Trade Show Moves: Our August Roundup of New Hires & PromotionsTrade Show Moves: Our August Roundup of New Hires & Promotions
World Dairy Expo, ANDMORE, HKTDC, and more welcomed new leaders and rewarded hard-working staff with elevated roles.
September 4, 2025
TSNN’s take on the biggest recent move: Kay Faherty was appointed trade show manager of World Dairy Expo, the annual trade show and conference for the global dairy industry held at Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.
Big picture: In her new role, Faherty is responsible for managing the Expo’s trade show, engaging with participating commercial exhibitors, and coordinating on-site trade show booths.
Need to know: Bringing many years of trade show experience to World Dairy Expo, Faherty previously served as senior exhibit coordinator for the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, where she managed booth assignments, exhibitor applications, and trade show execution for the organization’s annual trade show that featured more than 2,000 booth spaces.
What they’re saying: “We are excited to have Kay join the World Dairy Expo team. She brings a wealth of trade show knowledge and experience to the organization and to our trade show exhibitors,” said Laura Herschleb, general manager of World Dairy Expo. “Her ability to jump right in will prove invaluable, as the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show will begin assembling in less than a month.”
What she’s saying: “I am honored to join the World Dairy Expo team and contribute to such an iconic event in the dairy industry,” Faherty said. “I look forward to supporting our exhibitors and ensuring they have a successful experience in Madison.”
ANDMORE
Major business-to-business (B2B) marketplace company ANDMORE—operator of physical markets, trade shows, and design centers for the home décor, gift, furniture, and apparel industries—recently established a new executive team to support its growth plan and improve operations. They include:
Financial and real estate executive Robert Klein was appointed CFO. He joins ANDMORE from Postal Realty Trust, Inc., where he served as CFO since 2021. Prior to that, Klein was a managing partner and head of capital markets at real estate investment firm Monday Properties Services, LLC, where he led its strategic growth.
As president, leasing and marketing, Scott Eckman is tasked with overseeing key business functions, including sales, leasing, and marketing. After working as president at Loloi, he returns to ANDMORE, where he spent more than a decade, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief revenue officer.
Greg Avitabile was appointed president, operations following several other leadership positions at the company, including executive vice president and COO. Before joining ANDMORE, he served as senior vice president of operations at AmericasMart Atlanta, where he oversaw facility operations, trade shows, and events.
Bringing more than 20 years of technology leadership experience, Landon Williams was tapped as executive vice president, chief technology officer (CTO), responsible for the company’s technology strategy across operations, including incorporating technology across ANDMORE’s event and showroom spaces. He most recently served as CTO, mergers and acquisitions, at Equifax, and prior to that, was SVP and chief architect at The Weather Company.
After more than a decade in the real estate, hospitality and wellness sectors, Katie Potter was appointed executive vice president, chief strategy officer and general counsel. She previously served as chief legal and administrative officer for Sonder Inc, president and COO AlerisLife (Five Star Senior Living), and senior vice president of The RMR Group.
Amory Wooden was appointed as executive vice president and chief marketing officer, responsible for overseeing all marketing and communications for the company’s brands and corporate entity. Prior to joining ANDMORE, Wooden served as acting chief marketing officer at Home Partners of America, head of marketing for StreetEasy at Zillow, and director of brand marketing at Squarespace.
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which oversees the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), has appointed Sophia Chong as its new executive director, effective October 1. She is succeeding Margaret Fong, who is retiring after 11 years in the role.
Having served HKTDC for more than 30 years, currently as deputy executive director, Chong will be responsible for leading the HKTDC to support Hong Kong small- and medium-sized enterprises in exploring business opportunities internationally via its global network. Prior to being promoted to deputy director in 2022, she served in a variety of roles at the organization, including as director, publications and e-commerce; director, exhibitions; and regional director for Southern China.
Explore St. Louis
Explore St. Louis recently added two hospitality professionals to its leadership team: Brian Atchison as chief sales officer and Jill Metherd as sales manager–events.
Bringing more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in destination marketing and hospitality sales, Atchison leads the CVB’s group sales strategy and execution for the America’s Center Convention Complex and hotel-based in-house business, including meetings, conventions, sports and other major events. He most recently served as vice president of business development and convention sales for New Orleans & Company.
A veteran of some of St. Louis’ largest entertainment and event venues, including Ballpark Village and Armory STL, Metherd brings expertise in event sales, operations and strategic planning. Her focus will be working within a rolling 12-month window to secure local and regional events at the America’s Center Convention Complex.
Bowman Design Group
Trade show exhibits and experiential environments provider Bowman Design Group recently appointed 40-year trade show and event industry veteran Gina Madonna as director of operational excellence. She is responsible for overseeing daily shop operations, managing key client accounts, and spearheading new business development initiatives.
