Soles4Soul to host celebrity signing with Scrubs star Faison and VH1 star Cobb at WSA

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and LAS VEGAS, Nev. —  [Jan. 29, 2010] Soles4Souls Inc., the international shoe charity dedicated to providing free footwear to people in need, has announced it will host a celebrity signing at their booth at the WSA tradeshow, an ENK International event on Tuesday, February 2nd from 4:30-6:00 pm at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.    

"Scrubs" Star Donald Faison and VH1 "The Price of Beauty" Star CaCee Cobb will be present at the booth to sign autographs for fans.  WSA attendees are invited to stop by the Soles4Souls booth during the signing hours for pictures and autographs with the celebrities.  The stars will be present at the trade show to raise awareness for the shoe charity's efforts in Haiti.

"WSA is honored to partner with Soles4Souls to support the Haitian Relief effort. We are inspired by Soles4Souls' dedication to humanitarian efforts around the world.  ENK International is committed to working together with the Footwear Industry to make a difference," said Pam Baffo, Director WSA.

Soles4Souls, in partnership with several donors from the footwear industry, has pledged more than 1 million pairs of shoes to the devastated region.  Founder Wayne Elsey explains that the commitment is part of their sustainable efforts to help the region rebuild long after the news crews leave.

"We are excited that CaCee Cobb and Donald Faison have partnered with us to raise awareness for the overwhelming need in Haiti," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.  "Their long-time support of this charity has helped put thousands of shoes on people's feet all over the world, and will help us bring our ongoing message of hope for Haiti to the footwear industry."

Faison and Cobb are spokespersons for the charity and Cobb is currently featured in the  www.50kshoes.com campaign with fellow VH1 stars Jessica Simpson and Ken Paves.  The site is designed to raise funds for 50,000 pairs of shoes for the Haitian relief effort.

People and companies interested in donating can visit the organization's website at  www.giveshoes.org.

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Icahn acquires stalled Fontainebleau Las Vegas project

As reported in ExpoWeb…

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn’s Icahn Nevada Gaming Acquisition LLC made the winning bid to buy the bankrupt Fontainebleau Las Vegas Resort for $156.1 million. Icahn’s bid was the only qualifying offer to purchase the 63-story, 3,800-room project, which cost more than $2 billion and was about 70 percent complete when it filed for bankruptcy last June after nearly $800 million in funding from lenders was pulled. 

The sale is expected to close Feb. 9. The original hotel/condo/casino project was designed to include more than 393,000 square feet of meeting space, including a more than 105,000-square-foot ballroom. Analysts expect another $1 billion will be required to complete construction of the project.


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TSE Jan. 26, 2010

Read the latest eNewsletter from Trade Show Expo from Jan. 26, 2010.

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Ep. 2: All Your History S1E26

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdwvw_iZ4rU&feature=youtube_gdata

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Undercover agent posed as sales agent for an African defense minister.

The Justice Department and the FBI announced the arrest and indictment of 22 executives and employees from 16 companies that supply equipment to law enforcement and the military. The government charged them with attempting to bribe officials of an African country.

There was no African country. The whole thing was a sting operation.
The arrests were the result of a 30-month undercover investigation by prosecutors and FBI agents which resulted in 21 individuals being arrested in Las Vegas and one more in Miami.

The defendants allegedly agreed to pay a 20 percent commission to a sales agent they believed represented the defense minister for an African country. They were trying to win a multimillion-dollar deal to outfit the presidential guard.
The sales agent was actually an undercover FBI agent, and no defense minister was involved at all. Several of the indictments in the probe disclosed that at least one other FBI agent was operating undercover, posing as a procurement officer for the ministry of defense of the African nation.
Among those arrested were Amaro Goncalves, the vice president of sales for the Smith & Wesson Holding Company, officials said.
Also charged is R. Patrick Caldwell, recently named CEO of Protective Products of America, Inc. He had previously worked for the U.S. Secret Service, where he was special agent in charge of protection of the vice president of the United States.
Stephen Giordanella, the former CEO of Protective Products of America, was also charged. Giordanella was the one suspect arrested in Miami.

