Houston, TX – The Major American Trade Show Organizers (MATSO) has become a separate council of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) where it will represent the interests of large-show producers.
MATSO was formed in 1985 and includes 30 member organizations responsible for the 52 largest trade shows in the U.S. The associations and for-profit organizers manage shows of at least 200,000 net square feet.
The new arrangement announced at Expo! Expo! does not mean MATSO will cease to exist as a separate association, but IAEE will assume management of the group and Executive Director Meg Ellacott stepped down at the end of 2013. MATSO will function independently under IAEE much in same way the Center for Exhibition Industry Research does.
“MATSO and IAEE share an aligned vision that complements one another,” said MATSO Chairman Chris Nemchek, who is also senior vice president of expositions of InfoComm International. “MATSO has provided a place for the organizers of the largest shows in the U.S., and we are proud to extend our reach as an IAEE council.”
Reach David DuBois at (972) 687-9204 or ddubois@iaee.com; Meg Ellacott at (302) 260-9487 or meg@matso.org
