you.

During the Cold War in the 1960s, I mated nuclear weapons with B-52 Bombers in between serving two tours of Vietnam. After returning, I had to work in a machine shop to make ends meet.

What do you think is the biggest benefit of being an IAEE member?

IAEE is the only true representation of the collective trade show industry. It is the real place for the industry education, networking and has the largest trade show executive managers collectively in this field. IAEE is the true source for all of your trade show needs. Clearly if you want to run a top cutting edge trade show of any size, IAEE is the place to be.

The post From the MATSO Perspective…An Interview with Stephen Pitt, SVP of Conventions & Expos, National Automobile Dealers Association appeared first on IAEE.

How did you get your start in the exhibitions industry?

I started out as Director of International Programs, running the international pavilion program and handling international delegations and the International Buyer Program at our annual trade show.

What advice would you give a new IAEE member or person joining the exhibitions community?

I would congratulate them on choosing a great industry full of great people. Except for those of us with family history in the industry, most of us never really planned to end up here. I think that’s changing now, with more schools offering programs of study that include exhibition and event management. My advice to new members would be to take advantage of as much programming as possible and network, network, network. You are sure to learn a lot that you can apply in your own organization.

Check out IAEE Chapter Events & Networking Opportunities!

What is the biggest challenge in running your show? And why?

One of our greatest strengths is also a weakness. There is no single staff person that oversees WEFTEC. This allows technical, conference logistics, exhibition, membership and educational programming staff to all have a voice in designing the event to best serve our registrants, exhibitors and members. It also means we struggle to agree on priorities and achieve consensus at times, and we compete with each other for audience. For example, as the Director of Exhibitions, I want everyone to spend a good majority of time on show floor visiting exhibitors. The Director of Technical Education spends all her time working with the Program Committee, which is made up of members who volunteer hours and hours of their time to select all of the speakers for the technical program. Their goal is to get as many people as possible to attend the sessions.

Tell us a fun fact or story that most people would not know about you.

My parents were both English teachers. They accepted jobs teaching in China in the late 1970s, so we lived in Shanghai for several years when I was a child. I attended public school there, and I became fluent in Mandarin. My experience there prompted me to major in Chinese in college.  I spent a year in Taiwan after graduation to further hone my language skills, and my first job was for a venture capital company that specialized in joint ventures between Chinese and American companies. My Chinese is rusty now, but I can still impress people at Chinese restaurants and help out lost tourists.

You have your Certified in Exhibition Management designation. How has it shaped your career?

I earned my CEM in 2009. I moved into the Exhibition Manager position at the Food Processing Suppliers Association in 2005 and I knew there was a lot I still needed to learn. Our show was co-located with PACK EXPO for 13 years, so there were many things that PMMI handled for the combined event. The CEM curriculum helped me fill those gaps, and also introduced me to a multitude of other show managers who shared their knowledge.

Are you ready to get your CEM? Attend CEM Week Orlando and complete 5 courses in 5 days!

Why do you stay with IAEE year after year?
Expo! Expo!, the CEM program, MATSO Council, Exhibitions Day, CEIR and so many other programs and initiatives have strengthened our industry, served to protect the industry, fostered workforce development and provided me with so many friendships. And IAEE is the one association I can count on to provide timely and relevant content and programming to help me with my show’s objectives.

The post From the MATSO Perspective…An Interview with Sacha Carey, CEM, Director of Exhibitions, Water Environment Federation appeared first on IAEE.

How did you get your start in the exhibitions and events industry?

I started out managing a small civic center where we hosted trade shows, public show, meetings, civic events, etc. This gave me tremendous hands-on experience with logistics, general contracting and getting to know about the events business on a regional level. This gave me a taste of the events world and I was hooked. From there I wanted to get into show business on a national level and took a job running a show and convention that moved around the country.

What advice would you give a new IAEE member or person joining the exhibitions community?

It can be a great career. You have to be willing to make sacrifices with your personal time. You’ll find the people in the trade show business very professional and some will become longtime friends.

What is the biggest challenge in running your show? And Why?

Generating sufficient audience to match the growth we’ve experienced is an on-going challenge. We need to constantly expand our marketing reach to bring in new buyers and retain our core attendees.

How has IAEE membership benefited you?

For me, having access to all the CEIR data is a tremendous value. Knowing years of data is available to assist us in running shows and guiding our decision-making makes being a member worthwhile.

The post From the MATSO Perspective…An Interview with John Catalano, Managing Director, SME appeared first on IAEE.

Change happens when change makers get together to share, debate, and challenge the status quo.

1 – Participants aren’t being talked to, they’re driving the conversation.  The agenda has been carefully developed to ensure we listen to each other and enjoy one on one and group discussions, plus get time to walk the Restaurant Show together and continue the mind meld.

2 – We have a mission.  MATSO leaders are walking away from this meeting with a clear direction on how MATSO will focus on one challenge to create a solution for a major challenge that impacts major shows.  Our plan is to be hyper focused so we can set clear goals.

3 – I’m just going to name drop here – who’s in (2 seats left for last minute takers).

