Kevin Belanger, Vice President, Business Development Shepard
Hometown: Florida, NY
University of Education: State University of New York at CORTLAND
How long have you been an IAEE member? 20 year
IAEE Chapter: IAEE Southeastern Chapter
How did you start your career in this industry?
After college, I began working at Cobb Galleria Center as an Event Coordinator. Working alongside all of the General Service Contractors that visited our building, I took a liking to the hustle of watching them move a small city into and out of the exhibit halls in a few days. Shepard approached me and asked if I would be interested in working as an account manager or salesperson. I took the opportunity to join Shepard and began selling and never looked back.
How has IAEE shaped your career?
IAEE has afforded me a broader network of industry mentors and peers that have helped me throughout my career. The education, especially early in my career helped me understand the industry as a whole and provided the tools and network to advance my career and build business for Shepard.
What advice would you give to a new member?
Join a committee at both the chapter and national level and work towards obtaining a board position. The doors that open when you have those close relationships with committee and board members will advance your career quickly as you will find mentors all while helping to improve IAEE through your work and effort to make the organization better.
Fun fact about you – What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
I love scuba diving
What do you like most about your chapter?
That so many seasoned professionals still make time to give back and serve the local community.
What community service projects do you like to be involved in? Why?
I enjoy helping my church with preparing meals for teen programs and helping families in our community that have financial hardships.
What would you say is the #1 IAEE member benefit?
Networking
What do you like most about Expo! Expo!?
Seeing all our customers and meeting new prospects
How do you use CEIR research, and what reports have you downloaded?
We use the predict data to help us forecast our budgets
How do you currently use social media for your events?
We promote our charity efforts, new product offerings and sharing of photos of events we are producing around the countr
