CHICAGO – Tom Cindric has been named President, Exhibitions, at Winsight, LLC, producers of the National Restaurant Association Show (NRA), one of the world’s largest annual gathering of food service professionals. Cindric previously served as Senior Vice President, Exhibitions, for Informa Markets, where he oversaw worldwide commercial construction events, including World of Concrete, a Trade Show Executive Gold 100 show.
Mary Pat Heftman has been promoted to Winsight’s Vice Chairman. Previously, she served as the company’s President, Restaurant Show Group. Heftman was instrumental in last year’s sale and equity partnership deal between the NRA Show and Winsight, a business-to-business media, event and information company serving the food services industry.
“We have aggressive growth goals for the NRA show, and to achieve those goals we’re doubling down on talent at the top,” Winsight CEO Mike Wood Jr. told Trade Show Executive. “As great as the show is today, Mary Pat has been adamant that we evolve. Tom is a talented and proven operator who can bring a new perspective. Mary Pat and Tom create, arguably, the trade show industry’s most iconic leadership team. We have tremendous confidence in their ability to take the show to the next level. We also want to produce more trade shows, and so adding leadership is really investing in our future.”
Cindric, who currently serves as chair of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, has a long and distinguished career in the industry. He started 18 years ago at Hanley Wood, which was purchased by Informa in 2014.
“I am very excited. I have had a great run with Hanley and Informa, and have worked with outstanding staff and teams,” Cindric told Trade Show Executive. “But from a timing perspective, this opportunity to lead as president of an organization is the next step in my career.”
The NRA show is currently the only event in Winsight’s food services group, but Cindric sees great opportunity for growth. “I went to the NRA show and it’s phenomenal. What the NRA has done is the epitome of a dynamic trade show. I’m excited to help drive NRA’s success, and to see what other events and products we can add to the portfolio.”
Reach Tom Cindric at (972) 567-0516 or tcindric@winsightmedia.com.
