business

Laura Palker with Jeff Hannah

Rebuilding the US Trade Show Workforce with Laura Palker (Part 1)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Best Practices, Covid-19, Leadership, North America, Podcast, Strategy, United States

Laura Palker of the Exhibitions & Events Workforce Development Federation (Part 1)

The Future of the Trade Show Industry & Workforce Development

The trade show and events industry has faced massive disruptions in recent years. From the devastating impact of the pandemic to the looming “Silver Resignation,” the industry must navigate an urgent need for workforce development, skilled labor, and better representation at the national level.

In this episode of The Global Exhibitor Podcast, Jeff Hannah sits down with Laura Palker, President of the Exhibitions & Events Workforce Development Federation, to discuss the critical challenges facing the trade show industry today. With decades of experience in the industry and a passion for workforce training and advocacy, Laura provides deep insights into how the industry is working to address the current talent crisis.

The Changing Workforce in Trade Shows

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade show industry was filled with seasoned professionals, with the average workforce age between 53 and 58 years old and 20 to 30 years of experience. These individuals—highly skilled artisans, project managers, and business leaders—were the backbone of the industry, shaping the way exhibitions were designed, built, and executed.

However, the pandemic created an industry-wide exodus, with millions of workers leaving for good. Those who remained or joined the industry in the past few years now make up 40% of the workforce, yet they have three years of experience or less. This knowledge gap has put an incredible strain on businesses trying to maintain the same level of quality and efficiency with a largely new and inexperienced workforce.

Adding to the challenge is the Silver Resignation, the upcoming retirement of many seasoned professionals. This shift threatens to wipe out even more institutional knowledge, making it critical to develop fast-track training programs, apprenticeship initiatives, and long-term strategies to ensure that newcomers are not left to figure things out on their own.

Bringing Trade Shows Into the National Workforce Ecosystem

One of the biggest challenges the industry faces is a lack of government and educational recognition. Unlike other industries such as automotive, medical, or construction, trade shows have struggled to gain proper classification within the U.S. labor system.

Laura Palker explains the importance of O*NET Codes (Occupational Information Network) and NAICS Codes (North American Industry Classification System) in defining and legitimizing the trade show industry. Without these classifications, trade shows are effectively invisible to government agencies, workforce programs, and schools that guide students toward career opportunities.

Historically, industry professionals filling out forms for business registration, workforce statistics, or education programs have struggled to find an appropriate category for their work. Often, they’re forced to select “Other” or an unrelated classification, further erasing trade shows from official workforce data.

That’s why industry leaders have been pushing for:

  • Recognition in O*NET & NAICS systems to define trade show-related jobs
  • Career awareness campaigns to introduce trade shows as a viable profession
  • Funding opportunities for training programs at middle schools, high schools, and technical colleges

The recent success in modernizing the National Career Cluster Framework to include hospitality and events—with specific reference to trade shows, conferences, and exhibitions—is a huge step forward. The next challenge is ensuring that trade show careers are properly categorized and represented across all workforce development programs.

Building a Skilled Workforce for the Future

To address the industry’s talent shortage, the Exhibitions & Events Workforce Development Federation has been leading initiatives to create structured training programs, apprenticeships, and mentorships. These programs aim to fast-track the development of skilled professionals, ensuring that those entering the field are equipped with the knowledge they need to thrive.

Efforts include:

Trade Show Basics Training – A foundational training program designed to introduce new professionals to the industry.
Apprenticeships & Pre-Apprenticeships – Structured hands-on training programs to develop technical skills and industry knowledge.
Gap Year Internships & Mentorships – Career pathways that allow young professionals to explore trade shows as a long-term career.

Laura also highlights how industry associations, unions, and businesses must work together rather than in competition. With so many different roles and skill sets required to execute a successful trade show, every segment of the industry—from exhibit builders to show organizers to logistics providers—plays a critical role in the ecosystem.

“We are not competing with each other; we are complementary. Every piece of the puzzle is essential to making this industry work.” — Laura Palker

The Call to Action: Uniting for the Future

As Laura and Jeff discuss, the trade show industry is at a turning point. There is a limited window of opportunity to secure industry recognition, funding, and training programs. If the industry does not take advantage of this moment, it risks being left behind as other sectors continue to gain government support and workforce funding.