'What Happens in Vegas....'

The individuals in Las Vegas were arrested while they were attending the annual Shot Show convention in Las Vegas and all were arrested at a Vegas location when they believed they would be meeting the defense minister to finalize their deals according to DOJ officials familiar with the case.
"This is one case where what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.
Representatives for Smith & Wesson and Protective Products of America, Inc. could not be reached by ABC News.

FBI Sting Operation Nails Gun Company Executives

According to Goncalves' indictment, "On or about May 21, 2009, at the Ritz-Carlton meeting in Washington, D.C., Goncalves agreed to proceed with the Country A deal, after being told that in order to win the Country A business, [Smith & Wesson] would need to add a 20 percent 'commission' to the invoices."
The cases involved two phases. In the first, the suspects allegedly sent test samples of weapons along with payments to the sales agent and minister to show that the minister would receive his cut of the bribes. Then, in the second phase, the final large payments would be made.
The cases involved two phases where the defendants would send test samples and payments to the sales agent and minister to show that the minister would receive his cut of the bribes. The Goncalves indictments allege that "Goncalves further agreed to proceed with the Phase One deal knowing that the purpose of the Phase One deal was to show Country A's Minister of Defense that the Minister of Defense would personally receive a 10 percent 'commission' on the deal."
The 22 individuals were charged in 16 indictments in an investigation run by the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., and the FBI's Washington field office. Employees from a British and Israeli military supply company were also arrested in the sting.
Breuer said in a statement, "The fight to erase foreign bribery from the corporate playbook will not be won overnight, but these actions are a turning point."

Sting: FBI Nabs Firearms Execs in Vegas

Undercover agent posed as sales agent for an African defense minister.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fbi-sting-firearms-executives-arrested-bribery-investigation/story?id=9606388

CES

CES

Waiting to hear about the last gadget standing.

Regards,
Vincent Hernandez
Trade Show Expo
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Ford, Intel keynotes and major product innovation launch International 2010 CES

In-vehicle technologies, social media and technology announcements highlight opening day

LAS VEGAS — The 2010 International CES opened its doors unveiling the next generation of consumer technology products from more than 2,500 global exhibitors, including a record number – more than 330 – of new exhibitors. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2010 International CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, runs through Sunday in Las Vegas.
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA, updated CES attendees on the state of the CE industry in a keynote address Thursday morning. Shapiro announced that the CE industry will return to revenue growth in 2010, a testament to the innovation that drives the industry and creates demand for CE products.

Shapiro spoke passionately about the need for innovation to drive the economy forward through its positive impact on consumers' lives. "Our future is bright because we are innovators. We are seeing more innovation at this show than at any show in our history," Shapiro said.

Shapiro also spoke about CEA's successful launch of the Innovation Movement to give a grassroots voice to the industry and to let politicians know that action taken by the government can help or hurt innovation. Shapiro also announced the launch of CE Cares, a new initiative to bring all that CEA does to protect and promote the health, safety and well-being of consumers under one umbrella; and CEA's new Consumer Technology Enthusiast membership category, which will allow consumers to join CEA for the first time. 

Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer of Ford Motor Company, kicked off the 2010 International CES with an opening keynote address. Mulally gave an overview of Ford's 2009 success with Sync as an example of how smart technology integration allows Ford to better serve its customers.

Mulally announced the "myFord Touch," a new in-dash customizable interface, which will help consumers better access content and control features seamlessly, minimizing driver distraction. Ford also announced exciting partnerships with leading CE industry companies that, as Mulally stated, "allow us to increase connectivity, while decreasing driver distraction." 