Madonna joins Bowman Design Group following a more than five-year tenure at IPME, where she led operations, sales, and client services for top trade show production agencies.
Raleigh Convention Center
The Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater, part of Raleigh’s Complex of venues, recently promoted Kate Jansen to director of marketing and sponsorships. She is tasked with driving growth and awareness for each of the Complex’s brands, leading strategic marketing and communications efforts, and cultivating high-impact partnerships and corporate sponsorships.
After joining the Raleigh Convention Center in 2010 as a special event coordinator, Jansen has served as catering sales manager, national sales manager, and stepped in as interim booking manager for the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts to support the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Louisville Tourism
Louisville Tourism recently announced four new hires and one role transition:
As strategic alliances associate, Cassie Culbertson supports Destination Engagement inquiries, hotel partners, subscribers, billing, and database management. She previously worked in Louisville Tourism’s call center, helping visitors with travel questions, reservations, and local recommendations.
Amy Czerwonka started in the new role of social media coordinator, responsible for expanding Louisville Tourism’s social media reach. She comes to the CVB after spending the last seven years as the Wellness Coordinator at Humana’s Wel, where she assisted in the creation of marketing assets, client programming, and corporate communications.
Trey Harris has started in the new position of Visitor Experience Programming Manager, overseeing the activation calendar for Louisville Tourism’s three visitor experience assets and assisting in planning and executing events within the experiences. He joins Louisville Tourism from James B. Beam Distilling Co., where he spent more than five years as the Event Coordinator.
Bringing more than a decade of experience in editorial writing, content strategy, and digital marketing, Katie Molck was hired in the new role of content manager. She comes to Louisville Tourism from 6AM City, where she helped launch and grow LOUtoday, and most recently served as managing editor, overseeing content across multiple cities.
Following more than two and half years as the CVB’s destination services manager, Austin Seeley transitioned to convention sales manager. Prior to joining Louisville Tourism, he served in a senior customer experience specialist role for Varsity Spirit within their Midwest region of events.
Messe Düsseldorf
Messe Düsseldorf recently welcomed Deniz Kasapoglu in the newly created dual roles of head of MENA and head of business development at the company’s new Gulf Office in Dubai. In these positions, she will oversee business development across the entire Middle East and North Africa region, with particular focus on the Gulf.
Kasapoglu, who joined the company in 2020, currently serves on the supervisory board of Hannover Messe Ankiros Fuarcilik in Ankara and on the board of Food Africa Cairo, and since August 2024, has served as an event director ambassador for UFI.
Questex
After announcing a new unified leadership structure for its Hospitality division, information and event services company Questex recently welcomed Brandy Rand as vice president market leader of hospitality and Elliot Howell as sales leader, U.S. hospitality.
As the former chief strategy officer at IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, where she led global strategy and oversaw U.S. analytics and commercial development, Rand was most recently the founder and CEO of ThirstWell, providing strategic advisory services across private equity, beverage, and data industries.
Howell joins Questex from Informa Markets Engineering and previously held senior sales leadership roles at New Hope Network. Bringing deep B2B events expertise, he will lead sales strategy and customer engagement for the newly aligned hospitality platform.
ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau
The ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau promoted certified tourism marketing professional Gabrielle “Gabby” Andrews to vice president of marketing, responsible for spearheading strategic marketing and brand awareness for Atlanta’s southside. A decade-long member of the ATL Airport District Team, she will continue to help refine the CVB’s marketing programming and PR campaigns. Prior to joining the CVB team, Andrews served in the trade show sales department at the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), where she honed her skills in event planning and execution.
Savannah Convention Center
The Savannah Convention Center (SCC) recently made a series of internal staff promotions.
With more than 30 years of hospitality experience, including training with Ritz-Carlton and work with luxury brands like Marriott, Hilton, and Salamander, Staci Stover has been promoted to senior national sales manager after serving more than three years as the SCC’s northeast regional sales manager. In her new role, Stover will support the senior director of sales and marketing with day-to-day team operations and special projects.
After 18 years at the Savannah Convention Center and more than 20 years in the food and beverage industry, Edward “Jason” Touchberry has been promoted from food and beverage manager to senior food and beverage manager, focused on beverage program development, retail operations, service training, leadership development, and client satisfaction.
After serving as the facility’s public safety manager since 2021, Jared Whitehead was promoted to senior public safety manager. He brings more than 15 years of security and public safety experience, including investigations and management in theme parks and hotels, as well as expertise in high-risk contracts focused on anti-terrorism and maritime security.
James Mallard recently joined the Food & Beverage Catering/Sales division as a catering coordinator after previously serving as head banquet captain since 2023 and initially joining the SCC in January 2020. With more than 10 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, Mallard brings extensive catering and leadership expertise to his new role.
