People News: Tarsus, eMerge Americas, SourceOne Events, Core-Apps All Add to Ranks

October 18, 2016

Moving into the last quarter of 2016, bringing on new employees and promoting from within, especially in the executive ranks, still is occurring at a swift pace in companies from several trade show sectors.

U.K.-based Tarsus Group has appointed Mark Temple-Smith as CEO Asia. Temple-Smith has more than 20 years’ experience in the global exhibitions industry and has led and developed successful businesses in Europe, Africa and Asia. 

He will be joining Tarsus from ITE Group plc, where he is regional director for Asia. During the past four and a half years, Temple-Smith has grown ITE’s Asian business from start-up to some 50 exhibitions and over 400 employees in India, Southeast Asia and China.

Prior to joining ITE in 2012, he was a member of the management team at Canon Communications. Temple-Smith is expected to join Tarsus early in 2017.

Tarsus also has promoted Peter Massey to CEO Southeast Asia. Massey joined Tarsus in 2012 as business development director. I

In his new role, Massey will be working with Tarsus partners in the region to help drive the company’s business forward.

Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group's group managing director, said, “I am delighted that Mark has agreed to join Tarsus at this exciting time for the group in Asia. The region is a key component of our ‘Quickening the Pace’ strategy, and I am sure that under Mark and Peter’s leadership our business will continue to grow strongly.”

He added, “We are pivoting the Group towards Asia, where we currently generate approximately 18 percent of our business. We hope to build this to 30% over the medium-term, both organically and via bolt-on acquisitions. I look forward to working with both Mark and Peter on this next phase in Tarsus’ development in the region.”

eMerge Americas, the B2B technology conference connecting companies with business and government leaders from North America, Latin America and Europe, added a new team member, Diane F. Vidoni.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the convention, exhibition planning and hospitality industry, Vidoni brings vision, innovative tactical approaches and operational expertise to the role of COO.

Prior to venturing into the technology sphere, Vidoni most recently served as vice president of Operations and Conferences for National Trade Productions (NTP) where she led a team dedicated to safety, aesthetics, cost-savings and innovation in conference development.

She also served as director of Conferences and Trade Show Operations at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), directing all operational aspects of the show including oversight of exhibits and conference management for international events, development and management of a multi-million-dollar budget and on-site crisis management plans.

“As we expand our global footprint, it’s key that we bring on talented executives that can help execute event plans that transcend expectations from start to finish,” said eMerge Americas CEO, Xavier Gonzalez. “We’re thrilled to welcome Diane to the eMerge family and are confident in her ability to enhance the annual event through innovative thinking tied with operational excellence.”

In its fourth year, eMerge Americas will once again welcome the region’s leading entrepreneurs, industry luminaries, tech enthusiasts, global thought leaders and strategic investors to South Florida for another unmatched event.

SourceOne Events has brought on Joseph Giannelli to their team as senior account executive. Previously holding positions at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, Navy Pier, McCormick Place and as an operations consultant, Giannelli brings with him 24 years of valuable and essential experience in the events industry.

“With the ever-changing landscape of our industry, clients are constantly striving to take their events to the next level in order to stay current and ahead of the competition.” Giannelli said. “Because SourceOne has been in the full-service events production business for over a decade, we have the team, the tools and the talent in place that allow me the opportunity to offer you exceptional service at an excellent price point.”

Core-apps, a technology platform for the events industry, has signed on Wayne Crawford to join the company as vice president of Sales.

Crawford has more than 30 years of experience as both an organizer and technology supplier, having worked in the past for NAB, CES, NXTcomm, CNTV and expo technology platform a2z, Inc.

“I have been about helping customers improve their processes and maximize revenue my entire career,” Crawford said. “I’m thrilled to join the Core-apps team. I believe we have an incredible opportunity to continue to grow our platform and the marketplaces we serve, and I’m excited to lead that effort with the sales and leadership teams.”

Core-apps CEO Jay Tokosch said bringing Crawford on board was an easy decision. “Wayne is known in the industry for running a team that sells solutions versus features. That philosophy fits with how we approach our customer partnerships.” He adds, “In addition to his work on the technology side of the events industry, Wayne has extensive experience as an exposition manager. So he understands our products and our customers’ goals. We look forward to having him lead our company’s growth and our customers’ success.”

Crawford most recently served as president of Wayne Manor Group, an events technology consultancy. He will begin his new told at Core-apps Nov. 1.

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.