The International Association of Exhibitions and Events announces the selection of Susan Schwartz, CEM, as its 2020 Legend of the Industry. Each year, the Legend of the Industry is selected from IAEE members whose contributions, innovation and leadership have been truly unique and remarkable. She was honored during the IAEE Virtual Leadership Conference held Aug. 6-7, which included a modified program component for Krakoff Leadership Institute attendees.
“Susan was very helpful to me when I first joined the IAEE Board,” says 2020 IAEE Chairperson Bob McLean, CPA, CAE, CEM, executive vice president of the Promotional Products Association International. “Her insights and willingness to question and challenge activities demonstrated what an active and engaged board member looks like. She exemplifies the dedication and quality of work that makes the exhibitions and events industry a great one, and we are fortunate to have her. I am pleased to present her with this distinguished honor, of which she is a most deserving recipient.”
Schwartz is managing director and co-founder of ConvExx, an independent exhibition management company in Henderson, Nev. This culminates a career of nearly 30 years in the exhibition industry in which she has been involved in all aspects of exhibition management including marketing, operations and sales.
Schwartz graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1989. She began her exhibition career in 1991 at Epic Enterprises in San Diego, Calif. She received her Certified in Exhibition Management designation in 1990. She and her husband, Chuck, moved to Las Vegas in 1997 to manage a tradeshow housing company, Housing On-Line, where she served as director of sales until 2000. The Schwartz family began ConvExx in 2001, and today, ConvExx manages exhibitions and conventions in the TradeShow Top 200.
Schwartz joined IAEE in 1984 and holds a prolific service record that includes serving on more than 20 IAEE committees, task forces and councils. She has also served on the IAEE Board of Directors, Center for Exhibition Industry Research Board of Directors and Exhibition Industry Foundation Board of Trustees in various capacities including officer positions. At the local level, she has chaired the IAEE Southwest chapter.
Schwartz has been recognized with various industry awards including IAEE’s Chapter Merit Award in 1998 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2003. She has also received the Woman of Distinction Award from the Nevada Association of Women Business Owners.
Currently, Schwartz is a member of IAEE’s CEM Faculty and teaches CEM courses both nationally and internationally. She was also a contributing author to the fifth edition of IAEE’s textbook, The Art of the Show, An Introduction to Exhibition Management.
“It is a true honor to be considered as a Legend of the Industry by IAEE,” says Schwartz. “It’s been my privilege and pleasure to work in this exciting industry—even in these challenging times—where one moment you are sitting in a room strategizing on next year’s marketing plan and two minutes later you are on the show floor checking aisle carpet. Always new challenges, always new experiences—it does make the years go by. A legend is also a key to a map—so hopefully I can continue to be a key in others’ successes in this industry.”
Click here to watch the interview with 2020 IAEE Legend of the Industry Susan Schwartz, CEM.
IAEE extends a special thank you to its 2020 KLI partners:
- Title Partner: Synchronicities – a three-city partnership between Visit Anaheim, Visit Baltimore and Visit San Antonio
- Host Partners: Salt Lake Marriott City Center Hotel and Visit Salt Lake
Trusted since 1928, IAEE provides quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE, and the organization advocates and promotes the awareness of face-to-face exhibitions and events as the primary medium for business development and growth. IAEE provides relevant, timely, and innovative education to its members and the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: 4imprint, BearCom, Buttine Exhibition Insurance, Convention News Television (CNTV), New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Personify – A2Z Events, Streampoint Solutions and Synchronicities (Visit Anaheim, Visit Baltimore and Visit San Antonio). For more info, visit www.iaee.com.
