Mike Drobick, a longtime tradeshow industry professional whose career spanned more than four decades in Chicago and Las Vegas, died recently following a heart attack.
Drobick began his career in Chicago as a field and shop worker with McCormick Displays. When Osgood Displays acquired the company, he remained in production and estimating, building the hands-on experience that would carry him through decades of exhibit operations and management.
He later joined CB Displays, where he continued working in production and estimating while also coordinating with the Octanorm OSPI network. His career eventually brought him to Las Vegas, where he continued working in exhibit operations.
Drobick subsequently joined RND Exhibits International as its Las Vegas city manager. He remained in a similar capacity with Crossroads Exhibits and Events, where his responsibilities included daily shop and warehouse management, coordinating labor and supervising crews at show sites. His LinkedIn profile lists him as Las Vegas operations manager beginning in 2013 and city manager beginning in 2019.
Across more than 40 years, Drobick worked in nearly every aspect of exhibit operations, from the shop floor and estimating to warehouse management and onsite labor supervision. His career connected the production side of Chicago’s exhibit industry with the demands of managing tradeshow operations in Las Vegas.
In May 2024, Drobick experienced serious medical complications after being hospitalized for bleeding ulcers. During treatment, he suffered two mini-strokes, and subsequent examinations revealed a blood clot in a vessel supplying his brain. His recovery required ongoing medical care and significantly limited his ability to work.
Later that year, Drobick was named a financial assistance recipient of the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic, an industry initiative that supports tradeshow professionals and their families facing medical and financial hardships. His son, Mike Jr., traveled from Costa Rica to help his father attend medical appointments and manage responsibilities at home during his recovery.
Drobick was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, who died following a long battle with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is survived by his son, Mike Jr.
From his early days working in Chicago exhibit shops to managing crews and operations in Las Vegas, Mike Drobick spent more than four decades serving the tradeshow industry. His passing is felt among the colleagues and industry community who worked alongside him throughout his career.
