Candy Adams. Just saying her name kinda feels like dropping a mic in the trade show world. She’s the Booth Mom®, the trade show whisperer, the queen of the expo floor chaos—y’all know who I’m talkin’ about, right?

If you don’t, buckle up. Because her story’s way more interesting than the average “I planned some booths” spiel.

The Early Days — Where Candy Adams Learned to Hustle

So, picture this: A young Candy Adams, Midwestern roots, probably rocking a perm and handling phone calls with a rotary dial. I imagine her surrounded by piles of paperwork, eyes darting between calendars and shipping manifests.

Her first gigs? Clerical stuff. The kind that makes you wanna bang your head on the desk. But here’s the kicker — instead of running from it, Candy leaned in hard. I mean, who else would see the magic in freight bills and vendor calls?

I learned the hard way early in my career that the devil’s in the details. Candy? She was practically BFFs with the devil. She knew those details.

Oh, and the education? Not your usual “get a degree and hope for the best” story. Nope. She self-taught. Yeah, read all the dusty manuals, browsed early online forums, and basically became a walking trade show encyclopedia before Google was cool.

Climbing the Ranks: From Rookie to Trade Show Royalty

Fast forward past three failed attempts at managing a booth (did I mention the time I forgot to order chairs? Classic.) — Candy kept grinding.

She made mistakes. Big ones. Like that time the shipment got rerouted to the wrong coast and the client’s entire display was MIA.

But Candy? She had this wicked ability to turn a total disaster into a lesson plan.

That’s when she coined her legendary nickname—the Booth Mom®. The name stuck, because, let’s be honest, she’s the person making sure everyone’s got snacks, their badges, and a plan B, C, and D.

What Makes Candy Adams Stand Out? Here’s the Dirt

All-in-One Trade Show Mastermind

Look, I’m just a regular Joe who once tried to coordinate a three-day event and nearly lost my mind. Candy Adams runs the whole show from start to finish like she’s directing the Oscars.

She handles:

• Booth design and layout (the nerdy stuff that actually matters)
• Contractor wrangling (herding cats, basically)
• Budgeting and shipping logistics (cha-ching or chaos)
• Staff training (because a confused booth staff is a nightmare)

It’s like having your cake and making sure nobody eats it before showtime.

Checklists for Days

And those checklists? Man, they’re like sacred texts in the trade show community. If Candy Adams says “check your cables twice,” you check your cables twice.

I once printed out one of her pre-show checklists, taped it on my fridge, and honestly—my plants thrived just looking at it. Okay, maybe not. But it helped!

Candy’s No-Nonsense Philosophy

Her motto? “Hope is not a strategy.”

That line has stuck with me more than any inspirational quote from a TED talk. You don’t just hope your booth setup goes well. You plan for every contingency.

Even down to the little things — like extra zip ties. Seriously, those saved my bacon more times than I can count.

You need nitrogen-rich soil—wait, no, was it potassium? Let me Google that again… Anyway, same principle: don’t wing it.

Candy also believes in empowering her team. She’s all about passing on knowledge, hosting workshops, webinars, and coaching up-and-coming trade show pros.

Honestly, it’s like she’s running a secret society of booth ninjas.

Awards? Oh, She’s Got Those

If you’re wondering if Candy Adams is just talk — nah, she walks the walk.

• Multiple IAEE awards? Check.
• Exhibitor Magazine’s Top 50? Yup.
• International judge for exhibit design? Also, yes.

She’s not one to brag, but her resume reads like a who’s who of trade show excellence.

Some Real Talk: What Folks Say About Candy

“We never feel lost when Candy is around.” — ExpoOps Manager, TechMega

I mean, if I were that ExpoOps Manager, I’d probably be glued to her side like a lost puppy too.

“If trade shows had a Mount Rushmore, Candy Adams would be front and center.” — Senior Marketing VP, HealthCon Global

Well, that’s a heck of a compliment. Makes me wanna carve a tiny statue outta sugar cubes just to celebrate.

Candy’s Global Footprint

This ain’t just a Vegas story. Candy’s worked in expos from Vegas to Frankfurt, Tokyo to Toronto. She gets the tricky freight rules, cultural quirks, and vendor madness in every time zone.

Plus, she runs global training programs—teaching teams to nail American-style trade shows and even greener, more sustainable events.

My neighbor Tina swears her kale patch cured her Zoom fatigue—and she’s not wrong. Candy’s impact is kinda like that, but for the entire trade show ecosystem.

Fun Facts (Because Everyone Loves Those)

• Candy collects vintage trade show badges. Apparently, some are from the ‘80s. I can’t even remember what I had for breakfast.
• She once coordinated a booth with a live camel. Yup. That happened.
• She keeps a “disaster kit” in her car with duct tape, spare Wi-Fi routers, and a whole toolbox. Like Mary Poppins but for trade shows.

Why Candy Adams Still Rules the Trade Show World

Here’s the real talk — Candy Adams ain’t retiring anytime soon. She might’ve slowed down on personally running booths, but she’s still schooling folks with columns, trainings, and mentoring sessions.

As she says: “The show must go on—and so will I.”

And honestly? We’re damn lucky she’s sticking around.

A Little History You Didn’t Know

Fun fact: Victorians believed talking to ferns prevented madness. I talk to my begonias just in case. Candy probably talks to her booth plans too—makes perfect sense.

Final Words (Before I Ramble On Too Long)

Trade shows are wild beasts. Flashy lights, crazy crowds, last-minute changes—it’s a mess if you don’t have a plan. Candy Adams? She’s the queen wrangler, the calming force, the one who makes sure the chaos looks effortless.

To call her the Trade Show Queen isn’t just a cute nickname. It’s a title she earned with sweat, mistakes, and a wicked sense of humor.

She’s the industry’s secret weapon. And honestly, we’d all be lost without her.