Adam Andersen, Managing Director, Penton

Raymond Bianchi, Senior Director Expositions & Events, IDEAg Group LLC

Thomas Carbott, Senior VP of Exhibitions, Material Handling Industry

Sacha Carey, Director Exhibition Sales & Operations, Water Environment Federation

John Catalano, Group Show Manager, Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)

Jessica Curtis, CMP, Senior Director, Meetings & Show Services, National Association of Broadcasters

Christine Flanagan, Vice President of Operations, Reed Exhibitions

Nancy Gavin, Operations Director, National Safety Council

Kelly Glasgow, Event Coordinator, William T Glasgow Inc

Lenay Gore, Senior Director – Meetings & Tradeshows, American Public Transportation Association

Anne Halal, CEM, VP Expositions, Education and Member Services, North American Meat Institute

Tiffany Hale, Event Manager – Expo, National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America)

Angela Harar, CEM, Senior Director of Tradeshows, The Vision Council

Christopher Harar, President, Events, National Trade Productions Inc

Robert Hoffmann, Event Technology Manager, Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Kelly Kilga, CEM, Director of Operations, Graphic Arts Show Company Inc

Christopher McCabe, Executive Vice President, Emerald Expositions

Justine McVaney, SVP Event Planning & Operations, National Association of Broadcasters

Kevin Murphy, Senior Manager, CES Operations, Consumer Technology Association/CES

Chris Nemchek, Sr V.P., Business Development , Specialty Food Association Inc

Andrew Ortale, VP of Industry & Member Services, American Gaming Association

Michelle Sanford, CEM, Director, Event Operations, Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Camille Stern, SVP of Strategic Account Management, SPARGO Inc

Sheryl Strain, Trade Show Manager, National Safety Council

Ryan Strowger, CEM, SVP Exhibitions, Conferences & Sales, International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions

Megan Tanel, CEM, Senior Vice President of Exhibitions, Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Patricia Whitaker, Exhibits Manager, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Still don’t know MATSO?  The IAEE MATSO community is comprised of not-for-profit association and independent organizers whose shows are at least 200,000 NSF of exhibition space. The focus of MATSO is on all functional aspects of major show production: marketing and sales, legislation, labor, international challenges, and operations.  You’re automatically a member (no cost) if you’re an IAEE member with over 200K nsf.

Central to the MATSO Council culture is ensuring a wide-open exchange of ideas to foster discovering solutions, networking with other senior-level show professionals, guiding new strategies and policies, sharing ideas and making a difference
Who am I?  Right now I’m lucky to be the chairman of the MATSO Council joined by these fine people who are ready to make change.

The post Top 3 reasons this month’s MATSO meeting is going to be Epic appeared first on IAEE.

How did you get your start in the exhibitions industry?

In 1992 I answered a job ad to sell ads space and got a call to sell trade show space. The rest, they say, is history.

What advice would you give a new IAEE member or person joining the exhibitions community?

Whatever you do be passionate about it. Work hard and always try to be better.

What is the biggest challenge in running your show?

We have launched three new shows in the past three years and need to show consistent value to our exhibitors and members. With the constantly evolving elements in technology and the need to innovate to keep the show fresh, it is a careful balancing act of providing new and fresh content to keep members and exhibitors engaged.

Tell us a fun fact or story that most people would not know about you.

I graduated collage and started grad school to become a clinical psychologist.

Any final thoughts for those wanting to be more involved with IAEE?

Over the years IAEE has provided me with several great opportunities to network with other industry professionals. There is no other group with this convening authority and it has been the foundation of many lasting connections throughout my career. As an organizer of a major trade show, the addition of MATSO as a council of IAEE has added even more value to me and demonstrates the commitment that IAEE has to its membership.

IAEE has done a tremendous job at providing value for its diverse membership base. I would recommend that new members take the time to read the emails about IAEE’s initiatives, join a task force or committee, attend local chapter events and start networking right away.

The post From the MATSO Perspective…An Interview with Jim Pittas, Senior VP, PMMI appeared first on IAEE.

Chris has served on the IAEE Board of Directors for the past 2 years and on January 1, 2016 will begin a new 3 year term. Chris is the current Chairman of the IAEE MATSO (Major American Trade Show Organizer) Council and a member of our Certified Event Task Force. Within the past year, he began participating on the board of the IAEE NY Chapter.

How did you get your start in the exhibitions industry?

I started working at Reed Exhibitions back in 1991 as a sales executive. At the time, I was just looking to pay the bills, not thinking that I was embarking on a long career. As soon as I had the opportunity to attend my first trade show at McCormick Place in Chicago I was sold! I knew right away that I would be in this industry for a very long time. I later moved into the show operations side of the business while still at Reed. Developing a range of experience in both the sales and operations areas made me love the industry even more. For the past 19 years, I’ve been with the Specialty Food Association and the Fancy Food Shows. For me, the combination of Specialty Food and International Trade Shows is unbeatable!

What advice would you give a new IAEE member or person joining the exhibitions community?

Try to get involved in different areas of the industry. Make yourself more valuable to your current (and future) employer by developing your versatility. There is so much to learn and many ways to enjoy this industry that you will limit your opportunities by sticking to only one discipline.