Ford has already shared the Sync SDK platform with Pandora, Stitcher.com and Twitter and developed apps for the new "myFord Touch" interface. Based on that success, Ford is now opening its platform to additional third party app developers for future connected innovation.

Thursday's Driving Connected SuperSession featured a cross-industry panel of well-known professionals from Pandora, ATX, Autonet Mobile, Dice Electronics, Kia Motors, SEMA, and DENSO America. The panel agreed that connected automobiles are a reality and discussed ways that automobiles will start to communicate with other devices, such as traffic lights and toll booths, to increase public safety and optimize driving conditions. They discussed the importance of thinking differently when designing and implementing automotive technology, including the introduction of new widgets for the car. Pandora announced that its serial protocol was being used by Pioneer, Aline and Ford to enable greater integration and control of Pandora's music while behind the wheel.

The Twitter Revolution SuperSession on Thursday morning, moderated by Steve Broback of the Parnassus Group, featured social media thought-leaders who shared real-life examples of the power of Twitter to influence, inform and interact. The panel discussed their favorite Twitter tools and sites used to monitor and measure their company or product's reach. They stressed the three keys to successful Twittering: Share value; Be human and Interact.
Thursday afternoon's SuperSession, Staying Competitive in Turbulent Times, brought together executives from AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, Woot Inc., Contorl4 and Cisco to discuss what they've done to stay ahead and remain competitive given the current economic downturn. Each company faced challenges but used this time to innovate, branch out and target markets to stay ahead of the curve.

At CNET's Next Big Thing SuperSession, IPTV was announced as the next big thing that will have the greatest influence on consumer technology this coming year. The session focused on giving consumers choice, voice and control over their content like never before. The panelists acknowledged that many challenges exist to delivering content over the top of existing cable structures, including choice of content, piracy and DRM. Consumers want to enjoy a common experience across their devices, with the selection of content they want and an easy user experience.

Paul Otellini, chief executive officer of Intel, was the afternoon keynote speaker on Thursday. Speaking to a packed audience, Otellini stated his belief that Intel's job is to invent the future. To that end, the company demonstrated a plethora of new technologies including 3DTV, as well as IPTV, a Home Energy Management System, and a new technology Intel calls Wireless Display or "WiDi". The WiDi technology has the ability to connect a PC to an HDTV for streaming photos, videos and other content.

For more information on the 2010 International CES, visit www.CESweb.org.

Microsoft keynote and major product launces kick off 2010 International CES

LAS VEGAS — January 7, 2010 – A comprehensive keynote address from Microsoft's Steve Ballmer and innovative product announcements from top technology companies fueled excitement on the eve of the 2010 International CES, the world's largest tradeshow for consumer technology. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2010 International CES opened today in Las Vegas and runs through Sunday.
"Our pre-show events created tremendous buzz on the eve of the 2010 International CES, as the world eagerly awaits the next generation of technology innovation," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. "The 2010 International CES will be a phenomenal show with more than 2,500 exhibitors, including a record of more than 330 new companies, showcasing more than 20,000 new technology products and services. The products unveiled this week at CES will change the face of the global technology industry."
In other pre-show news, CEA released its Global CE Sales and Forecast. According to new data from CEA and Gfk, consumer electronics sales worldwide in 2010 will generate $681 billion in retail revenue.
On Tuesday evening, the 6th annual CES Unveiled: The Official Press Event of the International CES kicked off the pre-CES media events at The Venetian. The event hosted a record number of more than 1,000 media. With 67 exhibitors, including Lenovo, Logitech, Parrott and Samsung Mobile, CES Unveiled featured the latest technology innovations including 3D TV, Netbooks, eBooks and robotic devices.

Product announcements continued on Wednesday with CES Press Day, featuring 14 exhibitor press conferences. CES exhibitors making new product announcements included LG, which announced an Ultra Slim 6.9 mm LED TV; Toshiba, which introduced CELL TV, converting all content from 2D to 3D; and Panasonic, which announced the world's largest – 65 inch – plasma 3D HDTV.

