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This Just In

Sanderson to Succeed Henry Givray as President, CEO of SmithBucklin Next Year

HIL ANDERSON, SENIOR EDITOR

Chicago, IL – Henry Givray will give up his duties as president and CEO of SmithBucklin at the end of the year, the association management firm announced February 19.

SmithBucklin handled sales and operations or overall show management for two of Trade Show Executive’s Gold 100 Shows in 2013:  The International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) and the NAFEM Show  (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers). The company also had two of its 2013 shows in the Fastest 50 in 2014:  AONE  Annual Meeting & Exhibition (The American Organization of Nurse Executives) and ASHE Annual Conference  & Technical Exhibition (American Society for Healthcare Engineering).

Matt Sanderson, who is currently executive vice president, will take the reigns as president and CEO, effective January 1, 2016. Givray will remain as chairman of the board in a non-executive role.

“Matt has earned the trust, respect and confidence of our employees, clients and colleagues,” said Givray. “I look forward to working with and supporting Matt in my role as chairman in 2016 and beyond.”

Sanderson joined SmithBucklin in 2010 as executive vice president and currently serves as chief executive of the Business + Trade Industry Practice, the largest of the company’s three practice groups.

Prior to joining SmithBucklin, he had been executive vice president of the Print Services & Distribution Association, and before that, was a director with Sikich Investment Banking, a firm where he counseled businesses on acquisitions and other financial transactions. It was at Sikich that Sanderson first worked with SmithBucklin for corporate projects. Givray later recruited Sanderson to join SmithBucklin.

Givray has been CEO of SmithBucklin since August 2002 when he rejoined the company after a six-year stint leading two technology companies. During his 13 years with SmithBucklin from 1983 to 1996, Givray served as chief staff executive for a variety of client associations.

One of Givray’s proudest achievements was fulfilling his vision to make SmithBucklin 100% employee owned.  Givray led the transfer of the company’s ownership from its financial investors to its employees in 2005 with the SmithBucklin Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) which allows every employee, regardless of position, tenure or compensation, an equal opportunity to acquire ownership in the company.

Givray is also lauded for the Leadership Institute and the Leadership Learning Forum which he created. The former is a six-month experience for board members of SmithBucklin client organizations. The latter is a 12-month program for top-performing SmithBucklin employees. Beginning in 2016, Givray will focus his time and energy on helping to grow leaders.

Reach Henry Givray at (800) 539-9740 or hgivray@smithbucklin.com; Matt Sanderson at 800-539-9740 or msanderson@smithbucklin.com

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