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This month, in our On the Road section, we take you to the beautiful Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado for the NIADA 2026 Convention & Expo. One fun discovery we made at this show was that one of the National Quality Dealer finalists, Mark Fuerbacker, owner of Universal Imports on Linden Avenue in Rochester, NY is a long-time friend of Cheshire Production Manager Luke Yaeger. It's always great to run into hometown success stories when we're on the road!
If you enjoyed last month's article on The Evolution and Power of Experiential Marketing, we think you'll appreciate Part I of this month's feature that outlines the early history of trade shows, going back as far as ancient times.
Finally, if you're planning to be at either the MPI Upstate NY Education Summit in the Catskills or at Connect Marketplace in Tampa Bay, please let us know. We'd love to catch up with you there!
If we can assist you with any upcoming events, we're always here to help! Simply give me a call at 585-325-4250, ext. 102 or email Justin@CheshireAV.com.
| | ON THE ROAD: NIADA CONVENTION & EXPO | | |
From June 21–24, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA)—the nation's largest nonprofit trade association representing the used motor vehicle industry—gathered at the Gaylord Rockies Resort for its annual NIADA Convention & Expo. More than 600 dealers attended the event, taking advantage of valuable educational sessions, industry insights, and outstanding networking opportunities. Keynote speaker Rocky Bleier, the four-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, shown on stage in one of the photos on the left, inspired attendees with a powerful message about resilience and determination, emphasizing that success is ultimately defined by the choices people make—to pursue their goals or to give up on them.
Cheshire AV, led by Chuck Aeckerle and Luke Yaeger, provided comprehensive audiovisual support for the convention, setting up seven breakout rooms and the general session featuring dual projection screens. The team also installed an 8' × 30' LED "Wall of Fame" near the registration area, showcasing current and past award recipients and creating a memorable focal point and photo op for attendees.
Congratulations to Cesar Stark, who was named as NIADA's 2026 National Quality Dealer of the Year, earning the association's highest honor from a distinguished field of eleven finalists.
| | The Surprising Early History of Trade Shows – Part I | |
Trade shows have long served as powerful marketplaces for innovation, commerce, and human connection. Today, businesses rely on exhibitions to showcase new products, strengthen brand recognition, generate qualified leads, and build lasting relationships with customers and industry partners.
Surprisingly, their roots can be traced as far as 3000 B.C. to Middle Eastern bazaars, where merchants gathered to buy, sell, and barter goods and services.
We trace their history through medieval marketplaces, discover Germany's influence, and explore the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the phenomenon many companies rely on to market their goods and services today.
| Join Us for the MPI Upstate NY Education Summit | |
On July 13 and 14, join us at Resorts World Catskills for MPI Upstate New York's Education Summit.
Formerly known as "Fall Focus," this dynamic event gathers meeting professionals and industry suppliers for two great days of essential education and networking, including:
- High-impact education sessions
- Meaningful networking with industry peers and suppliers
- Fresh ideas for meetings, events, and hospitality professionals
- Opportunities to connect, recharge, and grow professionally
Justin Cheshire and David Varecka will co-present "The Lean Technical Masterclass: Controlling AV Costs, Contracts, and Production Value" on Tuesday, July 14 at 11:15 am. They'll share tips and guidance on maximizing AV effectiveness and impact while controlling costs. Please join us for this insightful session!
Additionally, since Resorts World Catskills has a stunning golf course, there's an option to schedule tee time and a golf clinic!
Hope to see you there!
| | Connect Marketplace 2026 in Tampa | | |
Tampa Bay's the place to be from August 24-26 for Connect Marketplace! The Tampa Convention Center will be buzzing when 3300 Industry professionals gather for hosted buyer appointments and educational sessions that offer CMP credit hours.
This event is specifically designed to match events professionals with the best event suppliers in the industry to ensure fast and efficient event sourcing, streamlining the process of finding the right partners for your upcoming live event needs.
Cheshire will be represented by Justin Cheshire as one of the hosted buyers, so if you're attending, please let us know and let's keep an eye out for each other!
| | 10 AV Mistakes That Can Derail a Live Event | |
When planning a live event, it’s important for organizers to focus on the marketing to attract attendees, as well as on the content, and the logistics. While these elements are all essential, audio-visual (AV) production is also a critical part of the equation for success and can make or break the attendee experience.
This Cheshire AV article outlines the 10 most common AV mistakes and how to avoid them for smooth live events.
Click here to read the full article.
| |  | How Events Are Becoming a Force for Good | |
In May, Bizbash featured the company Fill It Forward, which partners with many organizations, including those that run live events, to support sustainability by eliminating single use bottles, cups and bags.
"Event partners can support a charity of their choice or work with one of nine charitable partners focused on clean water, nutrition, and reforestation. Every time an attendee scans their Fill it Forward Tag on a bottle or sticker, they help unlock donations tied to collective action while tracking their environmental impact along the way."
Click here to read article.
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Interested in Working with Us?
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