2013 Board of Directors
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Carolyn Hilderbrand Carolyn Hilderbrand began her career in the industry in 1993. She made the transition from trade show management to audio visual and production management in 1998. Well versed in professionalism and always showing grace under pressure, Carolyn has first-hand experience in producing prestigious events. Her work with the White House Advance Team through various events has earned her a Presidential Letter of Appreciation. When she’s not working hard, you can find her at the lake or in her flower bed, spoiling her basset hound and laughing hard with her family and friends. |
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Kristin Barranger Kristin Barranger, CEM is currently the Manager of Expositions & Communications with ASME International Gas Turbine Institute. She is responsible for the coordination of staff, volunteers and vendors in the sales, planning, promotion, and staging for the annual Turbo Expo exposition as well as other ASME expositions. She also manages the promotion of IGTI member service programs and professional development programs along with all IGTI events and services. She has been with ASME since 2006. |
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Bob Hancock, III Bob Hancock is Director of Client Services at onPeak, a company that specializes in Housing for Events. Bob's responsibilities include managing a team of eight professionals and assist with new sales for the company. He has been in the hospitality industry for 25 plus years in Atlanta. Prior to joining onPeak 5 years ago his background was Hotel Sales and Marketing for different hotels throughout the Atlanta area. |
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Sue McCart Sue McCart is President of HFI, LLC, a company that provides Management, Marketing & Operational Event Based Solutions for trade and professional associations as well as independent show organizers. HFI has been in business since 1997 and Sue has also successfully owned and sold a trade show during that time. Her past includes close to 15 years with the Atlanta Market Center, now AmericasMart, the last five of those serving as Vice President / General Manager of the Trade Show Division. Prior to the Mart, she was with several Hyatt Hotels. |
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Daniel McKinnon, CEM Daniel McKinnon, CEM is vice president of Energy & Engineering with Access Intellegence, a leading worldwide information and marketing company that provides unparalleled business intelligence and integrated marketing solutions in nearly a dozen global market sectors. McKinnon is a member of the board of directors for the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). McKinnon previously served as executive vice president of Messe Frankfurt, Inc. With management and oversight responsibility for the company’s international trade shows and business development efforts in North America, he served for more than 14 years with the Atlanta-based U.S. subsidiary of the international trade show and events organization. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s largest trade show management companies. McKinnon also served as executive director of international development for AmericasMart Atlanta, Inc.,was international marketing director at SEMCO Productions and vice president of government events at 1105 Media Inc., a leading provider of integrated business-to-business information and media. A graduate of Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C., McKinnon lives in Atlanta with his family. |
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Kevin Bird Kevin Bird began his career in the events industry in 1998, working for a small publishing company with a few tradeshows attached to their publications. As the company grew through new owner acquisitions, Kevin ended up managing two Top 200 events concurrently. In 2009, Kevin was hired by Shepard Exposition Services to manage the sales efforts of the teams based in Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC. His varied experience gives Kevin a comprehensive understanding of the industry. Kevin has been married to his wife, Jennifer, since 2005 and they have two children - Alexis, 6, and Michael, 4. The family resides in Acworth, GA. |
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Dan Darby, CEM Dan Darby, CEM, is a 26-year tradeshow veteran. He is group fair director for US Antique Shows, a division of GLM. US Antique Shows produces five shows annually in the Miami, Las Vegas, New York and Los Angeles markets. Most notably the division produces the largest indoor antique show in the world, The Original Miami Beach Antique Show.Prior to joining US Antique Shows, Darby was director of marketing for Surf Expo. He lives in Marietta with his wife and their three children. |
