People 3-1-2002

Meetings & Conventions: People March 2002

People

By Terence Baker

James C. Leverton is the Monrovia, Calif.-based president and founder of Concept Design Productions Inc. He has been designing exhibitions for themed events, conventions and meetings for more than 20 years. With his staff of 32, Leverton works with clients such as Bank of America, Microsoft, Sony, Suzuki and Warner Bros.

After 23 years, does the meetings industry still excite you? When things are going well and we know we have put on an excellent event, then yes, it does. I see myself as an inventor. Having studied industrial design at the University of CaliforniaRiverside, I get very excited when something I think up gets enthusiastically embraced.

What type of events do you like to design? Ones that have a futuristic element to them, whether it is the event’s theme or the product being marketed. The past is the past; it’s been done. But creating something to do with the future allows for more freedom.

Any examples? I designed the entire theme area for a $750 million event for an energy company that had decided to diversify. More than 1,250 attendees were expected, and the company’s new message had to be announced loud and clear, so we created a “town,” each segment of which marketed one of the company’s new business interests. Company officials later told me that many of the attending franchisees, having been impressed by the exhibit and the company’s new message, decided to remain with them.

What have you learned along the way? Three principal things: Listen, be responsive to constructive criticism and give the clients what they ask for.

PLANNERS

Knoll Kesler joins ING Americas
Kari Knoll Kesler has joined ING Americas in Minneapolis as a sourcing specialist. Among her duties, Kesler is responsible for planning meetings and incentives for the global banking, insurance and asset management firm. She previously worked for Xerox Corp in Rochester, N.Y.