Trade Show Talk Podcast TSNN

Elli Riley joined Trade Show Talk to share her experience as the VP, HIMSS Global Conference & Exhibition, for Informa Markets. Riley joined the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) in December 2002 and has more than 28 years of experience in the meetings industry. Last summer, the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition was acquired by public company Informa, and Riley joined the Informa team in September 2023. Today Riley is the business lead for the HIMSS Global Conference & Exhibition and oversees the marketing, sales, content and operations teams. In March, the 2024 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition attracted 26,800 healthcare technology professionals and 971 exhibitors across 440,066 square feet of exhibit space at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. We talked about moving from the association to the independent organizer side. She shared insight on what was new at this year’s trade show — the first to be produced under Informa’s ownership.
Our guest
Elli joined the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) in December 2002 and has more than 28 years of experience in the meetings industry.   
While at HIMSS, Elli successfully managed the growth of the annual conference exhibition, which doubled in size and number of exhibitors and sponsorships during her tenure at association. She was also part of the core team that launched two of the HIMSS international conferences in Europe and Asia.
Last summer, the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition was acquired by Informa, and Elli joined the Informa team in September of last year. After making the move from the association to the independent organizer side, today Elli is the business lead for the HIMSS Global Conference and oversees the marketing, sales, content and operations teams.  
In March, the 2024 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition attracted 26,800 healthcare technology professionals and 971 exhibitors across 440,066 sq. ft. at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
Elli has a B.S. from Ball State University where she majored in Communications with a minor in Public Relations and is currently seeking her masters degree. She grew up in northeast Indiana and now resides outside Nashville, TN with her husband, two children and two pups. 
Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen
An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Content for Informa Connect. In her role, she oversees content for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News and Exhibit News Now. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event and exhibition industries.
Tormohlen currently serves on the executive committee for 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 and Large Show Roundtable — to name a few.
Thank you to our sponsor! 

What if you could prove your event is working with hard facts and learn how to make it even better? With Zenus’s Ethical Vision AI, you can protect your budget and have detailed reporting. Learn how that’s all possible at Zenus.AI 
 

Lindsay Arell joined Trade Show Talk to share her experience as the CEO of Honeycomb Strategies, a consulting firm she launched in 2009 to provide innovative sustainable operational strategies for the hospitality, sports and events industry. Today some of her clients include: SoFi Stadium, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Informa, Emerald, Freeman and VISIT DENVER. In April 2024, she was also appointed chief sustainability officer of ASM Global, a venue management company that operates more than 350 convention centers, arenas, stadiums and theaters around the globe. We talked about her ambitious plans to execute a portfolio-wide framework for reaching sustainability goals like diverting more than 50% of waste overall and eliminating front-of-house single-use plastic by 2025. She shared insight on sustainability trends and challenges right now and what’s meaningful when it comes to event and venue certification. Find out why she thinks sustainability has (finally) shifted from obligation to opportunity in 2024.
Our guest
Lindsay Arell has been pioneering sustainability efforts for the live event industry for two decades for professional sports teams, venues and events of all kinds. She began her career in the industry in 2003 as event manager at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
She also worked at Freeman before returning to the Colorado Convention Center as the country’ s first Sustainability Manager for a convention center. Her first big event was the Democratic National Convention, in which the Denver mayor had the goal for the most “sustainable convention in history.”  
After that success, she launched Honeycomb Strategies in  2009. Honeycomb Strategies is a consulting firm devoted to innovative and sustainable operation strategies for the hospitality, sports, and events industry. Going beyond the environment, the company approaches sustainability as an opportunity to engage and create community. Rather than a checklist, they work with partners to understand their goals, priorities, and impacts of today and for the future.
Today some of her clients include: SoFi Stadium, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Informa, Emerald, Freeman, and VISIT DENVER.
In 2022, Arell was tapped to led the development of the ASM Global Acts Sustainability Plan, an ambitious, portfolio-wide framework for reaching sustainability goals for the world’s largest venue manager. In 2023, ASM rolled out its plan to convert its portfolio into the most sustainable venues on Earth. In April 2024, she  was appointed chief sustainability officer (CSO) for ASM Global.
Arell is past Chair of the Event Industry Council Sustainability Committee. She is based in Crested Butte, Colo.
Her LinkedIn profile is available here.
Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen
An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Content for Informa Connect. In her role, she oversees content for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News and Exhibit News Now. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event and exhibition industries.
Tormohlen currently serves on the executive committee for 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 and Large Show Roundtable — to name a few.
Thank you to our sponsor! 

