Alpharetta, Ga.— HD Expo has announced that Kevin Gaffney will join the brand as group show director, effective immediately.
Gaffney’s primary focus, according to the company, will be overseeing the planning and execution of HD Expo. In addition, he will also provide strategic guidance to BDNY, BDwest and HX show management as those shows continue the transition into the design portfolio of Emerald Expositions, HD Expo’s parent company.
“Kevin has a solid track record for creating trade show initiatives and themes that support both exhibitor and attendee goals. HD Expo, and the Hospitality Design Group in general, will tremendously benefit from his institutional knowledge and expertise,” said Joe Randall, Executive Vice President, Emerald Expositions.
Gaffney brings over 23 years of trade show management, most recently with the Emerald Exposition healthcare brands. Since 2008, Gaffney has served as group show director for the Medtrade, Medtrade Spring, Environments for Aging, Healthcare Design and Construction SuperConference trade shows. Prior roles also include serving as the associate director for the Research Chefs Association, and as the sales and marketing director for the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association. In addition, Gaffney also managed sales, marketing and trade show operations for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International Gas Turbine Institute.
“Healthcare and hospitality have seen tremendous crossover in recent years, with healthcare design becoming more focused on patient experience and comfort, and wellness becoming a key focus in hospitality. As a result, Kevin brings a strong familiarity with this design sector, as well as our core customer base, to his new role as group show director,” said Stacy Shoemaker Rauen, editor in chief of Hospitality Design magazine and vice president of the Hospitality Design Group. “I’m excited to work with Kevin to produce another great HD Expo in 2019 and to continue to evolve the show.”
