Shepard Exposition Services

What Shepard Exposition Services does

Shepard Exposition Services is a nationwide general service contractor and event production company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 1905 and operating as an employee-owned enterprise. The company delivers end-to-end services across trade shows, corporate events, conferences, and exhibitions, organized into core service lines of Trade Shows & Conferences, Corporate Events, Audio-Visual & Production, Exhibits, and Shepard Logistics. Operations are supported by branch offices in San Antonio, Las Vegas, and San Diego, with a workforce of 251-500 employees serving show organizers, exhibitors, and corporate event planners across the United States.

The company's technology stack combines proprietary platforms with a partner ecosystem. OrganizerApp provides show organizers with order tracking, critical path management, and document workflows; ExhibitorPro offers exhibitors an online ordering portal; and BrandView manages sponsorship packaging. These internal platforms are extended through the Solutions Network, a curated ecosystem of more than fifteen technology partners covering analytics (Bear Analytics, Zenus), event apps (Swapcard), floor plans (eShow, Map Your Show), AI matchmaking and chatbots (Grip, 42Chat), lead capture (Captello, InGo, ATS), speaker management (Sessionboard), and sustainability (Honeycomb Strategies, Fill it Forward, Showcare).

Shepard generates revenue primarily through professional services fees for event production, exhibit design and rental, AV equipment and production, and material handling logistics. Pricing is project-based with all-inclusive per-pound material handling rates that avoid hidden fees, and customer acquisition combines direct enterprise field sales (named sales directors for Exhibits, AV, and Event Services), inside sales teams, RFP-based engagement, and self-serve ordering via ExhibitorPro. The company has pursued inorganic growth selectively, acquiring Aquarian LLC Entertainment & Production Services in 2016 and McCune Audio/Video/Lighting in 2017 to expand AV capabilities.

Name

Shepard Exposition Services

Legal name

Shepard Exposition Services, Inc.

Website

https://shepardes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Shepard Exposition Services is an employee-owned, nationwide event production company headquartered in Atlanta that delivers trade show, corporate event, exhibit, AV, and logistics services to show organizers, exhibitors, and corporate event planners across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Production Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Business Services (7380), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Onsite Installation, Dismantle & Labor Management (I&D Crews) (THAHAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Exhibitions, Trade Shows & Booth Management (HSACADAH), Trade Show, Exhibit & Event Logistics Moving (HSAKAKAK), Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM)

Keywords

• Trade show services
• Event production services
• Corporate event management
• Exhibit design and rental
• Audio visual production

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Production Services: Full-service event production including trade shows, corporate events, conferences, and exhibits. Revenue generated through service fees for event management, setup, execution, and teardown.
2. Audio-Visual Services: AV production and equipment rental for events, including lighting, audio, video, and production services.
3. Exhibit Design and Rental: Custom, turnkey, and hybrid exhibit options for exhibitors, including design, fabrication, and rental services.
4. Logistics and Material Handling: Shipping, material handling, and freight management services for events. All-inclusive per-pound material handling rates with no hidden fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shepard Exposition Services is a nationwide general service contractor providing end-to-end event production services, including trade show and conference management, corporate event production, custom exhibit design and rental, audio-visual production, and logistics/material handling. The company serves both show organizers (with dedicated account production teams and the OrganizerApp visibility platform) and exhibitors (with booth design, fabrication, rental, AV integration, and the ExhibitorPro self-service portal). Its services are delivered through a nationwide footprint with offices in Atlanta, San Antonio, Las Vegas, and San Diego, backed by 120 years of operating history.

Product overview

Shepard Exposition Services is a nationwide event production company offering an integrated suite of services for trade shows, corporate events, and exhibits. The company operates on a platform-plus-partner ecosystem model, combining core in-house services (Trade Shows & Conferences, Corporate Events, Audio-Visual & Production, Exhibits, Shepard Logistics) with proprietary technology platforms (OrganizerApp for organizer visibility, BrandView for sponsorship management, ExhibitorPro for exhibitor ordering) and a Solutions Network of technology partners (Bear Analytics, Swapcard, Zenus, Backtrack, American Tradeshow Services, and others). The company also provides advisory services through its Strategy Team and dedicated Account Production teams to support event planning from concept through execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OrganizerApp: A platform built for show organizers providing direct visibility into order progress, tracking, and critical path details.
• BrandView
• Shepard AV
• Shepard Logistics

