The NATO summit was held in Chicago last month, and perhaps this is a good time to look back and assess the results of this conference. This summit was newsworthy for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it was held at McCormick Place, which happens to be the largest convention center in North America. In addition, it necessitated rescheduling the dates of the National Restaurant Show, and anything with that much clout is noteworthy. But most important are the lessons learned and the implications for the tradeshow industry.

When I started in this business, the old timers told me my job wouldn’t last another five years. They said if I was smart, I’d find a job with a more secure future. Well, that was 36 years ago.

On March 5, the White House announced that the G8 economic summit scheduled for May 18-19, would be relocated from McCormick Place in Chicago, to the Presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland. They felt the rural seclusion of Camp David would provide a more secure location than the big city environment of Chicago.

In a couple of months, I can begin receiving my pension. It’s something I knew was coming, but now that the time has arrived, it seems surreal. This will open up a totally new chapter in my life. I probably won’t quit work, in fact, I’ll probably continue doing much of the same as I’ve done, but cut back to working a day or two each week.