by Kerstan Szczepanski, Exhibit City News
stevensE3 is a Canadian exhibit house that serves clients across both Canada and the United States. Founded over 95 years ago, the company has remained under the stewardship of the Stevens family throughout its entire existence. However, stevensE3 is not just known for its exhibits, environments, and events. In recent years, the stevensE3 Golf Outing has also gained notable recognition.
The Golf Outing has been a tradition for 12 years, though it experienced a hiatus during the pandemic. This year, stevensE3 reinstated this team building and client event. Andrew Stevens, the Account/Project Manager and a fourth-generation member of the Stevens family, discussed the origins of the outing: “It was conceived as a way to provide the team with a day of enjoyment and also to express management’s gratitude for the hard work they contribute year-round.” This event is in addition to the annual Boss Cooks and Christmas Dinner, which the company hosts for its staff each year.
But the tradition has expanded beyond its initial scope. Andrew Stevens explained, “(The Golf Outing) has evolved over the years to include our suppliers. We also invite them to sponsor gifts so that we can send every attendee home with a small token of appreciation. The event has now become not only a gesture of thanks to our staff, but also an opportunity to welcome our suppliers and allow them to meet our team while enjoying some time on the course with the stevensE3 team.”
Stevens further elaborated, “We organized a best ball game, and the team with the lowest score was led by our Operations Manager, Mike Hughes. The team included Stan Wasylchuk, Business Development Manager for Transport N’ Service, Mike Boone, Director of International Business & Tradeshow Consultant at Coastal International, and Sid from our office. They achieved a remarkable -5 on the course, with a score of 42 on a par 47.”
Mike Boone shared his excitement about finally attending the employee/vendor appreciation event after attempting to participate for 12 years. He said, “I’ve been sending gifts to the event, and this year I can finally participate and have a chance to win a prize. It’s an excellent team-building event. We come together to celebrate our successes and have a great time. What’s more, I was thrilled to see Cam and his wife back after a year-long journey around the world by water.”
Several companies sponsored prizes for the event, including Coastal International, Transport n’ Service, Traffic Tech, EM Plastics, G&S Electrical, Coast 2 Coast, Octanorm, Best Systems, Brumark, ND Graphics, and Richelieu. Additionally, 3M and stevensE3 sponsored filler prizes, as well as the Hole in 1 prize (if achieved) and the golf course challenges such as Straightest Drive, Closest Putt, and Closest to the Pin from the Tee.
Speaking about the golf course, the Dorchester Golf and Country Club, Andrew Stevens shared his personal favorite, “It’s not only beginner-friendly but has also undergone numerous improvements over the years. Initially a 9-hole course, the previous owners expanded it into an 18-hole course, featuring several Par 3 holes.” The most significant change occurred when the current owners acquired the club in 2018 and transformed it into a 12-hole course. “This layout is ideal for an event like ours,” Stevens commented. “It offers a quicker game and, since many of our participants are beginners, it’s a very accommodating course for those who aren’t regular players.”
Today, having a business like StevensE3 thrive within the family for four generations is a remarkable achievement. Reflecting on this legacy, Andrew Stevens shared, “Stevens was established in 1927 as a sign painting company by my great-grandfather, Henry Archibald Stevens. He gradually shifted the focus towards tradeshows until my grandfather, Doug Stevens, joined in 1958. They collaborated for 13 years until Henry’s passing due to brain cancer, leaving Doug to lead the company in 1971. Doug continued as its head until my father, Cam Stevens, joined in the 1980s and assumed the role of president in 1997. Mike Hughes and I have managed the home office as Cam and my mother enjoy my mother’s retirement trip (while Cam keeps us in line from afar), exploring the Canadian and American waterways aboard their boat!”
The stevensE3 2023 Golf Outing exemplifies how a family-oriented company goes the extra mile to care for its people—both employees and clients, united in a spirit of camaraderie.