What is the biggest challenge in running your show?

Staying ahead of the curve is our biggest challenge. The Specialty Food Industry is all about new products and innovation. Keeping our shows fresh with new, exciting programs each and every year can be challenging. It’s also the most rewarding part of the job. When one of our new program introductions is a big hit and really helps our members grow their businesses, the hard work and pressure you went through seems well worth it.

Tell us a fun fact or story that most people would not know about you.

I am a champion ping pong player with three tournament championships under my belt.

Any final thoughts?

I’m very big on broadening your horizons and expanding your versatility. IAEE is the best place to accomplish this. I recommend taking advantage of the many programs that IAEE produces that can educate you and connect you to everybody who is anybody in our industry across a broad spectrum of disciplines.

See you in Baltimore for the 2015 Expo! Expo!

The post From the MATSO Perspective…An Interview with Chris Nemchek, SVP of Business Development and Member Relations, Specialty Food Assn. appeared first on IAEE.

How did you get your start in the exhibitions industry?

I started as an exhibitor. My first trade show was in 1994 at the Hyatt Crystal City and I remember getting yelled at by a union worker for carrying my boxes down the escalator.

What advice would you give a new IAEE member or person joining the exhibitions community?

Attend your local chapter meetings and get involved. Don’t be afraid to call or email people and ask questions. The people in this industry are very eager to share their knowledge, act as mentors, or just answer specific questions.

What is the biggest challenge in running your show?

The biggest challenge to running my show is facing a changing industry – resulting in lower budgets for exhibitors.

Tell us a fun fact or story that most people would not know about you.

I grew up bilingual and I’m fluent in German. I have family in Germany and enjoy visiting them when I can.

Any final thoughts for those involved with IAEE?

IAEE is a great way to find community and support within our industry. Education and networking help me develop my career and IAEE also helps my company in the form of research from CEIR and other information I learn at events and sessions and bring back to the team.

The post From the MATSO Perspective…An Interview with Kelly Kilga, CEM, at Graphic Arts Show Co., Inc (GASC) appeared first on IAEE.

How did you get your start in the exhibitions industry?

It was a fluke. I previously worked in New York City as a Bloomingdales’ buyer (attending retail trade shows) and then I worked for a corporate gift company (focusing on exhibiting) and later in marketing at a candle company (attending and exhibiting at shows around the world). When I heard I could work on the other side and make an impact on the experience, I jumped at the chance.

What advice would you give a new IAEE member or person joining the exhibitions community?

Go to the local and national events and involve yourself on committees. It’s what we ask our attendees and exhibitors to do to ensure the best experience, so why wouldn’t you?

What is the biggest challenge in running your show?

Managing ROI, mostly related to costs, by ensuring we deliver the most valuable experience.

Tell us a fun fact or story that most people would not know about you.

I met my husband through my job at The Vision Council. He was recommended to our company by a fellow MATSO member (ten years ago now).

Any final thoughts for those involved with IAEE?

The best part of IAEE is my involvement with MATSO. I love sitting around a room (or using LinkedIn) to stay connected with very specific questions that producers of large shows can relate to, and more importantly, provide feedback.  Learning from your peers is the best and most fulfilling way to stay ahead of the curve.

The post The MATSO Perspective…An Interview with Angela Harar, Senior Director of Trade Shows for The Vision Council appeared first on IAEE.

200,000 sq.ft. of exhibit space sounds like a lot of space. To some show organizers, it is. To others, this is simply walking away from the on-site sales process with “a good start”.

When I got into trade show organizing a gazillion years ago, I could never have imagined planning a show of this magnitude, let alone larger. But here we are in 2015, and that is what we in the MATSO community do as show organizers. As MATSO members, we just do it on a larger scale…..and have been doing just that for 30 years. Happy 30^th Anniversary MATSO!

While 200,000 sq.ft. is the minimum to belong to the MATSO community, there are organizers whose shows are 10x that size. Putting trade shows into scale, the depth and breadth of what you can learn from your industry colleagues is truly amazing. And that is what the MATSO is all about. One word: Community.

By its very definition, the word community means “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals”. When the MATSO members meet, which is usually two times per year – once at IAEE’s Expo! Expo! and another at a MATSO colleague’s show – we share our goals, our obstacles, we collaborate on new and innovative ideas, we offer advice, share best practices and work as a community to help each other bring value, ROI and innovation to each of our shows – all in a competitive free environment.

IAEE has been an invaluable resource for this community, addressing our needs and concerns. The advantages of being a Council under IAEE are multi-faceted (how much time do you have? Give me a call!), and I would venture to guess that 99.9% of the MATSO members agree. IAEE has given MATSO the ability to keep our original vision to “Present the viewpoint and advance the success of the major trade show and to provide a mechanism for the exchange and dissemination of information relevant to that audience”, by providing a dedicated and unified voice in the exhibitions and events industry.

After completing one year under IAEE leadership and attending Expo! Expo! in Los Angeles last December, I can tell you that I was excited to see what this great organization has in store not only for the MATSO community but the exhibitions and events industry as a whole!

You might also be interested in: The MATSO Perspective… Interview with Camille Stern

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