Industry veterans join Nexxtshow team

NexxtShow, the service-focused tradeshow partner to leading association and corporate professionals, announced that two industry veterans have joined its senior management team.


Sheri Ryder has joined NexxtShow as vice president and chief information officer. John Szymczak has joined NexxtShow as executive vice president.

“We are thrilled to have Sheri and John on the NexxtShow leadership team,” said Matthew Epstein, NexxtShow president. “Their expertise, reputations and relationships in the industry are unmatched. They believe strongly in our new model and are committed to helping us deliver a higher level of service, a higher level of show manager and exhibitor satisfaction, and greater efficiency from start to finish.”

Ryder is responsible for establishing the service culture and supporting the technological vision of NexxtShow. For the past 15 years, Ryder worked for one of the largest general service contractors in the country, Champion Exposition Services. She began her career overseeing the rapid development of both the exhibitor services and finance departments and, more recently, served as chief technology officer providing vision and leadership for all technology initiatives.

“I am leveraging my experience to ensure that NexxtShow’s culture of unsurpassed service resonates with each and every one of our customers,” says Ryder. “We’re building a great team with great commitment to delivering the best customer experience in the industry. That energizes me and I know it will energize our customers as well.”

Szymczak brings more than 21 years of industry marketing, sales and account service experience to NexxtShow most recently serving as Vice President of National Accounts at Champion Exposition Services.

Szymczak’s adventure in the trade show industry began shortly after graduating from college when he accepted a position with Andrews Bartlett. Displaying a feel for the industry early, Szymczak took what he learned in his first training program and fine-tuned the process to create the company’s first account-executive training course. When Andrews Bartlett was purchased by GES in 1994, he became a Senior National Account Executive and opened and managed the company’s Philadelphia office.

“My formula for success is simple. I ask myself, ‘Is this is in the best interest of my customer?’ And if it is, I do it,” says Szymczak. “If you listen carefully and provide exceptional service to your show managers and exhibitors, everything will turn out great.”