In every emerging industry, there are companies that define and shape the business. They are companies of innovation, energy, expansion and momentum. In the trade show industry, the company that most defined us was Cahners Exposition Group. Chances are good you know one of the “ex-Cahns,” as they’re today’s top executives and entrepreneurs. The predecessor to what’s now known as Reed Exhibitions, Cahners was arguably THE major exhibition player in the ’70s and ’80s, and today, having held a position at the company is somewhat of an industry badge of honor.

London-based conglomerate Reed International had acquired an interest in CEG through its 1970 purchase of IPC Media, a United Kingdom-based magazine publisher and part owner of Cahners Publishing. By 1977, Reed owned 100 percent of Cahners Publishing, including CEG.

CEG began extending its reach beyond the United States in 1980. It acquired Kiver Communications/ Industrial and Scientific Conference Management, which produced the Nepcon shows and had a presence in the UK and Japan. In 1982, CEG added Clapp & Poliak, which produced a number of shows in the U.S., UK and Asia. In 1984, CEG merged with Industrial and Trade Fairs (ITF), a major trade show organization in both Europe and Asia. CEG was renamed by Reed in 1986.

KRAKOFF’S INFLUENCE

From 1973 to 1996, Bob Krakoff served in key leadership roles, including Vice Chairman, Chairman and CEO, at CEG, Cahners Publishing and later Reed. During his career, Krakoff went on to serve as the President and CEO of Advanstar Communications and Nielsen Business Media. Krakoff died in 2007, but his legacy continues to impact the industry today.

Some say Krakoff ’s leadership and mentoring of hundreds of industry professionals is what made CEG a breeding ground for success. Others point to the optimal business environment of the era, a time of tremendous growth for the industry, both domestically and internationally. CEG certainly capitalized on it through M&As and an aggressive launch strategy, becoming one of the biggest global players in the industry. Still others credit the enormous role that show managers played at the time, responsible for running every aspect of a show compared with today’s more specialized roles.

Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that some of the biggest names in the business got their feet wet at CEG. EXPO asked 10 industry leaders to reflect on their time at Cahners.

David Korse
President and CEO
5Net4 Productions

How he got to Cahners: Korse was the owner of small Chicago-based direct marketer, Card Communications Corp. One Sunday afternoon, he was reading the Chicago Tribune and saw an interesting classified ad that seemed to describe just the person he was looking to hire. So he wrote to the box number inquiring about whether the ad was effective and if so, could he plagiarize it. Milton Kiver, Chairman of CEG, got the letter and invited Korse for a cup of coffee. Within a couple of months, Korse was working for Cahners.

Positions held at Cahners: Hired as Group Vice President; General Manager of the Chicago office; Vice President of the Asia/Pacific region (except Japan), based in Singapore.

Years of employment with Cahners: 1984-1993

Major shows he worked on at Cahners: International Security Shows, Nepcon, Powder and Bulk Solid Show, and a variety of shows in the Asia/Pacific region.

Companies where he’s worked since he left Cahners: He left to run the Institute for International Research (IIR) and IIR Exhibitions. In 1996, he founded Imark Communications with funding from E.M. Warburg Pincus & Co. In 2003, he became CEO of IDG World Expo. In 2006, he went to Nielsen Business Media. In 2008, he formed 5Net4 Productions, owners and organizers of the Abilities Expo series of events, with Lew Shomer.

What it was like to work at Cahners: “The company was growing quickly through acquisitions and cloning events around the world,” he says. “So there were lots of opportunities for people who were adaptable and entrepreneurial. The company had strong systems in place, with a huge emphasis on strategic planning and budgeting. It was a very aggressive commercial organization — mercenary in a good way.”

How Cahners shaped the exhibition industry: “Trade shows really became a business during that time,” he says. “Through its aggressive M&A strategy and the standardization of strategic planning and budgeting, Cahners set the stage for private equity investors in the industry in the years to come. Cahners also shaped the globalization of events. At one point, there were more than 20 Nepcon shows around the world.” Memorable experience during his tenure at Cahners: “I’m a private pilot, so my personal favorite event was the Asian Aerospace Show, which our office ran when I was working in Singapore,” he says. “We coordinated daily air shows and hosted royalty and major politicians from the region. Besides the fact that it was a complicated and large and fascinating show to work on, I got to go flying during rehearsal for the daily air shows, which I would never have been able to do otherwise.”

Cherif Moujabber
Founder
Creative Expos and Conferences

What brought him to Cahners: Moujabber was working for Horizon House, organizing communications equipment shows in the United States, Brazil and Egypt.

Positions held at Cahners: Hired as Manager of Middle East; Senior Vice President for the Woodworking Show; Manager of the Washington, DC, office; Vice President for the Asia-Pacific region, based in Singapore.

Major shows he worked on: He managed and launched several shows serving diverse industries such as aerospace, health care, communications, electronics and information technology. Among the largest: Woodworking Show, Asian Aerospace, Nepcon and InterNepcon.