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corporation, delivered his second pre-CES keynote on Wednesday evening at the Hilton Center. Ballmer focused on the importance of changing screens for the television and PC, cloud computing across multiple platforms and the evolving natural user interface. Ballmer, along with Ryan Asdourian, senior product manager for Windows, showed off a wide variety of innovative Windows 7-compatible PCs and software.

Next, Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, discussed the exclusive content available in 2010 on the XBOX Live console. Bach wowed the audience by saying the popular video game series Halo will come out with a new title, Halo Reach, in the fall of 2010. Microsoft also announced that Project Natal, its revolutionary new video game that requires no game controllers, will be in stores by the holiday 2010 season.
For the latest news and developments from the 2010 International CES, visit www.CESweb.org .

Qualcomm’s Dr. Paul E. Jacobs to deliver keynote

Chief Executives of Microsoft, Intel, Ford, Hisense and Nokia also 2010 CES keynote speakers

ARLINGTON, Va., -- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced that Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm, will deliver a keynote address at the 2010 International CES, rounding out an impressive lineup of speakers, including leaders from Microsoft, Intel, Ford, Hisense and Nokia. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2010 International CES, the world's largest trade show for consumer technology, is scheduled January 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Dr. Jacobs' keynote address is slated for 11 a.m., Friday, January 8, in the Las Vegas Hilton Center. The 2010 show marks Qualcomm's first International CES keynote address.

"Through Paul's vision, Qualcomm has become a leader in wireless technologies, connecting consumers around the globe and providing access to information and entertainment," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. "We are excited to welcome Paul to the 2010 CES keynote stage and look forward to hearing his plans for Qualcomm and the future of wireless technology."

Dr. Paul E. Jacobs is chief executive officer of Qualcomm Incorporated and chairman of the company's board of directors. He has been the primary driver of Qualcomm's focus on enabling wireless data services, which make the wireless phone a tool not only for voice communications, but also for entertainment, computing and information access.

Dr. Jacobs joins other confirmed CES keynote speakers, including Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, Ford's Alan Mulally and Intel's Paul Otellini, as well as Nokia's Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo and Hisense's Zhou Houjian, who will both speak as part of the CES Technology and Emerging Countries Program. For more information on the 2010 International CES, or to register, visit www.CESweb.org.

CES this week! Lots of gadgets!

Today I woke up in a panic trying to think of all the things I needed to do before driving to the Las Vegas Convention Center for the 2010 CES. I worked on the Trade Show Expo eNewsletter and was unable to finish. I will finish this later today.

I got a call from a counselor from the Art Institute Pittsburgh online school and she led me on a tour online of the Web design program. It looks great and there are lots of interesting and helpful courses. But, after 90 minute of discussing the school and looking at the online tour, I got tired and needed to hang up. I will consider this online school but I am also looking into other universities and online degrees. Next week I visit ITT in Summerlin.

Well, time got past me and I needed to shower and drive to the LVCC. After a finishing a few errands, including a stop at Jack in the Box, I arrive at the Las Vegas Convention Center. As I walked to the Media Room I realized there was still a lot of work being done at the LVCC for CES. I thought the show opened today but I was wrong. The floor opens tomorrow.

When I arrived at the Media Center I was told I did not have press credentials. Thankfully the women at the window was very helpful and after showing my ID and business card I was able to acquire the correct press credentials. I got my lunch tickets but more importantly I received my ticket for the FREE CES Computer bag.

