📖 The trade show playbook is being rewritten.

In this episode, Steve Prahalis, COO of SME, joins James Soto and Virginia Roberson to discuss how trade shows are evolving to meet the needs of diverse, modern audiences. From strategic partnerships to hybrid models and tailored attendee experiences, Steve shares insights to help trade show organizers, exhibitors, and marketers adapt and thrive.

🎧 Topics include:

• The rise of vertical marketing for targeted engagement
• Demographic shifts reshaping trade shows
• How hybrid models enhance ROI for exhibitors and attendees
• The importance of proactive strategies to stay ahead

👉 Learn actionable insights to elevate your trade show strategy.

Links Mentioned:

• SME Website: https://www.sme.org
• Steve’s LinkedIn: Steve Prahalis

About the Show:

The Industrial Strength Marketing Show is a top manufacturing podcast that explores the personalities, cutting-edge strategies, tools, and technologies transforming the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Each episode, hosted by James Soto, covers marketing, sales, business development, and integrating martech and AI into industrial B2B strategies. Tune in to gain actionable insights to help you stay ahead in the industry.

Let’s connect:

• Visit the podcast homepage
• Tweet us at @Industrialsays, @jamessotoism
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn
• Email us at podcast@Industrialstrengthmarketing.com
• Subcribe to the YouTube channel

In this episode, we talk with Ed Youdell, President and CEO of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA), about how trade shows, marketing, data strategies, and automation are transforming the metal fabrication industry. Ed shares insights on the role of first-party data, workforce development, and the future of manufacturing with automation and robotics.

Discover how FMA, a key organization behind FABTECH, continues to drive innovation in manufacturing and foster workforce development initiatives like Manufacturing Day, all while adapting to the evolving needs of the industry.

Articles and resources referenced in this episode:

• FMA’s Official Website
• FABTECH Expo Website
• Connect with Ed Youdell on LinkedIn
• Check out Industrial Strength Marketing

Join us on the show:

Have you enjoyed this episode? We'd greatly appreciate your review! Even a simple word of encouragement fuels our momentum and inspires us.

Are you looking to share your expertise with industrial marketers, influencers, and leaders? Apply to be a guest on the show and help shape the future of industrial marketing.

About the Show:

The Industrial Strength Marketing Show is a top manufacturing podcast that explores the personalities, cutting-edge strategies, tools, and technologies transforming the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Each episode, hosted by James Soto, covers marketing, sales, business development, and integrating martech and AI into industrial B2B strategies. Tune in to gain actionable insights to help you stay ahead in the industry.

Let’s connect:

• Visit the podcast homepage
• Tweet us at @Industrialsays, @jamessotoism
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn
• Email us at podcast@Industrialstrengthmarketing.com
• Subcribe to the YouTube channel

In this episode of the Industrial Strength Marketing podcast, we’re joined by Greg Jones from SME, a leader in integrating education with industry needs. Greg discusses how trade shows like IMTS are evolving into crucial venues for workforce development, focusing on how these events are transforming recruitment and engagement in the manufacturing industry. This episode is a must-listen for talent-focused marketers and manufacturing recruiters aiming to stay ahead in an ever-changing landscape.

Articles and resources referenced in this episode:

• IMTS Official Website
• SME - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
• Connect with Greg Jones on LinkedIn

Join us on the show:

Did you enjoy this episode? We'd greatly appreciate your review! Your feedback fuels our momentum and inspires us.

Interested in sharing your expertise with industrial marketers, influencers, and leaders? Apply to be a guest on the show.

About the Show:

The Industrial Strength Marketing Show is a top manufacturing podcast that explores the personalities, cutting-edge strategies, tools, and technologies transforming the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Each episode, hosted by James Soto, covers marketing, sales, business development, and integrating martech and AI into industrial B2B strategies. Tune in to gain actionable insights to help you stay ahead in the industry.

Let’s connect:

• Visit the podcast homepage
• Tweet us at @Industrialsays, @jamessotoism
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn
• Email us at podcast@Industrialstrengthmarketing.com
• Subcribe to the YouTube channel

In this episode of the Industrial Strength Marketing podcast, we’re joined by Bonnie Gurney and Michelle Edmonson from AMT to discuss the evolving landscape of trade show marketing. As leaders of IMTS, the largest manufacturing technology trade show in North America, Bonnie and Michelle share their experiences and insights on how trade shows are transforming to meet the needs of modern exhibitors and attendees.

Learn how IMTS is leading the way in trade show innovation, from digital integration to partnership-driven growth. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in trade show marketing, exhibiting, or attendance.

Articles and Resources Referenced in This Episode:

• IMTS Official Website
• AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology
• Connect with Bonnie Gurney on LinkedIn
• Connect with Michelle Edmonson on LinkedIn

Join us on the show:

Did you enjoy this episode? We'd greatly appreciate your review! Your feedback fuels our momentum and inspires us.

Interested in sharing your expertise with industrial marketers, influencers, and leaders? Apply to be a guest on the show.

About the Show:

The Industrial Strength Marketing Show is a top manufacturing podcast that explores the personalities, cutting-edge strategies, tools, and technologies transforming the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Each episode, hosted by James Soto, covers marketing, sales, business development, and integrating martech and AI into industrial B2B strategies. Tune in to gain actionable insights to help you stay ahead in the industry.

Let’s connect:

• Visit the podcast homepage
• Tweet us at @Industrialsays, @jamessotoism
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn
• Email us at podcast@Industrialstrengthmarketing.com
• Subcribe to the YouTube channel

In this episode of the Industrial Strength Marketing podcast, we sit down with Peter Eelman, Chief Experience Officer at AMT, to explore how the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) has evolved into a premier event for the manufacturing industry. Peter shares his journey from his first IMTS in 1980 to his last event under his leadership in 2024, highlighting the innovations that have shaped IMTS into the largest live marketplace for capital manufacturing equipment and technologies.

