Tag: shot show

Who’s Who: Meet ConvExx’s Jennifer Carr

We are just a couple of weeks til opening day. This year, we selected Las Vegas-based ConvExx as our new SHOT Show management company. For the next installment of the series of “who’s who” blog posts to familiarize you with the ConvExx team, meet Jennifer Carr who will be the Director of Operations for SHOT Show. Get to know more members of the management team, here.

Name: Jennifer Carr, CEM

Position/Title at ConvExx: Director of Operations

Family Members: Dog named Jasper J

Education: Eastern Illinois University

Work history: 2½ yrs in Convention & Tradeshow Department at Smith Bucklin, 11 years at ConvExx

Hobbies/Sports: Swimming, Travel, Chapter Advisor for Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority at UNLV

Favorite book: Harry Potter Series

Favorite movies: Caddyshack, Shawshank Redemption, Better Off Dead

Hometown (where were you born): Bloomington, IL

In Las Vegas since: Summer of 2002

Favorite Thing about Vegas: Weather

Favorite Quote: don’t have one I can list

What are you most excited about for SHOT: Working with the SHOT team and getting involved with the industry

Chris Dolnack is Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDolnack.

Who’s Who: Meet ConvExx’s Christine Bulmann

We’re sure you are busy getting ready for SHOT Show, but do you know who will be onsite accommodating all of your needs? This year, we selected Las Vegas-based ConvExx as our new SHOT Show management company. For the next installment of the series of “who’s who” blog posts to familiarize you with the ConvExx team, meet Christine Bulmann who will be the Account Executive for SHOT Show. Get to know more members of the management team, here.

Name: Christine Bulmann

ConvExx Title: Account Executive

Family: I have (2) grown boys, 3 grown step children and (5) grandchildren. A lot of family all over the country but no one here in Las Vegas, yet.

Education: B.S. in Management and Marketing, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL (I graduated college the same year my younger son graduated high school)

Work History: I have worked at various times in the Trade Show/Convention industry for over 30 years. In that time period, I was also an entrepreneur and owned (3) businesses with my family.

Hobbies/Sports: White water river rafting, tennis, and had to give up playing golf but I can still drive a mean golf cart. I love movies and live music.

Favorite Book: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life by Dr. Wayne Dyer

Favorite Movies: Titanic, The Last Samuri, The Matrix, Star Trek, Star Wars

Hometown: Born in Evanston, IL (Chicago)

In Las Vegas since: July, 2001 to open an office for a trade show exhibit company

Favorite things about Las Vegas: Not only is Las Vegas the entertainment capital of the world but it is wonderful to see friends and family that come for the Las Vegas destination. And it doesn’t snow here (usually)! A few years ago, my brother was visiting Las Vegas from Chicago in December and we had 3 inches of snow! He was snowed in here in Las Vegas for 2 days and could not get back home to Chicago. True story.

Favorite Quote: “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney

I am most excited about SHOT with the opportunity to be an integral part of one of the largest trade shows in Las Vegas. Both the exhibitors and attendees need our assistance in making these 4 days the most successful as is possible for their investment of time, effort and dollars.

Chris Dolnack is Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDolnack.

Who’s Who: Meet ConvExx’s Donna Lawson

With less than a month till SHOT Show, we wanted to brief you on this year’s VIPs. We named Las Vegas-based ConvExx as our new SHOT Show management company. For the next installment of the series of “who’s who” blog posts to familiarize you with the ConvExx team, meet Donna Lawson who will be the Show Coordinator for SHOT Show. Get to know more members of the management team, here.

Name: Donna Lawson

Position/Title at ConvExx: Show Coordinator

Family Members: Husband, Karl; Son, Turner

Education: Bachelor Degree UNLV

Work history:
2006 to Present ConvExx; 2005 – 2006 Coldwater Creek – Visual Manager; 2004 – 2005; Bass Pro Shops – Visual Merchandising Manager;
1993 – 2004 JCPenney – Visual Merchandising Coordinator;1982 – 1993 Mervyn’s – Visual Merchandising Coordinator

Hobbies/Sports: Baking, Camping, Movies

Favorite book: Kinsey Millhone Mysteries by Sue Grafton

Favorite movies: All James Bond movies, Terminator, Die Hard

Hometown (where were you born): Greensburg, PA

In Las Vegas since: 1978

Favorite Thing about Vegas: Great restaurants and shopping nearby but you can escape the city within an hour to the lake, mountains or the desert.

Favorite Quote: “I bake, therefore I am”

What are you most excited about for SHOT: Doing my best to make the Show Management transition smooth for the foundation, exhibitors, and attendees.

Chris Dolnack is Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDolnack.

SHOT Show: The Event That Keeps on Giving

The SHOT Show may only be a few days long, but its impact is year-round!

When more than 60,000 industry members converge in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in January for the SHOT Show, millions of people gain the immediate benefit of the greatest show on earth for the shooting, hunting, and outdoor trade.  How’s that? You see, the SHOT Show provides NSSF with the majority of its income.

The year 2013 has been a year like no other with record-breaking sales coupled with unprecedented attacks against the shooting and hunting industry.  These attacks by headline seeking politicians and their willing accomplices in the media have upped the ante in Washington, D.C. and in an increasing number of states that threatens the very existence of our industry like never before.

NSSF has stood fast as the industry’s trade association in the face of this onslaught, promoting our industry’s lawful position on countless topics such as so called “assault weapons,” high capacity magazines, background checks for private sales, firearms safety in homes, and the shameful failure to put disqualifying mental health records in to the NICS system.

In addition, NSSF invests SHOT Show revenue in customer-recruitment campaigns, such as Families Afield and First Shots. The former has actively remedied legislative barriers preventing family hunting participation, and the latter has offered newcomers the opportunity to learn firearms and firearms ownership fundamentals at member ranges, while actually experiencing the fun of shooting under the careful supervision of qualified instructors.  Other NSSF investments of SHOT Show revenue in hunting and the shooting sports’ future come in the form of the Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative (CSSI). CSSI helps strengthen existing collegiate varsity and club shooting programs, and it aids in the founding of new ones.

NSSF also launched Project ChildSafe, a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to all gun owners. Since 1998, the program has provided more than 36 million free firearm safety kits that include a gun lock to gun owners in all 50 states and five U.S. territories.

These activities of NSSF are only a sampling of the programs that are funded, in great part, by the revenue generated at the SHOT Show, a four-day event in January that’s success is felt throughout the year by millions of hunters, shooters and firearms owners. Thanks for your continued support of the SHOT Show and NSSF in our continued fight for our industry and to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports.

Chris Dolnack is Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDolnack.

Who’s Who: Meet ConvExx’s Mike Clark

Believe it or not, the 2014 SHOT Show is only a month away. As the entire industry prepares, enthusiasm is already building, especially for our new management company, Las Vegas-based ConvExx. For the next installment of the series of “who’s who” blog posts to familiarize you with the ConvExx team, meet Mark Clark who will be the Vice President, Operations for SHOT Show. Get to know more members of the management team, here.

Name: Mike Clark, CEM

Position/Title at ConvExx: Vice President, Operations

Family Members: Wife, Theresa. Children, Allison (11), Sean (9), and Kayla (5)

Education: California State University Northridge (BS)

Work history:
1999-2005: IT Project Manager at Work/Life Benefits (an Accor company)
2005-Present: ConvExx. Started out as IT Manager. Then moved to Director of Operations and VP, Operations

Hobbies/Sports: Golf, Fantasy Football, BBQing. Enjoy spending time with family, especially in back yard

Favorite book: Golf My Way, Jack Nicklaus

Favorite movies: Blazing Saddles, Caddie Shack, Blues Brothers, Back to the Future

Hometown (where were you born): Waterloo, IA. Moved to Saugus, CA when I was 14.

In Las Vegas since: 2005

Favorite Thing about Vegas: Running Rebels

Favorite Quote: “Have the humility to prepare, and the confidence to bring it off.” Vin Scully, who crediting Lord Laurence Olivier with the quote.

What are you most excited about for SHOT: Everyone that I have met so far, from NSSF to Freeman, the Sands, the Venetian, etc.. Could not have enough good things to say about the Show, the exhibitors and the attendees. There seems to be a very positive vibe about this Show and I can’t wait to be part of it. And I’m looking forward to the challenge.

Chris Dolnack is Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDolnack.

Who’s Who in SHOT Show Management: Meet ConvExx’s Mindi Cherry

The firearms, exhibition and event industries, as well as the Las Vegas business community, continue to respond positively to the selection of Las Vegas-based ConvExx as our new SHOT Show management company.

The news has been met with encouragement and congratulations from SHOT Show exhibitors and attendees alike.

For the next installment of the series of “who’s who” blog posts to familiarize you with the ConvExx team, we introduce you to Mindi Cherry, who is the Vice President at ConvExx.

Name: Mindi Cherry

Position/Title at ConvExx: Vice President

Family Members: Husband – Mark, Son – Jacob (6 ½ years old)

Education: B.A. in History from UCLA

Work history: Hotel Convention Services – 4 Years, Convention Housing Company – 4 Years, ConvExx – 13 Years

Hobbies/Sports: Love to watch NFL, NASCAR and College Basketball; Hobbies are playing with my son and scrapbooking

Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird

Favorite movies: Chick Flicks

Hometown (where were you born): San Diego

In Las Vegas since: 1996

Favorite Thing about Vegas: I love live music so I love that in Vegas there is always live music all over town and every artist visits Vegas on their tour.

Favorite Quote: “There’s no crying in baseball!” – Tom Hanks in A League of their Own

What are you most excited about for SHOT: Learning about an industry that is new to me

Chris Dolnack is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDolnack. 

Smith & Wesson Is Platinum Level Education Sponsor for SHOT Show University

Smith & Wesson® returns as the top-tier sponsor of SHOT Show® UniversitySM, the education seminar for firearms retailers that will take place in conjunction with the 2014 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show).

We greatly appreciate Smith & Wesson’s generous support as the Platinum Level Education Sponsor for industry’s largest professional development opportunity for firearms retailers—SHOT Show University.

More than 300 firearms retailers will attend the 2014 SHOT Show University at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas on Jan. 13, the day prior to the beginning of the four-day SHOT Show. Expert speakers and strategic breakout sessions will provide firearms retailers and their staffs with training and education that will help them operate their businesses and service their customers more effectively.

Educational tracks include ATF Compliance, marketing, retail operations and range operations.

Learn more about course lineups, scheduling and registration at SHOT Show University.

Chris Dolnack is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDolnack.

Outdoor Channel to Serve as SHOT Show Pinnacle Sponsor

Outdoor Channel has committed to a Pinnacle-level sponsorship for the SHOT Show® for the fourth consecutive year. Pinnacle is the highest sponsorship level associated with the show.

The sponsorship includes being the official title sponsor of NSSF’s State of the Industry Event; offering show attendees meet-and-greet access to the network’s top talent; providing on-site information and navigation stations for attendees on the show floor; in addition to network marketing and advertising opportunities surrounding the show.

Outdoor Channel’s primary headquarters at the 2014 SHOT Show will be in Bassano meeting rooms 2601-2505 in the Venetian Hotel adjoining the Sands Expo Convention Center. Outdoor Channel’s booth will in the Level 2 Sands Lobby.

Said Outdoor Channel President and CEO Jim Liberatore, “Outdoor Channel is proud to be the pinnacle sponsor of the 2014 SHOT Show. We’re working closely with our valued partner, the NSSF, to offer attendees unparalleled exposure to our brand and to shape the exciting future of the outdoor lifestyle.”

Outdoor Channel’s unprecedented support of the 2014 SHOT Show demonstrates the company’s unwavering commitment to the outdoor industry and all that the industry’s premier trade show stands for.

Please join me in extending a huge thanks to Outdoor Channel for its outstanding support of the SHOT Show.

Chris Dolnack is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDolnack. 

Who’s Who in SHOT Show Management: Meet ConvExx’s Kate Peterson

The firearms, exhibition and event industries, as well as the Las Vegas business community, have all responded positively to the announcement of NSSF selecting Las Vegas-based ConvExx as our new SHOT Show management company.

The news continues to be met with encouragement and congratulations from SHOT Show exhibitors and attendees alike.

For the next installment of the series of “who’s who” blog posts to familiarize you with the ConvExx team, we introduce you to Kate Peterson, who is the Director of Sales and Customer Service at ConvExx.

Name: Kate Peterson

Position/Title at ConvExx: Director of Sales and Customer Service

Family Members: husband, Larry; Son, Luke; Step-son, Jonathan; Step-daughter, Brittany

Education: Widener University, Chester, PA; Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management

Work history: Headquarters Plaza Hotel, Morristown, NJ – Assistant Front Office Manager, Reservations Manager, 1993-1996 ; Radisson Hotel at Cross Keys, Baltimore, MD – Revenue Manager, 1996-1998; DNA Computing, Baltimore, MD – Technical Writer, 1998-1999 Visit Baltimore, Baltimore, MD – Senior Housing Manager, 1999-2004; ConvExx, Las Vegas, NV – Director of Sales and Customer Service

Hobbies/Sports: Snow skiing

Favorite book: Any David Baldacci novel

Favorite movies: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Hometown (where were you born): Tokyo, Japan, but grew up in Sayreville, NJ

In Las Vegas since: 2004

Favorite Thing about Vegas: Friends always want to come visit.

Favorite Quote: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. — Ferris Bueller

What are you most excited about for SHOT: For me personally, getting to know the industry, in depth. For the SHOT Show, I am looking forward to helping make a great show even better!

Chris Dolnack is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDolnack. 

Why Individual Employees’ Email Addresses Are Required When Registering for the SHOT Show

Over the last several shows, we began requiring individual unique email addresses for attendees and exhibiting personnel and for the most part our 62,000 attendees and exhibitors were understanding and cooperative.  There are a number of reasons we implemented this requirement:

  • Using a unique email address will allow each SHOT Show badge holder to utilize and customize the online show planner and the show’s mobile app. A full 54 percent of 2013 SHOT Show attendees downloaded and used the SHOT Mobile app sponsored by Armalite.  A unique email address is required in order to activate the app.
  • All attendees will be able to receive timely SHOT Show information and communications.  You’d be surprised at how often critical information is not passed along to key booth staff.  This ensures that everyone gets the word.
  • Finally, the use of unique email addresses will help us in identifying non-qualified attendees.  It’s not uncommon for manufacturer’s reps to use a personal email address.  We get that.  But it also stands to reason that the majority of retailer and exhibitor staff should utilize a company email address.  Hence, we can more easily identify those that are bringing non-qualified attendees into the show.

All attendees and exhibitors alike will be required to provide unique email addresses.  With your help, we can ensure that all exhibitors and attendees receive all the information they need, are able to utilize the show planner to its fullest and also help us in our continued efforts to ensure the SHOT Show remains a trade-only event with qualified attendees and exhibiting personnel.