What if you could prove your event is working with hard facts and learn how to make it even better? With Zenus’s Ethical Vision AI, you can protect your budget and have detailed reporting. Learn how that’s all possible at Zenus.AI 

U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman joined Trade Show Talk to share his experience as the leading advocate for the $1.1 trillion U.S. travel and hospitality industry. In this role since September 2022, Freeman talked about recent lobbying wins, including the Congressional passage in March of $50 million in funding for the U.S. Department of State to reduce visitor visa interview wait times — welcome news for business events, with average wait times of 400 days for top markets like Mexico, Brazil, India and Columbia. We did a deep dive into the data from a Tourism Economics forecast that revealed international inbound travel and domestic business travel will continue to remain below pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Find out what he thinks it will take to bring back international travel to the U.S. and domestic business travel to pre-pandemic levels. 
 
Want to know more about what U.S. Travel? Here are links to recent news:
U.S. Travel Applauds Much-Needed Funding to Lower Visitor Visa Wait Times
Stunning New Research Ranks United States Nearly Dead Last in Competition for Global Travelers
Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel
Hundreds of Travel Advocates from 50 States Call for Action on Capitol Hill
Top legislative priorities at U.S. Travel’s Destination Capitol Hill (fly-in):
Lower visitor visa wait times, which average 400 days for top source markets
Lower customs wait times, which can reach up to two hours at peak times at major U.S. airports
Fully fund the office of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism for FY 2025
Advance the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill
Seamless & Secure Travel Commission Field Visit to Las Vegas Spotlights TSA Innovations
U.S. Travel on FAA Reauthorization Committee Passage: Get Compromise Bill to President’s Desk
NEW Forecast Predicts United States will Continue to Struggle for International Inbound, Domestic Business Travel
Bio As president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, Geoff Freeman is the leading advocate for the $1.1 trillion U.S. travel and hospitality industry.  In this role, Freeman is charged with ensuring the industry’s full recovery from COVID-19, positioning the industry to seize emerging opportunities in a post-pandemic market environment and further establishing travel as a vital economic force in the United States.
Freeman is a seasoned association CEO with a proven track record of building successful organizations that unite member interests, grow member value, increase revenue and unlock growth opportunities. Prior to joining U.S. Travel, Freeman was president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, the trade association for America’s $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer products industry. During his tenure, Freeman launched a strategic campaign to transform the association into a powerful, modern advocacy organization aimed at driving growth and delivering sound regulatory and legislative outcomes that benefit industry leaders and consumers. During his tenure, Freeman grew membership by 35 percent and boosted total revenue by nearly 50 percent.
Freeman joined the Consumer Brands Association after serving for five years as president and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA). In that role, Freeman led a successful effort to reform and modernize the AGA, build public support for the gaming industry and open new pathways for industry growth. Under his leadership, the AGA spearheaded a multi-year, research-driven campaign to demonstrate gaming’s broad support across the political spectrum and promote the industry’s role in spurring economic growth, job creation and tax revenues in communities across more than 40 states where gaming is legal. That campaign created the tailwinds needed to advance AGA’s signature initiative achieved under Freeman – the legalization of sports betting in the United States. While leading AGA, Freeman drove a 200 pe

