by Jeanne Brei
This week the talk on the tradeshow floor in Chicago is all about celebrating retiring McCormick Place GM David Causton. With official proclamations from both the state’s governor, JB Pritzer, and the city’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot, declaring David Causton Day, hundreds of industry folk went to his Groovy Retirement reception on Dec. 7 to celebrate the 18 years he spent in Chicago as well as his 42-year career in the industry. Seen in the crowd was incoming McCormick Place GM Kelvin Moore, formerly regional vice president & general manager, Official ASM Global based in Philadelphia, Lynn Osmond, president & CEO Choose Chicago, Mark Zimmerman, former GM of Georgia World Congress Center Authority, Gregg Caren, president & CEO at Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kevin McLaughlin, National Business Representative at United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America; Mary Pat Heftman, Principal, MPH Solutions; Global Convention Centers’ Dan Hoffend, Bob McClintock, EVP, Convention Centers at Official ASM Global; Anna Nash, VP, Market Development at ASM Global and many, more industry movers and shakers.
One highlight of the evening was when International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS)’s Peter Eelman (pictured right) presented a photo of David performing for the IMTS exhibitor meeting in a Beatles tribute band with his ukulele.
On the venue’s social media sites was the message: “From your McCormick Place family, David, thank you for your many years of service to not only McCormick Place and the City of Chicago but the entire industry. We will miss you but wish you much success and enjoyment in your new life chapter. Cheers!”
Coming up next is the IAEE conference in Louisville, Kentucky from Dec. 13-15. 
The Exposition Service Contractors Association (ESCA)’s Winter Awards Celebration and Reception will be Dec. 12 at the Louisville Palace Theater and their booth will be at #362. Earlier this year, Mark Zimmerman (formerly GM of Georgia World Congress Center) and Mike Goodwin (formerly GM at Shepard Exposition Services in Baltimore and a partner in REGGEEK) joined the ESCA staff as sales executives focused on ESCA’s Worker Identification System. They are working with ESCA’s existing partners and establishing new venue partners. If your venue isn’t as safe as it could or should be, reach out to one of them at markz@esca.org or mike@esca.org. For more networking, the Women in Exhibitions will host a networking meetup on Dec. 14 at 5:30 pm EST at the Lobby Bar at the Marriott.
Some notable booths to visit include The Invisible Industry’s 49-foot Triune Quad-X mobile trailer which will be on the show floor at booth 343, and Captello Lead Capture & Engagement Software at booth 747 ( IAEE has designed an interactive game experience for show attendees powered by Captello–the Expo! Expo! Derby Race–that will have $25,000 worth of 
grand prizes (including two First Class travel certificates from United Airlines valid for travel within the US48, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, a three-night Stay Omni Hotels anywhere in North America, a $250 USD Omni Master Bill Credit and a Captello gamification prize to implement at your show (if you and your team Win), or an annual subscription to Massage Envy, a $500 USD Amazon Gift Card, 50,000 Complimentary Hilton Honors points and a Ginger Johnson virtual speaking package and ZYX’s of Connecting workshop for your team (if you and your team “Place”) or a $250 USD Amazon Gift card from EpIQ, 50,000 Complimentary Hilton Honors points, a one year Quantum Circle subscription from EpIQ–prize 
valued at $6,000 (if you and your team “Show”). Get your barcode scanner apps ready and find the Derby stops to earn points for the grand prize drawing. By scanning QR Codes with your camera phone at Derby stops throughout the IAEE weekend (at booths, sessions, hotels, parties and more), to earn points–you’ll get a chance to win prizes if you earn 50,000 points or more.
Another not-to-be-missed booth is the CampfireSocial booth #1126. Jim Cermak at the Trade Show University Podcast for Virtual & Live Events says he is super excited to be partnering with Erica Bishaf and CampfireSocial to provide educational and training content for their brand new IGNITE platform designed for exhibitors at tradeshows that are geared for association or events-focused staff. CampfireSocial has launched a free private professional network designed specifically and exclusively for tradeshow exhibitors to grow their leads. After all, they say, there’s never enough time on the show floor to meet with clients AND other industry suppliers. Yet, supplier partnerships can be the key to providing enhanced value to clients.
Because of this, they’re providing access to the first-of-its-kind platform, IGNITE! by CampfireSocial, at no cost, to any show exhibitor or sponsor who sells into the events and association industries. Sign up today to create your profile and grow your pipeline, stay on top of what impacts your peers, and receive the following additional benefits:
*Quarterly reports of exhibiting trends
*Learning opportunities in partnership with Trade Show University Podcast for Virtual & Live Events
*Curated matchmaking for collaboration
*Providers to partner with for RFP responses and co-branded solutions
As Bishaf says, “We believe in the power of collaboration. Welcome to our campfire! Check out our welcome video using Gather Voices technology–an example of the power of collaboration. And you can sign up here: https://lnkd.in/grqQNF3S
Hope to see you at IAEE!
