Freeman, a provider of integrated services for face-to-face marketing events, has announced that it is selling Fern Exposition & Event Services to Fern’s COO, Aaron Bludworth and an investment group. Freeman purchased Fern in June 2011 as part of the Wheelhouse Solutions acquisition, and Fern has remained an independent brand since that time.
Fern is a national contractor, serving more than 1,000 expositions and events annually throughout the United States and Canada. The company has been in business for more than 100 years.
“During the past year, Freeman’s leadership team evaluated the two companies’ strategic goals and advantages, and it became clear that it was in the best interest of both companies for Fern to continue operating as a standalone entity,” said Joe Popolo, CEO of Freeman.
The two organizations will continue to partner in several markets to ensure that the day-to-day experience for customers, vendors and employees will be unchanged by the shift in ownership.
“I am excited to represent Fern employees in this purchase and to continue providing our customers with outstanding service and solutions,” said Aaron Bludworth, COO of Fern.
Bludworth’s career in the exposition industry began in 1992 with Modern Exposition Services where he filled numerous executive positions, including executive vice president. He was also an executive at GES in Las Vegas, where he managed the National Corporate Events Group and oversaw Las Vegas tradeshow sales.
Bludworth is also a past president of the Exhibition Services and Contractors Association, a board member of the International Center for Exhibitor and Event Marketing, and a council member of the Convention Industry Council .
Freeman and Fern both began as family businesses and while they’ve taken different paths, the values that defined them at inception are the same values that drive them today – values such as customer focus and employee relations.
Both companies chose not to disclose financial information related to this transaction.
