Issue link: https://tradeshowexecutive.epubxp.com/i/76788
READERS' CHOICE MOST INNOVATIVE ORGANIZATION IN TRADE SHOW INDUSTRY C I O ORGANIZATION: CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ASSN. WEBSITE: cesweb.org/CES-Greening.aspx WHY THIS ORGANIZATION IS INNOVATIVE: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) unites 2,000 companies within the consumer technology industry. Members tap into valuable and innovative members-only resources: unpar- alleled market research, networking oppor- tunities with business advocates and leaders, up-to-date educational programs and technical training, exposure in extensive promotional programs and representation from the voice of the industry. Consumer Electronics Association's mission is to grow the consumer electronics industry. They're the industry authority on market research and forecasts; consumer surveys; legislative and regulatory news; engineering standards; training resources and more. CEA produces the International CES, which is the world's largest consumer technology trade show. It unites more than 100,000 retail buyers, distributors, manufacturers, market analysts, importers, exporters and press from 140 coun- tries. CEA members receive discounted floor space and other benefits when they exhibit. Resources for members included a research library, workshops and educational programs, technical training and certification programs. Members using their resources have a built-in lead in today's competitive marketplace. VOTE FOR COMPANY ID: MI-ORG-CEA 58 July 2012 | Trade Show Executive SHERPA SOLUTIONS ORGANIZATION: WEBSITE: www.sherpa-solutions.com WHY THIS ORGANIZATION IS INNOVATIVE: Sherpa Solutions' R&D; team is led by Sherpa's founder, Jacques Racine, who has successfully created several ground breaking technologies since his early days in the industry. Sherpa's team continually strives to create new, innova- tive solutions with the goal maximizing the power of face-to-face events. For example, Sherpa launched in the Fall of 2010 the ActivTouch mobile platform, which immediately garnered several awards, including the most prestigious one: EIBTM' s WorldWide Technology Watch Award. Furthermore, Sherpa is the only company to have been recognized twice in the history of the WWTW Award. Sherpa just released ActivTouch V2. This 2nd generation mobile platform will take our clients events to the next level with unique features such as SmartReview, SmartRoute, SmartAction and SmartItem. Launched in October 2010, the ActivMetrics Wi-Fi heat mapping system tracks attendees by their mobile devices and accurately measures on- site traffic throughout the show floor, providing organizers with a unique insight into attendee behavior. This insight allows them to implement new revenue-generating programs such as zone pricing and to better understand how they can improve their floor plans to deliver the most rewarding experience to their exhibitors. VOTE FOR COMPANY ID: MI-ORG-SHRPA VIRIDISTOR LLC ORGANIZATION: WEBSITE: www.viridistor.com WHY THIS ORGANIZATION IS INNOVATIVE: ViridiSTOR has created the first and only fiscally sound/sustainable solution replacing paper- based materials at events, greatly reducing the environmental impact and financial costs. Whereas "apps" address the replacement or augmentation of event guides, NO "APP" has successfully replaced the exchange of business information at trade shows, conferences or meetings. This information is viewed with our Presenter application that is loaded on the USB (runs on PC and Mac). The two parts of our solution are the ViridiS- TOR USB and the Green Box (GB). Think of the Green Box as a digital brochure rack that delivers "content of all digital types," and the USB as a dig- ital tote-bag to collect content. At trade shows, exhibitors deliver their "content" to us prior to the event, and then receive their GB at setup. As attendees visit booths, they insert the USB into the GB and instantly download the content. At conferences, we use our patented solution to collect the information making it infinitely more useful than just "files on a CD or USB," and then produce the USB for the conference/meeting. In all cases, the content is on the USB, no Internet required, so attendees are guaranteed of receiv- ing the intended information. VOTE FOR COMPANY ID: MI-ORG-VRIDI R A E D R E ' S C E H