Shepard AV
Shepard AV is a U.S. nationwide provider of audio, video, and lighting production services for trade shows, corporate events, and exhibits, serving enterprise event organizers and exhibitors as part of an employee-owned (ESOP) firm founded in 1905.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1905
- HeadquartersFairfax, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Shepard AV does
Shepard AV is a U.S. nationwide provider of audio, video, and lighting production services for live events, operating as a division of Shepard Exposition Services, Inc., an employee-owned (ESOP) company founded in 1905 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company delivers integrated event production spanning trade shows, corporate conferences, and custom exhibits, with a product mix that includes AV equipment rental and technical production, custom and turnkey exhibit design and fabrication, in-house material handling and logistics, and dedicated Account Production teams that manage events from pre-planning through close. Its underlying technology includes the OrganizerApp self-service platform with a Critical Path project management system, the ExhibitorPro ordering portal for exhibitors, and the BrandView sponsorship packaging tool, all built to give show organizers real-time visibility into orders, timelines, and budgets.
Shepard monetizes primarily through project-based professional services and equipment rental fees, supplemented by logistics and managed services. Pricing is quote-based and varies by event size and scope, with revenue generated from service fees, technician labor, exhibit design and fabrication, and material handling. Distribution is exclusively direct enterprise field sales through dedicated Account Executives organized by service line (Event Services, Exhibits, AV, Logistics), supplemented by an online RFP submission portal. Customers are predominantly U.S.-based trade show organizers, corporate event planners, and exhibitors across technology, healthcare, real estate, accounting, and industrial verticals, with named enterprise clients including ServiceTitan, ONS Congress, Keller Williams, AICPA, LightFair, PowerXchange & TechAdvantage, ASUG, and PRINTING United Expo.
The company's go-to-market emphasizes thought leadership content, industry event participation (SISO CEO Summit, ECEF, AH Leadership Forum, TSE Fastest 50, Expo! Expo!, PCMA Convening Leaders), and the annual SandboxLIVE brand event. The Solutions Network bundles curated technology partnerships — including Bear Analytics, Swapcard, Zenus, Backtrack, Grip, 42Chat, eShow, and Map Your Show — providing organizers with an integrated AI, analytics, networking, and registration stack accessed through a single Shepard relationship. A Board of Directors was formally established in January 2024, aligning with the ESOP governance model. The company operates 251-500 employees with no external funding or parent company identified.
Shepard AV firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shepard AV
- Legal name
- Shepard Exposition Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://shepardav.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1905
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Shepard AV is a U.S. nationwide provider of audio, video, and lighting production services for trade shows, corporate events, and exhibits, serving enterprise event organizers and exhibitors as part of an employee-owned (ESOP) firm founded in 1905.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shepard AV industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Production Services
- NAICS
- Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audio-Visual (AV) Systems & Rentals (Audio, Video, Projection, LED Walls) (THAHAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hybrid Event AV & In-Room Integration (Room Kits, Switching, Capture, Projection) (THAHAOAF), Hybrid/Virtual Meetings Production & AV Services (THACAFAM)
Keywords
Where Shepard AV is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fairfax
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shepard AV business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Event Production Services: Full-service event production including trade shows, conferences, corporate events, and custom exhibits. Revenue generated through service fees, labor costs, and project management.
- Audio-Visual & Production: AV equipment rental, technical production, and on-site support for events. Revenue from equipment rental, technician labor, and production services.
- Exhibit Design & Rental: Custom, turnkey, and hybrid exhibit options. Revenue generated from exhibit design, fabrication, rental, and installation services.
- Logistics Services: Material handling, inbound and outbound shipping coordination, warehouse services, and show site logistics management.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Shepard AV product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shepard AV (Shepard Exposition Services, Inc.) is a nationwide event production company that provides audio, video, and lighting solutions for live events, along with trade show exhibit services, corporate event production, and event logistics. Its service delivery is supported by proprietary event management technology platforms such as OrganizerApp and BrandView.
Product overview
Shepard AV is a nationwide event production company offering an integrated suite of services for trade shows, conferences, and corporate events. The core offerings include trade show exhibits (custom, turnkey, and hybrid), audio-visual production, and corporate event management, supported by in-house logistics and account production teams. The company operates OrganizerApp, a self-service platform for show organizers with Critical Path project management tools, and the Shepard ExhibitorPro online ordering portal for exhibitors. The Solutions Network provides access to specialized technology partners including Bear Analytics, Swapcard, Zenus, Backtrack, American Tradeshow Services, eShow, and Map Your Show. Additional resources include the Inspiration Playbook creative guide and Strategy & Creative consulting services. The company was founded in 1905 and operates as an employee-owned company with over 120 years of experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OrganizerApp: Technology platform for show organizers providing direct visibility into orders, critical path, and event documents.
- BrandView
Products and services
- Audio Visual Production Services Audio, video, and lighting production services delivered for live events, trade shows, conventions, and corporate events on a nationwide basis. Targeted at event organizers, exhibitors, and corporate event planners.
- Trade Show Exhibit Services Trade show exhibit design, fabrication, installation, and dismantling services for exhibitors and show organizers participating in expositions and conventions.
- Corporate Event Production End-to-end production of corporate events, including staging, audio, video, lighting, and on-site coordination for business audiences.
- Event Logistics and Material Handling Freight, material handling, warehousing, and on-site logistics services supporting trade shows and live events across multiple U.S. venues.
Quantifiable outcome
- Only 22% of notes from event meetings are captured meaningfully - Backtrack partnership helps capture more value from sales conversations
Companies that use Shepard AV
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Shepard AV technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability12 records
Feature3 records
Shepard AV partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BacktrackcoreAI notetaker partnership bringing meeting intelligence to events. Backtrack automatically records, transcribes, and analyzes scheduled meetings, turning conversations into CRM-ready follow-up data. Shepard introduces this technology to its network of event organizers to help capture value from high-stakes sales conversations on show floors. Only 22% of event meeting notes are currently captured meaningfully.
