About Us

Management Team

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. is one of the largest trade show producers in the world. Our large and competent staff of 540 people is fully capable of all aspects of trade show management.

  • We own Art Chicago™, which for 15 years has been one of the leading international contemporary art expos in the world.
  • We host The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair™, which is regarded as the best show of its kind.
  • We own and produce the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, which is produced at the Piers. 
  • We produce some of the largest consumer shows in North America, including the One of a Kind® Show and Sale in Chicago and Toronto.

Additionally, we run more than 300 special events a year, each of which mimics the many complex facets of trade show production on a smaller scale.  All these shows and events bring buyers and sellers together.

We have full-time employees dedicated to all aspects of show management, including construction, renovation, general management, operations, sales and leasing, marketing and promotion, and labor management.

Chris Kennedy
President,
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

Marketing and Sales
John Brennen
Executive Vice President

Julia Chappell
Director of Marketing

Mitchell Ammons
Marketing Manager

Belinda Riggs
Marketing Coordinator

Nicole Frye
Marketing Coordinator

Communications
Jennifer Woolford
Senior Vice President,
Marketing Communications

Sophia Weiss
Manager,
Public Relations

Amanda Burhandt
Marketing Director,
Marketing Communications

Sara Neeve
Senior Account Executive,
Marketing Communications