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SPONSORED BY the real thing, this industry will be in trouble." So far, so good! BOB: Hindsight is 50/50. Do you have a past decision that you would like to revisit? STEVEN: Certainly there are things that I would have done differently with the benefit of clairvoyance, but I can't think of a major decision that I would undo. I try to be pretty deliberate and measured about making decisions. Tat tends to cut down the failure rate somewhat. BOB: What's next for you? Are you planning to retire? STEVEN: First, I will start by fully and enthusiastically handing the reins over to my successor and making sure that the transition is truly unremarkable. Ten I will pursue my passions that, as you know, include association management, which I hope to fulfill as an advisor, teacher and writer. I really want to focus on helping exhibition organizers with their shows in both strategic and tacti- cal ways. Aſter 21 years in the industry, I think there are organizations I can help. I already have several photography jobs scheduled aſter September, and I can't think of anything more fun than taking photographs and getting paid to do it. I will also teach photography to kids at the middle school levels. So retirement for me is still several decades off. BOB: How did you get started in the association management business? STEVEN: I was hired by a legendary as- sociation executive, Rod Geer, CAE, who taught me more about being a successful association executive in four years than I learned in the 36 that followed. We managed three different associations of insurance agents at the time, so in four years, I gained what would have other- wise been 12 years of annual meetings, board meetings, committees and lobby- ing. It was intense and exhausting, but it was also rewarding. BOB: Who were your mentors? STEVEN: In addition to Rod Geer, I was blessed to have special relationships for many years with Gene Fondren, president of the Texas Automobile Dealers Associa- tion, who, I believe, was the best associa- tion lobbyist alive, and Terry Townsend, equally talented in so many ways, who led several major Texas organizations. My wife Evelyn and I also had a very special relationship with Anne Richards, former Governor of Texas, throughout her public career. BOB: What do you value most in your associates? STEVEN: I place a lot of value on honesty and passion for the job. BOB: What is your secret extravagance? STEVEN: It's not a secret at all. I've been driving Porsches for 40 years. Tere have been a few times when practicality forced Welcome to America. Who knows how many hands Steven Hacker shook during his tenure at IAEE? He greeted international attendees every year at a special reception at Expo! Expo! me to relinquish one of them, but as soon as I could, I would jump right back in. I'm now enjoying my third Boxster, which may be my last car. When my time comes, I've asked Evelyn to seat me be- hind the wheel and hire a trench-digger to bury me in my Porsche. BOB: What keeps you awake at night? STEVEN: Sometimes Cinnamon and/or Macchiato, our two miniature poodles — they're still pups. BOB: Conversely, what helps you sleep at night? STEVEN: Bulls on Wall Street, a Texas Rangers' winning streak, and Ambien when traveling overseas. Reach Steven at (972) 687-9204 or shacker@iaee.com Columnist BOB DALLMEYER, CEM, has been chairman of both the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA), as well as a former director of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). In 2006, he was inducted into the Convention Industry Council's Hall of Leaders and received IAEE's Pinnacle Award in 2008. Contact Bob at (323) 934-8300 or bdallmeyer@tradeshowexecutive.com www.TradeShowExecutive.com | July 2012 39