Atlanta-based Exhibitus recently announced the addition of several new key team members to the company including Renee Long, Joe Forrest, Alyson Coleman, Bart Sheldon, Brooks Clay, Eric BeVille and Rachel Barrios.
Renee Long, senior account executive, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Emory University in Atlanta and began her career managing shows for Turner Broadcasting Educational Services for two years.
She has been an account executive in the industry more than 19 years. She started and spent many years with the firm Ideas in Atlanta and more recently with Pico Atlanta. Her focus has been working and consulting with a variety of clients to maximize their tradeshow exposure from initial concepts to final results.
Long has direct knowledge of tradeshows and product launches in international markets. She is a hands on account executive, working on the big picture as well as the fine details with her client base which includes companies like Wells Fargo, Eclipsys, Best Medical International, Norbord Industries and HGTV.
In addition to tradeshows, Long has sold and coordinated various retail installations, corporate environments, museum projects and special events.
Joe Forrest, senior account executive, is a 10-year sales and marketing veteran and started his exhibit industry career on the operational side of the business with CDA South before transitioning into an account executive role with Pico Atlanta. This background gives him a strong understanding of what it takes to move a job from concept to completion.
At Exhibitus, he will be responsible for sales and account management for existing and new clients that range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. He oversees and coordinates Exhibitus services for his clients such as exhibit/event design, graphics design, fabrication, budget management, logistical planning and implementation as well as on-site installation and dismantle (I&D) management.
Forrest has extensive experience in managing several of Exhibitus’ Global Accounts including Lexus, Ciba Vision, Panasonic and Yamaha. Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga.
Alyson Coleman, senior account manager, began her career in the tradeshow industry working part time for a general contractor at the age of 16. Her professional career has spanned more than 20 years and encompasses such specialties as event management, project management, marketing communications, tradeshow management, promotional campaigns and public relations.
Having worked in the tradeshow industry on the client side with companies such as NDC Healthcare and Perse as well as on the service side with Pico Atlanta, allows Coleman to bring a complete perspective of the inner workings of successful tradeshow and event management.
Her attention to detail at all levels of service ensures deadlines are met, brand messaging across all shows is consistent, and that the correct property makes it to the show on time and on budget.
Bart Sheldon is a graduate of Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has more than 25 years in experience in the promotional / marketing communications industry and has worked directly for more than 17 years in all phases of exhibit construction with companies such as ACI and Pico Atlanta. During his career, he has developed a wide range of projects for clients in carpet, healthcare, electronics, manufacturing and other industries.
In addition to working on various tradeshow exhibit projects, Bart also has successfully coordinated the completion of large-scale permanent installations at the National Air and Space Museum, product showrooms and two major toy manufacturer product centers in New York. His extensive background includes purchasing, estimating, product development and sales/account management.
Brooks Clay, project manager graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial design and a minor in business management. After graduation, Clay moved almost immediately into the tradeshow and exhibit industry.
He has had several years of experience in the industry in roles ranging from exhibit designer to account and project management, most recently with Expotechnik in Atlanta. Clay has demonstrated an ability to work seamlessly with design, production and sales teams, guide clients through the design, production and installation of individual tradeshow exhibits and events, manage domestic and international large scale projects and focus on building client and vendor relationships.
Clay will be responsible for co-ordination and management of various Exhibitus’ client projects.
Eric BeVille, warehouse manager, graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in business administration. He has more than 14 years experience with special events planning, execution, project and facilities management. In his most recent role at GES Atlanta, BeVille managed personnel and labor planning related to GES warehouse operations while coordinating all operational aspects of pre-show, show-site and post show operations inclusive of freight, logistics, I&D labor and decorating.
BeVille be responsible for co-ordination and planning for all of Exhibitus’ warehouse operations and personnel.
Rachel Barrios, designer/detailer, is a Oregon native and studied mechanical engineering with a concentration in product design at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. From there, she decided to pursue a career in industrial design and was accepted into the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.
While attending the school, Barrios received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award as nominated by her professors. She also was a shop assistant, a position that provided hands-on experience with woodworking and model building – core competencies in our industry.
Since graduation, she has worked at various design houses in the Atlanta area, most recently with Pico Atlanta. She has maintained design and detailing responsibilities with a focus in CAD. Some of her clients have included Yamaha, Time Warner, UGA, Mentor Graphics, CibaVision and Lexus.
“We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to add so many experienced industry professionals to our organization,” said Brad Falberg, president of Exhibitus. “With the addition of these individuals and their capabilities, in combination with the rest of our accomplished personnel, Exhibitus is poised for an aggressive period of growth, for both the company and an enhanced level of service that we can provide for our clients.”
Exhibitus provides branded sales solutions for their clients through environmental marketing applications that include exhibits, events and full-service exhibit program management.
