TSNN’s take on the biggest recent move: Dennis Smith has been appointed CEO of NürnbergMesse North America (NMNA) in Atlanta. He succeeds Bill Ingwersen, who has led the U.S. subsidiary since 2017 and made significant contributions to NMNA since joining in 2015, including the successful launch of Embedded World North America and BIOFACH AMERICA following the COVID pandemic. 

The big picture: In his new role, Smith will oversee U.S. exhibitor and visitor support and acquisition for NürnbergMesse Group’s global events while developing the company’s U.S. portfolio, specifically Embedded World North America in Anaheim, Calif. and BIOFACH AMERICA in Atlanta. His appointment is crucial to the group’s growth strategy in the U.S., a key market for the company’s exhibitor and visitor base. 

Need to know: A Colorado native, Smith brings extensive experience in the global exhibition industry, having held significant leadership positions including managing director of Hannover Messe Istanbul (2006-2009), CEO of Messe Frankfurt Inc. (2012-2019), and serving as the 2023 Chairperson of IAEE. 

What they’re saying: “By bringing Dennis Smith onboard, the NürnbergMesse Group is gaining an extremely experienced trade show veteran who has already demonstrated his know-how in a variety of executive management positions in both Europe and the U.S.,” said Dr Thomas Koch, chairman of the Board of Directors of NürnbergMesse North America. “With Dennis as the new CEO, we aim to expand our growth in the U.S. market even further. At the same time, we want to thank Bill Ingwersen for his many achievements over the years.”  

What he’s saying: “I’m honored to be given this opportunity to once again join a Messe family and expand on the success of NMNA’s activities in the U.S. and lead the team into this new era of growth,” said Smith.  

ANDMORE 

Omnichannel presenter of wholesale furnishings, gifts, and apparel markets and design centers, ANDMORE, named Scott Eckman as its new president. Bringing extensive experience in both physical and digital marketplaces, Eckman returns to the company after serving as president at Loloi since 2023. His appointment follows Dorothy Belshaw’s transition from ANDMORE President to an advisory role in February 2024. 

Working alongside CEO Jon Pertchik, Eckman will oversee sales, leasing, and marketing while focusing on customer and guest experience enhancement. He previously spent more than a decade at ANDMORE as executive vice president and chief revenue officer, managing showroom and temporary trade show leasing across all product categories and campuses. His professional background also includes experience at Boston Consulting Group.  

Tradeshow Logic  

Tradeshow Logic (TL) has announced two promotions within its leadership team: Chris Gowe from vice president, strategic growth to executive vice president of sales strategy and Hilary Manning from director, new business integration to vice president of sales.  

In his new role, Gowe will lead exhibitor and sponsor activation development for trade shows, leveraging his diverse background in event strategy, venue management, and marketing. Bringing experience spanning show ownership and convention center operations, he will oversee internal proposal creation and collaborate on corporate marketing initiatives. He has been with the company for more than seven years. 

A 10-year veteran of Tradeshow Logic, Manning has played a crucial role in growing the company’s exhibit and sponsorship sales business, as well as developing and implementing quality employee onboarding programs. In her expanded role, she will lead the sales team while ensuring the continued growth of systems and quality standards as the company expands.  

Visit Orlando 

Visit Orlando tapped Charles Harris as its new Chief Operating Officer. An award-winning executive with extensive experience in operations management, business growth, and sales and marketing strategies across the tourism, hospitality, technology, and sports management industries, he will report to Visit Orlando President and CEO Casandra Matej.  

In his new leadership role, Harris will oversee internal operations, lead strategic planning, and manage digital and data strategy, HR, finance, and business affairs teams, including IT and market research and insights. He joins from RSCVA/Reno Tahoe, where as president and CEO he led a team of 120 employees and achieved record revenues, following roles as CMO and executive vice president public affairs at Visit Anaheim, executive positions at Luxe Hotels and Experian Interactive. He also held communications and community development roles with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Anaheim Ducks, and serves on boards including US Travel, Nevada State Tourism, and Destinations International CDME Board of Directors. 

Fern Expo 

Fern Expo, an Nth Degree company, has appointed Angela Strahan as vice president of creative services and strategy and Jorge Mijares as vice president of creative services and design. The duo joins Fern from PB&J Design, a creative agency they co-founded in 2019, where they specialized in creating immersive brand environments for major clients such as Anheuser-Busch, Cisco, Dell Technologies, Intel, GE HealthCare, and Marriott. 

