Phoenix, AZ – Steven Moster’s first order of business after being named president of Global Experience Specialists (GES) was to get acquainted with the company’s employees and key clients, or in some cases, reacquainted. Moster returned to the company he had left less than a year earlier and took over the helm from interim president Paul Dykstra, the chairman, president and CEO of GES’ parent company, Viad Corp.
“The senior leadership is in place and I am excited to work with a lot of the people I worked with in the past,” Moster told Trade Show Executive after the November 1 announcement of his hiring. “The first thing is to reach out to our clients and employees and all the other stakeholders of GES. That’s on the front burner.”
Moster had been executive vice president/chief sales and marketing officer at GES from 2008 until early 2010. GES had been looking for a permanent replacement for John Jastrem since March. Jastrem retired following a brief tenure as GES president after Kevin Rabbitt left the company in 2009. Dykstra had been directing GES during the search.
Moster will find a GES that evolved quickly as it rode out the worst of the recession. The company slashed costs by roughly $10 million, ramped up productivity and consolidated various facilities and functions. The so-called Lean Initiatives Program paid off for GES with same-show revenues in the Third Quarter that were 8.6% over the same quarter last year.
Dykstra said the strategy would remain in place as part of a primary focus on meeting customer needs. The focus is being sharpened by extensive customer data and surveys and the development of new technology aimed at streamlining service to exhibitors. “The economic tailwinds are starting to blow a little, and there are a number of really strong initiatives within the company,” Dykstra said. “The addition of Steve will make it all happen faster.”
Reach Paul Dykstra at (702) 263-1560 or pdykstra@gesexpo.com; Steven Moster at (702) 515-5500 or smoster@ges.com
