Dallas Market Center today announced that Kelly Bristol has joined the company as Vice President of Tradeshow Business Development, responsible for the strategic planning, merchandising and leasing of the temporary exhibits at Total Home & Gift Markets. Bristol brings more than 20 years of experience in the trade show, wholesale and consumer show industries. She reports to EVP of Leasing Joan Ulrich.
Bristol joins Dallas Market Center from Emerald Expositions, where she served in leadership positions since 1999 most recently as Show Director for the National Stationery Show.
“Kelly is a respected leader who has anticipated important shifts in the industry while creating and maintaining positive relationships with manufacturers, buyers and agents around the world,” said Cindy Morris, President and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “I am confident that her innovative and creative approach to trade shows will deliver tremendous value for our marketplace, including adding many new resources and enhancing the overall market experience.”
Bristol joins Dallas Market Center amid exceptional marketplace growth in key categories including gift and home decor. In addition to new and expanding permanent showrooms, the most recent Total Home & Gift Markets welcomed hundreds of temporary exhibitors including 150 new exhibitors across multiple categories. Her mission will be to evaluate and advance the temporary shows as the discovery destination and center of trends at Dallas Market Center and to produce an inspiring collection of new and bestselling resources for buyers.
In addition to corporate leadership, Bristol has served as the The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) liaison to the board of Gift for Life, the industry charitable organization, and as a board member of the Greeting Card Association. In 2017, Bristol co-founded Writes for Women, an association for stationery industry professionals raising funds for the Ms. Foundation for Women.
