Navigating the Trade Show Landscape: My Journey and the Birth of the MPI Exhibitor Community

Over the past several years, my career in the events industry has taken me on an incredible journey. Since stepping into this field in 2011, I’ve had the unique opportunity to experience both sides of the industry—first as a planner, and then as a supplier. My true passion, however, has always been rooted in trade shows, where my career began with the production of a one-day event for a food service distributor. The thrill of designing the floor plan, collaborating with exhibitors, and meticulously managing every detail to ensure the event's success was exhilarating. But what truly captivated me was witnessing the show floor come to life during move-in.

Fast forward to 2021, when I joined Skyjack in my current role. This position brought me back to my trade show roots, this time as an exhibitor. Having been on both sides of the trade show booth, I was already well-versed in the intricacies of these events. However, my commitment to continuous learning and professional development led me to seek out education and training specifically tailored to trade show exhibitors. To my surprise, despite the wealth of resources available for meeting planners, conference organizers, and show producers, there was a noticeable gap in content designed for exhibitors.

This realization set me on a new path. I began by exploring resources through MPI, then CAEM (Canadian Association of Exposition Management), and eventually connected with IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events), which introduced me to The Exhibitor Advocate. These conversations led to the formation of the MPI Exhibitor Community, which is part of MPI’s Communities available to all 12,000+ MPI members around the globe.

The MPI Exhibitor Community was established to empower exhibitors with the knowledge, resources, and connections necessary to succeed in the dynamic world of exhibitions and events. Our mission is to cultivate a vibrant, supportive community that champions the growth and success of exhibitors, whether they are seasoned veterans or newcomers.

Our community is a place where exhibitors can come together to share best practices, address common challenges, and build relationships with show services, producers, and suppliers. By fostering these connections, we aim to ensure that every exhibitor, regardless of experience level, has the tools and support needed to achieve a successful outcome at trade shows.

If you’re an exhibitor, whether experienced or just starting out, the MPI Exhibitor Community is here for you. We’re dedicated to helping you navigate the complexities of trade shows — from understanding why material handling fees vary, to managing union requirements, deciphering paperwork, and grasping the intricacies of move-in/move-out schedules.

We’re also excited to announce our presence at MPI’s The EVENT in September. We’ll be sharing insights from our recent discussions with various show service providers. Our panel at the EVENT, scheduled for Monday, September 23, 2024, at 1:30 PM, will feature industry leaders: Shawn Shapiro, Show Manager of Canadian Meetings + Events Expo; Matthew Kalb, VP Client Experience at T3 Expo; Barbara Pavesi, Team Lead, Event Planning at Cvent; and Marie-Chantal “MC” Thibault, Business Development Manager at Mont Tremblant. These experts will engage in a collaborative discussion on trade show success, addressing challenges from every angle of the exhibit experience.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about trade shows or would like to learn more about The Exhibitor Community, please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

I look forward to seeing you at The EVENT in September and continuing our conversation on how we can all achieve greater success in the trade show world.

About the Author:

Stephanie Rapko, CEM, CMP
Tradeshow and Events Specialist, Skyjack
Director of Membership, MPI Toronto
Chair, The Exhibitor Community, MPI
Chair, Membership, The Exhibitor Advocate
CEM Faculty, IAEE/CAEM