dmg::events’ Galen Poss Named SISO’s Robert L. Krakoff Industry Award of Excellence Honoree

April 24, 2018

The Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) has awarded the trade show for-profit industry’s most prestigious award, the “Robert L. Krakoff Industry Award of Excellence” to Galen Poss, vice chairman of dmg::events.

“SISO is proud to announce the winner of the 2018 R L Krakoff Award is Galen Poss,” said Tony Calanca, executive vice president of Exhibitions for UBM.

He added, “Galen has demonstrated in his more than two decades of work in the face-to-face industry his leadership, professionalism, dedication to the industry, and his humanity.  We could not be happier than to have Galen carry the banner of being this year’s award winner.

Upon accepting the award, Poss said he when he thought about the people who had accepted the award in the past, “It was humbling.”

He added that he stood there that day “Because of the people in the room. I stand here today because of a terrific woman.”

Poss joined dmg events in January 2011 after spending ten years as President of Hanley Wood Exhibitions.

He began his career in events in 1977 with the Greater New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission.

In 1983, he founded Precision Planning & Sales (PPS) Inc, an exhibitions management company, which he sold to Miller Freeman in 1993, where he served as Group President for the Dallas Division prior to joining Hanley Wood in January 2000.

This award is named in honor of a legend of the industry, Robert L. Krakoff, who built and ran some of the most successful businesses in the exhibition industry.

It is the only award that SISO gives out, and it is only given to the most impactful leaders of for-profit businesses in the exhibition and event industry.

Some of the past award recipients include Charlie McCurdy, CEO of Informa; Britton Jones, Chairman & CEO, NXT Events Media Group, LLC; and Nancy Hasselback, retired president and CEO of Diversified Business Communications.

SISO members include companies, corporations and other for-profit entities that own, produce or provide full-service management of “face to face” trade shows, consumer shows, expositions, conferences, and events. SISO membership is a combination of large corporations and small entrepreneurial enterprises that do business around the world

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