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Summer 2003
The George E. Fern Company Heats Things Up at Fire Department Instructors Conference
Long-standing Partnership Makes Event's Production a Work of Art
Mid-America Trucking Show Rolls into Louisville
Columbus, Ohio Celebrates in Grand Style
Dedication and Experience Lead to Quailty Service
A Fern Feat
Partnering for Success
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The George E. Fern Company Heats Things Up at Fire Department Instructors Conference
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With
almost 25,000 attendees from all aspects of the firefighting industry attending
the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, IN, on April
3-5, it was a very HOT event to say the least. Filling the entire Indiana Convention
Center, there were 866 exhibitors covering approximately 292,000 net square feet,
displaying everything from hoses to fire trucks to safety equipment. According
to Jennifer Spitzer, event planner from PennWell, the company that manages the
convention, you can find anything related to the firefighting industry at this
show |
| “In
addition to the typical seminars and exhibits that take place at conventions,
the FDIC hosts hands-on training for firefighters. These training sessions take
place off show site and can consist of a live burn, where the firefighters have
the opportunity (in a controlled environment) to set fire to a designated house
or building and practice extinguishing using different products and techniques
or even blindfolding the firefighters while simulating a fire and smoke to practice
getting out of a building safely if the smoke is too thick. |
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“We are very happy with the George
E. Fern Company’s work,” said Spitzer. “It is a huge team effort
to put a show of this magnitude together and the George E. Fern staff does a wonderful
job.” Erica Wells, the account
executive with the George E. Fern Company, always enjoys working on this show.
According to Wells, the George E. Fern team is responsible for setting up many
aspects of the convention, such as the exhibitor booths, the registration area,
two entrance units and a marketplace where industry-related souvenirs such as
books and t-shirts are sold. |
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Longstanding
Partnership Makes Event's Production a Work of Art |
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Everyone
from pre-school teachers to museum curators to college professors gathered at
the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, MN April 4-8. Only one event
could bring such a wide range of people to one place – the National Art Education
Association (NAEA) Annual Convention. At this year’s NAEA convention there
were a total of nearly 3,000 attendees and exhibiting personnel. There were also
over 900 educational sessions and events at the convention, offering something
for just about everybody.
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 “According
to Dr. Thomas Hatfield, executive director of the NAEA, “People involved
in education come from all over to attend the convention. Everyone from art education
coordinators, state department of education employees, members of arts councils
… we even had some librarians this year.”
Mitch
Isaacs of CE South/George E. Fern Company has worked on this show for many years.
Before him his father, Nate Isaacs, serviced the convention, making for over 25
years of NAEA convention experience. “What makes this show different is that
the attendees are genuinely enthusiastic about attending the exhibit portion of
the show,” said Isaacs. “The convention always draws a great mix of
creative and interesting people.”
“When
you have worked with someone for as many years as we have worked with the CE South/George
E. Fern Company, it is a team effort,” said Hatfield. “Working as a
team, the CE South/George E. Fern Company and the NAEA have this convention down
to a work of art.” |
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Mid-America
Trucking Show Rolls Into Louisville
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| Filling
over 1 million square feet of exhibit space at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition
Center in Louisville, KY, the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is considered the
foremost event in the trucking industry. Held March 20-22, show management declared
the 32nd annual MATS an all-around success. |
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The
George E. Fern Company has been working with MATS since its inception in 1971.
"To put on a great show, it is a team effort. We have developed a close, working
relationship with the George E. Fern Company and without it we wouldn't have such
a great show," said Toby Young, vice president of Exhibit Management Associations,
Inc. "The George E. Fern Company always comes through for us in a pinch during
the show." | |
There
were 1,037 exhibiting companies from 44 states and 11 foreign countries at this
year's MATS. Attendance for this year's show increased by 2,000 from the previous
year, with a grand total of over 70,000 attendees representing all 50 states and
over 40 countries. | |
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“This
show is one of my favorites,” said Jeff Hall, account executive for the George
E. Fern Company. He has worked on MATS for 16 years. “One of the most challenging
things about this show is the sheer magnitude of people who attend and exhibit,”
said Hall. Naturally, since this is a trucking show there is a huge number of
large vehicles on display. According to Hall, “It’s always a task to
get them all inside and ready for the show opening.” |
With
the increased attendance and exhibitors, show management was extremely pleased
with the turnout. “We look forward to working with the George E. Fern Company
team in March 2004 in Louisville,” said Young. “We appreciate all their
hard work and effort in making MATS a success.”
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Columbus,
Ohio Celebrates in Grand Style
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| The
Greater Columbus Convention Center has much to celebrate on the occasion of its
10th anniversary in 2003.