When he worked at Cahners: 1981-1989 Where he’s worked since: In 1989, he joined International Data Group as President and CEO of its World Expo Corp. (WEC) subsidiary. During his four years at the company, WEC grew from four shows in two countries to 46 shows in 18 countries. In 1993, Moujabber founded Creative Expos and Conferences, which advises trade show organizations on expanding their international base of exhibitors and attendees.

What it was like to work at Cahners: “We spent enumerable hours preparing budgets,” he says. “And then readjusting budget. Bob (Krakoff) was very process and budget oriented. So we scrutinized every cent down to the carpet. As a show manager, you were involved in every detail, and it made you a better manager.”

Memorable experience during his tenure: “When I was working in Singapore, we had spent months negotiating the acquisition of Interfama,” he says. “Finally, we meet at the attorney’s office at 6 p.m., and by midnight, we were ready to sign the contract. But the owner said he couldn’t sign the contract until 5 a.m. when the rooster crowed because it was good luck. So we waited until 5 a.m. to sign that contract.”

Margaret Pederson
President
Amirexx LLC

How she got to Cahners: She was recruited by Bob Krakoff, who was also a graduate of the Harvard Business School. Before that, she worked for PepsiCo in New York.

Positions held at Cahners: Director of Planning; Vice President of Planning, Research and Business Development; Senior Vice President.

Major shows she worked on: She was responsible for shows serving markets including media and technology, industrial, medical, food, building, consumers and Canadian. Some of the largest shows included Intermedia, DSPx, National Manufacturing Week and the Canadian Machine Tool Show.

When she worked there: 1983-1999 Where she’s worked since: In 1999, she was named President, Exhibitions, for Primedia (which later became Prism, and today is Penton Media). In 2008, she launched Amirexx, a boutique consulting firm that provides strategic and tactical services.

What it was like to work at Cahners: “It was a superb training organization where you learned crossfunctional skills,” she says. “It was at a point in the development of the company and really the industry that allowed you to work on each area of an event, compared with the specialization that occurs more today. Also, because I launched shows, I was personally responsible for everything — from selling space to writing copy to working with contractors. Cahners was a smaller organization and growing, so it was easier to step outside your assigned job and assume additional responsibilities without stepping on anyone’s toes.”

Memorable experience during her tenure: “Launching DSPx,” she says. “We helped to develop an industry that provided a key component that led to many of the electronic products we rely on today. In my opinion, launching a successful event in the 21st century is the equivalent of spinning hay into gold. It’s fun and rewarding, but the work and risk are considerable, so it isn’t for the faint of heart.”

Tony Calanca
Executive Vice President
Advanstar Communications

How he ended up at Cahners: “I answered an ad for assistant exhibits managers in the Chicago Tribune,” he says. “I interviewed twice with Larry Charrlin and started the following week.” Before that, he had a series of jobs working for a chain of nightclubs, a small direct mail firm and selling insurance door to door.

Positions held at Cahners: Assistant Exhibits Manager; then Exhibits Manager; Exhibits Director; Operations Director; Vice President of Operations; Industry Vice President; General Manager of Consumer Shows; and finally Senior Vice President of an $88 million show portfolio.

When he worked there: 1980-2003

Major shows he worked on: SHOT Show, Vision Expo, Book Expo America, PGA Expo, National Hardware Show, National Manufacturing Week, Summer and Winter Fancy Foods Shows, New York Auto Show, International Toy Fair, Nepcon, Info, Interbev, International Woodworking Fair, Global Gaming Expo, New York Restaurant Show, Powder and Bulk Solids Expo, Interphex and ISC — just to name a few.

Where he’s worked since: Before joining Advanstar three years ago, he had his own consulting practice. Before that, he was a partner in Infinity Expo. What was it like to work at Cahners: “After working in Chicago for a year and a half, I was transferred to New York and then Connecticut, where Bob Krakoff was my direct boss for five years,” he says. “Bob was very bright and very generous with his knowledge, if you won his respect. He pushed you, but he would also teach you. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.”

Peter Nathan
President
PWN Exhibicon International

What brought him to Cahners: The acquisition of Clapp & Poliak (C&P) in 1982, where Nathan worked as Executive Vice President. Before that, he managed the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane, WA; TRANSPO ’72, a U.S. government-sponsored air and transportation exhibition in Washington, DC; and the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial Exposition at Cape Canaveral, FL.

Position held at Cahners: Executive Vice President Major shows he worked on at Cahners: The Shot Show, Fancy Food, Hardware, Powder & Bulk Solid, the Michigan Restaurant Show, all the acquired Clapp & Poliak shows, which included Interbev, Info, the National Manufacturing Week events (Plant Engineering Show and the Design Engineering Show) both in the United States and in the UK, and numerous other overseas events.

Years of employment with Cahners: 1982–1984 Where he’s worked since: Vice President of Marketing & Sales at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center; Vice President at Expocon, before launching his own company in 1996. In 2000, he organized the Medical/Healthcare Exhibition in Havana, Cuba, the first U.S. exhibition to be held in Cuba in more than 40 years, and then organized a second event, U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition, there in September 2002. He’s currently producing U.S. shows in Libya.

