After 34 years in the industry, Cindy Joncek still wakes up excited to get to work
Not everyone finds their calling, but Cindy Joncek found hers under the bright lights and tight deadlines of the tradeshow world.
Joncek has been in the tradeshow business for 34 years, though she says it hardly feels that long. She was born and raised in Chicago and spent most of her career working in the city’s tradeshow scene. Now, based in Las Vegas, she still starts each day with the same energy she had when she first got into the industry.
When we spoke, Joncek repeated a familiar phrase: time flies when you’re having fun. For her, it’s not just a saying. It’s how she explains a career that never got old. Every day brings something new and not knowing what’s coming next is what keeps her engaged.
Now the vice president of account management at CEP, Joncek focuses on keeping the clients she has worked hard to earn. No cold calls. No chasing. Just long-term partnerships built on trust and follow-through. She takes pride in being the go-to contact for many of them. For her, it is not just about placing orders or tracking shipments. It is about being reliable every day and knowing her work affects everything down the line, all the way to the show floor.
She met her husband through the industry, too. He works at GES, and between the two of them, tradeshows are pretty much a family business. They’ve been married for about 18 years now. Joncek’s quick to admit that the lifestyle didn’t leave much room for kids. She’s thought about that over the years, but never with regret. “The tradeshows are my family,” she says. “And CEP is my family.” She has many nieces and nephews and even great-nieces and great-nephews.
Joncek doesn’t rely on hobbies the way some people do. When she talks about burnout, she doesn’t sound frustrated. It is just part of the job. She recharges by traveling when she can, but even on vacation, she is not looking to stay away for long. The structure, the people, and the daily challenges keep pulling her back in.
During the pandemic, she worked from home like many others. And like many others, she was more than ready to get back to the office. For Joncek, the energy comes from being in the mix, hearing the phones ring, and watching jobs come together in real time.
Ask her what keeps her grounded, and she might mention her cat, Larry. He is more than just a pet. He is her shadow at home and a steady presence in a fast-moving life.
Joncek has spent more than three decades helping others shine from behind the scenes. She has done it with heart, consistency, and a deep respect for the work. Her story is one of quiet dedication, built on long days, strong relationships, and a genuine love for the industry. She is not counting down to retirement. She is too busy doing what she loves, with the people who make it worth it.
This story originally appeared as a truncated version in the Q4 2025 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 76. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/exhibit_city_news_-_oct_nov_dec_2025/76.
