An encouraging leader in the world of tradeshow exhibit builders.
On May 24, 2026, at the age of 72, Thomas Bacha left this world peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.
Tom Bacha started in the exhibit industry working for Exhibits Inc. in Chicago as an estimator. Legendary exhibit guy Tom Cassell sat next to him in the office and saw that Tom had a folder he often opened. Cassell asked, “What’s in that folder?”
Bacha replied, “I can’t believe the information I am given by salespeople asking me to price an exhibit. Here look at this napkin with a hand-drawn floor plan. Here is a Polaroid shot of an exhibit from the Housewares show asking for a price to duplicate it. Here is a picture of a bird cage. Make an exhibit that looks like this.”
Tom Bacha took estimating an exhibit seriously. He analyzed every way that an exhibit needed to be built at the exhibit companies he worked for.
From Exhibits Inc., Tom came to Greyhound Exhibitgroup’s Chicago division. A big change from Exhibits Inc., where every request for anything needed to be clearly documented. Tom quickly earned the respect of every account executive, designer, project manager, and shop foreman. Tom’s estimates were done quickly and right on the money.
In time, Tom was promoted to head of the estimating department with four other estimators. Estimating was serious business, but Tom brought fun to his department. When an account executive came in to review an estimate, he asked all his estimators to join in and snap their fingers doing a Three Stooges skit. “Right here for you, boss!”
Each of the four who worked for Tom went on to have successful careers with their solid background as estimators. Exhibitgroup had seven divisions in the United States, and Tom was often brought in to review the estimates for large projects from the other divisions. His skill here was highly respected.
I had the pleasure of working with Tom when I became president of the Chicago division. I observed how quickly Tom was able to approve every estimate and job order to go into the shop. How did he do this so quickly? Tom was a musician in college. So I attributed this skill to sight-reading a music score. You always look ahead at what note comes next. Not sure my theory was true, but damn he was fast!
“Tom Bacha was the best estimator I ever met in this industry,” says Charles Corsentino, past CEO of Exhibitgroup and Moss Exhibits.
As Exhibitgroup grew, they bought new companies and hired specialists to manage new services: Llona Kitzing, integrated marketing, and Richard Erschik, Leads to Sales. Tom had to learn how to estimate for this as well.
Many joint meetings were held at the Greyhound headquarters in Phoenix. Tom was often asked to join with the team. Rich Erschik did not really know Tom and his silly ways. While returning from a grueling meeting, they walked into the hotel together and saw a piano.
Tom walked to the piano and started playing a Jerry Lee Lewis tune with feet on the keys. Tom brought a smile of joy and relief to the entire entourage of Exhibitgroup managers who all just got beat up by John Teets, CEO of Greyhound.
Tom was a quiet leader in his own way. When I left Exhibitgroup, Tom took over as president of the Chicago division. From there, he helped to launch 3D Exhibits as president. He then left 3D for Design Agency, then became president of Metro Exhibits, then started his own company, Team Atmos, which he ran until he passed away.
Tom took his work seriously, but in life he found his greatest joys outside of business. Tom Bacha went to Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was there that he met John Fricke, who is now a top account executive at Derse Exhibits.
One of Tom’s greatest joys was going to his cottage on the lake and boating. It was there that he met others with cottages from the exhibit industry like John Fricke, Sue Renner, Jim Stange, and Jim Elser. Fishing and boating were Tom’s greatest joys, other than his wife, kids, and grandkids.
“Tom was very active in the industry and a strong supporter of EDPA. Tom became a lifelong friend who supported my efforts to survive in the early days of Exhibit City News. He will remain my buddy forever,” says Don Svehla, owner of ECN.
“Many years later after leaving the business a small group of exhibit industry chums would meet for a drink to celebrate Xmas. Tom was always there to share a story and renew our friendship. May he rest in peace,” says John Fricke, vice president of Derse Exhibits.
All those who had the privilege to meet Tom will tell you that he always brought joy and humor to any conversation. He will be missed by many!