How he thinks Cahners shaped the exhibition industry: “Reshaped is a better description, as the exhibition industry was already a growing institution,” he says. “Cahners changed the industry through its acquisitions. It proved that not only were the acquisitions strategic in nature but also could be financial. Cahners also changed the nature of the industry by requiring the general service contractors to compensate show management either financially or through in-kind services.”

What it was like to work at Cahners: “It was a very different culture at that time, not totally to my liking,” he says.” Ned Krause President and CEO E.J. Krause & Associates How he got to Cahners: Through the acquisition of Clapp & Poliak USA. He served as Director of International Operations for C&P International, a division of C&P.

When he worked at Cahners: 1982-1984 Position held at Cahners: Director of International Operations. He assisted in the melding of the international groups of the two companies. Where he’s worked since: In 1984, he joined his father, Ted Krause, in establishing E.J. Krause & Associates, which has now become one of the major privately held companies in the international exhibition field. Major shows he worked on at Cahners: Design Engineering Show, Plant Engineering Show, and Info, which was cloned in several countries.

What it was like to work at Cahners: “Like all mergers, it was challenging to put together two teams into one,” he says. “At the time, it was a huge deal between two of the biggest show organizers. We really put together one of the first major international trade show companies. It really wasn’t a global business before that.”

Memorable experience at Cahners: “The opportunity to work with a number of industry leaders like Skip Farber, Kerry Gumas and Mike Rusbridge,” he says. “I made contacts and developed relationships that I’ve used throughout my career.”

Ned Krause
President and CEO
E.J. Krause & Associates

How he got to Cahners: Through the acquisition of Clapp & Poliak USA. He served as Director of International Operations for C&P International, a division of C&P.

When he worked at Cahners: 1982-1984

Position held at Cahners: Director of International Operations. He assisted in the melding of the international groups of the two companies.

Where he’s worked since: In 1984, he joined his father, Ted Krause, in establishing E.J. Krause & Associates, which has now become one of the major privately held companies in the international exhibition field.

Major shows he worked on at Cahners: Design Engineering Show, Plant Engineering Show, and Info, which was cloned in several countries.

What it was like to work at Cahners: “Like all mergers, it was challenging to put together two teams into one,” he says. “At the time, it was a huge deal between two of the biggest show organizers. We really put together one of the first major international trade show companies. It really wasn’t a global business before that.”

Robbi Lycett
Vice President, Conventions & Conferences
Biotechnology Industry Organization

How she got to Cahners: Believe it or not, Lycett landed at the company through a temp agency. It was her first “real” job.

Positions held at Cahners: Administrative Assistant for a variety of the company’s top execs, including Skip Mason, Peter Nathan, Jerry VanDyke and Bob Krakoff. “When I first started there, I didn’t even think about a career in the industry,” she says. “But in my position, I sat in on a lot of meetings and got exposed to some pretty high-level decisions.”

When she worked there: 1982-1984

Major shows she worked on at Cahners: None directly as an administrative assistant, but she worked in the show office for the Plant Engineering & Maintenance Show and West Pack. Where she’s worked since: Conference Management Corporation; National Expositions; Innovative Expositions; National Trade Productions; Consumer Electronics Association; Lycett Consulting; and the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

What it was like to work at Cahners: “There were so many great people working in the industry at Cahners and at Clapp & Poliak during the early ’80s,” she says. “I was there during the acquisition of C&P, and I had the opportunity to work with several wonderful mentors, including Peter Nathan, who encouraged me to get into the show management side of the industry. It was an exciting time to work for the combined two largest U.S. trade show organizers.”

Bob Macgregor
Managing Director
Diversified Business Communications Canada

How he got to Cahners: Through an acquisition of his father’s exhibition company, Hugh F. Macgregor & Associates, which produced 15 shows in Canada. He also has a technology background as a systems engineer with IBM prior to his trade show career.

Positions held at Cahners: General Manager, Canada. In addition to overseeing the Canadian shows acquired by Cahners, he also worked on acquisitions and launches. He later served as President of Reed Exhibitions Canada.

When he worked there: 1988-1998

Major shows he worked on at Cahners: Canadian Machine Tool Show, Canadian Plant Engineering & Design Shows, Canadian Wood-working Machinery & Supply Show, Canadian Cad/Cam & Robotics Exhibition, VARDEX, Automated Manufacturing Show, Weld Expo, and other regional industrial events.

Where he’s worked since: In 1998, Macgregor formed his own trade show company, Macgregor Communications. He also established AR Systems, a technology and registration company, that’s now known as ShowCare Solutions. In 2002, Macgregor Communications formed a partnership with Diversified Business Communications for the management and growth of Diversified Business Communications Canada.

What it was like to work at Cahners: “Compared to working at my father’s company, it was harder to be entrepreneurial at Cahners,” he says. “About 50 percent of the growth was organic and 50 percent was acquisitions, which was different than I was used to.” Memorable experience during his tenure with the company:“The best thing was the people,” he says. “I built great friendships with some of the best people in the business today because of that experience. People like John Mooney, Joel Davis, David Korse, Marc Rosenstock, and the late Neil Grossman, whom I originally partnered with at Diversified.”