- Honeycomb StrategiescoreSustainability partnership providing clients with industry-leading sustainability expertise. Honeycomb is the leader in sustainable solutions for hospitality, sports, venue, and event industries, helping Shepard clients implement more sustainable event practices.
- Fill it ForwardminorNonprofit partnership to reduce single-use plastics at events. Provided reusable water bottles at PCMA Convening Leaders 2025 as alternative to disposable bottles. Helps Shepard clients achieve sustainability goals.
- ZenuscoreEthical AI technology partnership for behavioral analytics. Zenus AI smart sensors capture metadata including dwell time, sentiment, attendee activation, and demographics without recording video. Provides organizers and sponsors with reports on engagement levels and ROI, covering both passive and active engagements.
- Bear AnalyticscoreEvent data analytics partnership using Bear IQ platform. Transforms event data into actionable marketing, content, and sales strategies. Provides year-over-year trend comparisons, identifies growth opportunities, and delivers executive-ready dashboards. Helps organizers move from data overload to clear, actionable insights.
- SwapcardcoreAll-in-one event app partnership for networking, engagement, lead retrieval, and data capture. Manages schedules, speakers, and attendee connections. Easily integrates with other apps making it a strong base for building event tech stacks.
- American Tradeshow ServicescoreRegistration, lead retrieval, and session tracking partnership. Mobile app boosts engagement through live polling and gamification. Integrates with registration platform and backed by excellent customer service for events of all sizes.
- eShowcoreComprehensive event management platform for events of all sizes. Offers advanced tools including abstract and committee management, interactive floor plan management, and exhibit sales and sponsorship management.
- Map Your ShowcoreConference session planning and booth sales platform. Mobile app for attendee engagement. Builds off success of floor plan builder allowing planners to create accurate expo layouts without CAD.
- GripcoreAI-powered networking and matchmaking partnership. Powerful AI engine helps organizers boost revenue by establishing, maintaining, and tracking business relationships between attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shepard AV competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GES (Global Experience Specialists): GES provides trade show and event services including exhibit design, fabrication, logistics, and on-site services. Directly competes with Shepard in serving trade show organizers and exhibitors across major U.S. convention markets.
- Freeman: Freeman is the largest U.S. provider of brand experiences, event production, exhibit design, and AV services. Directly comparable to Shepard across trade show production, exhibits, and corporate events — competing head-to-head on enterprise RFPs nationwide.
- Production Resource Group (PRG): PRG is a global AV and event technology company specializing in lighting, video, and audio for live events, conferences, and trade shows. Comparable in AV production scope for large-scale corporate events and keynotes.
- Hargrove: Hargrove is an event production and experiential marketing company providing custom exhibits, AV, and event services. Direct competitor in U.S. trade show and corporate event production with similar full-service model.
- Czarnowski Collective: Czarnowski is a U.S. event marketing agency offering exhibit design, fabrication, and brand experiences. Directly comparable in custom exhibit production and corporate event services.
- George P. Johnson (GPJ): GPJ is an experiential marketing agency specializing in trade shows, corporate events, and brand activations. Comparable in scope and customer base, competing for enterprise event and exhibit budgets.
- Encore Global (PSAV): Encore Global is a leading provider of event technology, production, and venue services including AV, lighting, and staging. Direct competitor in audio-visual production and event services for corporate and trade show clients, with deeper hotel/hospitality channel presence.
- MC2: MC2 is an exhibit and event marketing agency providing design, fabrication, and production services for trade shows and corporate events. Direct peer in the exhibit design and live event production market.
- Sparks: Sparks is a global experiential marketing agency delivering exhibits, brand activations, and event production. Direct competitor across trade show exhibits, corporate events, and AV production for enterprise clients.
Emerging players
- Allied Global Marketing: Allied Global Marketing provides event services and experiential marketing with growing presence in trade show and corporate event production. Overlaps with Shepard on enterprise event services but with a broader marketing services portfolio.
Market position
Strengths2 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shepard AV social profiles
Digital presenceShepard AV compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Shepard AV financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shepard AV leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Shepard AV funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shepard AV M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shepard AV
What does Shepard AV do?
Shepard AV (Shepard Exposition Services, Inc.) is a nationwide event production company that provides audio, video, and lighting solutions for live events, along with trade show exhibit services, corporate event production, and event logistics. Its service delivery is supported by proprietary event management technology platforms such as OrganizerApp and BrandView.
Is Shepard AV a public or private company?
Shepard AV is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Shepard AV founded?
Shepard AV was founded in 1905. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Shepard AV based?
Shepard AV is headquartered in Fairfax, United States, in the North America region.
How does Shepard AV make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Event Production Services are the primary driver. The others are audio-Visual & Production, exhibit Design & Rental and logistics Services.
Who are Shepard AV's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GES (Global Experience Specialists), Freeman, Production Resource Group (PRG), Hargrove, Czarnowski Collective, George P. Johnson (GPJ), Encore Global (PSAV), MC2 and Sparks. Allied Global Marketing is listed as an emerging player.
Does Shepard AV have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shepard AV.
What industry is Shepard AV in?
Shepard AV's product category is Event Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAEAA, Audio-Visual (AV) Systems & Rentals (Audio, Video, Projection, LED Walls), with a secondary code of THAHAOAF, Hybrid Event AV & In-Room Integration (Room Kits, Switching, Capture, Projection). Its NAICS code is 541850 and its SIC code is 7990.