More tomorrow but now I have my badge and I can breath a bit easier. For more CES and trade show news. visit: Trade Show Expo. Also, follow me on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Print Story: Tablets and netbooks to be electronics show stars - Yahoo! News

Tablets and netbooks to be electronics show stars - Yahoo! News

Posted using ShareThis

CES highlights include apps, Green Technologies, location based services and gaming

ARLINGTON, Va. [Dec. 28, 2009] — A record number of new exhibitors –more than 330 companies – will join more than 2,500 exhibitors in unveiling their latest technology innovations at the 2010 International CES. With more than 20,000 new products on display, the International CES is the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow. CE Spotlights throughout the CES show floor will feature key market categories including apps, green technology, gaming, location based services and more. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2010 International CES returns to Las Vegas, January 7-10, 2010.

"With a record number of new exhibitors, scores of new product introductions, several new Spotlights on the show floor and a dynamic lineup of keynotes sessions, the 2010 International CES will be our best show yet," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. "More technology deals will be made during the four days of CES than anywhere else on earth. In fact, each CES attendee has an average of 12 meetings while at the show, reinforcing CES as the business hub for technology. Innovation is flourishing within the technology industry and the 2010 CES is the only place to see it all."

Several CE Spotlights covering a variety of technology categories will be housed on the 2010 CES show floor. These include: the iLounge Pavilion, featuring all things iPod, iPhone and Mac related; Living in Digital Times, highlighting technology relevant to all lifestyles; EHXCES with custom CE products for home and commercial installation; Sustainable Planet, featuring the latest green technologies including advances in green building, alternative energy technologies and smart grid technologies and the Gaming Showcase with the latest gaming hardware and software. For a complete list of CE Spotlights visit CESweb.org/exhibits/displays/default.asp.

The 2010 CES will feature 20 market-specific TechZones highlighting the latest trends and emerging markets. New CES TechZones include the eBooks, Experience 3D, Femto, Lifestyle Gadgets, Mobile DTV, Netbooks and Safe Driver TechZones.

Top executives of the biggest names in technology and business will take the stage at the 2010 International CES with keynote addresses from Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, Ford's Alan Mulally, Intel's Paul Otellini and Qualcomm's Dr. Paul Jacobs, as well as Nokia's Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo and Hisense's Zhou Houjian, who will speak as part of the CES Technology and Emerging Countries Program.

Additionally, the 2010 CES will feature more than 250 sessions and 800 expert speakers as part of the CES conference program, which will cover a range of industry topics from social media to safe driving to technology policy. Conference programs for the 2010 International CES include, "Up Next at CES: Creativity, Content and Cash," focused on addressing the major challenge of how to monetize new media and the "Tech Policy Summit," which will discuss critical policy issues including broadband deployment and spectrum allocation. To search for CES conference sessions, visit CESweb.org/sessions/search/default.asp.

For more news about the 2010 International CES before, during and after the show, visit CESweb.org. Journalists are encouraged to arrive in Las Vegas by Tuesday, January 5, to take advantage of all the CES press events, including CES Unveiled from 4-7 p.m. on January 5.

Skip Cox selected for CEIR Board

RED BANK, NJ – December 21, 2009 - Exhibit Surveys, Inc., the leading provider of research and measurement services exclusively for the exhibition and event industry, today announced that Exhibit Surveys' CEO and president Jonathan "Skip" Cox has been named to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) 2010 Board of Directors.

Members of CEIR's board were selected by a nominating committee and announced during the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) annual meeting earlier this month.

"It is gratifying to be nominated and selected to participate on the CEIR Board," commented Mr. Cox. "I look forward to working with this dedicated Board of Directors to accomplish CEIR's goal of increasing awareness of the exhibition industry."

"We are pleased to welcome Skip Cox to the CEIR Board of Directors," commented Cathy Breden, CAE, CMP, executive director, CEIR "His extensive knowledge of exhibition research and measurement and commitment to the industry will be a tremendous benefit to us."

Aria is open

Come on in.

Aria

City Center

City Center CEO Bobby Baldwin addresses the crowd at the Aria dedication ceremony.

Aria opening

Great day for an outdoor press conference.
Nice colorful fountain.

City Center Vdara

The food here is unbelievable. The trout is awesome. I sampled a lot from the menu.