Larry Thomas
Replaces Judy Mendenhall

HIGH POINT — Brian Casey, owner of Next Generation Event Group, a Chicago-based convention and trade show services company, has been named president of the International Home Furnishings Market Authority, the organizing group for the big semiannual markets here.

Casey, who has a 26-year track record of association and trade show management, will begin his new job April 18, nine days before the official start of High Point’s spring market.

He will replace the retiring Judy Mendenhall, who has been president of the Market Authority since its inception in 2001.

Market Authority Chairman Paul Toms, who headed the search committee that selected Casey, said he was chosen because of his considerable experience managing trade shows and trade associations. Many of his duties focused on trade show marketing and operations, Toms said, noting the committee also was impressed with his strong communications and leadership skills.

“Brian is a good fit for us,” Toms said. “One of his strengths is his experience in helping organizations focus on making their customers their first priority. He will guide us through the process of continuing to improve the business experience in High Point for all of our market attendees.”

Casey is president and owner of Next Generation Event Group Inc., a firm that specializes in trade show and conference development. Since its inception in 2003, Next Generation has operated successful trade shows for several associations, increasing exhibitor and sponsorship revenues.

Before forming his own company, Casey was executive vice president for conventions and trade shows at Smith, Bucklin & Associates, billed as the world’s largest association management company.

He joined Smith Bucklin in 1991 as director of trade shows, and later led a team that directed all of the company’s trade shows and conventions, or about 40 events.

In addition, Casey is a board member of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research and the International Assn. of Exposition Managers. He’s also a past chairman of the Major American Trade Show Organizers, or MATSO, a forum for operators of some of the nation’s biggest trade shows.

Toms, who also is chairman and CEO of Hooker Furniture, said the Market Authority board owes Mendenhall “a tremendous debt of gratitude” for her more than four years at the organization’s helm.

“Judy Mendenhall brought the Market Authority from its infancy to a strong, well-run, cohesive organization that is continually improving and delivering better services each market,” he said.