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News - Summer 2008
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| Industry Veteran Named Chief Operating Officer for George Fern Company |
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The George Fern Company, a leading national service contractor, has announced that Aaron Bludworth has been named Chief Operating Officer.
 “In joining the George Fern Company, I will work with the team to sustain the company’s established business and find new opportunities for growth,” said Bludworth.
Bludworth was previously with GES where he served as vice president of corporate events and vice president of sales for Las Vegas. Before GES, Bludworth served in various management positions with Modern Exposition Services that included responsibility for all exhibition-related services and corporate administration..
“George Fern Company is a great fit for me. They are positioned well within the markets they serve, and the company is staffed with talented people with whom I have been associated with for years. Fern has excellent opportunities for growth, and I am excited to be a part of this organization,” Bludworth said.
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Don Roesch joins George Fern Company Cincinnati Staff
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(Cincinnati, OH, August 6) – The George Fern Company, a leading national service contractor, has announced that Don Roesch has joined the Cincinnati office as Regional Sales Manager. Roesch will oversee the sales efforts at the George Fern Company’s Ohio locations.
Roesch comes to the George Fern Company with a background in the convention and hotel industries having worked with the Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau for nine years and in the hotel industry for ten years.
“The George Fern Company has a reputation of excellent service and quality people,” Roesch said. “This is a great opportunity to be involved with a great company and with people I have known for many years to assist in increasing the sales efforts within this market.”
To contact the George Fern Company’s Cincinnati office, call 513-333-7060.
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George Fern Company recently produced the 60th annual Association of College & University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) Conference and Exposition held at Walt Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, June 21-24. This conference marked a more than 15-year relationship between George Fern Company and ACUHO-I with George Fern Company first servicing this association in 1992..
 “We view the relationship as one of partnering with the association to ensure a successful and trouble-free event for their staff. We can anticipate their needs and offer real solutions before the association staff makes the request or has a situation. We are very close, almost part of the staff itself,” said Bruce Walter, George Fern Company – Columbus. By building a long-standing relationship with the association and its annual exposition, George Fern Company has created a cohesive working atmosphere that serves the client well.
“George Fern Company has gained valuable knowledge and expertise with our show, our attendees and our central office event planners to create a positive experience for all. Each year the George Fern Company offers their advice, opinions and is great at taking care of situations when they arise. Year after year they receive high accolades from our exhibitors,” said Fred Comparato, corporate relations & marketing manager, ACUHO-I.
The ACUHO-I Conference and Exposition drew hundreds of housing professionals, supporting businesses and partners from around the world and is the most comprehensive professional development event of the year for this industry.
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New development will attract conventions and tradeshows to city
Birmingham, AL is looking to bring more conventions and tradeshows to its city with the addition of The Forge, an entertainment district located adjacent to the
Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, Alabama’s largest convention complex. The Forge will include 136,000 square feet of retail, entertainment and hotel space with restaurants and performance venues including clubs owned by Alabama American Idol alums Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard.
 “An ongoing challenge for us and for our patrons has been the lack of restaurant and entertainment options within walking distance of the complex,” said BJCC Executive Director Jack Fields. “We see this as an opportunity to entice more visitors to our city and to be a part of the downtown renaissance that is already happening in Birmingham.”
According to Fields, The Forge will be a much-needed addition to the complex, and the additional hotel space will enable the BJCC to recruit larger conventions.
George Fern Company is the preferred general service contractor for the BJCC, recently producing an early round of the NCAA Men’s National Basketball Championship in the city. The company provided the carpet on the arena floor along with the furniture for the teams, officials and entertainment.“This was a very high-profile event that was televised to millions of viewers. It was exciting to be a part of it,” said Joe Diamond, George Fern Company – Birmingham. |
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The Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance’s WBEA Connections Expo 2008 was held May 21-22 in Houston, TX – a burgeoning market for George Fern Company. Heading the efforts for this first-time George Fern Company client was Michael Triola.
 “It was a truly great feeling to have the George Fern Company team stand behind me and work hand in hand to produce a great show,” Triola said.
The WBEA Connections Expo connects women’s business enterprises with corporate purchasers, governmental agencies and other women-owned businesses for the primary purpose of creating opportunities to work together. The two-day event featured a network with over 1,500 attendees and 145 exhibitors.
Independent planner for WBEA and president of On-Site Partners based in Houston, TX, Sharmagne Taylor has worked with Triola in the hospitality industry for many years when he worked for a George Fern Company competitor. Taylor says they developed a strong business relationship based on trust and a track record of clear communication.
“On-Site Partners’ policy is to do business with our ‘friends’– companies that take the time to understand our needs and provide the highest quality of service,” Taylor said.
When WBEA lost their in-house planner, they were forced to choose between George Fern Company or the competitor which had serviced the show during previous years.
“With an attendance of 1,500 and having grown too large for our previous hall, we did not have time to train a new show manager. Michael not only came to meet with me, but he brought senior management and those who would actually do work on the floor. That’s why we chose George Fern Company,” Taylor said.
“We were able to provide a seamless transition for WBEA. Our entire team puts the customer’s needs first with out-of-the-box thinking for a truly exceptional experience with outstanding service. Our goal on every show, big and small, is to partner in the success of our clients and to become an extension of their staff,” said Triola.
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Greg Pignatiello has been named director of business development for George Fern Company. Based in the company’s Cleveland, Ohio office, he will oversee a variety of new initiatives relating to business development.
Pignatiello has been with George Fern Company for 10 years as a national sales manager.
 Prior to that, he spent 10 years in sales for United and GES. During his 20 years in the industry, he has worked in most major markets, as well as second-tier cities.
“As a member of George Fern Company’s management team, I’ve always been empowered to make decisions regarding the best solutions for clients,” said Pignatiello. “That experience, combined with my knowledge of national markets, has given me the ability to provide quality service to clients. I plan to couple that with my analytical skills to help George Fern Company evaluate and develop best practices to meet the needs of our clients.”
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