For those in the industry, now is the time to:

✅ Support workforce development initiatives by getting involved with industry associations.
✅ Advocate for O*NET & NAICS code updates to properly classify trade show jobs.
✅ Encourage mentorship and training to ensure knowledge transfer to the next generation.

If you’re interested in learning more about workforce development in trade shows or want to get involved, visit www.ee-wdf.org for resources and training opportunities.

🔊 Subscribe & Share: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe and leave a review on iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

📅 Stay tuned for Part 2 of our interview with Laura Palker!

This episode was recorded at the amazing ET Global USA Headquarters in Suwanee, Georgia.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapalker/

Website: https://ee-wdf.org/

Website: http://www.tssolutioncenter.com

Email: laura.palker@ee-wdf.org

Pat Alacqua: Industry Trailblazer and Co-Founder of Nth Degree (Part 3)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Best Practices, Leadership, Marketing, North America, Podcast, Relationships, Strategy, United States

 

Turning Obstacles into Opportunity with Pat Alacqua

In this third episode, Jeff Hannah  welcomes Pat Alacqua back for a rare look into his ventures since selling Nth Degree. Pat reflects on leadership and his vision for the future. Pat shares how perseverance, determination, and resilience have fueled his successes, including his role in business turnarounds and his recent endeavors.

Pat discusses purchasing a local sports complex and transforming it into a national brand through innovative processes for player development, training, and an event model. He talks about his “3C’s Process for Faster Growth,” as well as his upcoming book, Obstacles to Opportunity: Transforming Business Challenges Into Triumphs. Pat also reveals plans for an online membership platform offering daily tips on professional growth and business building – and highlights his collaboration with Jane Gentry on the “Optimum Value Blueprint” for the trade show industry.

Jeff and Pat explore the concept of legacy, with Pat reflecting on his desire to create a “ripple effect” by inspiring and sharing wisdom to help others grow. Pat emphasizes that success is not only about personal achievements but about enabling others to thrive.

The conversation shifts to collaboration, including the importance of working with competitors for the greater good of an industry. Pat reflects on identifying common interests and fostering partnerships that drive collective success.

When asked about the future of the trade show industry, Pat highlights the importance of shifting the “industry DNA” from a focus on individual performance to building high-performing teams. He emphasizes scaling businesses through coaching, mentoring, and empowering others, redefining success as team growth and achievement.

Jeff and Pat conclude by discussing the launch of Jeff’s new Trade Show Basics course, which is designed to support newcomers to the industry. This episode is rich with lessons on leadership, growth, and the power of collaboration.

Part 1 of my interview with Pat.

Part 2 of my interview with Pat.

Pat Alacqua on LinkedIn

Website: https://www.patalacqua.com/

Email: pat@patalacqua.com

Pat Alacqua: Industry Trailblazer and Co-Founder of Nth Degree (Part 2)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Best Practices, Communications, Leadership, Marketing, North America, Podcast, Relationships, Strategy, United States, Verbal Communications

 

Leadership, Growth, and Mentorship with Pat Alacqua

In this second episode,Jeff Hannah delves into Pat Alacqua’s journey as a leader and entrepreneur, exploring the emotional and strategic dynamics of building and eventually selling Nth Degree. In this rare interview, Pat Alacqua also candidly reflects on the toll of seeing valued team members move-on over time – a natural yet bittersweet reality of leading a fast-growing business in a thriving industry where the demand for trained and skilled professionals constantly grows.

Pat discusses the complexities of growth, including the decision to hire people from outside the trade show industry to drive transformation and innovation. Jeff emphasizes the importance of a rigorous hiring process, which included assessments supported by an industrial psychologist to ensure alignment with the company’s values and culture – an approach that was uncommon for entrepreneurial companies at the time. Pat also shares his philosophy on hiring and leading great people, underscoring the value of surrounding oneself with individuals who bring diverse mindsets and perspectives to the table.

A lifelong learner, Pat reflects on how leadership is more about asking the right questions than it is about having all the right answers. He shares how continuous learning has shaped his approach to influence—building alignment, securing support, and inspiring others—all of which require patience and intentionality.

Pat also opens up about some of his greatest life challenges, the lessons they taught him, and how mentorship has been a cornerstone of his career. He passionately believes in “paying it forward” by mentoring and guiding others, and he credits much of his own success to those who mentored him along the way.

