Every year at EXHIBITORLIVE, the conversations go deeper than booth design and swag trends. This year, the question that stopped people in their tracks was simple: “What’s the biggest challenge event marketers are facing right now?”

And the answers said a lot.

Event pros from every corner of the industry opened up about the real pressures behind the scenes. From proving ROI and fighting for executive buy-in, to balancing endless stakeholder opinions, to adapting to a new generation of attendees who expect authenticity, purpose, and sustainability in everything they experience.

Hosted by Coty Adams (VP of Sales & Marketing) and Mollie Stahl (Senior Account Executive) from Rockway Exhibits + Events, this compilation captures honest, unfiltered insights straight from the show floor.

You’ll hear how marketers are:

✅ Redefining ROI and KPIs to finally earn a seat at the table with leadership

✅ Navigating stakeholder overload while staying grounded in strategy that actually works

✅ Tackling sustainability and generational shifts with creative, practical solutions

Listen in for a pulse check on where event marketing really stands in 2025—and what today’s challenges say about where it’s headed next.

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Connect With Us

Matt Kleinrock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/  

Coty Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotykadams/ 

Mollie Stahl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molliestahl/  

Our Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/   

🚨 Register for the show here: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined   

Most exhibitors spend nearly half their budget just getting to the show floor—booth space, travel, shipping, services. By the time the event starts, there’s almost nothing left for strategy or measurement.

That’s how event marketing gets stuck in the “cost of doing business” trap. The result? Overbooked schedules, flat ROI, and event teams that feel more like order takers than growth drivers.

In this conversation, Matt Kleinrock and Pablo Gonzalez break down the numbers, the hidden inefficiencies, and the bigger picture. They share how to rethink events like a business unit, not a checkbox, so every dollar is tied to real value, pipeline, and progress.

You’ll learn how to:

✅ Rebalance your event spend to prioritize what actually drives results

✅ Make your case internally for fewer, better events that deliver measurable ROI

✅ Turn data and alignment into your biggest budget levers

Listen in for a no-BS breakdown of where event money really goes and what to do about it.

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Connect with Pablo Gonzalez
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablotheconnector/  

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/  
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/   

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined 

Events don’t work like they used to.

Back then, great speakers and flashy venues were enough. Today? Audiences expect connection, conversation, and clarity of purpose. But most event strategies still haven’t caught up.

That’s why in this episode, Matt Kleinrock and Pablo Gonzalez go rapid-fire through the “new laws of events”—from connection over content, to why five-week registration windows change everything, to how matchmaking, negotiation, and follow-up drive real ROI.

You’ll learn what’s really driving successful events right now:

✅ Why connection trumps content and how the best events mix both to create community

✅ How to adapt when people commit later and planning windows keep shrinking

✅ Why the real ROI happens after the show once data and follow-up kick in

Listen in for a no-fluff conversation that challenges everything you thought you knew about running events.

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Connect with Pablo Gonzalez
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablotheconnector/  

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/  
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/   

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined 

Event marketers talk about personalization a lot. We slap a name on a badge, segment an email list, and call it a day.

But attendees want more than that. They want to feel seen: from the first invite, to the way a session is designed, to the follow-up that lands after the show. That’s the kind of personalization that creates loyalty, accelerates deals, and turns an event into something people don’t forget.

That’s why on this episode, Jody Hall (Director, Global Event Management at Labcorp) and Michelle Khair (Event Coordinator at Argen Corporation) get real about what’s working.

Join them as they talk about:

✅ How intentional design keeps personalization clear and focused

✅ What it means to “architect moments that matter”

✅ Where AI supports personalization without replacing the human touch

Listen in for a conversation that cuts through the noise and shows what true personalization looks like in practice.

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Connect with Them
Jody Hall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodyahall/
Michelle Khair: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-khair-766066169/

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

Most giveaways end up in the hotel trash. Most booths blur together.
Brian Burkhardt thinks it’s time to change that.

In this conversation, the Co-Founder of Oliver Patch Project shows how to turn event swag and booth design into something people actually remember. He and Matt Kleinrock dig into creating emotional reactions, weaving brand purpose into every touchpoint, and taking creative risks that make attendees stop, look, and talk.

You’ll learn:

✅ How to replace throwaway swag with purpose-driven giveaways that carry your story home

✅ How to design for feelings first, so every detail reinforces your message

✅ How to push past safe ideas and create experiences worth talking about

Hear how to make your next event unforgettable for all the right reasons.

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Connect with Brian Burkhardt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-burkhardt/ 

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/ 

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined 

You can have the biggest booth, flashiest tech, and sleekest design. But if your audience doesn’t feel something, you’ve missed the mark.

And right now, too many brands are still playing it safe, checking boxes, or overdesigning without purpose.

