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Fall 2003
Creativity, Teamwork Add Up
to Success
American
Correctional Association Gathers in Nashville, Tennessee
for 133rd Congress
of Correction
American
Legion Celebrates Veterans' Contributions
Focus on a World Class Facility in a Growing City; Expansions,
Renovations
to put Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in the Top Ranks of
National Facilities
The
George E. Fern Company Honors Clients and Others
Partnering
for Success
The Industry
Speaks
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Creativity,
Teamwork Add Up to Success |
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The Insurance Accounting Systems Administration's (IASA) Annual Educational
Conference and Business Show was held in Denver, Colorado, June 1-4. This year
marked the 75th anniversary of the convention, and the theme - “Learn more.
Achieve more”- was reflected during all meetings and activities throughout
the convention.
During the convention the 2,200 attendees heard from
exciting speakers, participated in educational classes (where they could receive
credit for the courses) and visited the exhibit area, which consisted of approximately
300 booths. Companies of all sizes exhibited, displaying everything from the latest
in accounting and insurance software technology to individual consulting firms. |
“This
is a fun show to produce,” said Jennifer Fiske, account executive for George
E. Fern Company/C.E. South, who has worked on the show for four years. “Each
year IASA chooses a different theme for the conference, and part of the George
E. Fern Company’s job is to help carry it out throughout the show. I really
like that I get to be creative with this show.”
Fiske and her
team helped transform IASA’s management booth, which is placed in the center
of the show floor so it is easily accessible, into an old-fashioned park. This
area included a peanut vendor, brass band, “turf” floor covering, park
benches and a gazebo. “It was a huge hit,” said Fiske.
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“I consider Jennifer and her staff an extension of my team,” said
Margaret McKeon, convention director. “The George E. Fern Company is a great
asset.”
On Wednesday morning of the show attendees had the opportunity
to hear international fraud expert, Frank Abagnale, speak. Abagnale’s life
experiences inspired the movie, “Catch Me If You Can.” Abagnale has
been associated with the FBI for over 25 years now and lectures extensively for
them.
The George E. Fern Company staff look forward to joining the
IASA in Las Vegas for the 2004 conference. |
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The
George E. Fern Company served as the official contractor for the ACA's Congress
of Correction at the beautiful Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. |
The American Correctional Association holds its conventions biannually
in January and August. They are geared towards educating and keeping all people
working in and around the corrections industry informed. The ACA's 133rd Congress
of Correction was held August 9-13 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
The George E. Fern Company is the official contractor for both the January and
August conventions. "The George E. Fern Company is awesome to work with,"
said Audrey Wingo, assistant director of conventions for the ACA. "They always
work hard to get the attendees and the exhibitors everything they need when they
need it." "The George E. Fern Company makes sure to accommodate everyone involved
in all aspects of the show," said Marge Restivo, director of conventions for the
ACA.
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are two aspects to this convention in August. The first is an exhibit area where
companies showcase products related to the corrections industry. Everything from
telecommunications systems, metal detectors and drug testing kits to barbed wire
is on display here. The second aspect of the convention consists of various workshops
to keep the guards, wardens, sheriffs, corrections officers, directors of corrections
and the police officers who attend up to date on what is new in the corrections
industry. The workshops offer topics from healthcare and focus leadership and
terrorism to managing the unimaginable.
During the summer convention,
there is always a new car giveaway. Part of the George E. Fern Company’s
job is to construct staging for this car in order for convention attendees to
view it. A hauling company transports the car to the stage and then after the
winner is chosen, he or she drives the car home. | 
Opryland
Hotel is the largest non-gaming hotel property in the United States, with 2,884
rooms and 288,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. Nashville
was ranked 11th in EXPO Magazine's list of the 25 most popular U.S. and Canadian
cities for Tradeshows. |
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| The world’s
largest veterans organization, The American Legion, held its 85th National Convention
this year in St. Louis, Missouri, August 22-28. The George E. Fern Company was
on hand to help make the event a success.
“It is a
complete team effort to put this convention together,” said Dick Holmes,
director of national meetings and conventions for The American Legion. “The
George E. Fern Company is a big player on that team. Over the years I have developed
an outstanding professional, as well as personal, relationship with the staff
at The George E. Fern Company.”
Each year the American Legion’s
National Convention is held in different locations throughout the U.S. Next year
the convention will be held in Nashville, Tennessee; in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2005;
Salt Lake City, Utah in 2006; Reno, Nevada in 2007; and Phoenix, Arizona in 2008.
With the George E. Fern Company, no matter where the event takes place, you will
always work with your experienced account executive. |
| People attend the
convention from all over the United States, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Mexico
and France. Many meetings were held throughout the course of the convention for
committees such as the Internal Affairs Commission, Aerospace Committee and the
Defense Civil Preparedness Committee. On Saturday of the convention there were
52 simultaneous meetings, requiring careful coordination and accurate signage. The
George E. Fern Company’s Steve Trent has worked with the American Legion
Convention for nine consecutive years. “This show is great not only because
it is a chance for the members of the American Legion to gather and discuss important
topics, but it is a reunion of friends as well,” said Trent, general manager
of the Indianapolis office. “It has been a great experience to watch the
convention develop over the years.” |
|  | In
addition to the typical meetings and speakers that took place, there were a health
fair, a trade show, formal dinners and a parade. At the health fair this year,
attendees could be screened for prostate cancer and diabetes, have their cholesterol
checked and donate blood.