Completed in 1993, the Greater Columbus Convention
Center recently finished an $85-million expansion, bringing its total to 1.7 million
square feet of convention, meeting and conference space. Additions include 120,000
square feet of exhibit space, a 15,000-square-foot ballroom, 11 new meeting rooms
and more than 1,100 parking spaces. In addition, more than 100,000 square feet
of meeting space, shops and restaurants were upgraded. |
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The convention center
now offers clients 426,000 square feet of exhibit space, two ballrooms and a total
of 61 meeting rooms. Easy access to 33 loading docks at the rear of the building
is afforded by an exit ramp directly off I-670.More
than 300 events are held annually in the Greater Columbus Convention Center, which
welcomes more than 2.5 million guests per year.
The
convention center is located in the heart of the city, with exciting entertainment
districts, top-notch sports, and superb shopping and dining within easy walking
distance.
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With four nearby neighborhoods
filled with restaurants, bars, boutiques and galleries, there’s a lot going
on in and around the convention center. Just one block west is the Arena District,
Columbus’ hottest new destination. Here are great restaurants, hip bars,
the state-of-the-art Arena Grand movie theater, and PromoWest Pavilion, an indoor/outdoor
concert venue – all built around the new Nationwide Arena, home to the National
Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
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brief stroll north is the Short North Arts District. The artsy, eclectic urban
neighborhood – marked by 17 lighted arches spanning High Street – features
countless avant-garde galleries, quirky boutiques and specialty shops, along with
highly regarded restaurants and popular nightspots.
At
the south end of downtown, the historic German Village and the adjacent Brewery
District are also convenient areas for the best in dining, shopping and entertainment.
The charmingly restored German Village features brick sidewalks lined with renovated
homes, quaint shops and restaurants. The Brewery District lives up to its name
with an extensive selection of restaurants and bars that serve up tempting brews
and equally tempting food.
For
information or a Columbus Convention, Meeting & Event Planning Guide, contact
Shellie O’Toole, director of convention sales & convention services,
at the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, 614-222-6105, visit
www.ExperienceColumbus.com or contact the George E. Fern Company’s Columbus
office at 614-253-1500. |
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Dedication and Experience Lead to Quailty Service |
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The
length of service and experience of many George E. Fern Company employees is a
major factor in assuring continued customer satisfaction. The George E. Fern Company
is grateful to these individuals and the clients who have supported them in their
success.
The following employees celebrate milestone anniversaries with the
George E. Fern Company and its affiliates in 2003:
40 Years
George
Budig30 Years
Bob Koenig
Fred Schmidt 20 Years
Duncan
Browder
Joe Villarreal |
15
Years
Kay Chitwood
Jennifer Fiske
Mitch Isaacs
Mickey McNulty
Nancy
Totherow
Marty Usher |
10
Years
Gayle Brown
Ashley Clos
Mark Greisl
Bill Nicholson
Dana
Roehrig
Gregg Shope
Erica Wells
Lawrence Wren |
5 Years
Mark Conn
Cynthia
Cornell
Dusti Cunningham
Thomas Fisher
Greg Holcomb
James Knudtson
Charles
Landon
Greg Pignatiello
Joshua Shelton
Angela Thornsberry
Waldemar
Wilczynski |
Fred
Schmidt, carpet warehouse manager, has been a key part of the George E. Fern Company
team for 30 years. |
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A Fern Feat |
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Kansas
City Office Receives Award
The
George E. Fern Company Kansas City office was selected to receive a Brick-by-Brick
Award from the Kansas City Industrial Council (KCIC). The KCIC gives these awards
to recognize and honor individuals, organizations and companies that have contributed
to the growth and stability of Kansas City’s industrial areas.
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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 upcoming events.
•
Performance Racing Industry Tradeshow–
Annually in December 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 in Indianapolis, IN.
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Country Radio Seminar – Annually in February
2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 in Nashville, TN.
•
National Association of College & University Food
Service – July 2004 in Las Vegas, NV and July 2005 in New Orleans,
LA. • Association
of Operative Millers – Annually in May, 2003 in Pittsburgh, PA;
2004 in Wichita, KS; 2005 in Nashville, TN.
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Fire Department Instructors Conference –
Annually in March 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Indianapolis, IN.
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Power Show Ohio – Annually in January
2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Columbus, OH.
•
International Technology Education Association
– March 2004 in Albuquerque, NM and April 2005 in Kansas City, MO.
•
Beauty Systems Group – Barnum Fashion
Focus – April 2003 in Cleveland, OH; Davidson Fashion Focus – April
2003 in Seven Springs, PA; Victory Fashion Focus – September 2003 in Chicago,
IL; Service Fashion Focus – Covington, KY in September 2003; Loeffler Fashion
Focus – Buffalo, NY in October 2003.
•
Law School Forum – July 2003 & 2004
in Washington D.C.; September 2003 & 2004 in Chicago, IL & New York, NY;
October 2003 & 2004 in Atlanta, GA & Boston, MA; November 2003 & 2004
in Houston, TX, Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA.
•
Tennessee Hospital Association Tradeshow –
Annually in October 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Nashville, TN.
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