Hillary Smith joined Trade Show Talk to share her experience as a female entrepreneur in the event industry. In 2008, Hillary co-founded Koncept Events, a destination management company (DMC) that was named an INC 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America in both 2018 and 2019. After building a client base that included Fortune 500 & 100 companies like McKinsey & Company, Bank of America, Proctor & Gamble and Nike, she sold the business in 2019 to PRA, a DMC powerhouse that was itself acquired by PE-firm Eagletree Capital in March 2023. She talked about joining the PRA team for five years to establish a centralized function for strategy and creative within the organization’s 250+ people across 29 destinations. In 2023, she struck off on her own again and founded Smith + Stone. Find out why she launched this new creative leadership and consulting business and how she’s empowering organizations through innovative strategic design processes. 
Our guest
Hillary Smith, CMP, CSEP, has a passion and proven track record of leading and cultivating cultures of creative thinkers. She is an award-winning visionary who has mastered the Design Thinking Process, a method of creative problem solving used by megabrands like Starbucks, Amazon and Apple. Smith has more two decades of experience leading strategy in the meetings and events creative space. She is a true disruptor and change agent with the ability to follow through with tactical implementations.
An entrepreneur at heart, Smith co-founded Koncept Events in 2008, a leading destination management company in North America. There, she designed events for many Fortune 500 & 100 companies including McKinsey & Company, Bank of America, Proctor & Gamble, and Nike. Koncept Events was named as one of the INC 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America in both 2018 and 2019.  Around that time, PRA acquired Koncept Events, and Smith was brought on to establish the centralized function of Strategy and Creative within the organization of more than 250 people spanning across 29 destinations. Smith is most proud of the team she assembled and the process, tools and overall methodology that ultimately facilitate a safe space for dreamers, thinkers and doers to make an impact in an industry craving rich human experiences.
In 2023, Hillary founded Smith & Stone Creative Leadership and Consulting, empowering organizations through innovative strategic design processes. Recognized as a 'creative force,' she effortlessly embodies the audience, crafting custom experiential journeys. As an inspiring speaker and coach, she delivers creative engagements and workshops on journey mapping, persona and empathy mapping.
About Smith + Stone · 
Smith has an insatiable hunger for new ideas, and she brings those ideas to life with the precision and exactness of a surgeon by always leading with the “why.” This ensures business strategy and objectives are intentionally and unexpectedly woven into the events she designs. With boundless curiosity and as a true ambassador of the creative process, Smith continues to innovate alongside her team and clients as the Founder of Smith & Stone Creative Leadership & Consulting. Follow the company page on LinkedIn or Instagram @smithandstonecreative
Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen
An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Content for Informa Connect. In her role, she oversees editorial for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News and Exhibit News Now. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event and exhibition industries.
Tormohlen currently serves as a board member for 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 and Large Show Roundt

Helen Sheppard joined Trade Show Talk to share her experience as Sustainability Director of RX, a public company that produces 400 events annually in 22 countries across 42 industry sectors. She’s held the position since 2022, but she joined the parent company, RELX, in 2011. She talked about RX’s Net Zero Roadmap, which was published on Feb. 29 and outlines how the company will reach net zero no later than 2040. Under her leadership, RX completed energy and waste reporting for 56 venues covering 141 events in 2023, and carbon footprints were completed for 10 events. Find out how she and the RX are implementing an accurate and consistent measurement and reporting system – which is no easy feat.
 
Our guest
Helen Sheppard joined RX in January 2022 to lead sustainability globally with a focus on implementing the Net Zero Carbon Events commitments. In her current role, she leads an internal Global Sustainability Council. She has launched an RX Sustainability Playbook and more recently RX’s Net Zero Pathway.  
She is an experienced sustainability leader, having worked at RELX for 10 years prior to joining RX.  During her time with the RELX corporate responsibility team, she was responsible for human rights, engagement on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including the management of the RELX SDG Resource Centre, and advancing inclusion and diversity. 
She launched a flagship women in technology mentoring programme to improve diversity in the growing technology workforce. She led RELX’s modern slavery statement commitments including living wage assessments and conducted human rights due diligence for the business. 
She is experienced in ESG (Environmental, Social Governance) indices and benchmarks and has increased transparency in corporate reporting. Sheppard is a fellow of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability and holds an MSC in Development Studies from Birkbeck, University of London. She is an active member of the Net Zero Carbon Events taskforce. 
She lives in Hertfordshire with her two children, husband and two dogs. 
Her LinkedIn bio can be found here.
 