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Dirk Ebener Dirk Ebener is the CEO & Managing Director of NuernbergMesse North America, the Atlanta based subsidiary of NuernbergMesse Germany, one of the 20 largest trade show companies in the world and among the Top Ten in Europe. The portfolio of NuernbergMesse covers more than 120 international trade shows and congresses in Nuernberg and worldwide. He has worked in the international trade show industry for over 17 years and has extensive experience in organizing trade shows in Europe, Asia, North and South America, and the Middle East. Prior to his current position, he was Vice President International Trade Shows for Messe Frankfurt in Atlanta. Raised in Giessen, Germany, Dirk now lives with his wife Kathy and their daughter Kaylin in the Metro Atlanta area. He moved to Atlanta in June of 1995 and started his trade show career in October 1995. On a personal note Dirk enjoys spending his time with his family and friends, photography, and has been involved with Rotary International for over 12 years. |
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Deborah Ferbrache, CEM Deb Ferbrache serves as Assistant Director of Sales of the Atlanta, Georgia branch of Freeman. She has worked in the exposition industry for 20 years in various roles and markets. Deb joined Freeman in 1997 as an account executive in exposition sales. She was promoted to her current role in 2004. Deb excels in providing superior service to her clients, and in 2011 she was nominated for the Star of Excellence Award, Freeman’s top individual honor. She is active in many industry associations and passionately involved in animal rescue with Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption, and Georgia English Bulldog Rescue. Deb holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing from The University of West Florida, and recently earned her CEM designation. |
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Craig Ferreira Craig Ferreira, Director of Sales for the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. Prior to his position as Director of Sales, he served as the Hotel's Director of Convention Services and Catering since 2006. His career incorporates key facets of the hotel industry including operations, catering, food and beverage, and conventions. Earlier in his career my knowledge and experience was honed with five year tenures as Director of Catering and Convention Services for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts in New York, New Jersey and Orlando, and Director of Food and Beverage and Director of Catering for ITT Sheraton/Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Birmingham, Alabama. He also served as Vice President of Operations for West Coast Restaurant Ventures in Santa Ana, California. He is a native of California and was educated at San Jose State University. |
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Mark Herrington Mark Herrington is currently a senior sales manager with Global Experience Specialist, a company that specializes in creating the world’s most meaningful and memorable experiences for marketers, exhibition organizers and event attendees. Mark started his tradeshow career with Global Experience Specialist in 1999 in the Atlanta office. He has served on the PCMA SE board for 4 years and has been very involved with various charities in the Atlanta area. He is an Atlanta native and proud to serve on the IAEE SE Chapter board. |
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Wendy McGar Wendy McGar is a seasoned meeting and exhibits professional who has managed events, conventions and trade shows for associations for over a decade. She has planned, sold and managed 500-booth trade shows, multi-day conventions and individual events ranging from 10 to 20,000 attendees. She is the Exhibits Manager for the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting (Hinman). She plans and manages Hinman’s annual meeting with over 400 exhibiting companies and 850 booths. Wendy holds a BA degree in Communications and Public Relations from the State University of New York at Oswego and is currently working toward her CEM. She lives in Marietta with her husband and two boys. |
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Ryan Nettleton Ryan Nettleton began his career in the trade show industry in 2000 after serving in the US Air Force as an Airborne Surveillance Specialist. He started with Champion Exposition Services as a Project Manager managing the day-to-day internal coordination for more than a dozen annual trade shows and conventions. He quickly transitioned to a National Account Executive role, where for the next six years he produced prestigious events such as MiLB’s Annual Winter Meetings and Baseball Trade Show, APhA, ACR, NAEC and several events for Messe Frankfurt. His tenure as an Account Executive gave him the experience needed to develop a strong understanding of the industry and the ability to provide personalized service while building strong relationships with his customers. After successfully working in the account management role, he transitioned into National Sales. In his first year, he surpassed his sales goals by more than 50% and continually maintained 100% retention with all the accounts he serviced. After a nine year career with Champion Exposition Services, Ryan has served in sales roles for Shepard Exposition Services and NexxtShow, where he was the Vice President of National Sales representing NexxtShow nationally both in Atlanta Georgia and Washington DC. He is currently Director of Sales with The Expo Group. |