Strahan brings extensive experience as creative director at Hargrove, design director at Spiro, and senior design roles at Best Buy and GES, while Mijares previously served as director of creative services at Hargrove and held leadership roles at Exhibitwrx, Línea Asesores, and Exhibitor SA. Together, they will lead Fern’s creative team, enhancing brand storytelling, design solutions, and client experience. 

Catch Des Moines  

Longtime tourism leader Greg Edwards, president and CEO of Catch Des Moines, has announced his retirement after serving 25 years at the helm of the organization. Edwards, who joined in 2000 and will step down later this summer, has played a pivotal role in establishing Greater Des Moines as a premier tourism destination. His more than 40-year hospitality career includes leadership roles at convention and visitors bureaus in Overland Park, Kan., and Peoria, Ill. 

During his tenure at Catch Des Moines, Edwards achieved numerous significant milestones for the destination, including successfully attracting major events such as the NCAA Wrestling Championships, NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Tournament, and AAU Junior Olympic Games. His leadership was instrumental in championing transformative projects including Wells Fargo Arena, the Downtown Hilton convention hotel, and the Lauridsen Skatepark. As chairman of the Board of Directors for Destinations International, Edwards also made his mark on the global tourism industry. Under his leadership, convention, sports, and event bookings more than tripled since 2000, following his successful reorganization of the Des Moines Area Sports & Tourism Commission. 

ASM Global 

ASM Global has appointed seasoned venue management executive Rodney Faulk as the new general manager of Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC). He joins the Ohio venue at a crucial time as the DECC undergoes a $240 million modernization and expansion project scheduled for completion in January 2026.  

Faulk brings substantial venue management experience to his new role, having previously served as general manager of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex in North Carolina for five years. Prior to that, he worked as director of operations at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, another ASM Global facility. 

Meet Chicago Northwest  

Meet Chicago Northwest (MCNW) recently welcomed Jonah Exline as sales account executive, focused on sales in sports, religion, military and other hobby groups. A northwest Chicago suburban native, Exline brings a strong background in hotel sales, event planning, and business development, most recently serving as sports, association and SMERF (social, military, educational, religious and fraternal) sales manager at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg. He also previously worked as executive meeting and sales manager at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel. 

Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center  

The new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center in Chula Vista, Calif., which is set to open on May 15, has tapped 35-year hospitality industry veteran Scott Siebert as general manager. He most recently served as hotel manager at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, and prior to that, held roles including food and beverage director at Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort, resort manager at JW Marriott Hill Country San Antonio, and various titles with JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa. 

ADVOC8 

Experiential marketing and brand engagement agency ADVOC8 welcomed Stacey Thorp as its new head of production. With extensive experience in entertainment, logistics, and marketing communications, Thorp brings a proven track record of delivering impactful campaigns across advertising, PR, experiential marketing, trade shows, and brand activations.  

In her most recent role at Nteractive, she led a global team managing sponsorship experiences for major tech clients, and previously served as vice president, conferences and events at Freeman for more than nine years. Thorp’s past client portfolio has included notable brands such as Smartsheet, HPE, PCMA, RSA, Gillette, Duracell, Georgia-Pacific, Delta Air Lines, INTA, LG Electronics, Microsoft, and SAP. 

Niagara Falls Convention Centre  

The Niagara Falls Convention Centre has appointed Tim Oldfield, a 25-year hospitality industry veteran, as its new president and general manager, responsible for further elevating the venue's brand and operations. Bringing expertise in strategic growth, sales, and brand development, Oldfield joins the organization from Marriott International, where he most recently served as vice president corporate accounts, global sales. He also currently serves as a member of the Global Business Travel Association Advisory Board for Canada. 

The Complex 

The Complex in Raleigh, NC, has promoted Mara Craft to general manager of the Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater. In her new role, Craft will manage daily operations for both venues, oversee the partnership agreement of Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, and play a pivotal role in the major expansion and relocation projects for the two venues. Craft’s promotion follows a successful 27-year tenure at the Raleigh Convention Center, where she steadily moved up the ranks from assistant to director of sales and marketing.  

The Raleigh Convention Center also promoted Ashley Auman from senior national sales manager to director of sales. A 15-year sales veteran, Auman brings extensive experience in client partnerships and business development, holding the Certified in Exhibition Management Advanced Professional designation from IAEE. 

Have some trade show-related people news to share? Reach out to lisa.savas@informa.com and danica.tormohlen@informa.com.