Most giveaways end up in the hotel trash. Most booths blur together.
Brian Burkhardt thinks it’s time to change that.

In this conversation, the Co-Founder of Oliver Patch Project shows how to turn event swag and booth design into something people actually remember. He and Matt Kleinrock dig into creating emotional reactions, weaving brand purpose into every touchpoint, and taking creative risks that make attendees stop, look, and talk.

You’ll learn:

✅ How to replace throwaway swag with purpose-driven giveaways that carry your story home

✅ How to design for feelings first, so every detail reinforces your message

✅ How to push past safe ideas and create experiences worth talking about

Hear how to make your next event unforgettable for all the right reasons.

---------------------------------

Connect with Brian Burkhardt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-burkhardt/

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

You can have the biggest booth, flashiest tech, and sleekest design. But if your audience doesn’t feel something, you’ve missed the mark.

And right now, too many brands are still playing it safe, checking boxes, or overdesigning without purpose.

That’s why we’re zooming in on experiential creative direction: how it’s evolving, what matters more than ever, and why storytelling, empathy, and smart constraints lead to better outcomes.

In this conversation, we’re joined again by Stuart Fingerhut, an experiential creative director with 20+ years of experience across tech, automotive, gaming, and entertainment. He’s helped brands like AWS, Google, and Hyundai build experiences that not only impress, but connect.

Tune in to hear:

✅ How AI tools like Krea can enhance (not replace) the concepting phase of experiential design

✅ Stuart’s real-world process for pulling references, training visual styles, and unlocking faster creative development

✅ Why smart prompts are only powerful if they’re grounded in story, strategy, and emotion

This is the episode for marketers, designers, and strategists who care about meaning, not just metrics.

---------------------------------

[[View the deck here]]

Connect with Stuart Fingerhut
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartfingerhut/

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

Events aren’t just about logistics anymore. They’re about results. And while event planners know how to deliver flawless execution, companies now need marketers who understand pipeline, customer journeys, and human connection.

But too many organizations still treat events as one-off experiences instead of demand engines. That gap costs opportunities, slows deals, and misses the chance to build loyalty.

So in this episode, Ghazwan Almoazen (Director, Global Experiential Marketing Demand & Communications at Docusign) shares how he blends digital marketing, demand gen, and experiential strategy to design events that accelerate deals, reduce churn, and keep attendees coming back.

Takeaways:

✅ Why every event pro needs to think like a marketer, not just a planner

✅ How attendee needs—learning, networking, and entertainment—shape engagement and retention

✅ Where data and content intersect to prove pipeline impact and secure buy-in

Tune in to learn how to make your events more than experiences. Make them growth engines.

---------------------------------

Connect with Ghazwan Almoazen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghazwanalmoazen/

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

The season’s almost wrapped. Budgets are in. And for many event marketers, that means it’s time to shift into prep mode for 2026. But where do you start? And how do you plan with intention, not just habit?

While every company is approaching things a little differently, seasoned event pros know this moment sets the tone for next year’s success. But too often, planning gets lost in spreadsheets, silos, or surface-level reflection.

So Coty Adams is stepping in to host—and we’re bringing back two strategic voices to share how they’re approaching 2026: what’s shifting, what’s working, and how to make your planning process more effective than ever.

→ Sarah Gannon (Director, Corporate Events at MathWorks), a 25-year industry leader and recognized voice in corporate experiential marketing and strategic event planning

→ Garrett Burnett (Head of Global Events at Silicon Labs), a seasoned global event leader with a strong track record across user conferences, trade shows, and international activations

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ How experienced marketers audit the past season and spot what to improve

✅ Where to begin when mapping out a 2026 strategy rooted in results

✅ Small tactical shifts that lead to stronger alignment and fewer planning missteps

If you’re ready to prep with purpose (not guesswork) this is your starting line.

