Trade Show Veteran Cindy Sample Named New Head of NAMM's Events
May 27, 2013
The National Association of Music Merchants recently named Cindy Sample director of Trade Show Operations, overseeing the association’s events.
Sample previously held the position as operations director for Nielsen Expositions, where she worked on shows such as Outdoor Retailer and ASD Las Vegas.
"It is critically important to us that our members have an amazing experience at NAMM's trade events," said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM.
He added, "Cindy's reputation as a creative, innovative and visionary professional, as well as her 18 years of trade show operations experience will bring real value to our global membership and the industry."
Sample replaces Kevin Johnstone, who worked at NAMM for 18 years and now runs his own consulting firm, KJ Event Support.
In her new position, Sample will oversee the production and implementation of the annual NAMM shows, including daily operations, along with negotiating operational contracts and liaising with host cities and venues.
"I am very excited to join NAMM. The NAMM Show is such a well-established event of incredibly charismatic music professionals and I'm so grateful to be a part of it," Sample said.
She added, "I look forward to this opportunity to help support the future of the industry through NAMM trade shows and events with continued innovation, process improvements, and exciting new events like the TEC Awards. My focus will be to help bring the industry a show that they absolutely cannot miss."
The NAMM Show was ranked No. 33 on the 2012 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show list and is held annually in Anaheim.
A resident of Southern California, Sample will be based out of NAMM's Carlsbad, Calif., headquarters. She also will oversee the Summer NAMM Show, held annually in Nashville, Tenn.
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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