The tradeshow was held during the first four
days of the convention and featured everything from emblem sales to commercial
products. “The George E. Fern Company has really contributed to the growth
of the trade show over the years,” said Holmes. “It would not be as
successful as it is without their help.” |
Each year the American
Legion’s National Convention is held in different locations throughout the
U.S. Next year the convention will be held in Nashville, Tennessee; in Honolulu,
Hawaii in 2005; Salt Lake City, Utah in 2006; Reno, Nevada in 2007; and Phoenix,
Arizona in 2008. With the George E. Fern Company, no matter where the event takes
place, you will always work with your experienced account executive. |
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The
Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center (KFEC) in Louisville will soon be ranked among
the top national convention and meeting facilities. A $53-million expansion of
the KFEC began this fall. Currently, the KFEC lacks a significant amount of “Class
A” (high ceilings, excellent lighting and utility floorports in a column-free
environment) exhibit space in comparison to other facilities in its class. | | 
Expansion
of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center has begun. | | The
first phase of the project calls for adding 166,500 sq. ft. of “Class A”
exhibit space and 57,000 sq. ft. of additional meeting and conference space and
a larger reception area to the South Wing. Over 300 parking spaces will be added
during this phase as well. This phase is slated to be finished in 2005.
The
second phase includes renovating existing space. The East Wing and East Hall,
part of the original facility constructed in 1956, will be transformed into “Class
A” exhibit space by reducing 96 columns to five, raising ceiling height to
27 feet, and constructing large registration and reception areas connecting to
Freedom Hall concourses. Freedom Hall is KFEC’s arena that is used for basketball,
concerts, ice events, circuses, wrestling, tradeshows, conventions, horse shows
and other large-scale productions. The expansion will increase “Class A”
exhibit space to 690,700 sq. ft. from 259,200 sq. ft.
“These
expansion plans are vital for present and future business,” said Harold Workman,
President & CEO of the Kentucky State Fair Board. “The expansion is a
positive and natural progression for the facility and secures the future of the
facility as a leading tradeshow and convention destination.”
The
KFEC is only minutes from downtown Louisville, which is changing and growing as
well. Construction has begun on a long-awaited $70-million project to transform
the Louisville Galleria, an urban mall, into “Fourth Street Live,” an
entertainment hub that will include a Hard Rock Café and Borders Books
& Music, as well as other restaurants and nightclubs. | |
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| | | Congratulations
to the 50 fastest-growing trade-shows! The George E. Fern Company is a sponsor
of “Celebrating Success,” a Tradeshow Week magazine event, which will
honor those companies in Houston November 7-9. The festivities include a golf
outing; welcome reception at Landry’s Aquarium; mini-conference headlined
by Continental Airlines Chairman/CEO Gordon M. Bethune; black-tie dinner and awards
presentation at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston and Sunday morning brunch at Reliant
Stadium, home of the Houston Texans and the 2004 Super Bowl. If you own, manage
or run a tradeshow, be sure to register today at www.TSWFastest50.com. | | |
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The
George E. Fern Company serves as the official exposition contractor for more than
800 events annually. Here is a partial list of upcoming events... •
Electrical Manufacturing & Coil Winding
- September 2003, 2004 & 2006; October 2005 in Indianapolis, IN. •
Powder Coating - September 2004 in
Charlotte, NC & September 2005 in Indianapolis, IN. •
Building Component Manufacturing Conference
- Annually in October 2003 in Phoenix, AZ; 2004 in Charlotte, NC; 2005 in Milwaukee,
WI. • Athlectic
Equipment Managers - Annually in June 2005 in Orlando, FL; 2006 in
Buffalo, NY; 2007 in Reno, NV. •
Wisconsin Manufacturing Machine Tool Expo
- September 2003 in Milwaukee, WI. •
Supply Chain World, North American - March
2004 in Chicago, IL; April 2005
in Anaheim, CA. •
Indiana Veterinary Medical Association - January
2004, 2005 & 2006 in Indianapolis, IN.
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The Industry Speaks
“You
all are the best! Thank you for your diligent efforts, patience, flexibility and
undying support ... Sprint is fortunate to have vendors that care so much about
its business, customers and employees. It is apparent in the work and the high
level of service that each of you provides that you view your work and collaboration
with Sprint as more than just the typical client/vendor relationship ... you view
yourself as part of the business and your willingness to support in whatever ways
possible are greatly appreciated.”
Andrea
Green
Sprint
Show Site: Dallas, TX “Your
staff works hard every year to make our event easy. I take comfort knowing that
the exhibit area will be set up and well organized by the time that vendors begin
their set up. I also take the same attitude when it comes to dealing with your
staff during the set up time. I look forward to working with the George E. Fern
Co. next year and I’m sure our vendors feel the same way. Thank you again
for another successful tradeshow."
Lori
Landry
Ohio School Food Service Association
Show Site: Columbus, OH “With
the assistance of the Geo. E. Fern Co., we were able to provide one of the best
conventions ever for the thousands of coaches, administrators, supporters and
fans that came to Atlanta to support women’s basketball.”
Beth
Bass
Women’s Basketball Coaches Association
Show Site: Atlanta, GA “What
fun to meet and work with such a great staff. I was impressed with [the George
E. Fern Company’s] willingness to assist people and the strong work ethic
that must pervade the company. Thank you for the excellent service and guidance
during the planning for the conference.”
Janet
Fisher
James H. Quillen College of Medicine Library
Show Site: Chattanooga,
TN | |
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