Learn how IMTS fosters a community of innovation, connects manufacturers with solutions, and continues to drive the industry forward. Plus, get a sneak peek into what’s next for IMTS and the manufacturing community as Peter reflects on his remarkable career.

Articles and resources referenced in this episode:

• IMTS Official Website
• AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology
• Connect with Peter Eelman on LinkedIn

Join us on the show:

Have you enjoyed this episode? We'd greatly appreciate your review! Even a simple word of encouragement from you fuels our momentum and inspires us.

Are you looking to share your expertise with industrial marketers, influencers, and leaders? Apply to be a guest on the show.

About the Show:

The Industrial Strength Marketing Show is a top manufacturing podcast that explores the personalities, cutting-edge strategies, tools, and technologies transforming the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Each episode, hosted by James Soto, covers marketing, sales, business development, and integrating martech and AI into industrial B2B strategies. Tune in to gain actionable insights to help you stay ahead in the industry.

Let’s connect:

• Visit the podcast homepage
• Tweet us at @Industrialsays, @jamessotoism
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn
• Email us at podcast@Industrialstrengthmarketing.com
• Subcribe to the YouTube channel

In this episode, Jennifer Stanley and Candace Lun Plotkin from McKinsey & Company share insights on the future of B2B sales and assembling winning teams. Industrial sales are evolving, requiring companies to adapt their selling and marketing strategies. James Soto explores topics like hybrid, inside, and digital sales roles, customer intimacy, agility, and technology's role in driving growth.

Learn how manufacturing sellers and marketers can adapt to improve decision-making and drive growth in uncertain times.

Articles and resources reference in this episode:

• The Future of B2B Sales - Building the Right Team - McKinsey & Company
• Connect with Jennifer Stanley on LinkedIn
• Connect with Candace Lun Plotkin on LinkedIn

Join us on the show:

Have you enjoyed this episode? We'd greatly appreciate your review! Even a simple word of encouragement from you fuels our momentum and inspires us.

Are you looking to share your expertise with industrial marketers, influencers, and leaders? Apply to be a guest on the show.

About the Show:

The Industrial Strength Marketing Show is a top manufacturing podcast that explores the personalities, cutting-edge strategies, tools, and technologies transforming the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Each episode, hosted by James Soto, covers marketing, sales, business development, and integrating martech and AI into industrial B2B strategies. Tune in to gain actionable insights to help you stay ahead in the industry.

Let’s connect:

• Visit the podcast homepage
• Tweet us at @Industrialsays, @jamessotoism
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn
• Email us at podcast@Industrialstrengthmarketing.com
• Subcribe to the YouTube channel

In this podcast episode, John Miller, a visionary in the marketing technology industry, discusses the shift in the B2B marketing landscape. He talks about how the economic environment has changed, with more difficulty and uncertainty in the market. Miller also highlights the issue of buyer indifference, as buyers have become numb to traditional marketing tactics. He emphasizes the need for a new go-to-market playbook to adapt to these challenges

Articles and resources referenced in this episode:

• Connect with Jon Miller on LinkedIn
• Check the Demandbase Website
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn

Join us on the show:

Have you enjoyed this episode? We'd greatly appreciate your review! Even a simple word of encouragement from you fuels our momentum and inspires us.

Are you looking to share your expertise with industrial marketers, influencers, and leaders? Apply to be a guest on the show.

About the Show:

The Industrial Strength Marketing Show is a top manufacturing podcast that explores the personalities, cutting-edge strategies, tools, and technologies transforming the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Each episode, hosted by James Soto, covers marketing, sales, business development, and integrating martech and AI into industrial B2B strategies. Tune in to gain actionable insights to help you stay ahead in the industry.

Let’s connect:

• Visit the podcast homepage
• Tweet us at @Industrialsays, @jamessotoism
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn
• Email us at podcast@Industrialstrengthmarketing.com
• Subcribe to the YouTube channel

Ready to take your content engagement to the next level? Tune in to this enlightening conversation with Chris Luecke, the mastermind behind Manufacturing Happy Hour. From hidden leadership insights in manufacturing podcasts to building thriving communities, Chris reveals how to make your content resonate and your audience connect.

In this episode of the Industrial Strength Marketing Show, Chris Luecke joins our host James Soto to explore how content creators are not only competing with others in their industry, but also with any other activity that could grab someone's attention.

• Connect with Chris Luecke on Linkedin
• Check out Chris Luecke's Website
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn

Enjoyed this episode? We'd greatly appreciate your review! Even a simple word of encouragement from you fuels our momentum and keeps us inspired.

As a top manufacturing marketing podcast, we’re focused on what matters most to industrial marketers, sellers, and growth-focused manufacturing executives. Featuring inspiring conversations with manufacturing and B2B marketing leaders on winning moves and lessons learned, this show exists to deliver insights that help you grow your business.

Are you looking to share your expertise with industrial marketers, influencers, and leaders? Apply to be a guest on the show.

About the Show:

The Industrial Strength Marketing Show is a top manufacturing podcast that explores the personalities, cutting-edge strategies, tools, and technologies transforming the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Each episode, hosted by James Soto, covers marketing, sales, business development, and integrating martech and AI into industrial B2B strategies. Tune in to gain actionable insights to help you stay ahead in the industry.

Let’s connect:

• Visit the podcast homepage
• Tweet us at @Industrialsays, @jamessotoism
• Follow James Soto on LinkedIn
• Email us at podcast@Industrialstrengthmarketing.com
• Subcribe to the YouTube channel