That’s why we’re zooming in on experiential creative direction: how it’s evolving, what matters more than ever, and why storytelling, empathy, and smart constraints lead to better outcomes.

In this conversation, we’re joined again by Stuart Fingerhut, an experiential creative director with 20+ years of experience across tech, automotive, gaming, and entertainment. He’s helped brands like AWS, Google, and Hyundai build experiences that not only impress, but connect.

Tune in to hear:

✅ How AI tools like Krea can enhance (not replace) the concepting phase of experiential design

✅ Stuart’s real-world process for pulling references, training visual styles, and unlocking faster creative development

✅ Why smart prompts are only powerful if they’re grounded in story, strategy, and emotion

This is the episode for marketers, designers, and strategists who care about meaning, not just metrics.

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[[View the deck here]]

Connect with Stuart Fingerhut
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartfingerhut/

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

Events aren’t just about logistics anymore. They’re about results. And while event planners know how to deliver flawless execution, companies now need marketers who understand pipeline, customer journeys, and human connection.

But too many organizations still treat events as one-off experiences instead of demand engines. That gap costs opportunities, slows deals, and misses the chance to build loyalty.

So in this episode, Ghazwan Almoazen (Director, Global Experiential Marketing Demand & Communications at Docusign) shares how he blends digital marketing, demand gen, and experiential strategy to design events that accelerate deals, reduce churn, and keep attendees coming back.

Takeaways:

✅ Why every event pro needs to think like a marketer, not just a planner

✅ How attendee needs—learning, networking, and entertainment—shape engagement and retention

✅ Where data and content intersect to prove pipeline impact and secure buy-in

Tune in to learn how to make your events more than experiences. Make them growth engines.

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Connect with Ghazwan Almoazen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghazwanalmoazen/

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

The season’s almost wrapped. Budgets are in. And for many event marketers, that means it’s time to shift into prep mode for 2026. But where do you start? And how do you plan with intention, not just habit?

While every company is approaching things a little differently, seasoned event pros know this moment sets the tone for next year’s success. But too often, planning gets lost in spreadsheets, silos, or surface-level reflection.

So Coty Adams is stepping in to host—and we’re bringing back two strategic voices to share how they’re approaching 2026: what’s shifting, what’s working, and how to make your planning process more effective than ever.

→ Sarah Gannon (Director, Corporate Events at MathWorks), a 25-year industry leader and recognized voice in corporate experiential marketing and strategic event planning

→ Garrett Burnett (Head of Global Events at Silicon Labs), a seasoned global event leader with a strong track record across user conferences, trade shows, and international activations

In this episode, you’ll learn:

 ✅ How experienced marketers audit the past season and spot what to improve

 ✅ Where to begin when mapping out a 2026 strategy rooted in results

 ✅ Small tactical shifts that lead to stronger alignment and fewer planning missteps

If you’re ready to prep with purpose (not guesswork) this is your starting line.

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Connect with them:
Sarah Gannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahehamilton/ 
Garrett Burnett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-burnett/

Connect With Us

Coty Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotykadams/

Matt Kleinrock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/

Our Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/ 

🚨 Register for the show here: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined 

Sloppy seams. Sagging walls. Zero strategy. If your booth looks like you don’t care, that’s exactly what your audience will believe.

Too many companies treat trade shows like a checkbox, not a channel. They work with order takers, cut corners to save costs, and focus on the wrong things… then wonder why the event didn’t deliver.

But on the floor, it shows. Dull design. Generic messaging. An experience no one remembers. And the worst part? You’re spending real money on that.

In this episode, Pablo Gonzalez joins Matt to talk through what a high-impact booth actually looks like, and how to flip the conversation from “just get it done” to “make it count.”

Learn:

✅ How to spot order takers vs. partners who elevate your strategy

✅ What truly great booths have in common (hint: it’s not the size)

✅ Why booth ROI starts way before install—with the right people in the room

If you’re serious about turning your trade show into a real growth driver, start here.

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Connect with Pablo Gonzalez
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablotheconnector/  

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/  
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/   

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined 

The post-event handoff to sales is where so many event programs lose steam.

Leads get cold. ROI disappears. And all that effort on the show floor doesn’t translate to results.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

In this fourth installment of our “Back to the Basics” summer live series, Matt Kleinrock and Coty Adams (Director of Sales + Marketing at Rockway Exhibits + Events) break down the musts for a successful sales handoff so your hard work doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

 ✅ Exactly which parts of the handoff event marketers can (and can’t) control

 ✅ How to advocate for your team and get sales to follow through

 ✅ Simple ways to set expectations and create accountability

If you’re tired of watching your post-event leads disappear, this is your blueprint for turning event energy into measurable impact.

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Connect With Us

Matt Kleinrock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/

Coty Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotykadams/

Our Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/ 

🚨 Register for the show here: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined