World Market Center (Las Vegas) Hires Trade Show Veteran Michelle Monteferrante as Show Director

Furniture World News

World Market CenterSM officials announced they have named trade show and hospitality industry veteran, Michelle Monteferrante, as Show Director of Las Vegas MarketSM. Las Vegas Market is a semi-annual international home furnishings event and marketplace positioned to become the largest of its kind in the world. Monteferrante will be responsible for planning, logistics and implementation of all operations related to the home furnishings markets. She will also work closely with the rest of the management team on launching new events and event segments. She starts with World Market Center on October 2. Monteferrante, who grew up in Las Vegas, comes to World Market Center from The Freeman Companies, where she most recently served as National Sales Manager for Las Vegas. The Freeman Companies is one of the largest general services contractors to the trade show industry, specializing in producing large scale expositions and conventions. The Freeman Companies was the general services contractor for Las Vegas Market’s January and July 2006 markets at the Mandalay Bay and Las Vegas Convention Center respectively. Monteferrante was the executive in charge of these events at The Freeman Companies and accordingly has extensive hands-on knowledge of Las Vegas Market. Her industry background also includes sales management positions with Freeman Decorating, the Sands Expo Center, Hotel Nikko and Sheraton Hotels. A graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Monteferrante is a member of the International Association of Exhibition Management and is currently completing her CEM, a certification of exposition management. Monteferrante replaces Briana Mackey, World Market Center’s former Show Director who recently moved to Australia. “World Market Center is exceedingly pleased to have Michele Monteferrante as a new member of our team,” said Gerry Sawyer, Chief Operating Officer for World Market Center. Sawyer added that World Market Center executives have enjoyed working with Monteferrante as a valued vendor partner for Las Vegas Market. “We all hold Michelle in high regard,” Sawyer said. “Michelle’s more than 20 years experience in the trade show industry and her incredible base of contacts here in Las Vegas will be a huge asset to World Market Center.” Sawyer added, “Michelle has a dual perspective on the industry having managed a number of the top shows and conventions from the general services contractor side. We firmly believe she will further enhance the Las Vegas Market experience for exhibitors and attendees alike.” Monteferrante said of her new position, “I'm thrilled to be joining World Market Center and excited about the opportunity that World Market Center will provide me at this point in my career. The past management has done an outstanding job making Las Vegas Market an event that is unmatched in the home furnishings industry. I see it as my role to build upon this success and elevate the Market’s position through strategic planning and the forging of strong new relationships. I am confident that all of my years as a general services contractor for trade shows and my tenure in the hospitality industry put me in a unique position to accomplish these goals,” Monteferrante added. Monteferrante is keeping a keen eye on the needs and wants of the industry. “Our main goal is to offer an amazing experience that will make Las Vegas Market the predominant international market in the home furnishings industry,” she added. She added that her extensive contacts throughout Southern Nevada will serve her well in building relationships with venues and hotels. “World Market Center will be the beneficiary of my relationships and my experience in the services contract arenas, which will serve to further elevate the experience of exhibitors and attendees.” World Market Center is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and convention complex in Las Vegas. When fully built, at 12 million square feet in eight buildings, World Market Center will be the largest trade show complex in the World. The next Las Vegas Market will be held January 29 – February 2, 2007 at World Market Center and Pavilions, and January 30 – February 2 at Cashman Center.