People News: The Expo Group, GES, Leftfield Media Make New Hires
May 28, 2015
The month of May has been an unusually busy one for new hires across a wide variety of companies in the trade show industry.
The Expo Group hired Lloyd van Meter its new general manager in its Las Vegas offices. Van Meter has extensive freight expertise, as well as 15 years in the trade show industry and strong leadership skills honed in the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Expo Group also named Mitchell Gross as the new leader of its growing custom exhibits department. Gross also will continue to lead the Finance department for the company. Prior to becoming operations manager for MC2 Events Exhibits Environments, he spent several years in the financial world and has an undergraduate degree in finance, as well as his MBA.
Peter Tatara has joined the Leftfield Media as its director of Content and Communities. He comes to LeftField Media with 10 years of event management experience, previously serving as a content director with ReedPOP at Reed Exhibitions, where he oversaw 400-plus hours of content at New York Comic Con and was key in growing ReedPOP from a single event to a portfolio of more than 25 pop culture conventions around the U.S. and internationally in markets, including Australia, China, France, Germany, India, and Singapore.
He most recently worked at Azix Inc, where he served as an event director producing events with Japanese governmental, tourism, cultural and culinary partners.
GES brought on Dan Hilbert as senior vice president of its U.S. Events team. Hilbert has more than 25 years of experience in the event, agency and entertainment business.
Most recently, Hilbert was senior vice president of client engagement & strategy at TBA Global. Prior to joining TBA Global, he held senior level positions at other agencies and on the client side with Live Nation Entertainment, Ryan Partnership, Unilever and Labatt, USA.
Skyline Exhibits announced the retirement of Michael Thimmesch, its director of Customer Engagement.
Thimmesch began his Skyline career in 1988 as a copywriter eight years after Skyline was founded. In 2005, after 17 years with Skyline, he earned a director-level position.
During his tenure Thimmesch had a hand in generating over half a million leads for Skyline which resulted in over $1 billion in retail sales and helped Skyline to grow into the largest exhibit company in North America.
Thimmesch is also credited with publishing 11 industry white papers and eight exhibit education books. He has presented over 100 informational webinar sessions, which were attended by over 23,000 exhibitors. He has also written more than 200 blog posts on a variety of exhibiting topics.
Riverhouse Hotel & Convention Center, a full-service hotel and Central Oregon’s largest convention center that overlooks the Deschutes River, hired Erick Trachsel as Director of Sales and Moe Elwefati as Director of Food and Beverage.
Jarrett Dow joins NexxtShow as a graphics account executive. Dow has more than 10 years of graphic design, promotional design and web design experience.
Matthew Volpe joins NexxtShow as a system designer. Volpe has more than eight years of exhibit design and detailing experience.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is renowned for its exceptional service and diverse venue options across Las Vegas, Detroit, Springfield, National Harbor, Biloxi, and Atlantic City, providing flexible spaces for meetings of any size. Beyond these offerings, MGM Resorts distinguishes itself through a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for your next meeting.
At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident in several key areas:
Protecting Natural Resources
MGM Resorts is home to industry-leading recycling, renewable electricity and water conservation programs. Some highlights include a cogeneration power plant at ARIA, producing ultra-efficient electricity; one of America’s largest contiguous rooftop solar arrays atop the convention center at Mandalay Bay; and onsite wells that provide water for the celebrated Fountains of Bellagio, avoiding reliance on precious Colorado River water. These efforts and many more save on natural resources while boosting attendee satisfaction.
Committed to Community
Always striving to be good neighbors, MGM Resorts works to avoid food waste and combat food insecurity with the Feeding Forward program. In partnership with local food banks, they safely divert unserved food to food insecure members of the community. Since 2016, over 5 million meals have been provided, highlighting MGM Resorts' commitment to minimizing food waste and addressing community needs.
MGM Resorts supports clients in their responsible-meetings efforts, not only with efficient venues but also waste-reducing décor and signage; sustainable food and beverage options; and outreach to help planners communicate sustainability efforts to attendees. What’s more, they offer a Mindful Meetings series that puts attendee wellness first—through fitness and mindfulness activities, and in give-back events with local charity organizations.
Fostering Diversity & Inclusion
To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
MGM Resorts offers unparalleled service and venue options while standing out for its proactive approach to sustainability and community engagement. Choosing MGM Resorts for your next meeting means aligning with a company that values social responsibility, efficiency, and attendee satisfaction, ensuring a meaningful and impactful event experience.
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