----------------------------------

Connect with them:
Sarah Gannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahehamilton/
Garrett Burnett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-burnett/

Connect With Us

Coty Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotykadams/

Matt Kleinrock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/

Our Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show here: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

Sloppy seams. Sagging walls. Zero strategy. If your booth looks like you don’t care, that’s exactly what your audience will believe.

Too many companies treat trade shows like a checkbox, not a channel. They work with order takers, cut corners to save costs, and focus on the wrong things… then wonder why the event didn’t deliver.

But on the floor, it shows. Dull design. Generic messaging. An experience no one remembers. And the worst part? You’re spending real money on that.

In this episode, Pablo Gonzalez joins Matt to talk through what a high-impact booth actually looks like, and how to flip the conversation from “just get it done” to “make it count.”

Learn:

✅ How to spot order takers vs. partners who elevate your strategy

✅ What truly great booths have in common (hint: it’s not the size)

✅ Why booth ROI starts way before install—with the right people in the room

If you’re serious about turning your trade show into a real growth driver, start here.

----------------------------------

Connect with Pablo Gonzalez
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablotheconnector/

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

The post-event handoff to sales is where so many event programs lose steam.

Leads get cold. ROI disappears. And all that effort on the show floor doesn’t translate to results.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

In this fourth installment of our “Back to the Basics” summer live series, Matt Kleinrock and Coty Adams (Director of Sales + Marketing at Rockway Exhibits + Events) break down the musts for a successful sales handoff so your hard work doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

✅ Exactly which parts of the handoff event marketers can (and can’t) control

✅ How to advocate for your team and get sales to follow through

✅ Simple ways to set expectations and create accountability

If you’re tired of watching your post-event leads disappear, this is your blueprint for turning event energy into measurable impact.

---------------------

Connect With Us

Matt Kleinrock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/

Coty Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotykadams/

Our Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show here: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

Whether you’re collaborating with external partners, internal teams, or cross-functional stakeholders—shared events come with shared pressure. And if you’re not careful, your strategy can get lost in the noise.

Suddenly, you’re managing 20 different opinions, 5 conflicting goals, and a booth space that feels more like a compromise than a campaign. The event might still “run,” but it rarely delivers what it could have with true alignment.

For the third episode of our “Back to the Basics” summer live show series, we’re digging into one of the trickiest fundamentals: how to stay focused, aligned, and intentional when you’re not doing it alone.

Sonia Murphy (Senior Director, Marketing Events & Partnerships at SOCi) and Kassidy Gala Carpenter (Director, Global Events at World Fuel Services) return to the show to share what actually works when collaboration is non-negotiable.

What you’ll take away:

✅ What it looks like to lead when the event isn’t 100% yours
✅ How to balance shared input with strategic clarity
✅ Post-event follow-through: who owns what, and how to stay accountable

Planning a shared activation or juggling competing inputs? This is your roadmap to leading shared events with confidence.

----------------------------------

Connect with them
Sonia Murphy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniamurphy/
Kassidy Gala Carpenter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kgalacarpenter/

Connect with Matt Kleinrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/
Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined

Too many event programs are spread thin, under-resourced, and missing the mark. Budgets get diluted, sales handoffs break down, and strategy never makes it past the slide deck.

When that happens, even the best-looking booth or smoothest show can’t deliver meaningful results…. and event teams get stuck in a cycle of “just execute.”

At CEMA Summit 2025, Matt Kleinrock, Coty Adams, and Mollie Stahl saw firsthand how top event marketers are breaking that cycle and leveling up from order-takers to strategic growth drivers.

Discover:

✅ Why “less is more” is redefining event portfolios
✅ How soft skills and business acumen separate high performers from the rest
✅ The real roadblocks to strategy adoption and how to overcome them

Listen now to learn how to elevate your event program before another season slips by.

---------------------

Connect With Us:

Matt Kleinrock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/

Coty Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotykadams/

Our Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

🚨 Register for the show here: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined