EXHIBITOR Magazine's Founder and CEO Lee Knight Moving On

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EXHIBITOR News
EXHIBITOR Magazine's Founder and CEO Lee Knight Moving On

6/9/2022
ROCHESTER, MN - EXHIBITOR Media Group, the leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, announces that Lee Knight, EXHIBITOR's founder and CEO, is stepping aside after 40 years at the helm. Knight will continue to serve in an advisory role while the company transitions to new ownership.

"After 40 years with Exhibitor Publications & EXHIBITORLIVE, I am moving on," said Knight. "I am leaving the company with new exciting leadership backed by the same great team."

"Our reputation for uncompromising editorial integrity assures that our readers and customers find solutions they can apply with confidence," added Knight. "Our veteran management team, with their deep understanding of the trade show and event marketing industry and EXHIBITOR's role, will ensure that our mission and core values remain strong."

Founded by Knight in 1982, EXHIBITOR is the recognized leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, providing business-to-business marketers with the tools and education to produce high-performance programs with measurable results. Knight was instrumental in the establishment of the Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) professional certification program, providing a comprehensive set of knowledge and skills for trade show and corporate event marketers. More than 4,000 candidates are currently enrolled in the CTSM program.

"It has been my privilege to work with Lee from the early years of the show and conference," said Dee Silfies, Chief Learning Strategist, EXHIBITORLIVE. "Lee kept our team focused on the importance of education, innovation and quality. Lee’s determination to offer a high value, university-affiliated certification was a game changer for the industry, and thousands of corporate exhibitors have elevated their profession because of Lee’s insistence on providing high value education."

“Lee’s contribution to the trade show and event industry has been immeasurable,” said Travis Stanton, Editor of EXHIBITOR magazine. “My team and I are honored to continue his legacy of unbiased content, exclusive industry research, unparalleled education, and everything else readers have come to love about and expect from EXHIBITOR.”

“Lee’s passion for improving the exhibiting experience led him to create a magazine, conference, and trade show that’s gained worldwide recognition,” remarked John Pavek, chief marketing officer at EXHIBITOR Media Group, “Lee’s entrepreneurial spirit elevated our entire industry.”

Knight's contributions to the industry will be honored at EXHIBITORLIVE, the National Conference and Exhibition for Trade Show and Corporate Event Marketing, June 20 - 23, 2022, in Las Vegas, where he will be named the 2022 recipient of the EXHIBITOR Legends Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, which has only been bestowed three other times (Dick Swandby, founder of Exhibit Surveys Inc. in 2014; Jack McEntee, founder of I&D Inc. in 2015; and Marc and Mim Goldberg, founders of Marketech360, in 2021) honors significant contributions to the trade show and events industry.

As the leading publication for trade show and event professionals, EXHIBITOR provides case studies, how-to articles, trend reports, research reports, and tips on everything from logistics to cost cutting, to help exhibit and event managers produce high-performance face-to-face marketing programs with measurable results. EXHIBITOR also encourages excellence and innovation through awards programs designed to honor effective exhibit promotions, results-driven exhibit managers, strategic corporate events, and the world's most stunning exhibit designs.

About Exhibitor Media Group
The leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, Exhibitor Media Group publishes EXHIBITOR magazine, an award-winning publication featuring best practices in trade show marketing. EXHIBITOR's learning events include: EXHIBITORLIVE, the National Conference and Exhibition for trade show and corporate event marketing; EXHIBITORFastTrak accelerated learning conferences; and EXHIBITOR eTrak, professional online learning. Exhibitor Media Group is also the founder and sponsor of CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer), the industry's only university-affiliated professional certification program. Learn more at www.ExhibitorOnline.com.

EXHIBITOR is a registered trademark, and EXHIBITORLIVE, EXHIBITORFastTrak, and EXHIBITOR eTrak, are trademarks of Exhibitor Publications, Inc. in the USA and other countries. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated.

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