The fall continues to be a busy time with brisk hiring at a variety of companies ranging from show management companies to convention and visitors bureaus to general service contractors.

The Expo Group continues to grow and has added Dan DiPietro to the team as national sales director.

DiPietro has a rich industry experience that includes a technology background and strong sales acumen.

“With The Expo Group’s growth, it is important to have the right people in the right places to serve our clients and share how we can impact their trade shows and events,” said Randy Pekowski, president and COO of The Expo Group.

He added, “Dan’s ability to understand the challenges and opportunities presented by technology make him uniquely qualified to assist associations looking to grow their conventions and deepen member engagement through compelling event experiences.”

Hannover Fairs USA, the Chicago-based subsidiary of Hannover, Germany event organizer, Deutsche Messe, has named Raymond Bianchi as vice president of North American Events & Business Development.

Bianchi is charged with managing Hannover Fairs North American portfolio of exhibitions and conferences, currently covering the renewable energy, industrial technology, and commercial vehicle segments.

Hannover Fairs North American portfolio showcases the wide range of B2B events organized by Deutsche Messe in Hannover and across the globe. 

SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals appointed Nikki Corsini as marketing automation specialist, reporting to the company’s digital marketing manager.

Corsini will be instrumental in the development and implementation of the company’s email marketing campaigns, as well as lead nurturing, lead scoring, and identifying tactics for improvement.

Corsini brings to her new role extensive experience in lead generation, graphic design, and content management for digital, traditional and social marketing applications.

Her skill-set includes in-depth knowledge of Marketo, Salesforce and Pardot.

Emerald Expositions has hired Lara Osment as senior vice president and group show director of the ASD Merchandise Group, responsible for the management of ASD Market Week, IGES and the 2017 launch event, Jewellery Box, effective Oct. 19.

Osment will be responsible for the creation and development of sales, attendee acquisition, marketing opportunities and strategies as well as creating customized solutions to meet our ever-changing customer needs. 

Visit Spokane has brought in Jeff Poole to the organization's sales team. Poole will be filling the newly created position of senior director of sales and national accounts Mid Atlantic and Eastern Region. 

As a member of the sales team, Poole will work to promote the Spokane region to meeting and convention planners. 

With a long career in the meetings industry, including positions at Visit Albuquerque and Omni Hotels, Jeff has extensive experience working with meeting planners throughout the country, primarily in the Washington D.C. market. 

Shepard has made the leadership changes that will position the company for continued long-term growth, effective Jan. 1. Carl Mitchell will continue to lead strategic direction of Shepard as Executive Chairman and Steve Basch will be promoted to CEO from Vice President of Finance and assumes an expanded leadership role in all aspects of the company.

“These changes underscore our commitment and responsibility to investing in the future of Shepard and our customers,” Mitchell said. “Make no mistake, I am not going anywhere; rather, evolving my role to focus my attention on strategies and partnerships that will continue to position Shepard for growth and success for generations to come.”