In Part 2 of this insightful conversation, host Jeff Hannah continues his discussion with Laura Palker, President of the Exhibitions & Events Workforce Development Federation and a Top 100 Most Influential People in the Industry (Eventex Awards) honoree.

They explore how the trade show industry is gaining recognition through the modernized National Career Cluster Framework, making careers in exhibitions more visible in schools and workforce development programs. Laura shares updates on O*NET & NAICS codes, the Career Fair in a Box initiative, and the growing role of apprenticeships and veteran outreach in attracting new talent.

Jeff and Laura also discuss the Trade Show Basics training course, its successful launch in Atlanta, and its expansion to more cities. They emphasize why industry leaders must invest in training and advocacy to secure the next generation of trade show professionals.

Some key points from this episode:

· The impact of trade show careers being added to career cluster frameworks

· The push for industry-wide workforce development and apprenticeships

· How Trade Show Basics is helping train newcomers

Jeff and Laura also discuss the important launch of Jeff's new Trade Show Basics course, which is designed to support newcomers to the industry.

Laura Palker is the CEO of the Trade Show Solution Center, and a Top 100 Most Influential People in the Industry (Eventex Awards) honoree.

This episode was recorded at the amazing ET Global USA Headquarters in Suwanee, Georgia.

Part 1 of my interview with Laura.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapalker/

Website: https://ee-wdf.org/

Website: http://www.tssolutioncenter.com

www.globalexhibitor.com