In Memoriam: Gary Francis Wannemacher
May 15, 2026
In Memoriam: Gary Francis Wannemacher August 14, 1950 – May 9, 2026 Gary Francis Wannemacher of Downers Grove, Illinois, died on May 9, 2026, at
In Memoriam: Gary Francis Wannemacher August 14, 1950 – May 9, 2026 Gary Francis Wannemacher of Downers Grove, Illinois, died on May 9, 2026, at
Chicago briefs this month track major convention activity, large-scale development, new entertainment dates, and restaurant openings as the city heads into a busy summer calendar.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to shape how general contractors design floorplans, manage logistics, forecast budgets and execute strategy, highlighting its strategic role in the tradeshow and expo industry. From design tools to scheduling software, AI is demonstrating its current and future influence.
Las Vegas briefs this month point to steady convention demand, major sports and entertainment planning, and milestone moments for Strip properties as May’s tradeshow calendar
Orlando briefs this month track convention activity at major venues, strong theme park performance, visitor safety planning, and long-term airport investments as Central Florida moves toward a busy summer season.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a fringe experiment reserved for Silicon Valley labs or sci-fi think pieces. It is actively reshaping industries that once seemed immune to automation—creative fields included. Architecture firms are using generative design tools to explore thousands of structural options in minutes. Fashion brands are testing AI-generated collections.
In the tradeshow and live-events industry, work happens under fixed deadlines and in temporary conditions. Crews arrive, build complex environments, and operate with little margin for error. In that context, preparation matters as much as execution. One way the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) approaches readiness is through physical, hands-on environments that reflect the constraints of the jobsite.
I talk to mid-market CEOs every week who’ve done everything right on paper. They bought the tools. Hired the people. Launched the pilots. Gave the all-hands speech about transformation.
Six months later, the meeting notes look better. The emails are more polished. And the organization is still slow, still noisy, still stuck in the same decision loops it was stuck in before they spent the money.
Over a year ago, in my January ’25 column, titled The Future of Tradeshows, I wrote:
“The Department of Defense began funding AI research in the sixties. Today, AI enhances communication and accelerates analysis and content production. It can impact all phases of a tradeshow: from improving security and event planning, to logistics and production.
International briefs this month span venue operations, certifications, sustainability tools, congress growth, destination marketing, and event technology across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
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.
Before Disneyland and Epcot Center, before travelling carnivals, local amusement parks, and modern-day convention centers, there was the great grandaddy of all entertainment destinations—the Midway Plaisance at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The place was a mile long, 73 acres in size, and “midway” between Jackson Park (home to the Fair) and Washington Park.
