Shepard Ramps Up Growth of AV Division with Production Associates Acquisition
January 4, 2018
Event production company, Shepard, has made its second buy this winter with the acquisition of Northern Virginia-based Production Associates, a full-service audio-visual management, staging and consulting company that provides services to association, corporate and government events.
“We are excited to welcome Production Associates to our growing Shepard AV family,” said Stuart Danneman, executive vice president of Shepard AV. “They bring to the team a strong service-based culture, innovative technology and a thriving presence in the Virginia, Maryland and DC markets.”
According to Shepard officials, Production Associates brings a wealth of experience and custom-developed, dynamic tools to Shepard, including Speaker Vision, its presentation management platform that was designed and developed in-house and offers a seamless experience loading and managing presentations pre-show, onsite and post-show.
This platform will be integrated into Shepard AV and will be made available to all Shepard AV customers immediately.
“By joining Shepard, we’re expanding our capabilities and bringing more solutions to our customers, which allows us to compete more effectively for future business,” said Michael Loftus, president of Production Associates, which was founded in 2004.
He continued, “Moreover, Production Associates is a great cultural fit with Shepard, sharing the same core values and commitment to a high level of customer service.”
According to Carl Mitchell, executive chairman of Shepard, the acquisition advances the company’s strategic imperatives focused on consistent service, innovative solutions, responsiveness and creating overall successful experiences.
“Over the past 16 months, we have aggressively expanded our portfolio, enabling us to provide our customers an all-inclusive solution to enhance their planning experience,” Mitchell said.
He added, “We see substantial long-term growth opportunities in the audio-visual and event technology space and will continue to invest to meet the demands of the industry.”
The acquisition of Production Associates is Shepard’s second in the last 30 days as the company continues to invest in solutions in response to greater demand for event technology and audio-visual products and services.
In early December, the company acquired McCUNE Audio-Video-Lighting, a California-based staging, lighting and audio visual company.
Production Associates will continue to operate out of its Reston, Virginia-based office as it makes the transition to a Shepard AV company.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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