Products and services

• Trade Shows & Conferences End-to-end trade show and conference production services including planning, logistics, exhibit services, AV production, material handling, and on-site execution for trade show organizers and associations.
• Corporate Events Corporate event production services for company meetings, conferences, and corporate gatherings, including AV production, staging, and on-site execution.
• Exhibits Custom, turnkey, and hybrid exhibit options for exhibitors at trade shows, including booth design, fabrication, rental, AV integration, and exhibit logistics support.
• Audio-Visual & Production Audio-visual production services including high-impact keynotes, dynamic exhibits, immersive event experiences, lighting, audio, and video production for trade shows, corporate events, and conferences.
• Shepard Logistics In-house logistics services managing inbound shipping, material handling, and outbound shipping for events with comprehensive freight coordination at 1–5 million pounds per major show.
• OrganizerApp Proprietary platform built for show organizers providing direct visibility into order progress, critical path tracking, and event documents. Features include order tracking, proof submissions, custom checklists, and copy orders functionality that allows organizers to replicate previous event orders.
• ExhibitorPro Self-service online ordering portal for exhibitors to place orders, access resources, and manage their exhibition presence across Shepard events.
• BrandView Sponsorship management platform that simplifies the process of creating sponsorship packages and provides a comprehensive view of branding opportunities for show organizers and sponsors.
• Shepard Strategy Team Strategic advisory services including audience growth, event design, measurement, sponsorship strategy, and long-term event planning for show organizers and exhibitors.
• Account Production Dedicated account executive team service managing show organizer needs from contract to tear-down, including budget tracking, timeline coordination, and liaison between clients and Shepard Operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed over 4 million pounds of freight for PRINTING United Expo
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BacktrackcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 June 2026AI-powered notetaker partnership for in-person event meetings. Backtrack automatically records, transcribes, and analyzes scheduled meetings, turning conversations into structured summaries and CRM-ready follow-up data. Shepard introduces this technology to its network of event organizers to help capture value from sales conversations at trade shows.
• Honeycomb StrategiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2025Sustainability partnership for events industry. Honeycomb is the leader in sustainable solutions for hospitality, sports, venue, and event industries. Provides guidance on sustainable event design, waste management, and EIC sustainable event certification.
• ZenuscoreTechnology or Integration · 8 April 2024Ethical AI behavioral analytics partnership. Zenus AI smart sensors capture metadata (dwell time, sentiment, demographics) without recording video, providing aggregated anonymized data on attendee behavior. Shepard offers this through Solutions Network for sponsor ROI and engagement measurement.
• Bear AnalyticscoreTechnology or IntegrationAI-powered event data analytics through Bear IQ platform. Consolidates data from registration, CRM, apps, and surveys into clean reporting. Provides year-over-year trend comparisons and actionable insights for post-event reporting.
• SwapcardcoreTechnology or IntegrationAll-in-one event app for networking, engagement, lead retrieval, and data capture. Used by Shepard for events including SandboxLIVE 2024 for schedule and speaker management.
• American Tradeshow Services (ATS)coreTechnology or IntegrationRegistration, lead retrieval, and session tracking services. ATS offers heat mapping, First-Time Exhibitor programs, and gamified engagement tools (passport programs) through Shepard Solutions Network.
• Fill it ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable event partnership providing reusable water bottles with QR code tracking. Participants contribute to charitable projects focused on water and natural resource conservation. Shepard used this at PCMA Convening Leaders.
• eShowcoreTechnology or IntegrationComprehensive event management platform with features including abstract management, interactive floor plan management, and exhibit sales and sponsorship management.
• Map Your ShowcoreTechnology or IntegrationAll-in-one platform for conference session planning, booth sales tools, and mobile attendee engagement app. Builds on floor plan builder allowing accurate expo layouts without CAD.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GES (Global Experience Specialists): Major global exhibition services provider offering exhibit design, logistics, AV, and event management for trade shows and conferences. Competes head-to-head with Shepard in U.S. convention markets.
• MC² (MC Squared): Event marketing and exhibit company focused on corporate events, trade shows, and experiential programs. Comparable mid-market positioning with integrated exhibit and event services.
• Freeman: The largest general service contractor and brand experience company in North America, offering trade show exhibits, event production, AV, and logistics. Directly comparable to Shepard across all core service lines and customer segments.
• Hargrove: U.S.-based event production and exposition services company offering custom exhibits, general contracting, and AV for trade shows and corporate events. Overlaps directly with Shepard's exhibit and event services.
• The Expo Group: Event management and exposition services firm specializing in trade shows, corporate events, and exhibits. Comparable scale and service portfolio to Shepard, with industry recognition (e.g., ESCA Lifetime Achievement).
• Sparks: Exhibit and event marketing agency (a Freeman company) specializing in custom exhibits, brand experiences, and trade show programs. Direct competitor in the exhibit design and fabrication segment.
• Czarnowski Display Services: Experiential marketing and exhibit company providing trade show displays, corporate event services, and brand activations. Competes directly with Shepard's exhibits and trade show business lines.

Emerging players

• AVFX: Mid-market AV production and event technology provider serving corporate events, conferences, and trade shows. Comparable in AV services though smaller in exhibit logistics scale.
• Convention Data Services (CDS): Registration, lead retrieval, and data analytics provider for trade shows and events. Adjacent competitor in event technology, complementing or competing with Shepard's ExhibitorPro and Bear Analytics integrations.

Broad incumbents

• PRG (Production Resource Group): Global leader in entertainment and event production technology, particularly AV and lighting for large-scale live events. Broader portfolio than Shepard AV but overlaps significantly in corporate event and trade show AV production.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shepardexpo
• Facebookfacebook.com/shepardexpo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shepard-exposition-services

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shepard Exposition Services