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COMING UP: Wednesday, March
29, 2006
MARCH MEETING of the SPGA/Seattle Graphic Artists Guild
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MARCH
29th PROGRAM:
Planning Your Trade show Presence for Success
Date:
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Luncheon
Time: 12:00 - 2:00
Where: Columbia Tower Club, Seattle Directions>>
Dress: Business casual, no denim, sports shoes
RSVP
Deadline Friday, March 22: Sign-up online>>
Last
month we learned that at least one well-positioned trade show per
year is part of the marketing plan that Linnea Design has used over
the past twenty years. At the upcoming luncheon meeting, Geoffrey
Gilmore, CSEP, president of International Special Events Society
(ISES - www.isesseattle.com)
and of Geoffrey Gilmore Signature Events (www.sigevents.com),
will discuss how to prepare trade show booths for effective revenue
generating opportunities.
In
an interactive administration, Gilmore will be working with artist
Chris Rusnak, a graphic designer at Costco, to show us solutions
for creating displays that are highly effective in small spaces.
Several colleagues from ISES will also be available to answer audience
questions about effective trade show planning.
Attend
this March SPGA/Seattle Luncheon to learn how to prepare effectively
for trade shows.
March
postcard and above illustration by Al Tietjen, Fusion Studios
www.fusionstudios.net
INTERVIEW:
Geoffrey Gilmore, ISES, CSEP
presenting
at the Guild Luncheon Wednesday, March 29, 2006
12:00 - 2:00
The Columbia Tower Club |
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WE:
Tell us something about your experience with event planning.
Geoffrey: I have been involved
in event planning as a business since 1996. I am a member of the
Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) and a member of the International
Special Events Society (ISES).
WE:
What is your niche or target market?
Geoffrey:
I work with weddings a great deal and am growing more into
the corporate event side of the business. My target market at this
time are the smaller businesses and events due to time constraints
on my part.
WE:
When did you first decide to enter this profession?
Geoffrey:
I create wedding cakes and special occasion cakes. One of
my clients ran into some major difficulties with her wedding plans
at the last minute and turned to me, her wedding cake designer for
advice and guidance. The advice I gave proved to be very beneficial
and the wedding went on smoothly. From that moment, I figured I
better find out more about wedding planning just in case I was ever
called upon to guide and advise again. From there I have grown to
a business that is bulging to grow even more. However, I am holding
back until I have retired from my full time job.
WE:
How did you come up with your company name?
Geoffrey: My company was originally
named Signature Events because I place my “signature”
touch an every event. However, I met another consultant at my trade
show booth who had the same name and operates in the North Puget
Sound. In checking the business name registry again, I found that
she had registered her business name ten days before I did. Therefore
I changed the name to include my name which no one else would have.
WE:
What type of education did you have and how has it served you?
Geoffrey: In the event planning
side of my life, I have taken the professional business course with
the ABC, earning my designation as Professional Bridal Consultant
(PBC). I have also gone through the rigorous process of earning
my Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) designation awarded
by ISES. Both designations have served me well in helping me grow
as a professional and in validating my knowledge and experience
in this industry.
WE:
Who has been your greatest professional influence?
Geoffrey: My family has been my
greatest professional influence. From my grandparents who worked
in affluent households and taught their grandchildren proper etiquette
when serving and/or entertaining, to my wife of 31 years and our
sons (29 and 27) who have progressively pursued their own blossoming
careers. Seeing where my family has come from and where we are headed,
is a blessing and an inspiration.
WE:
What are your plans for the future?
Geoffrey: When I retire from my
full time job of teaching high school English (27 years), I will
follow my business plan to allow this business to grow steadily.
WE:
How has serving on boards and doing volunteer work helped you further
your career?
Geoffrey:
This answer alone will take a great deal of space. I have
learned so much from so many professionals and met people I only
read about in magazines. I have been placed out there in the forefront
of special projects not knowing what to do but going ahead and doing
it. I have been able to share and teach others what I have learned
which has been very satisfying. Sometimes I have to pinch myself
to realize that I am actually doing what I am doing.
WE:
Tell us about awards, acknowledgments, and/or accolades you've received.
Geoffrey: I have my two professional
designations PBC and CSEP. I have written a number of magazine articles
which have appeared in Special Events Magazine, Bizillion Magazine
and Northwest Meetings and Events magazine.
I
was an international finalist in 2002 for the Espirit Award, and
I have received awards for my trade show booths and table top designs.
I have also received awards for my cake designs and cake recipes.
I am particularly proud of my almond vanilla butter cake that won
best of show over all of the chocolate cakes entered. I have also
won blue ribbons for my chocolate cakes, coffee cakes and cheesecakes.
I
have been a speaker for trade shows, career fairs, association meetings
and training sessions. I serve on the Northshore School District’s
Family and Consumer Science Board as a community entrepreneur. I
am also creating the curriculum for a Event and Tourism course to
be taught to high school students for high school credit.
I
have wrote the curriculum and taught the novice training course
for the Washington Branch of ABC. I have served as the Vice President
of Education, Secretary and currently as President for the Greater
Seattle Chapter of ISES. I am also a founding board member for the
Seattle Chapter.
It’s
amazing to me when I look at this list. I really did all of this
and I am still growing.
Geoffrey
Gilmore,CSEP
Geoffrey Gilmore Signature
Wedding and Event Planning
425.488.8171 www.sigevents.com
President, Seattle Chapter of the International Special Events Society
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