Mar 10, 2014

Urban Announces Executive Team Restructuring, Management Promotions

As the next phase in its long-term growth strategy, GA-based show management company Urban Expositions has announced new roles and responsibilities for a number of its executive and management gift show team members.

“As we continue to grow, expand and diversify our trade show portfolio, we want to ensure that we continue to uphold the customer service levels and attention to detail that both exhibitors and attendees have come to expect from being part of our events,” said Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. “By expanding the roles and responsibilities of our talented, experienced team members, we have no doubt we will meet and exceed this goal.”

Effective immediately, new positions, roles and responsibilities include:

Donna Guess has been appointed to the newly created position of Vice President of Operations. In this new position, Guess will oversee event operations for all of Urban Expositions trade shows. Guess adds this new role and title to her current responsibilities as vice president/sales management of Urban’s souvenir & resort shows and events. Guess has served as vice president/sales management since 2006. She joined Urban Expositions in 1996 as a sales associate for the Philadelphia Gift Show. In addition, she also provided sales and operations support for a number of other Urban Expositions’ shows before being named show director of the Miami Gift Show in 1998. In 2002, Guess was promoted to executive director of Urban Expositions’ Florida division, in which she coordinated sales and operations for the Miami Gift Show, Orlando Gift Show and Panama City Gift & Resort Merchandise Show.

Dirk von Gal has been promoted to the new position of Industry Vice President of Gift. In this new role, von Gal will work closely with the respective gift show directors, sales and marketing teams to further strengthen these exhibitions from a sales management and strategic planning perspective. Most recently, von Gal was Show Director for the California Gift Show, successfully leading efforts to revitalize and expand the semi-annual event that Urban acquired in 2012. von Gal joined Urban Expositions in 2011, bringing a solid background of strategic planning and analysis acquired from years in the financial services industry.

Leanna John has been promoted to the new position of Group Show Director of Urban Expositions California-based trade events. Events under John’s direction will include the semi-annual editions of the California Gift Show and San Francisco International Gift Fair. In this role, John will oversee the strategic development, sales, vendor relations, operational aspects and the day-to-day management of the two sales teams. John joined Urban Expositions in 2009 as a sales manager for the San Francisco International Gift Fair and was promoted to show director in 2011. John came to Urban Expositions from Atlanta-based ecommerce company Speartek, where she served as the company’s tradeshow manager.

Matt Miller will take on the position of sales manager for the Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show, the national souvenir show for the souvenir and resort gift industry in Las Vegas, NV. Miller will report to Lisa Glosson, show director of the Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Show. Miller joined Urban Expositions in 2010 where he provided sales support on several Urban Expositions shows. In addition to his new responsibilities with the Las Vegas show, he will also continue to serve as the show director for the semi-annual Orlando Gift Show and Orlando Cash & Carry Show as well as the annual Gulf Coast Gift Show in Panama City Beach, FL.

Evan Shoda has been appointed to the West Coast sales team as sales manager for the semi-annual editions of the California Gift Show and San Francisco International Gift Fair. In this new role, Shoda will report to Group Show Director Leanna John and will be responsible for strengthening and growing the show’s exhibitor base in the general gift, world style handcrafted and vintage sections. Shoda joined Urban Expositions in 2011 and worked alongside Matt Miller as a show manager for the Orlando Gift Show and Gulf Coast Gift Show in Panama City Beach. Along with the position of sales manager, Shoda will continue to serve as the ad sales manager for 15 of Urban Expositions trade events.

ABOUT URBAN EXPOSITIONS

Urban Expositions is the largest gift, airport retail and souvenir trade show organizer in the U.S., hosting a total of 34 shows each year. In January of 1996, Urban Expositions launched the semi-annual Philadelphia Gift Show, which has become one of the largest and most successful regional gift events in the nation. Since then, the company has continued to grow through acquisitions and new show development. Based in Kennesaw, GA, Urban Expositions offers a complete roster of trade show management services, including exhibit sales and marketing, operations, exhibitor/ attendee promotions and services, media relations, seminar and event coordination, database development and management. For more information, visit www.urban-expo.com or call 800.318.2238.