(Don Bendickson with 3M’s Pete Gavin in the ‘70s at Dimensional Display & Design in St. Paul, Minnesota. Exhibit City News 2020.)
From floods and test tracks to TV show builds and leadership spotlights, Exhibit City News takes a walk down memory lane through the events and people who shaped our industry each June.
Welcome back to “A Look Back at Tradeshow History.” This month, we’re digging into the archives for June issues over the past 25 years. From a 136,000-square-foot Jeep ride at McCormick Place to Don Bendickson’s incredible design legacy, the stories remind us how much innovation, resilience, and personality make up this industry. Got your own memory to share? Email Mark at Markh@exhibitcitynews.com—we’d love to include your piece of history in a future edition.
Five Years Ago – June 2020
Remembering Don Bendickson: A Legacy in Exhibit Design
Don Bendickson, a trailblazer in the exhibit design industry and founder of several influential companies, passed away on April 2, 2020, at the age of 93. With a career spanning over 50 years, he was a key figure in the establishment of EDPA and helped shape the tradeshow world through companies like Dimensional Display & Design and Exhibit Design Systems. Bendickson’s leadership, mentorship, and passion for design left a lasting impact on the industry. He was celebrated not only for his professional achievements but also for the kindness and guidance he offered to those he worked with.
Ten Years Ago – June 2015
Karen Chupka Recognized for Industry Leadership
In June 2015, Karen Chupka, senior vice president of International CES at CEA, was honored with the IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum Woman of Achievement Award. In an ECN Q&A, she shared how her work helped grow CES and support women in the industry. Under her leadership, initiatives like the CES Study Tour, the launch of C Space at ARIA, and the expansion into CES Asia demonstrated CEA’s strategic growth. Chupka also highlighted that 50% of CEA’s senior staff were women, with nearly half of the vice presidents being women as well.
FIT Alumni Bring Design Talent to the Show Floor
A Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Exhibition Design alumni was profiled in July 2015, showcasing how the school’s Master of Arts program prepared graduates to enter the tradeshow and museum industries. Katina Rigall, Class of 2007, shared her experience transitioning from interior design to tradeshows, crediting FIT for giving her the practical and creative tools needed for a fast-paced career. From lighting and graphic design to branding and fabrication, FIT’s curriculum helped students make an immediate impact in exhibit houses across the country.
Thefts at Spring Shows Raise Security Concerns
A wave of thefts targeting high-value exhibits at CES and other spring shows in Las Vegas. Estimated losses reached millions, with exhibitors reporting stolen electronics, jewelry, and prototypes. The article outlined how organized theft rings exploited overnight loading schedules and insufficient booth security. Police urged exhibitors to remain vigilant, while show organizers ramped up security measures and released guidelines to reduce future incidents.
Fifteen Years Ago – June 2010
CES Draws 126,000 Attendees to Las Vegas
The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show attracted 126,641 attendees, including 24,000 international visitors from 36 countries. Held Jan. 7–10 in Las Vegas, CES saw a 12% increase in attendance over the previous year. A record 2,500 exhibitors—330 of them first-timers—occupied 1.4 million net square feet of exhibit space. Veris Consulting’s independent audit confirmed CES’s status as the world’s largest consumer tech tradeshow and the largest annual tradeshow in North America.
Editor’s Note:
At CES 2025, the show reported 142,465 total attendees and 57,401 international participants—representing a 13 percent increase in total attendance and a 139 percent increase in international participation compared to CES 2010.
High Water Destroys Exhibits in Nashville Flood
Historic flooding from the Cumberland River severely damaged the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, submerging the exhibit hall and destroying all exhibits being installed for the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) show. Exhibit Edge Inc. reported that one lost exhibit alone was valued at $2 million. “Everything was lost with mud and gook in every nook and cranny,” said Exhibit Edge’s Bev Gray. While the Gaylord facility would remain closed for months, the nearby Nashville Convention Center avoided flood damage and reopened quickly.
