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WC
WENGER CORPORATION
Actively hiring
Trade Show & Events Supervisor
- Workplace
- On-site
- Commitment
- Full-time
- Seniority
- Lead
- Salary
- $72,000 - $88,000
- Posted
Location
Owatonna, United States
As a Trade Show & Events Supervisor, you will lead the planning, coordination, and execution of Wenger Corporation's trade shows, conferences, expositions, and customer-facing events. This role supports marketing and sales strategy by creating consistent, brand-aligned event experiences that drive customer engagement, sales opportunities, and market visibility. You will manage annual event planning, budgets, vendor relationships, event logistics, exhibit inventory, event technology/tools, and cross-functional communication while leading and developing the conventions/event support team.
Responsibilities
- Plans, directs, and executes trade shows, events, and corporate experiences that deliver a consistent, engaging, and brand-aligned Wenger customer experience while supporting strategic business objectives.
- Develops and manages the annual trade show and events calendar in alignment with marketing, sales, product, and business priorities.
- Partners with Sales, Marketing Communications, Product Management, Customer Service, Finance, and leadership to define event objectives, participation levels, timelines, staffing needs, and success measures.
- Leads event kickoff meetings, workback schedules, planning checkpoints, and post-event evaluations to ensure clear communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Partners with the Content Specialist, Marketing Communications Leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders to develop event creative strategies and customer experience objectives, leading implementation through exhibit design, booth layouts, messaging, product storytelling, and attendee engagement initiatives..
- Plans and executes trade shows, conferences, expositions, and customer-facing events that deliver consistent, professional, and brand-aligned Wenger experience.
- Coordinates booth and exhibit design, layouts, signage, product displays, printed collateral, promotional items, shipping, setup, tear-down, show services, and related logistics.
- Manages event inventory, warehouse coordination, booth properties, demo equipment, graphics, literature, promotional materials, and event supplies.
- Ensure event requirements, deadlines, show rules, safety expectations, certificates, and venue requirements are met.
- Administers and manages the annual trade show and events budget, tracks expenses, reconciles costs, and ensures spending remains within approved amounts.
- Sources, negotiates, and manages relationships with exhibit houses, show services providers, freight and logistics partners, venues, contractors, registration/event platforms, and promotional item vendors.
- Identifies and recommends cost savings, process improvements, and event solutions that improve efficiency and event impact.
- Evaluates and recommends new vendors, exhibit solutions, and emerging technologies that improve event effectiveness, operational efficiency, and return on investment.
- Supports sales growth and market visibility by ensuring events generate customer engagement, qualified leads, and effective follow-up opportunities.
- Coordinates with Sales and Marketing on event communications, attendee experience, booth engagement strategies, product messaging, collateral, and lead capture processes.
- Collects and evaluates customer, sales, and event feedback and translates insights into improvements for future events.
- Prepares post-event recaps, including key outcomes, lessons learned, follow-up actions, and recommendations for future participation.
- Maintains SharePoint and Salesforce and/or related event management systems to support event planning, inventory, documentation, reporting, and process consistency.
- Develops and maintains event standards, checklists, process documentation, timelines, and planning tools for the convention/event support team.
- Research industry trends, competitor event strategies, emerging technologies, exhibit innovations, and customer engagement techniques to continuously enhance Wenger's event presence.
- Evaluate and recommend event technology solutions including lead retrieval systems, attendee engagement platforms, registration tools, digital displays, interactive experiences, analytics, and event management software.
- Identify opportunities to improve event processes, customer experience, operational efficiency, and measurable business outcomes through innovation and best practices.
- Supervises, coaches, and develops the Conventions Product Technician and provides direction, expectations, priorities, and feedback to support performance and team success.
- Assigns work, monitors progress, removes barriers, and ensures event team activities are completed accurately and on time.
- Leads project planning for large-scale events by coordinating internal stakeholders, external agencies, exhibit partners, and temporary contractors to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Hospitality/Event Management, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
- Four (4) or more years of experience managing trade shows, conferences, corporate events, event marketing programs, or related event operations. Equivalent sales and project management experience may be considered.
- Demonstrated experience managing budgets, vendors, logistics, timelines, inventory, and cross-functional stakeholders. Equivalent sales and project management experience may be considered.
- Proven ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and execute multiple events and projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and budget expectations.
Nice to have
- Experience with Salesforce, SharePoint, Jira or similar systems, CRM/lead capture, reporting, or project management software.
- Prior supervisory, team leadership, or project lead experience.
Benefits
- Paid Time Off
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Generous Profit Sharing
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Spending Accounts – HSA, FSA, DCFSA
- Company Paid Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance
- 401k Retirement Plan with Company Match
- Company Paid Life Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Tuition Reimbursement Program