Hicks New TISE Show Director

IRVING, Texas – Dana Hicks is the new show director for The International Surface Event (TISE), effective immediately.

HicksAmie (Gilmore) Gonzales, who served as TISE show director and other capacities for the SURFACES event during the past 19 years, will take a similar position with another trade event for Informa Exhibitions, TISE’s owner and producer.

Hicks and Gonzales will work on a smooth transition during the next six months, and both will attend the 2020 TISE on Jan. 28-30 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

“I look forward to meeting the industry this year at TISE in January,” Hicks says. “I plan to work closely with Amie to understand the vision and needs of the space the event serves and am excited to affect positive change that will take the current success of TISE and grow upon it.

“I welcome input from the industry, so please feel free to reach out and connect with me,”

Hicks’ background in the events industry includes 10 years in the field with Marriott International in the 1990s, followed by 17 years in the tradeshow arena with Informa and Phoenix-based trade-event producer Virgo (which Informa acquired in 2014)  where he led a top portfolio event in the food ingredient sector. His recent venture for the past two years was into the world of surface materials, working as a design consultant at Baker Bros in the Phoenix market, focusing on sales and fulfillment of all residential flooring – hardwood, LVP, laminate, tile, carpet and area rugs.

GonzalesGonzales will take a similar show-management position with Informa events with the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA). Informa and the ISSA, the largest industry trade group for the cleaning industry, struck a strategic partnership last month; Informa will manage the ISSA’s annual show in Las Vegas, which draws 16,000+ attendees annually, for the next 25 years.

“I would like to thank the industry for making me feel like family,” Gonzales said. “It’s been an honor to serve the professionals, the manufacturers, and the associations and partners to this industry. I look forward to working with Hicks on the transition for the next six months, and to seeing everyone at TISE 2020 next year.”

In announcing the management transition, TISE thanked Gonzales “for her commitment and dedication to the industry,” noting the tens of thousands of hours of work over 19 years to ensure “the industry’s goals, needs, and expectations were met by TISE at the highest possible level of excellence.”

Those that would like to send Amie a message may reach her at amie.gonzalez@informa.com.

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