Brian Pagel is the Executive Vice President of Business Development and oversees the Residential and Commercial Connections portfolio at Emerald. In 2026 Brian serves as the IAEE Board of Directors Chairperson. Brian began his career at Shore Varrone in 1998 and has worked in a variety of leadership positions with Bill Communications, VNU, Nielsen Expositions and Emerald.  

Brian has produced nearly 100 events in his career, successfully repositioned several struggling properties and was a part of the deal team that acquired CEDIA Expo in 2017.  In 2013 he helped to champion an effort to co-locate KBIS with the International Builders Show (IBS), creating Design and Construction Week. Brian holds a degree in Organizational Communications from the University of Kansas and is an active volunteer with both the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).  He is also a frequent industry speaker, blogger and guest columnist. Brian is originally from Littleton, Colorado, but currently lives and works in Alpharetta, Georgia.