Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal Business Profiles 2015 13 F irst impressions are key to customer satisfac- tion and company success. Businesses that partner with Elevation Exhibits & Events can be sure their exhibit, showroom floor, com- pany lobby or other space in need of creativ- ity and inspiration will wow their customers and earn industry kudos. From initial concept to final product, Elevation's creative staff collaborates with their clients throughout every step of the process to ensure perfection. A full-service tradeshow design and market- ing firm, Elevation has been producing award-winning exhibits since 2006, thanks in large part to its dynamic sales team. Tim Ryan brought his experience as a project manager for large companies to Elevation nine years ago. He is involved in every stage of a project and focuses on startup companies. First and foremost a designer, Steve Tucker enjoys the design aspect of selling and acts as a bridge between the client and Elevation's design team. The third member of the sales team, Adam Karns, draws on his marketing education as he collaborates with cli- ents, developing relationships, seeking to understand their goals and growing the account base. The sales trio has built a wide spectrum of clients, including small, medium and large companies from diversified industries. While efforts to grow the client base remain strong, methods are now somewhat differ- ent. Tucker says, "As technology has developed, the tools of a sales person have changed. People screen calls and don't read emails from people they don't know. The ways of getting attention are more difficult." However, Elevation continues to excel in acquiring new accounts basically by "showing up." Karns explains that the sales team remains visible to the client from the initial info pickup through final pro- duction. "We are actively involved in all aspects of a project and often times on-site for the debut of a project. This is part of the relationship building process," he says. The personal touch, great client service and word-of- mouth keeps Elevation at the forefront, leading to new business. Ryan points out that each sales person is like a com- pany within a company. "They create their own brand and we encourage them to do this," he says. "Everyone has a role and the whole machine works together. We only get in the door because we have a good design. But you need the full process to get the project done right." Elevation Exhibits' fingerprint can be seen across the country from New Hampshire and Massachusetts to Texas and California. Not only does the company boast a domestic presence, but it has also made a name inter- nationally at trade shows in Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Some of Elevation's key clients include E-ink, eClinical Works, EMD Millipore and SimpliVity. Recently the company added WiTricity and Finsix to its client list. By delivering a first-rate product, on time, Elevation has earned the trust of the many companies with which it works. "Our clients know we are working hard for them. We make sure to stay up to date with industry trends so that we can be an expert resource for our clients," Karns says. "We have built a great network of partner resources throughout the world so that we can always solve our clients' challenges. We have solutions." "At the end of the day, it's all about building relation- ships. That is the key to a successful project. When the client is ready to open an exhibit, there are no hiccups. Everything proceeds smoothly," says Jim Burke, founder and principle, who notes that some clients have shown appreciation with hand-written letters of thanks. "It's gratifying to get those letters. It's a team effort. Everyone is involved in the project from the owners on down." Ryan adds, "The sales team is in front, but there's a lot of support behind us." n Elevation Exhibits & Events: Sales Keeps the Engine Running s H r e w s B u r y , m a elevation exhibits & events Address: 905 Hartford Turnpike Shrewsbury, MA 01545-4148 Phone: 508-842-1213 Fax: 508-842-7204 Website: www.elevationee.com No. of Employees: 43 Top Executives: Jim Burke, Founder/ Principle; Ken Karns, President/Principle Product or Service: Full-service tradeshow design and marketing firm that builds award-winning exhibits for companies in diverse industries Year Founded: 2006 Adam Karns, Account Executive Tim Ryan, Sr. Account Executive Steven Tucker, Account Executive P h o t o s / C o u r t e s y

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