METROCON Expo & Conference
Your #1 Venue for Creative New Products, Continuing Education & Connections!
METROCON11 Expo & Conference, the annual regional two-day tradeshow focused on featuring the latest in products and innovative ideas to the Southwest region’s interior designers, architects, facility managers, interior design students, and other vital design industry members – experienced great success in 2011 despite the slowly recovering Architecture and Design industry.
The volunteer committee of organizers of METROCON11 Expo & Conference is pleased to announce that the event attracted 2,447 participants from 21 states, as well as from outside the U.S.A. The budget-conscious show that is now enjoying its ninth year sold all of its 37 sponsorships out a month ahead of schedule and sold all of its 369 booths out nine days ahead of the official close of exhibitor sales.
Held at Dallas Market Hall [2200 Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75207] onThursday, August 11 and Friday, August 12, 2011, METROCON11 offered attendees 242 diverse vendors, 51 interior design-related continuing education courses and a happy hour designed especially for networking.
The annual event is unique in that it is organized through landmark volunteer collaboration between the Texas Chapter of ASID and the Texas-Oklahoma Chapter of IIDA. In a determined effort to serve the corporate, healthcare, hospitality, institutional,multifamily, residential, and retail sectors, the two organizations join forces and pool resources to offer the best in exhibitors and interior design continuing education to their members and beyond – all in one convenient location.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Due to the extreme dedication and hard work of a handful of ASID Texas and IIDA Texas-Oklahoma volunteers who make up theMETROCON Committee, as well as the generosity of 37 show sponsors – including 2011 Title Sponsor, Business Interiors by Staples, and 2011 Media Sponsor, Design Guide – prices for both exhibitors and attendees are extremely low relative to similar events around the USA. If you are interested in find out more about becoming a 2012 Sponsor, please email volunteer Sponsor Liaison, Steve Patterson: sponsor@metrocon.info.
The committee wants to congratulate the following exhibitors who are the recipients of this year’s Pegasus Exhibitor Awards:
- Best Promotional Campaign – Adleta Corporation
- Most Informative Exhibit – Wilson Office Interiors
- Best New Product – Nucraft
- Best Overall Exhibit – SantaMargherita
Haworth, Meletio Lighting and Electrical, Seal Tex, Tufenkian Carpets, and UltraMedia, Inc. supplied furnishings, lighting and video equipment to improve the appearance and function of our outstanding ASID Texas booth, which was wonderfully designed, assembled and dismantled by René Designs (Oscar and Rosemarie René, ASID) this year. Many thanks to Alina Phillips, who contributed to the launch of the new ASID brand in the ASID booth through the contribution of her red line drawings depicting iconic furniture pieces and accessories.
Kudos to all of the ASID Industry Partners and other vendors who participated as Exhibitors in the tradeshow, but a note to the Industry Partners out there who offer residential products and services: Residentially-focused designers want you there! Every year they ask why more of you are not present – especially those from beyond the DFW area who want to do some “one-stop shopping” while they are in the Metroplex. Think about it: There is a “Wow Factor” when you run across something new and unexpected at a tradeshow. Our members are always looking for new sources, and when you are not there along with other vendors, you are not on their radar. Understand that a great deal of residentially-focused designers attend METROCON every year, and they desperately want you to participate, so plan on being at the 2012 show, which will take place Thursday, August 9 & Friday, August 11, 2012! If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a 2012 Exhibitor, please email exhibitors@metrocon.info.
VOLUNTEER POWER
A team of tremendous volunteers from the Texas Chapter of ASID and the Texas-Oklahoma Chapter of IIDA executed METROCON11. For nine years, the professional organizations have organized the conference as a service to their members. Income from the event goes back to the chapters to fund special educational and recognition programs, as well as scholarships and charities earmarked by the individual organizations
METROCON11 Co-Chair, Rosemarie René, ASID, RID, would like to thank the following people (listed in alphabetical order) who worked so hard to make ASID Texas’ participation in the event such a smashing success:
| Steve Patterson, RID, ASID IP Rep |
METROCON11 Sponsorship Liaison |
| Isin King, Allied Member ASID |
METROCON11 Exhibitor Coordinator |
| Ann Riedel, Allied Member ASID |
METROCON11 Volunteer Coordinator |
| Dianne Etheredge, RID, ASID, IIDA |
Past Presiding Chair (METROCON10) |
| Laura McDonald Stewart, RID, ASID, IIDA, LEED AP |
Past Presiding Chair (METROCON07) | PR/Marketing | Administration |
Rosemarie would also like to thank Pat McLaughlin, ASID, RID, and Donna Vining, FASID, IIDA, RID, for devoting their Thursday afternoon to judging the Pegasus Exhibitor Awards, as well as ASID Texas Chapter Administrator, Pat Gallagher, and ASID Membership Recruitment Manager, Jacqueline Lucas, for manning our booth throughout the show.
Without these volunteers and the countless other on-site ASID volunteers, METROCON11 Expo & Conference would never have been the great success that it was. A huge round of applause for all of you and your dedication to strengthen both our organization and our profession!
Visit the www.metrocon.info to find a link to view photos from this year’s event and to sign up to receive exhibitor and attendee notifications in order to stay informed about METROCON12, which will take place in Dallas on August 9 & 10, 2012.
