COLUMN As the Saw Turns
Retirement: Is It Even Possible?
R
etirement. It’s a concept All of this has caused me to I have spent very little rethink the concept of retiretime thinking about… ment. I’ve had more converuntil the last six months. sations with friends inside If you had asked me six and outside this industry who months ago when I was going are close to or already retired. to retire from this industry And then a friend who owns I would have asked you why a local distillery has offered I should do that when I still me a side gig working with his really enjoy what I am doing. team when I retire. I’ve literally I am working with clients to started thinking about when create incredible experiences the best time would be to exit at their exhibitions and this industry based on how events. I’m working to make the transition with my team and our easier for my current dedicated partners to clients and coworkers. solve any challenge And then this hapsent our way. I’m pens… contributing time and By Jim Obermeyer I am writing this energy to the Experiwhile sitting at Harry ential Designers and ProducReid International Airport in ers Association (EDPA) Board Las Vegas, having just spent and the board of the Randy the last 10 days working at the Smith Memorial Golf Classic National Business Aviation to support our industry. Association (NBAA) show at the But the last six months Las Vegas Convention Center have found me thinking (LVCC). I have been here since more about this retirement day one of installation through thing. The reality is I am the completion of dismantle, well past the traditional supporting five long-standing retirement age. I did my first clients exhibiting at this show. tradeshow in 1981… just And this was year 27 for me a few years (and decades) working this show. ago. My wife retired from It is by far one of my faa long career as a critical vorite shows. While I could care nurse just over a year compile a long list of shows ago. We have met with our I’ve enjoyed working—from financial advisors and have the National Association of been assured we are good to Convenience Stores (NACS) go for retirement. Several Show, National Restaurant friends have retired recently Association (NRA), and Food and are enjoying their newMarketing Institute (FMI) found freedom. And several shows in the food industry other families and friends to the Farm Progress Show are dealing with developing and Husker Harvest shows health issues. in Boone, Iowa and Kearney, 44 Jan/Feb/Mar 2026 Exhibit City News
Nebraska for the agriculture industry—the aviation industry has been one I’ve been involved in since the beginning of my career. In the last 10 days I have been working with long-standing co-workers, friends and industry partners, catching up on life stories. I have seen this convention center transition from a bare concrete floor to an energy-filled experience for all attendees and exhibitors. I have spent time talking with clients about their goals for the future of experiential marketing. And I have literally stood in the aisles of the hall just taking in the full experience of being on the show floor. The thought of this being
my last NBAA kept creeping into my thought process… my last time working LVCC; my last time staying at my favorite hotel; my last time hitting my favorite restaurants; my last time seeing industry partners and friends that I have known and worked with for literally decades. Can I really stop doing this? I think this is yet to be determined… See you on the show floor… perhaps! Jim Obermeyer has been in the exhibits and events industry for over 40 years, both as a corporate trade show manager and exhibit house owner. He can be reached at jobermeyer903@gmail.com