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Charlie Olentine, PhD Charlie Olentine is currently Executive Vice President of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association with responsibility for directing the International Production and Processing Expo featuring three association shows: USPOULTRY’s International Poultry Expo, American Feed Industry Association’s International Feed Expo and American Meat Institute’s International Meat Expo. Prior to taking on his present responsibilities, he served as editorial director and subsequently publisher for a number of magazines at WATT Publishing, an agricultural publishing company. Dr. Olentine has a BS from Cornell University, MS from the University of Kentucky and a PhD from Clemson University. |
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Brian Pagel Brian Pagel is a Vice President at Nielsen Expositions, where he runs The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. Since re-joining Nielsen in 2001, he has also served as a Vice President in the Decorated Apparel Group. A 15-year veteran of the publishing, convention and exhibition industries, Pagel has also held senior account executive positions with Leader Publishing, Bill Communications and Shore-Varrone. A graduate of the University of Kansas, he holds a degree in Organizational Communications and held a number of positions at the University Daily Kansan. He has also as served as a speaker at a number of industry events, is a guest blogger for Expo Magazine and has been quoted in multiple industry publications. |
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Scott Porter Scott Porter got his start in the hospitality industry at the San Diego Convention Center in 1990 through a family owned and operated concession business. After graduating from San Diego State University, he helped run and grow the business for several years before relocating to Atlanta in 1999. Scott continued in the industry as an event coordinator at the Cobb Galleria Centre. In 2004, he was promoted to National Sales Manager, handling the west coast and east coast markets, in addition to select Georgia state associations. |
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Leigh Ann Simpson Leigh Ann Simpson is currently the Housing & Registration Manger for the Society of Biblical Literature. She is responsible for exhibit sales and sponsorships for several shows including National Education Association, Ecological Society of America and Music Makers Trade Show & Conference. A 20-year tradeshow veteran, Leigh Ann has worked with both exhibitors, meeting planners and show producers while at American Exhibition Services, Showtime Florists and most recently with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Leigh Ann lives in Birmingham, AL and enjoys photographing nature scenes through the Southeast. She recently started a company, Grits & Daisies, in which several of these photographs are available as prints or greeting cards. |
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Kristina Unger, CEM, CMP Kristina Unger, CEM, CMP is the CEO of Georgia Girl Management & Events. She previously served as Executive Director of Sales & Operations for LIGHTFAIR® International (LFI) for more than eight years. Being with AMC, Inc. / AmericasMart®, the producer of LFI, for more than 23 years has provided her with the opportunity to be very diverse and gain experience within the company and the exhibition & event industry as a whole. In her 23 years with AMC, Inc., she has held several positions including Operations Director for Convention Services. Currently, she is responsible for planning, managing and overseeing all operational responsibilities for the LFI Trade Show and Conference. In her role, she manages and negotiates key vendor contracts and also directs the marketing, planning, selling and implementation of the LFI Sponsorship Program. Under her leadership since 2004, this program has surpassed sponsorship goals by double digits. Kristina joined IAEM in 1997 and as a member of the Southeast Chapter, has held a variety of positions, including 2006 Chapter Chair, 2005 Summer Classic Chair and as a member of the Board of Directors from 2001 to present. She earned her CMP designation in 1998 and her CEM designation in 2007. |
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Jim Wulfekuhle Jim Wulfekuhle is the Director of Sales & Marketing for the International Woodworking Fair. Jim has been involved in the industry since 1992. IWF is the largest woodworking show in the Americas. |
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Mark Zimmerman Mark Zimmerman is the general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) responsible for overseeing the marketing and operations of the facility. With over 20 years of industry experience, Zimmerman became general manager of the nation’s fourth largest convention center after serving as assistant general manager, director of event services, senior event coordinator and concessions supervisor at the GWCC as well as assistant general manager of Cobb Galleria. Zimmerman graduated from Northwood University, Midland Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He served on the Exhibitor Services and Contractors Association (ESCA) board for six years and is a member of the International Association of Venue Managers, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events and the Professional Convention Management Association. Mark and his wife Karen have four children. |
