submitted by Luke Walsh, On Location
On Location, a nationwide provider of labor and management services for exhibits, events and environments, wrapped up its 2023 Annual Meeting earlier this month, bringing together key company leaders to “LevelUp” with a look back at the past year and what lies ahead.
Hosted near the company’s headquarters in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, the three day program focused on enhancing the customer experience, with an agenda that touched on all aspects of the organization, including management, sales, operations, and administration. Communication, through the use of technology, was a strong theme throughout the meeting, which included a mix of full group and breakout sessions. The leadership team discussed the importance of how to streamline processes without losing sight of the human touch and face-to-face interaction.
Of the many topics covered, one highlight was the company’s online portal and new scheduling tool, where teams simulated the projects from the estimate phase through invoicing. This type of working session was more than educational; it provided an in-person team-building experience which is often rare in today’s remote work environments.
“Elevating the customer experience by building value and advancing processes that directly benefit our clients is critical to success. It’s what can and does set us apart from other I&D companies,” said On Location President, Michael Mulry, in speaking of the gathering held each year. “The key is to never rest on our laurels but instead see how we can improve in order to reach the next level (LevelUp).”
Teamwork is integral to achieving this end and nothing can replace the collaboration that exists when people are together side-by-side. “Since the very first annual meeting, the goal has been to champion cohesiveness across various job disciplines – from the executive level to those in the field,” continued Mulry. “It may be only three days, but even in that brief time, we walk away far stronger as a team with a greater understanding of clients and ourselves. This reaffirms our greatest commitment – to deliver the highest quality service to our exhibit house partners for each and every project.”
This year brought two first time attendees, but long-time industry veterans to the event. “Seeing everyone from across the country coming together to discuss the topics that will help make our exhibit house partner’s experience better was incredible to watch,” said Glen Ruggiero, Director of Sales and Marketing, who has been in the industry over 20 years. Kyle Kludasch, the Las Vegas Regional Manager, said, “After almost 20 years of experience in the industry, I have been a part of several organizations. On Location is the first to show real appreciation to all its employees for their hard work and have really made me feel like part of a family in a short amount of time.”
The annual meeting is equally as valuable for those On Location team members who have attended before. “Just as face-to-face interaction is important with clients, having all of us together in one place for a few days really makes a difference,” said Ty Macaulay, Director of National Operations. “We all have such different roles and experiences so, when we are able to spend time as a group, the insights shared go a long way in helping to make the company stronger nationwide.” Building strong leaders and long-term employee retention support a consistent and reliable customer experience.
About On Location
Founded in 1991, On Location provides nationwide labor and management services for exhibits, events and environments that deliver a positive Return on Experience (ROE) for its customers nationwide. As a leading exhibitor appointed contractor (EAC), the company recruits and trains highly experienced employees to become an extension of clients’ teams, developing a plan for their unique needs. The result is a true client centric approach and business model to provide nationwide continuity of hands-on service before, during and after each project. For more information, visit www.onlocationind.com.
