Cahaba Media Group Names New Director of Events

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Cahaba Media Group is excited to announce it has hired Bill Mattes as director of events. In this role, Mattes will manage the leadership and operations of Cahaba Media’s GRAPHICS PRO EXPO (GPX), a regional B2B trade show for graphics professionals, as well as lead the strategy for the company’s long-term growth in the B2B events space.

Mattes is an events industry veteran, boasting a successful career leading trade shows and conferences in a variety of markets. His decades of experience in the industry include director of events for S&A Events Services, director of sales and then global events manager for GES, director of events for Bazaarvoice, events director for YPO, and operations manager for Informa Markets.

Most recently, Mattes served as the director of conference services for Pegasus Park, a globally recognized center and office campus focused on life science innovation, business and social impact located in Dallas, Texas. In this role, Mattes was responsible for the management of all business operations and sales of a 16,000-square-foot events facility on the campus. In 2023, Mattes and his team hosted 639 events, offering full services to organizations and groups large and small.

Mattes is a seasoned expert in driving attendee and exhibitor engagement, operational excellence, and implementing innovative technology and experience delivery methods to maximize show return on investment.

In his new role, Mattes will focus on growing and improving the GPX experience for attendees and exhibitors alike, building on the show’s years of success in the market. He will also be evaluating and leading future growth opportunities in the live and virtual events space for the Cahaba Media brands.

“I’m excited to work with the events team in collaborating on all the ways to support exhibitors, vendors and our own internal team,” Mattes said. “The opportunity is ripe for expanding the reach of our GPX events, in addition to creating new opportunities for meeting and networking across Cahaba Media’s entire portfolio.”

GRAPHICS PRO combines awards and personalization, apparel decorating and sign and digital graphics into one source for the graphics industry and professional. GPX (formerly the NBM Show) hosts events for buyers in these end markets to see in person and purchase the newest technology, materials and supplies to power their business forward.

GPX has been hosting world-class, in-person events and expositions across the U.S. since 1989. In 2024, GPX will host five industry trade shows in several major metropolitan areas around the country, including Irving, Texas; Long Beach, California; Greater Philadelphia (Oaks), Pennsylvania; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Matthew Conroy, president and CEO of Cahaba Media Group, said, “Bill is a great addition to our team at Cahaba Media Group and GPX — he has a demonstrated record of success in the tradeshow and events space combined with a passion for serving attendees, exhibitors and his colleagues and teammates at our company.  We are thrilled that Bill has joined Cahaba Media and excited to see what he and the GPX team accomplish in 2024 and beyond.”

Visit graphics-pro-expo.com to learn more about GRAPHICS PRO EXPO.

Cahaba Media Group, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, was founded in 2002. The privately owned company publishes trade magazines, websites, newsletters, podcasts and more as well as hosts tradeshows and expos for the industries of its growing lineup of brands: Pumps & Systems, Construction Business Owner, HomeCare, Butane Propane News, RV PRO, THE SHOP, GRAPHICS PRO and GPX – GRAPHICS PRO EXPO.