submitted by Amy Humbert, Communication Exhibits
Communication Exhibits, Inc., (CEI), a Canal Fulton, OH-based custom face-to-face marketing services agency, has announced the passing of the torch from past President Scott McLaughlin, to his son, Erik. This appointment represents the third generation in the role for the company which was founded by Erik’s grandfather, Richard (Dick) McLaughlin, 47 years ago.
The appointment was effective October 1, 2024.
Although Scott is giving the presidential reigns to Erik, he is remaining on as owner and CEO. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I plan to guide the next generation, to be a shepherd, to keep the sheep safe and protect what we have built together.”
Erik most recently has served as the company’s CFO, working with his father to lead CEI through the pandemic when other companies in the live events industry couldn’t survive the financial pressures.
“I have literally grown-up in this company and this industry, and I have been fortunate to have the support and guidance of great mentors and colleagues, many of whom I still work alongside daily,” Erik said, adding that employee number two still works at the company. “My grandfather’s vision was not just about profit, but about serving our employees and their families, just as my father has done after him. They both believed in business as a force for good – for our families, our communities, and our partners.”
“Learning the purpose of business from them, and getting to work alongside my father the past 10 years, has been the best professional experience of my life. I’ll forever be grateful for it.”
Dick McLaughlin, who originally worked in the trade show industry in Chicago, started CEI in 1977 in Barberton and soon moved to Canal Fulton where his family had built canal boats a century before. His son, Scott, started as his father’s accountant, helping during college breaks while working on his CPA. “My dad kept his receipts in a shoebox back in those days,” he shared. “He didn’t really know if he made money or not until I balanced the books. It soon became apparent that I would also need to become a salesman.”
“Eventually, we needed someone to have a vision and take the company into the future. I told my dad we needed a President, to which he said, ‘Congratulations’,” Scott continued. “I was 28 years old at the time, and now, 35 years later, I’ve learned it’s all about people management – getting the right people in the right seats – and relationships with customers, with suppliers, and with partners. With that, you can enjoy positive performance and growth.”
The company has continued to grow and expand service offerings, now providing custom immersive experiences for small and large companies, including, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, The J. M. Smucker Co., American Greetings, Bendix, and Sherwin Williams. The business office and 12 warehouses storing client inventory are all in Canal Fulton, offering design, fabrication, interactive, printing, installation, and storage for custom trade show booths, lobbies, museums, digital sales tools, and corporate events.
Erik McLaughlin earned his Bachelor’s Degrees in Finance and Accounting at Miami University’s Farmer School of Business. Following graduation, he spent three years with KeyBank Capital Markets where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions as part of the Investment Banking division. He joined CEI in 2015, initially focused on developing CEI’s interactive products division before assuming the role of CFO in 2018.
Now responsible for guiding the company which has been in his family for nearly a half-century, CEI’s new President is looking optimistically into the future.
“As we move forward, our focus will remain on Employee Wellness, Customer Satisfaction, Community Engagement, Stable Growth, and Sustainability. We will continue to fight against the monopolization and inflation in our industry, ensuring that we stay competitive and true to our values.”
“I am eager to lead our company into its next chapter,” Erik said of his third-generation responsibilities, “honoring our legacy of superior craftsmanship and desire to deliver outstanding products and services, while also forging a path for future generations.”
About Communication Exhibits
Communication Exhibits, Inc., (CEI), located in Canal Fulton, OH, offers premium face-to-face marketing services enabling clients to gain results from trade shows, corporate events, environments, and field sales teams. With a heritage of superior craftsmanship and desire to deliver outstanding products and services, CEI provides strategic insight, leading-edge technology, and creative space fabrication to nearly 250 clients ranging from privately-owned small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. In-house industrial designers, graphic production and design specialists, and interactive technology experts, design unique customer experiences that inspire, educate, and engage audiences to create lasting impressions and accelerate sustainable growth.
