CHICAGO — This year’s Trade Show Executive (TSE) Trailblazers are a group of innovative, impactful industry professionals, who are making significant contributions to their organizations. TSE caught up with Debbie Schmidle, Senior Marketing Manager, Spa and Wellness at Questex, to learn more about her career journey, lessons she’s learned and what she’s looking forward to for the trade show industry.
Q: How did you get your start in the trade show industry?
I’ve always seemed to help with events — for school, our office, in my neighborhood, etc. As I worked my way through content and digital marketing at Questex, I kept looking for an opportunity to transfer those smaller/personal planning skills to the event side of my company. When one came up, I jumped on it immediately.
Q: What appealed most to you then, and what appeals most to you now about your work?
Industry gatherings are such a great source of inspiration and motivation. I appreciate participating in them myself, and I love being a part of a team that helps to bring them to others.
Q: What has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned in your career?
To not be afraid. I’ve developed some of my strongest and most impactful skills by having the confidence to dig deeper into an idea, program, system or process.
Q: What or who inspires you to strive for excellence?
My team! Our leadership is amazing, and we would not have successful events if it weren’t for each person who contributes to building them. I am humbled and inspired every day by the competent people I get to work with.
Related. Meet the 2024 TSE Trailblazers: Lauren San Martín
Q: What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
This award is gratifying 😊
Q: How do you define success?
When I feel like my strongest skills and interests are aligned with the requirements of my job, and I enjoy coming to work, I’m succeeding!
Q: What are some things about the future of this industry that excite you? Why?
I love my company’s Quest Zero initiative, a commitment to reaching net zero, and the whole industry’s focus on sustainability!
Q: Advice for other up-and-comers?
Be curious and embrace continual improvement!
Nominator Quote: “Debbie is a one-woman marketing machine for the Spa group, the largest vertical in Questex’s Travel + Wellness business,” said Jennifer Rosen, Group Marketing Director — Wellness/Beauty Group at Questex. “Debbie is very smart, extremely creative and takes the initiative to develop new concepts that streamline processes and optimize campaigns to not only achieve the Spa group’s goals, but to make sure we do everything as efficiently as possible. In addition, she’s an analytics wizard and has created targeted email campaigns that drive traffic to Questex’s events. By creating segmented campaigns Debbie met the conference goal for IECSC New York 2024 ahead of the event.”
Find out more about all the Trailblazers in the June edition of TSE.
