FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Randy Labuzinski/David Schulte Healy & Schulte 312/440-3900 rlabuzinski@healyandschulte.com

Brad Lewis Joins SmithBucklin as Vice President, Convention & Trade Show Services

Lewis' primary responsibilities will be to work with the convention & trade show services teams to develop new and innovative opportunities for deeper relationships with sponsoring companies of SmithBucklin's client organizations. He also will work to establish systems and procedures to enhance current exhibit and sponsorship sales efforts.

Prior to joining SmithBucklin, Lewis was vice president of convention and tourism sales with the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB). He has more than 17 years of experience with the Bureau, where he managed more than 40 employees in sales and marketing, customer service and research in Chicago and Washington, D.C. While there, Lewis led two divisions responsible for selling Chicago as a destination in the leisure tourism and the meeting, convention and tradeshow marketplaces. Under Lewis' tenure, the CCTB collaborated with key sponsors such as American Airlines, American Express, Amtrak, ATA, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and Starbucks, among others. Under Lewis' leadership, the Bureau achieved nearly 3 million room nights annually. Lewis was involved in opening several key Chicago facilities, including the $987 million McCormick Place South and the $800 million McCormick Place West expansions and the $150 million redeveloped Navy Pier. Lewis also opened Chicago's first-ever tourism call center (1-877-CHICAGO) and he developed the city's first fully-functioning leisure Web site, www.877chicago.com.

Additionally, Lewis led tourism initiatives representing the first fully-integrated, cooperatively developed city of Chicago and state of Illinois tourism marketing programs. In conjunction with the city and state, his team oversaw representatives in Chicago, Frankfurt, London, Mexico City and Toronto as part of the domestic and international tourism sales and marketing initiatives to the tour wholesale industry.

Lewis began his career with Holiday Vacations, for which he opened three new offices and ultimately oversaw five. He eventually was based in Chicago as regional manager.

"Brad brings considerable convention and trade show skills to SmithBucklin," Puckorius said. "In recent years, he has demonstrated the ability to develop key strategic marketing partnerships with high-profile companies for the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. His personality and strong work ethic make him a great fit for our company."

Lewis received his Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and has completed marketing coursework at the University of Chicago. In addition to participating as a member of virtually every meeting and travel industry association, he has served on the boards of the Travel Industry Association of America, Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association and the National Council of Destination Organizations.

About SmithBucklin
SmithBucklin is the world's largest association management and professional services company providing flexible, tailored full-service management and function/project-specific services to more than 235 trade associations, professional societies, technology user groups, government institutes/agencies and corporations. SmithBucklin's mission is to drive growth and build sustained competitiveness for client organizations. Founded in 1949, the company employs 750 professionals specializing in all phases of association activity including executive management, member and chapter administration, convention and trade show management, marketing and branding, Web services, education and programs, government relations and financial management. SmithBucklin manages more than $200 million in annual client budgets from offices in Chicago, Washington, DC, St. Louis and Durham, NC. SmithBucklin is 100% employee owned. For more information, please visit www.smithbucklin.com or call 1.800.539.9740.