With respect to the “weight of the lift,” audio and visual (A/V), staging, and lighting have the most immediate effect on cost efficiency for a supply chain. It makes sense that this element of the event supply chain were early adopters even if they did not realize they were being more sustainable.
A new generation of professionals is now part of the workforce alongside seasoned talent. The voice of the tradeshow and expo industry is evolving into one that is more collaborative, purpose-driven, and adaptive. Highlighting this evolution inspires confidence in the industry’s future and reassures professionals about ongoing progress.
The annual NAB Show returned to the Las Vegas Convention Center this spring with a message that resonated across every aisle of the show floor: the media and entertainment industry is no longer chasing new hardware — it’s building smarter systems.
Pete Bosader remains a pivotal figure in the tradeshow industry, currently serving as Willwork’s Northeast Director of Operations, and wears many hats. He handles duties in operations, and business development. Bosader has been working in this industry since 1992, associated with Willwork for over 30 years. His relationship with Willwork’s CEO, Bill Nixon, entails a long history of collaboration and mentorship that has shaped Pete’s career and his leadership role.
ExhibitorLIVE 2026, held in Tampa, Florida, marked its greatest success across the tradeshow world. This event gave the biggest opportunity of the year for the entire industry to gather, exchange ideas, and feel a sense of community. Deals were made during the event, and attendees could share experiences and challenges, explore solutions, and discuss how the industry has evolved.
Logic, logic, and a bit more logic. But wait? What if I want to change my thoughts on something, what happens?
Joyce Leveston brings a depth of operational expertise and global perspective to her new role as the president and CEO of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (Javits Center) with more than three decades of experience in the convention center and venue management sector. Javits Center is a six-block venue on Manhattan’s West Side, right by New York City’s most up-and-coming neighborhood, Hudson Yards. As a model of reinvention, the center is a sustainability leader with a living green roof and urban wildlife habitat, as well as a national space where business, culture, and ideas intersect.
Joseph Patrick Esposito, Jr. died on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at age 51.
Esposito worked in the tradeshow and live events industry in the Chicago market, including roles with TRU Service Group and Octane Group. His career included city management and showfloor operations. His work involved maintaining relationships with show contractors and venue staff, helping with scheduling, and coordinating labor and trades for events.
I was excited to attend ISC West at the Venetian Expo Center in Las Vegas from March 23–27. Year after year, ISC West stands as the most influential gathering in physical security, public safety, and security‑driven technology. It’s where innovation, investment, and operational strategy converge. The 2026 event once again drew tens of thousands of leaders and more than 700 exhibitors, reinforcing its role as the industry’s central marketplace.
The exhibit and event industry is expanding. The talent pipeline to sustain it may not be. That is not a workforce issue, necessarily. It is more of a visibility issue.
Most young professionals do not know this career exists. They graduate with degrees in marketing, design, communications, and business, yet few are introduced to an industry where creativity meets strategy, where logistics meets storytelling, and where real-time problem solving drives measurable business results.
From generative design tools to predictive analytics, AI is embedded in how events are planned, marketed, and measured. But amid the excitement, event professionals are grappling with a nuanced question: How do we use technology to enhance human connection, not replace it?
Across the global exhibition industry, leadership roles—particularly at the CEO and executive level—remain predominantly held by men. While this imbalance exists worldwide, it is often more pronounced in Latin America, where cultural norms, structural barriers, and limited access to executive networks have historically slowed women’s advancement to top decision-making positions.
