Business Journals Inc.’s Britton Jones Named 2015 TSNN Awards Industry Icon Honoree

July 8, 2015

Trade Show News Network will celebrate Britton Jones, president and CEO of Business Journals Inc. (BJI), as the TSNN Industry Icon Award honoree at the 6th annual TSNN Awards Nov. 6-8 in Atlanta.

“I am truly honored to be named TSNN’s 2015 Industry Icon Award honoree. I am tremendously blessed to work with incredibility insightful, talented and dedicated people,” Jones said.

He added, “We work in an environment that fosters creativity and real innovation. To me, this award is wonderful recognition of the impact and significance of our collective efforts to move the events industry forward.”

Rachel Wimberly, TSNN President, said, “The TSNN Awards Industry Icon Honor typically is given to someone who is an innovator in the industry, and Britton has led the way for a long time. We are thrilled to honor him at this year’s awards in Atlanta.”

Jones will be feted during the TSNN Awards gala Saturday night at the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart at which the 50 fastest-growing shows in the U.S. also will be celebrated.

BJI produces 27 events per year, including brands such as AccessoriesTheShow, the industry’s largest and longest running accessories show and the industry's upscale menswear show, MRKET.

The BJI Fashion Group also has four women's apparel shows, FAME, EDIT, MODA and STITCH, which provide full coverage of the major women's categories ranging from the junior/ young contemporary to the luxury and premium contemporary markets.

In total, the BJI Fashion Group runs 21 shows annually at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York and six shows per year at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas. 

BJI also publishes three trade magazines including MR (Menswear Retailing), the world’s largest menswear business-to-business magazine and Accessories, which has been the leading publication of the women’s fashion accessories market for over 100 years.

In addition, BJI has a 54 magazine custom publishing division, seven web sites, and maintains one of the industry’s largest databases of fashion retailers.

Besides overseeing all aspects of BJI, Jones also serves as CEO of LeftField Media, a company he formed in late 2014 with Greg Topalian (former senior vice president at Reed Exhibitions and founder of New York Comic Con)  and Mac Brighton (BJI’s chairman and COO) and Sharon Enright (BJI’s executive vice president).

LeftField is dedicated to building experientially rich events and celebrations for fans and enthusiasts primarily in the pop culture space.

Jones currently is the chairman of the board of directors of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, as well as serving on NYC & Co.'s Trade Show Council and the Javits Center's Customer Advisory Board. 

Jones also was chairman of the board of Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) from 2008 – 2010 and served on the SISO board from 2001-2010.

Previously, Jones served three terms on the board of American Business Media (ABM), where he was twice chairman of ABM’s Trade Show Council

Jones and his wife of 23 years, Lauren, have two sons, Riker (22) and Dawson (19).

The TSNN Awards is a weekend celebration that will kick off Nov, 6 with an opening party at Atlanta’s College Football Hall of Fame, followed by a conference and the awards gala the next day at the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart and ending with a brunch at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.

For more information, please visit www.T-awards.com.

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.