TSNN Podcast: Trade Show Talk

Trade Show News Network is excited to share our ‘Trade Show Talk’ podcast which features two episodes each month focusing on hot-button topics. Each episode kicks off with a news round up before host Danica Tormohlen leads discussions with trade show and events industry leaders. If you'd like to be a guest or you have a topic to suggest that we cover, please let us know by emailing podcast@tsnn.com. If you would like to sponsor a podcast series, please contact jrice@tsnn.com

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Listen to all previous podcast episodes HERE.

Ep. 60— Celebrating Excellence at the NYIAEE 2024 King’s Glove Awards Luncheon with MetroMultimedia CEO Bruno Giaccio & More

Trade Show Talk Podcast Host Danica Tormohlen interviews the NYIAEE 2024 King's Glove Award recipient, Bruno Giaccio, CEO of Metro Multimedia. Giaccio shared insight on growing up in the business, his father’s legacy, and how that shaped his leadership style focused on innovation, resilience, and community impact. Recorded at the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Awards Luncheon at the Javits Center in New York, the episode features interviews with several industry leaders, including Alan Steel, CEO of the Javits Center; Abby Nero, Regional VP for Map Your Show; Mike Fiorentino, President of Rev Up; Tom Malek, EVP of Client Experience for T3 Expo; and Kelly Curtin, EVP, New York City Tourism + Conventions. In our new advocacy segment, we discuss the impact of the election on exhibitions and events industry with Tommy Goodwin, VP of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance.

Our guests:

Bruno Giaccio, CEO of Metro Multimedia

As a young professional, Giaccio was mentored by his late father, Bruno, Sr., who emigrated to The Bronx when he was 17 years old from Italy and served as a long-time industry leader, first as a union decorator, then as vice president of sales for one of the country’s largest general services contractors. Today at MetroMultimedia, based in Paramus, New Jersey, Giaccio leads more than 250 technical professionals as they produce hundreds of events nationwide. To support young professionals in the event industry, MetroMultimedia helps fund an NYIAEE scholarship for Certification in Exhibition Management (CEM), as well as the annual Javits Juniors Scholarship Program, which distributes college scholarships to New York City high school seniors. For more on the award, read our story, TSNN Exclusive: Bruno Giaccio Joins Prestigious List of King’s Glove Award Winners.

Plus, we caught up with active NYIAEE members to find out more about the chapter.

Alan Steel, CEO, Javits Center, who was the recipient of the King’s Glove award in 2014. After leading New York City’s Javits Center for 12 years, Alan Steel will step down as president and CEO at the end of March 2025. Our full story on his departure is here.

Abby Nero, Regional VP for Map Your Show, NYIAEE board member

Mike Fiorentino, President of RevUp, longstanding NYIAEE board member

Tom Malek, EVP, Client Experience, T3 Expo, Past NYIAEE chair

Kelly Curtin, EVP, New York City Tourism + Conventions, NYIAEE sponsor

Tommy Goodwin, VP of Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA)

Thomas F. (Tommy) Goodwin is the Vice President of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), an umbrella association of leading professional, industry, and labor organizations that represent the unified advocacy voice of the business events industry. In this role, he leads ECA’s efforts on behalf of the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, show and event organizers, suppliers, venues, and destinations that comprise the business events sector.

Prior to joining ECA, he spent more than 20 years leading a wide range of government relations and public affairs efforts for several globally recognized organizations, including Oracle, AARP, and the Project Management Institute (PMI). He was also a research fellow at Harvard Business School focused on the international political and legal environment in which businesses operate.

Recognized by The Hill as one of Washington, DC’s “Top Lobbyists” each year since 2020, he was also named a Leading Association Lobbyist by CEO Update in 2023, an Association Innovation Leader by DCA Live in 2022, and and one of the Top 21 in 2021 advocacy leaders by The Advocacy Association. Within the business events industry, he received the 2022 Industry Support award from TSNN and was named a 2022 Changemaker by MeetingsNet.

He has a B.B.A. from The George Washington University, an M.B.A. from Auburn University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in European Union Law from King’s College London. He also holds a Certified Association Executive designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), where he is an ASAE Fellow, a Project Management Professional certification from PMI, and a Certified Meeting Professional certification from the Events Industry Council.

He is a past president of the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics and a past chair of ASAE’s Advocacy Council.

Connect with him on LinkedIn here.

Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen

danica

An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Group Content, Meetings, Sports, Travel for Informa Connect. In her role, she oversees content for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News, MeetingsNet, BizBash and Connect's portfolio of in-person events. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event, association meeting, experiential marketing and exhibition industries.

Tormohlen currently serves as president of the Women in Exhibitions Network North America chapter. She has been a speaker and moderator at major industry events, including the TSNN Awards, IMEX, IAEE, SISO, UFI, ESCA, DI and Large Show Roundtable — to name a few.

Thank you to our sponsor!

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Partner Voices

HERE, EVENTS HELP YOUR COMPANY AND THE COMMUNITY

MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy. Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative. Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates. The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities. MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025. MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.

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