The exposition industry is without two industry legends that passed away this month. But their presence is in the fiber of our business.
One word describes Leo McDonald. Unique
When visiting Leo for the first time at Exhibitgroup’s Elk Grove Village headquarters in Chicago (now headquarters to 3D Exhibits), he greeted me dressed impeccably (think Brooks Brother’s Country Club). Seated in his office, he took great pride in showing me his magic wall; a button on the side of his desk activated a back credenza that contorted into a liquor cabinet that would rival any Ritz Carlton. His attention span was what you’d expect from a true entrepreneur: short, distracted. But a small smile in the corner of his mouth added warmth to our conversation and clued me in that charm was the tool he used most to succeed in business.
His smile was also recognition that he was pleased having built the first true national network of exhibit houses; up to this point, trade shows were primarily regional events and the exposition business served primarily by local vendor/partners. But this quickly changed due to industrialization, improved national transportation and the demand to build national distribution. The country needed to grow and Leo helped create a network to serve the demand of exhibitions and exhibitors. Leo passed away last week at the age of 90 and by all accounts he lived a fabulous life, which has allowed us all to prosper and serve in an industry that has grown from national to global.
He was a salesman’s salesman. Ron Williams, EVP, Sales for George P. Johnson Company, was also the reason many auto companies worked with GPJ. Ron, 66 years of age, passed away January 17, 2012 but left a rich automotive legacy inside and outside George P. Johnson.
An architect by education, Ron was fascinated “designing and building things”, and through happenstance was hired by GPJ as an engineer. Forty years later he retired as their senior sales executive having helped GPJ become the nation’s largest independent event marketing agency.
Ron’s success was grounded in deep relationships; when a problem was brewing inside one of GPJ’s automotive clients, a call from Ron smoothed things over. When an automotive RFP was issued he had the inside scoop on what it would take to win. And win GPJ did as they manage an impressive roster of Automotive OEM’s and their brands at consumer auto shows and events.
When I met Ron he didn’t like me particularly; I was the new kid on the block hired to diversify GPJ’s business from auto show to trade shows; in his world there was only auto shows. And while the word “show” is shared by both, this is where the business diverts. Consumer shows attract consumers; trade shows attract business trade; the philosophy behind designing/producing exhibits is very different for each as is how businesses quantify the value of their investment. Ron rode me hard, but it was in the spirit of helping me to grow a new business within GPJ. Ron also instilled in me and his sales team a competitive fire; if you didn’t have or get it, good-bye. This competitive fire burns brightly at GPJ today as they continue to expand their automotive business globally. As for tradeshows, they too have found a place in GPJ’s service wheelhouse.
While certainly different personalities, Leo and Ron shared a passion for the exposition business revered by those that worked with and for them. Moreover, it’s because of Leo and Ron that so many of the 1.5 million associates working in staging expositions today can call this business a career. Thank you gentlemen for your passion and for helping us be better.
exhibitionpro 