CEIR Index Shows Signs of Stabilization
In June 2010, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released its first-quarter results, indicating a slight decline of just 0.2 percent from the previous year. This marked a potential turning point following the steep drops during the recession of 2008–2009. While key metrics such as net square feet and revenue remained down, the report suggested early signs of recovery for the exhibition industry. CEIR’s analysts remained cautiously optimistic, noting that stability in attendance and event volume could signal a path toward long-term growth.
Editor’s Note:
As the CEIR Index showed a slight 0.2 percent decline in Q1 2010, the industry was just beginning to stabilize post-recession. Fast forward to Q1 2024, the CEIR Total Index has surged 4.3 percent year-over-year, reaching 92.3—just 7.7% below pre-pandemic levels. That’s a 40.3 percentage point gain compared to Q1 2022 and a 3.8-point improvement from Q1 2023, illustrating the steady path to full recovery. Attendance is now only 3.4 percent below 2019 benchmarks, and net square footage has officially surpassed pre-pandemic performance by 0.3 percent.
Twenty Years Ago – June 2005
Sparks Exhibits Lends Talent to Reality TV
Sparks Exhibits joined the production of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help redesign a Florida family’s home following a tragic loss. Contacted just days before filming, Sparks contributed sculpted jungle animals for a child’s room—donating all labor and materials. “This was our chance to give back,” said Robin Lickliter, spokesperson for the firm. The project showcased the industry’s creativity under pressure and commitment to community support.
Industry Veteran Bill Mueller, Sr. Passes Away
Bill Mueller, Sr., senior vice president at The Freeman Co., passed away on May 14 at age 82. A key figure in the tradeshow industry since 1948, Mueller spent over five decades producing the International Builders Show and had been with Freeman since 1981. He previously led Wernecke Studios and worked with GES before joining Freeman. Remembered for his leadership and long-standing dedication, Mueller’s legacy spans generations of industry professionals.
Chrysler Builds Buzz with Indoor Test Track at McCormick Place
During the 2005 Chicago Auto Show, Chrysler Group created a major stir with a full-scale indoor test track inside McCormick Place. The 136,000-square-foot exhibit featured live Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler vehicle demonstrations—complete with a Jeep Trail Rated obstacle course. With over 63,000 test rides during the event, it was the largest footprint Chrysler had ever used for an auto show, setting a new standard for immersive brand experiences.
Twenty-Five Years Ago – June 2000
EDPA Survey Highlights Modular Dealer Trends
EDPA released results from its 1999 dealer survey, offering a snapshot of the portable/modular exhibit segment. The data revealed most dealers earned the bulk of their revenue from exhibit sales (57 percent), followed by rentals (25 percent). Nearly all respondents sold products from just three manufacturers, and the majority offered bundled “total solution” packages, including design, graphics, and installation. The survey confirmed the growing importance of service integration and efficiency among modular exhibit providers.
LVCC South Hall Expansion Breaks Ground
The Las Vegas Convention Center began construction on its $150 million South Hall expansion. The project added 918,000 square feet of exhibit space and 80,000 square feet of food service areas, increasing the facility’s ability to host simultaneous shows. Design details included movable partitions, separate access points, and a two-story hall layout—features that reflected a growing industry trend toward flexible, large-scale venue infrastructure to meet rising exhibitor demand.
Voices From the Show Floor: Worst Ideas at a Tradeshow?
ECN asked, and industry pros didn’t hold back.
Mike Mathews of GE Grove-Texas recalled a booth so unchanged over the years it “looked like it was brought in by chopper.”
Rodney Egress from Cincinnati, Ohio, has “seen some really tacky models.”
Jim and Micki Colegrove of Colegrove Marketing remembered a company whose booth staff wore togas— “fine for frat parties, but not the booth line for good client interaction.”
Roger Burns of TW1 Global in Las Vegas added a practical concern: helium balloons. “They go up on the ceiling, and when the show is over, you have to get a BB gun to shoot them down.”
