MATSO Governance

After a year of in-depth discussion between IAEE and MATSO leadership, the IAEE MATSO Council was announced in December 2013 in Houston at Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition. The focus of the MATSO Council is on all functional aspects of major show production in keeping with the original vision. The IAEE MATSO Council is governed by the IAEE Bylaws, Article IX, which outlines the council’s authority (detailed in the MATSO charge). MATSO will have an ex-officio representative on the IAEE board of directors and a staff liaison assigned to coordinate support between IAEE departments.

Mission

To present the viewpoint and advance the success of the major trade show [at least 200,000 NSF] and to provide a mechanism for the exchange and dissemination of information relevant to that audience.

Vision

To be viewed as the authority on issues relevant to all stakeholders of major trade shows [at least 200,000 NSF].

Interested in joining the MATSO Council?

2025 MATSO Council

Lisa Malikow, Chairperson

Senior Vice President, Restaurant Show, National Restaurant Association Show/ Informa Connect

Kate Hawley, CEM, Vice Chairperson

Director, Business Development
Water Environment Federation

Mark Bogdansky, Immediate Past Chairperson

Vice President, Tradeshows and Community Engagement
Auto Care Association

Melodie Anderson, CEM, DES

Vice President, Meeting & Exhibit Experiences.
Institute of Food Technologists

Camile Candella

Group Vice President
Emerald X

Merideth Newman, CEM

Senior Director, Trade Shows
The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI)

Christy Spahn

Vice President, Expo Operations & Sales,
International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA)

Ryan Strowger, CEM

Vice President, Trade Shows & Meetings
International Signs Association

Andy Tompkins

Trade Show Director
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)

Ellen Tucker, CAE, MAS

Vice President
Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)

Gwen Venable, CEM

Executive Vice President – EXPO and Communication Services, U.S. Poultry and Egg Association

Dana Wuesthoff, CEM

Vice President, Exhibitions Data & Technology Applications
CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show Director

Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)

2025 IAEE Leadership

Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM

President & CEO
IAEE

Nicole Bowman, MBA, CEM-AP

Staff Marketing
VP of Marketing & Communications
IAEE

Jason Ware

Staff Lead
Vice President, Events & Experiences
IAEE

Stacy Powers, CEM

Staff Program
Director of Learning Experiences
IAEE

Beverly Benbow, M. Sc.

Staff Nominating
Director of Governance
IAEE

IAEE MATSO Council Charge

The MATSO Council is comprised of not-for-profit association and for-profit exhibition organizers whose shows are at least 200,000 NSF of exhibition space. The focus of the MATSO Council is on all functional aspects of large show production: marketing and sales, legislation, labor, international challenges, and operations.

The MATSO Council encourages conversations of members fitting the criteria. The MATSO Council will provide a forum to support in-depth problem solving in a competition-free environment based on a foundation of confidentiality and trust.

Goals of the MATSO Council include but are not limited to:

Providing a forum of support for in-depth conversation and problem-solving, addressing large-scale challenges.
Developing best practices unique to large-scale events
Developing position statements on issues that impact large-scale events and exhibitions overall
Encouraging conversations via face-to-face meetings and on the Council’s private forum on IAEE MemberLink
Encouraging membership in IAEE, and hence in the MATSO Council
Encouraging all members meeting criteria to submit their show’s data to the CEIR Index.

As is the case with other Councils and committees of IAEE, a staff liaison will be appointed to assist with administrative details, including coordinating with other IAEE departments:

The IAEE MATSO Council will abide by the IAEE Bylaws. Article IX outlines the Council’s authority, including electing a chair to serve on the IAEE Board of Directors. The chairperson of the Council will present reports to the IAEE board directors at its meetings. The Council will abide by the IAEE Antitrust Policy.