KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — At the 2026 Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) CEO Summit, Thomas Kemp received the Krakoff Industry Award of Excellence.
Kemp is a decorated events professional whose career milestones include starting media brands and launching events at Miller Freeman, being named the first non-Freeman President of Miller Freeman, being hired as CEO of Penton Media in 1996, joining Veronis, Suhler, Stevenson [now VSS] as Managing Director in 2004, being appointed Chairman & CEO of Northstar Travel Media, LLC [now Northstar Travel Group], in 2009 and becoming Interim CEO and Chairman of PRA Business Events in 2024.
Kemp helped transform Northstar Travel Group into a leading high-growth, multi-platform, information, marketing-solutions and e-commerce company that serves the global travel industry, and founded Oakstreet Media, an organization that invests in and acquires lower-middle-market B2B media and information companies.
“Tom Kemp was the perfect recipient of the Krakoff Award,” Vincent Polito, CEO of SISO, said. “He epitomizes the ideals in leadership and business acumen that the rest of us strive for in our business lives. He is an even better person too!”
Trade Show Executive (TSE) connected with Kemp to discuss his accomplished career and this award win.
ANDREW: How did it feel to receive the Krakoff Award this year?
THOMAS: It was one of the greatest honors of my career. I know all the prior winners and always aspired to one day be part of this impressive group of industry leaders.
I was totally surprised and hugely thrilled to receive the award. I knew Bob Krakoff well and he was a true icon and founder of the entire events industry.
ANDREW: How did your career in this industry begin?
THOMAS: I started my career at Miller Freeman in San Francisco. I started as a Production Assistant and left as President in 1996.
When I joined, we had one trade show, The Portland Sawmill Clinic. Miller Freeman was acquired by United Business Media in London.
When I left Miller Freeman to become CEO of Penton Media, we were one of the largest event operators in the world with shows in North America (now many of the Emerald events), Asia and Europe.
ANDREW: What were some challenges you encountered early on — and how did you get past them?
THOMAS: Some of the early challenges were that Miller Freeman, Penton Media and Northstar Travel Group were originally B2B media companies with limited experience in the events industry.
We transformed all three of these businesses through a combination of acquisitions of events, which importantly brought in experienced trade show talent, and launches of new events in our vertical markets.
We needed to change the culture of these companies from B2B-media-first to fully integrated, omni-channel media and events businesses serving our vertical markets.
Related. Highlights from Education at the 2026 SISO CEO Summit
ANDREW: How has the events industry changed throughout your career?
THOMAS: When I started my career in B2B media, there were B2B media companies, primarily consisting of publishing, and, separately, B2B event companies.
These were very different businesses and cultures. Content publishers versus show people.
While I started my career on the publishing side, I quickly recognized the great value of face-to-face events, and the power of having leading media brands combined with events in vertical markets.
At Miller Freeman, Penton and Northstar, we pursued a strategy of omni-channel media, combining events, digital media, data and subscription research into the vertical markets we served. We wanted to connect buyers and sellers in vertical markets through as many channels as possible.
ANDREW: What do you appreciate most about the events industry?
THOMAS: The people. I have developed some of my greatest friendships and partnerships with the leaders of the event industry.
I love their passion for their clients, colleagues and vendor partners. The face-to-face business is unforgiving because it is live and face-to-face.
I also love the sustainability and value of face-to-face industry in the world of digital technology and AI. The value of seeing our clients, colleagues and partners in person has become hugely evident in a post-COVID world.
ANDREW: Could you walk through your time with PRA and your achievements/highlights?
THOMAS: I have been on the board of PRA Events since 2023, and in late 2024, I became Interim CEO and Chairman in May 2025. I remain on the board today.
I love my time with PRA Events and learning about the important role that DMCs play in the corporate and incentive events industry.
My greatest achievement was recruiting Ariane Coldiron as my successor as CEO of PRA Events.
ANDREW: Who were some of your key mentors?
THOMAS:
- Marsh Freeman, former CEO of Miller Freeman, and the guy who gave me my first job
- John Suhler, founder of Veronis, Suhler, Stevenson
- Jerry Hobbs, former CEO of VNU and Nielson Media and Research
- Don Pazour, former CEO of Access Intelligence
- Bob Priest-Heck, former CEO of Freeman
- Rene Kemp, my wife, without whom I would not have enjoyed my success in business
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