Jeff also asks about Pat’s decision to sell Nth Degree, his perspective on that decision, and his broader view on defining success. Pat talks about how growth is not just about transforming a company but about how it also transforms the people involved in that journey. He reflects on how rare and fulfilling it is to build a business with a continuous growth trajectory.

This episode is packed with insights on leadership, learning, and the power of mentorship, offering listeners valuable lessons from Pat’s remarkable career.

Stay tuned for more insights in Episode 3.

Part 1 of my interview with Pat.

Part 3 of my interview with Pat.

Pat Alacqua on LinkedIn

Website: https://www.patalacqua.com/

Email: pat@patalacqua.com

Pat Alacqua: Industry Trailblazer and Co-Founder of Nth Degree (Part 1)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Best Practices, Branding, Communications, Leadership, Marketing, North America, Podcast, Storytelling, Strategy, United States, Verbal Communications

 

Foundational Strategies and Industry Impact with Pat Alacqua

In this first episode of the three-part series, Jeff Hannah conducts a rare interview with Pat Alacqua, co-founder of Nth Degree, exploring the foundational strategies and challenges that defined the company’s early days. Beyond co-founding Nth Degree, Pat has built multiple successful businesses across other industries and continues to collaborate with business leaders through his consulting services and online leadership and business growth tools, guiding them through challenges to achieve sustained growth. Together, they reflect on how the trade show industry has evolved, Nth Degree’s innovative approach to building a labor management company, and the critical importance of training and education in shaping their team and culture.

Pat shares how Nth Degree carved out its niche in the industry by focusing on differentiation, emphasizing core values like education, training, and exceptional customer service. He explains how they anticipated customer needs and proactively solved problems to set themselves apart in a fast-growing competitive landscape. Pat reflects on the high levels of risk involved in starting Nth Degree and scaling it to handle increasingly large and complex projects.

Listeners will gain insight into the legendary antitrust legal case in Dallas, Texas, where Nth Degree and its partners faced significant challenges. Although the directed verdict was not in their favor, over time they won in the court of public opinion, ultimately changing the direction of the trade show industry. This led to the development of new industry categories like “independent labor contractors,” which are now commonly referred to across the industry as “exhibitor appointed contractors” (EACs).

This episode also highlights how Nth Degree developed industry practices and terminology still in use today, such as “leadmen” and “floor managers.” They recognized the need for robust systems and processes to effectively manage rapid growth and scale the company without sacrificing quality or service. Pat’s reflections provide valuable lessons on leadership, perseverance, and innovation in a dynamic industry. Drawing on his extensive career experience, Pat also shares actionable insights to help business leaders overcome challenges and scale their companies successfully.

Stay tuned for more insights in Episodes 2 and 3 of the three-part series as Jeff and Pat continue to explore the challenges and triumphs that shaped Nth Degree and the trade show industry at large.

Part 2 of my interview with Pat.

Part 3 of my interview with Pat.

Pat Alacqua on LinkedIn

Website: https://www.patalacqua.com/

Email: pat@patalacqua.com

Jeff & Uta on Eco Tour in Sonoran Desert

IFES Executive Director – Uta Goretzky

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Best Practices, Brazil, Chile, Communications, Culture, Design, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Europe, Germany, Graphics, Language, Latin America, Leadership, Marketing, Mexico, Middle East, Munich, North America, Podcast, Relationships, Strategy, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

Jeff Hannah Interviews Uta Goretzky – Executive Director of IFES

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Uta Goretzky, the Executive Director of the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services, headquartered in Europe. Uta has a vast knowledge of what is happening in the trade show and event industry on a global basis. She works diligently to ensure that the industry is well-represented globally within various government contexts, as well as from an economic standpoint. They also provide a platform for global collaboration between companies across the exhibition industry.

Uta discusses trends that she is observing, initiatives that IFES is pursuing currently, the significance of cultural concerns, as well as best practices for exhibitors. Uta is based in Frankfurt, Germany, but spends much of her life on the road in many places around the world.

Prior to joining IFES, Uta spent more than 20 years with FAMAB e.V., the German association for the exhibitions and events industry. Uta studied economics at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster in Germany.

