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Fall 2001
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And
They're Off - AmeriSource Conference & Expo Races to Success
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AmeriSource
CEO David Yost kicked off the AmeriSource conference& Expo in checkered flag
style. Powered by his pit-crew of AmeriSource committee members, he was pushed
down the front aisle to awaiting attendees. After chugging his victory glass of
milk, he then waved the green flag for attendees to walk down victory land and
the AmeriSource 500 was officially opened.
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Over 3,000 attendees took
a spin around the Opryland Hotel Convention Center in Nashville, TN, July 26-28,
covering more than 30,000 net sq. ft. of exhibit space. Products found in pharmacies,
from cosmetics and medical products to shelving and software, were on display.
Exhibiting companies included Johnson & Johnson, Maybelline, Eastman Kodak
Company, Proctor & Gamble, Sunrise Medical and Bristol-Meyer Squibbs, among
many others.
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Not
only were the exhibits impressive, but there was also entertainment and education.
A pharmacy-based immunization certificate program, recognized by the Center for
Disease Control, was offered, along with services and programs from MedAssess,
Diabetes Shoppe, ECHO and more. A Night on the Delta, the opening party, welcomed
attendees to Nashville with popular foods, bands, face painters and balloon magicians.
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AmeriSource,
a leading distributor of pharmaceutical and related healthcare products, has been
a partner with the George E. Fern Company for nearly a decade. Fueled by the George
E. Fern Company’s resources, the AmeriSource 500 was a winner.
Joe
Montoto, the AmeriSource Conference & Expo Merchandising Chairperson, said,
“The George E.Fern Company always
delivers what they promise with an attractive finished product.”
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Catering
to Collegiate Appetites
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Those
new freshmen wandering around American college campuses this fall may not be missing
mom’s home cooking, thanks to the National Association of College & University
Food Services (NACUFS).
Activities during the NACUFS annual national conference in Cincinnati,
Ohio, July 10-14, included educational sessions on understanding the
college-age market; catering workshops; a tasting tour of Jungle Jim’s
International Farmers Market; new-product introductions and the Culinary
Challenge*, a national competition featuring pork loin, in honor of
Cincinnati’s history in the pork industry.
Sandy Fineis, National Conference Project Manager
with NACUFS, said The George E. Fern Company, which served as the general service
contractor for the tradeshow, stored the meat in refrigerated trucks and set up
the cooking stations for the competition, which was a first-time event this year.
| The tradeshow,
which featured 211 exhibiting companies, showcased food and beverages, kitchen
equipment, computers, menu systems, sign companies, and architectural services.
About 50% of the food and beverage suppliers prepared food in their booths and,
of course, offered samples. After the show, local families benefited when NACUFS
donated 6,936 pounds of food to Cincinnati’s food bank. National celebrities
at the show included the Dole banana and a cow from Chick-Fil-A. |
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Fineis said George
E. Fern Company account executive Sheila Pannell was especially helpful in the
planning stage. “We had worked with Sheila before, and she is very familiar
with our needs,” she said. “She pointed out things I might have missed
that would affect our budget, and she was proactive about the details of the aesthetics
of our event.”
Sheila and the George E. Fern Company will be right there
with Sandy and the NACUFS staff as they plan for the 2002 conference in Orlando.
*
College search tip: In case you are in a position to advise a high school student
who would select a college on the basis of tasty food, the winners of the Culinary
Challenge were from Virginia Tech University, Ohio State University and University
of Georgia.
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Primary
Care from the Fern Company Produces Well-Balanced Event
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Exhibitors
representing family practice residency programs, fellowships, hospitals, placement
services, medical publishers and pharmaceutical companies were discussing the
latest products, services and practices at the National Conference of Family Practice
Residents and Medical Students, July 25-29. Nearly 20 years ago, the conference
consisted of only 50 booths in a hotel ballroom, but has grown to a 450-booth
show in Kansas City’s Bartle Hall.
Sponsored by the American Academy
of Family Physicians (AAFP), the conference was a multi-faceted experience on
the exhibit floor. Over 2,000 attendees could visit Musculoskeletal Clinics, presented
by experts in sports medicine and physical therapy, covering topics such as shoulder,
knee and ankle injuries. Technology World provided computer technology and medical
applications. Also found on the show floor was the AAFP Placement Services and
Resource Center, truly explaining the membership benefits of the association.
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Founded
in 1947, the AAFP strives to preserve and promote quality, cost-effective health
care, advocates patient and public health education, maintains high standards
for family doctors and much more.
Not only does the AAFP have a rich
history, but their relationship with the general service contractor dates back
to 1982. Carrie Rodriguez, show manager, commented, “We have a good working
relationship with the George E. Fern Company staff. We always have a lot of first-time
exhibitors, and the staff is always excellent with making them feel comfortable.”
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Focus
on a Facility
Overland
Park Convention Center Delivers a Full-Service, High-tech Facility
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The
Overland Park Convention Center, located just 15 minutes south of Kansas City,
is set for completion in the December 2, 2002.
This new facility will
offer 237,000 sq. ft. of total space including a 60,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall,
a 25,000-sq.-ft. banquet/multi-purpose facility and 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting
space. The Overland Park Convention Center will be complete with features like
high-speed Internet access, a 25,000-sq.-ft. courtyard, 1,425 parking spaces and
a full-service kitchen. An enclosed, climate-controlled walkway to a Sheraton
Hotel also adds convenience for meetings and conventions at the facility.
Overland Park is minutes away from
the area’s popular attractions, including museums like the Agriculture Hall
of Fame, 18th & Vine Historical Jazz District, professional sporting events
like Kansas City Chiefs football and Kansas City Royals baseball, world-class
shopping and much more. |
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For
information about the Overland Park Convention Center, call 913-451-7400.
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Partnering
for Success
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The
George E. Fern Company serves as the official exposition contractor for more than
900 events annually. Here is a partial list of recent contracts.
• Greater
Kansas City International Auto Show – March, 2002, in
Kansas City, MO.
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Eastern Outdoor Representatives Association –
February and August, 2001, 2003, in Greenville, SC.
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Ohio Veterinary Medical Association – Columbus,
OH, in February, 2002, 2003, and 2004. •
Manufactured Housing Show – Kansas City, MO,
annually in February, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
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Edtech 2001 – Myrtle Beach, SC, in October 2001.
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Easyrider Bike Show – Charlotte, NC, annually
in January, 2002, 2003. •
Wheatbelt Show – September, 2001, in Kansas
City, MO. Back
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