By Randy Bauler, CEM | Corporate Relations & Exhibits Director | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
For the past 29 years, I have served as Corporate Relations & Exhibits Director for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). I am primarily responsible for exhibit space and sponsorship sales for the Critical Care Expo, the healthcare exhibition component of AACN’s annual conference and exhibition called the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (often referred to as NTI). The annual conference and exhibition typically attracts about 6,000 skilled critical care nurses each May.
The Critical Care Expo is a 75,000 square-foot, two-day trade show for critical care nurses. The show features 300+ exhibitors with displays of healthcare equipment, devices, supplies, technology and pharmaceuticals as well as educational resources for nurses, nursing apparel, nursing-related associations and market research firms plus a career opportunities job fair featuring hospitals, healthcare systems, the U.S. military, nurse staffing agencies and other employers.
I earned my Certified in Exhibition Management® (CEM) designation in 2001, when it still required a pen and paper examination. Why I decided to take the six-hour written exam indoors in Hawaii remains a mystery.
I work for a healthcare association, where certifications and evidence-based credentials are highly valued. I also held ASAE’s CAE designation at one time, and believed earning the CEM designation from IAEE (IAEM at the time) would help advance my career. It has and still does today. I believe my CEM designation is valued by my employer and has contributed to promotions and pay raises along the way.
In 2003 I was selected as a CEM Faculty member, and primarily guided the Exhibition & Event Sales module live when my schedule permitted. I believe I learned as much from the students taking the module as I shared as an instructor. I also made friends and colleagues who thank me for being part of their CEM journey. Being a CEM Faculty member is an outstanding way to share experiences and insights with many trade show professionals.
I also served on IAEE’s CEM Commission, including a term as Chairman and another as the IAEE Board Liaison to the Commission. Please note the CEM Commission is comprised of dedicated individuals whose goal is to guide and direct IAEE’s professional certification program with credentials which are respected worldwide. Some of the leading CEM Faculty and industry leaders have served on the CEM Commission, advancing the program’s reach and industry-wide influence.
In summary, IAEE’s CEM Learning Program is extremely valuable and prestigious. Earning the CEM designation will benefit the individual exhibition professional throughout their career.
