Lead end-to-end trade show delivery including project planning, logistics, financial management, exhibitor and sponsor relations, floor plan and space selection, supplier/RFP oversight, and sponsorship fulfillment. Collaborate with sales, marketing, education, and vendors to meet event objectives, monitor budgets, reconcile financials, and ensure successful on-site execution.
Smithbucklin, a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 70 years of success serving the association market, is looking for a Exhibitor & Sponsorship Sr. Coordinator, to join our team in Chicago or Washington DC.
Our Event Services unit provides meetings, conventions, events and tradeshow management worldwide through the expertise of our meeting professionals, who manage every facet and detail of our client organization’s events. Our goal is to work closely with client organization leaders to create an enjoyable conference experience for all attendees, exhibitors and sponsors, while ensuring a successful outcome based on the organization’s event objectives.
At Smithbucklin, we embody a culture driven by optimism, ambition, expertise, and thoughtfulness, where every team member is empowered to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Join us in shaping the future of association management, where our values serve as the cornerstone of our success.
What You Will Do…
This professional is accountable for leading the overall delivery of trade shows and responsible for trade show project management, financial management, team management and oversight of all aspects of trade show delivery. In this role, you will lead the management of relationships with exhibitors and sponsors, while working with colleagues to service and support these partners using best-in-class processes, tools and technology.
- Develops trade show strategies, solutions and innovations that are tailored and relevant to client needs to support the overall event strategy, and achievement of event outcomes.
- Develops and manage project plan and timeline including end-to-end logistical management of trade shows.
- Manages trade show project scope, identifying issues and developing contingency plans.
- Manages trades how financials including development of revenue projections, developing budgets, monitoring financial performance and ongoing issue resolution, and oversee monthly financial reconciliation.
- Communicates project status, program deadlines, identify any areas of concern and addresses issues to ensure trade show outcomes are met.
- Leads floor plan management and oversees space selection process.
- Partners with Education to design, develop, and manage logistics for show floor education.
- Supports prospectus and contracts development working in coordination with the Marketing and Sales team.
- Oversees third-party supplier needs (General Services Contractor, signage, security, First Aid, promotional products) and coordination, leads RFP process and selection.
- Oversees exhibitor communication and ongoing customer services.
- Oversees Sponsorship fulfillment programs in collaboration with Sales, to ensure creation, collection, inventory and fulfillment of sponsor benefits.
This Role Might Be for You If…
- You are passionate about the events and tradeshow industry and possess working knowledge of industry terminology, sponsorship fulfillment, and trade show management processes.
- You enjoy improving processes and contributing new ideas to enhance efficiency and impact
- You thrive in a fast-paced environment and have strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize effectively
- You are proactive, detail-oriented and solution-focused
- You collaborate well across teams and build positive relationships with clients, colleagues and suppliers
- When presented with a challenge, you demonstrate a positive attitude and a solutions-oriented mindset
- You possess intellectual curiosity and strong analytical skills, are a continuous learner and seek to understand the “why and how”
- You possess strong written and verbal communication skills
- You demonstrate professionalism, accountability and initiative
- You have familiarity with venues, facilities and convention centers
- You are able to travel up to 20% (domestic and international) and work overtime as needed to support events and client meetings.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution or equivalent experience
- 5+ years relevant professional experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in tradeshow, exposition, or sponsorship planning environments
- Experience with exhibit management software, ExpoCAD, Salesforce, and/or other CRM platforms
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook,Teams)
Where Do You Fit?
Whether you are just beginning your career or are a mid- or senior-level professional, working at Smithbucklin will offer you countless opportunities to develop transferrable skills, acquire meaningful knowledge and gain rich experiences at an accelerated pace. By working collaboratively with smart, ambitious, multi-talented, genuine and hardworking colleagues, you will build meaningful, deep and enduring relationships that will serve you well throughout your career, regardless of your chosen path. In addition, as a 100 percent employee-owned company, Smithbucklin offers all of our people – regardless of position or compensation – an equal chance to experience the fulfillment and reap the benefits of ownership. As owners, our employees control the destiny of Smithbucklin and are unified in the goal of building a great, enduring company.
Whether you are just beginning your career or are a mid- or senior-level professional, working at Smithbucklin will offer you countless opportunities to develop transferrable skills, acquire meaningful knowledge and gain rich experiences at an accelerated pace. By working collaboratively with smart, ambitious, multi-talented, genuine and hardworking colleagues, you will build meaningful, deep and enduring relationships that will serve you well throughout your career, regardless of your chosen path. In addition, as a 100 percent employee-owned company, Smithbucklin offers all of our people – regardless of position or compensation – an equal chance to experience the fulfillment and reap the benefits of ownership. As owners, our employees control the destiny of Smithbucklin and are unified in the goal of building a great, enduring company.
Our hybrid environment offers you the option of working from home two days per week. Employees will work a standard 40-hour week, with the possibility of additional hours based on project deadlines.
Smithbucklin considers several factors when determining compensation, including a candidate's recent coursework, training, experience, and certifications, among other considerations. The expected pay for this role is $74,000 – $80,000 for Chicago and $78,000 – $84,000 for Washington DC.
Equal Employment Opportunity
At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other protected status designated by federal, state or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on position.
At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other protected status designated by federal, state or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on position.
Smithbucklin will not sponsor applicants for work visas and as a precondition of employment, you must be authorized to work in the United States permanently
Smithbucklin Chicago, Illinois, USA Office
330 N Wabash Ave #2000, Chicago, IL, United States, 60611
Similar Jobs
Cloud • Computer Vision • Information Technology • Sales • Security • Cybersecurity
Manage a team of TPRM analysts to run the vendor risk lifecycle, improve tooling and automation (ServiceNow TPRM, AI), perform assessments and audits, develop TPRM policies aligned to frameworks (NIST/ISO/SOC 2), partner with procurement/legal/IT, track KPIs, and support audit and reporting to leadership.
Top Skills:
Ai/Ml ToolsCloud EnvironmentsCrowdstrike ProductsFairIso 27001Nist 800-53Nist CsfSecure CodingServicenowServicenow TprmSigSoc 2
Fintech • Machine Learning • Software • Financial Services
Provide administrative support to up to four senior managers in a fast-paced trading and research environment: manage complex calendars, travel and meeting logistics, expense reporting, communications, event coordination, and liaise with internal teams while handling confidential information.
Top Skills:
ExcelOutlookWord
Fintech • Information Technology • Insurance • Financial Services • Big Data Analytics
Lead and coach a team that investigates disability and absence claims, ensuring adjudication accuracy, compliance, and strong customer experience. Manage performance, training, quality reviews, call monitoring, and administer concurrent claims (e.g., STD, FMLA, PFML). Escalate issues and drive process improvements to meet business objectives and expense targets.
Top Skills:
Microsoft Office Suite
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory


.png)