This interview was recorded in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona in the USA.

Uta Goretzky on LinkedIn

Email: uta@ifesnet.org

Chloe Richardson – a Woman of Many Talents! (Part 3)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Asia, Australia, Branding, Communications, Culture, Europe, Gender, Germany, Language, Latin America, Leadership, London, Marketing, Middle East, Non-Verbal Communications, North America, Podcast, Relationships, Saudi Arabia, Strategy, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Verbal Communications, Yorkshire

Jeff Hannah Interviews Chloe Richardson – Linguist & Exhibition Sales Strategist

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Chloe Richardson, a linguist – and sales strategist within the exhibition and trade show industry globally. She speaks about 5 or 6 languages – and teaches language. She also works in the exhibition and trade show industry, specializing in sales strategy, rebook consultancy, sales team support, business development, client engagement, the customer journey and process management. And she also does translation work on a regular basis.

Chloe’s home base is in London, where she is today. But, Chloe works in a diverse array of industries across the world, including Europe, North America, Russia and Eurasia, China, India, South East Asia and Africa.

Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French and Portuguese from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. One little secret about Chloe…is that she has spent a significant part of her life working in the entertainment industry, being a vocalist, pianist and actress. Chloe is just super-talented, extremely articulate and just fun to be around!!

Chloe shares lots of great insights across this 3-part series. She discusses the importance of language in relation to travel – and to the trade show and exhibition world in general; she talks about cultural differences, travel tips, how to engage with strangers, how to create trust & respect, perceptions across borders, and developing a better understanding of the audience you are trying to engage with.

This interview was recorded in London, United Kingdom & Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Part 1 of my interview with Chloe.

Part 2 of my interview with Chloe.

Chloe Richardson on LinkedIn

Website: www.explori.com

Email: c.richardson@explori.com

Chloe Richardson – a Woman of Many Talents! (Part 2)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Australia, Best Practices, Branding, Brazil, Chile, Communications, Culture, Dubai, Europe, Gender, Germany, Language, Latin America, Leadership, London, Marketing, Mexico, Middle East, North America, Podcast, Relationships, Saudi Arabia, Strategy, Sydney, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Verbal Communications, Yorkshire

Jeff Hannah Interviews Chloe Richardson – Linguist & Exhibition Sales Strategist

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Chloe Richardson, a linguist – and sales strategist within the exhibition and trade show industry globally. She speaks about 5 or 6 languages – and teaches language. She also works in the exhibition and trade show industry, specializing in sales strategy, rebook consultancy, sales team support, business development, client engagement, the customer journey and process management. And she also does translation work on a regular basis.

Chloe’s home base is in London, where she is today. But, Chloe works in a diverse array of industries across the world, including Europe, North America, Russia and Eurasia, China, India, South East Asia and Africa.

Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French and Portuguese from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. One little secret about Chloe…is that she has spent a significant part of her life working in the entertainment industry, being a vocalist, pianist and actress. Chloe is just super-talented, extremely articulate and just fun to be around!!

Chloe shares lots of great insights across this 3-part series. She discusses the importance of language in relation to travel – and to the trade show and exhibition world in general; she talks about cultural differences, travel tips, how to engage with strangers, how to create trust & respect, perceptions across borders, and developing a better understanding of the audience you are trying to engage with.

This interview was recorded in London, United Kingdom & Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Part 1 of my interview with Chloe.

Part 3 of my interview with Chloe.

Chloe Richardson on LinkedIn

Website: www.explori.com

Email: c.richardson@explori.com

Chloe Richardson – a Woman of Many Talents! (Part 1)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Abu Dhabi, Asia, Best Practices, Branding, Brazil, Communications, Culture, Design, Dubai, Europe, Gender, Germany, Language, Latin America, Leadership, London, Marketing, Middle East, North America, Podcast, Relationships, Saudi Arabia, Storytelling, Strategy, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Verbal Communications, Yorkshire

Jeff Hannah Interviews Chloe Richardson – Linguist & Exhibition Sales Strategist

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Chloe Richardson, a linguist – and sales strategist within the exhibition and trade show industry globally. She speaks about 5 or 6 languages – and teaches language. She also works in the exhibition and trade show industry, specializing in sales strategy, rebook consultancy, sales team support, business development, client engagement, the customer journey and process management. And she also does translation work on a regular basis.

Chloe’s home base is in London, where she is today. But, Chloe works in a diverse array of industries across the world, including Europe, North America, Russia and Eurasia, China, India, South East Asia and Africa.

Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French and Portuguese from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. One little secret about Chloe…is that she has spent a significant part of her life working in the entertainment industry, being a vocalist, pianist and actress. Chloe is just super-talented, extremely articulate and just fun to be around!!

Chloe shares lots of great insights across this 3-part series. She discusses the importance of language in relation to travel – and to the trade show and exhibition world in general; she talks about cultural differences, travel tips, how to engage with strangers, how to create trust & respect, perceptions across borders, and developing a better understanding of the audience you are trying to engage with.

This interview was recorded in London, United Kingdom & Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Part 2 of my interview with Chloe.

Part 3 of my interview with Chloe.

Chloe Richardson on LinkedIn

Website: www.explori.com

Email: c.richardson@explori.com

Dutch Pavilion Shanghai 2010

Charles Pappas – Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords (Part 2)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Abu Dhabi, Asia, Best Practices, Branding, Brazil, Culture, Design, Dubai, Europe, Germany, Graphics, Language, Latin America, Leadership, London, Marketing, Mexico, Middle East, North America, Podcast, Relationships, Saudi Arabia, Strategy, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

Jeff Hannah Interviews Charles Pappas – Exhibit Industry Historian

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Charles Pappas, author of Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords, and senior writer at Exhibitor Magazine. Charles is like the Indiana Jones – Captain Ahab – Mr. Peabody of the exhibition industry. He dug up lost expo photos in Shanghai and located forgotten fair buildings in Mexico City. He has spent years sleuthing out not just the economic IMPACT but cultural IMPRINT of trade fairs – which is a key point of his book. The impact of trade fairs last long beyond the end of the event. Charles has covered the expo industry for Exhibitor Magazine for many years – and is the industry’s de facto historian.

In part 2 of this interview, Jeff explores the things that Charles has learned from his extensive international travels, in particular how those things relate to good and bad practices in exhibitions. Charles explains the Dunning–Kruger effect, and how business can be impacted by a lack of knowledge of certain subjects. They discuss the use a sensory attractions – kinetic structures, technology, sand painting, art, fragrances and storytelling. Jeff talks to Charles about his level of interest in cultures and how that knowledge can and should be applied to the exhibition world.

This interview was recorded in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords Book on Amazon

Charles Pappas on LinkedIn

Exhibitor Magazine

Email: cpappas@exhibitormagazine.com

Dutch Pavilion Shanghai 2010

Charles Pappas – Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords (Part 1)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Asia, Best Practices, Branding, Brazil, Culture, Design, Dubai, Europe, Germany, Graphics, Language, Latin America, Leadership, London, Marketing, Mexico, Middle East, North America, Podcast, Saudi Arabia, Strategy, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

Jeff Hannah Interviews Charles Pappas – Exhibit Industry Historian

In this episode, host Jeff Hannah interviews Charles Pappas, author of Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords, and senior writer at Exhibitor Magazine. Charles is like the Indiana Jones – Captain Ahab – Mr. Peabody of the exhibition industry. He dug up lost expo photos in Shanghai and located forgotten fair buildings in Mexico City. He has spent years sleuthing out not just the economic IMPACT but cultural IMPRINT of trade fairs – which is a key point of his book. The impact of trade fairs last long beyond the end of the event. Charles has covered the expo industry for Exhibitor Magazine for many years – and is the industry’s de facto historian.

In part 1 of this interview, Charles explains how he became interested in world’s fairs and exhibitions, and the many shows that he has personally visited and studied. They talk about how governments use their pavilions at world fairs to market and sell themselves to the world, something Charles refers to as culture to consumer (C2C). Through fascinating examples Charles reveals interesting past exhibits which have really changed the world. They also discuss opportunities that companies often miss when exhibiting, and some of the huge mistakes that they make. Charles provides an incredibly insightful and historical perspective on the importance of trade shows, exhibitions, and world’s fairs to the global economy.

This interview was recorded in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, & Robot Overlords Book on Amazon

Charles Pappas on LinkedIn

Exhibitor Magazine

Email: cpappas@exhibitormagazine.com