About RX 
The company produces 400 events in 22 countries across 42 industry sectors. Some of their most well-known brands include: the PGA Show for the golf industry in Orlando, the JCK Show for the jewelry industry and the National Hardware Show (NHS),  in Las Vegas, IBTM World 2023 for the meetings and events industry in Barcelona, and the ISC brand - which stand for the International Security Conferences & Exhibitions, held in the USA (Las Vegas and New York), Mexico and Brazil – to name a few. 
 
On its web site, the company says: RX is passionate about making a positive impact on society and is fully committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people.  RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. 
 
RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 35,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges.
 
RX Sustainability achievements so far:
• Energy and waste reporting: 56 venues covering 141 events in 2023; 36 venues
covering 128 events in 2022.
• Carbon footprints completed of 10 events.
• Production material library developed.
 
RX goals in 2024:
• Implement an accurate and consistent measurement and reporting system (carbon
model) and align with RELX and RX reporting.
• Improve and expand energy, waste and production data collection, prioritising events
at top 30 venues.
• Establish clear event-related scope 3 reporting boundaries and baseline; prepare to
externally report event-related emissions and align with RELX.
 
Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen
An award-winning journalist who has covere

Caitlyn Correia joined Trade Show Talk to share her experience as President of BlueHive Group, a private, family-owned corporation that serves as the parent company for BlueHive Exhibits, Continental Woodcraft, Trigon Creative and Lime I&D Services. She’s held the position of president since 2021, but she got her start in the industry a number of years ago. She talked about growing up in the industry, as the third generation of a professional trade show family. Under her leadership, BlueHive is set to have its best year yet, serving 150 clients at 1,000 events across the globe in 2024. Last summer, the company expanded its operations by opening a facility in Las Vegas. As we prepare to head to the ExhibitorLIVE in Nashville, Correira gave us a sneak peek into BlueHive’s presence at the trade show. 
Our guest
As the third generation of a professional trade show family, Caitlyn Correia has been in the industry all her life. Caitlyn was first exposed to the exhibit industry at age four when her father started bringing her to work at the family-owned business and continued to learn about and work in the family company during summer vacations as she grew. 
After graduating from Endicott College with a BS in Sports Management and an MBA, Caitlyn recognized her passions for working with people and brands and for bringing conceptual ideas and design to life with tangible experiences and event settings, and officially joined the BlueHive Group in a professional manner. 
During her years at BlueHive, Caitlyn has held a position in almost every department of the company; from the shop where exhibits and event structures are built, to accounting, account management and client services, and marketing. These roles submerged her in the day-to-day operations of the trade show world and the marketing industry, readying her for her current role as President of BlueHive Group and affiliate brand BlueHive Exhibits.
As President, Caitlyn oversees the daily operations of the entire BlueHive Group organization and affiliate brands. Along with the CEO, it’s her responsibility to ensure BlueHive Group is following its mission, policies, and procedures, keeping BlueHive relevant, competitive, corporately responsible and financially responsible, as well as supporting innovation and growth in BlueHive Group services and capabilities. Caitlyn is renowned for her keen attention to detail, flexibility to work with different aspects of the company and exceptional interpersonal skills. Her infectious smile is a mainstay of the Hive.
Her LinkedIn bio can be found here.
 
Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen
An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Content for Informa Connect. In her role, she oversees editorial for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News and Exhibit News Now. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event and exhibition industries.
Tormohlen currently serves as a board member for 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 and Large Show Roundtable — to name a few.
 
Thank you to our sponsor! 
What if you could prove your event is working with hard facts and learn how to make it even better? With Zenus’s Ethical Vision AI, you can protect your budget and have detailed reporting. Learn how that’s all possible at Zenus.AI