Skyline Spotlight celebrates the talent and efforts of our amazing team. We spoke with Cory Tang, Director of Exhibit Operations, for our first feature. Since joining Skyline in early 2022, Cory has demonstrated her commitment to providing top-tier support for our clients on the trade show floor. Her passion for the industry and dedication to excellence elevate our operations.
How did you get started in the trade show and events industry?
My first trade show job was at the MAGIC fashion trade show. A clothing company visited my college to hire students to iron denim for their display. My job was ironing piles of jeans using a commercial steam iron in the 120-degree Las Vegas heat with no air conditioning. Thankfully, I had a cooler of water to keep me hydrated! I continued working on a show-by-show basis, and each show was a new and exciting experience. Once I started, there was no turning back! I love the adrenaline and fast pace of working on the trade show floor. It requires the ability to thrive under pressure - and I was trained by the best and the toughest.
What brought you to Boston?
After I graduated college, I worked for a general contractor covering New York and Boston. I spent a lot of time in Boston producing major trade shows and growing my personal and professional network in the trade show and events industry. I moved between New York and Boston, and then to Philadelphia for a few years. The beach is the reason I eventually moved back up north to Boston.
What’s something about you that most people don’t know?
I ran the Boston Marathon in 2021, the 125th anniversary year. It was my first marathon, and I trained on the beach near my home in Boston. Because it was the middle of the pandemic, I ran the virtual marathon by downloading the Boston Marathon app with satellite tracking so you can run it anywhere in the world. My job contributes to my training as well. I often run from one end of the convention center to the other, no problem!
What does your perfect weekend look like?
My perfect summer weekend is spent on the beach at home, relaxing with my family and friends. My job includes a lot of travel and a busy schedule, so a quiet weekend at home is my favorite.
Do you cook? If so, what’s your favorite thing to cook?
I don’t cook much, but I’m an expert at reheating! When I entertain and cook at home, it’s lobster. A few lobster fishermen in our neighborhood have seafood fresh from the water each morning.
It’s so fresh that even I can't mess it up! I often pair it with my
semi-homemade Boston clam chowder with added fresh clam juice.
It makes for the best New England summer party!
What is your role at Skyline? What’s the day-to-day of your role like?
The primary goal of the Exhibit Operations department is to ensure our client’s trade show journey is seamless and the exhibiting experience is easy to navigate. My role involves many tasks, as I'm working with Sales, Client Services, and Operations teams as well as installation and dismantle (I&D) teams, general service contractors, electrical and rigging teams, and other support services.
My approach to show-site execution is owning our client experience through proactive participation and managing by exceptions. Providing on-site support at trade shows is a team effort and requires innovative problem-solving and resourcefulness. So many hands contribute to a successful exhibit, so the strong network we build contributes to our clients’ success. My role includes building relationships with convention centers in Skyline’s top markets, including Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Las Vegas Convention Center, and McCormick Place in Chicago. Having a network of support makes a world of difference and sets Skyline apart in the industry. One example is a client who had a lot of large equipment displayed in their booth. Because of our relationship with the general contractor, we were able to utilize the neighboring booth space and move the equipment into our client’s exhibit more logically and efficiently.
What is something that sets Skyline apart in the industry?
We have an excellent team that works well together. Everyone understands their role and works together to provide the best solutions for our clients. Building a successful support system increases the comfort level for our clients and improves how we work internally with our teams and externally with our clients. The goal is to create a seamless experience and ensure a successful show.
Additionally, Skyline manages all details of the exhibit experience from start to finish. We design and manufacture custom modular exhibit solutions that are scalable and offer a lot of flexibility in exhibit design and are tailored to our client’s vision.
What is your favorite Skyline Core Value?
We Lead with Trust, We are One Winning Team, and We Learn and Grow from Our Challenges are my favorite core values. These values work hand-in-hand and are effective when we apply them in action and repeatedly. Making them part of our daily routine is important because it’s not just a one-time thing. It’s part of how we work and go about our jobs from day to day. These values are at the core of Skyline’s culture and align with my values.