Among several key findings, the research found that 91% of Gen Z professionals consider in-person events as one of the best ways to build social and interpersonal skills and there’s also growing awareness as to technology’s negative impact in this area. In fact, 69% reported that the rise of technology has made them feel less connected and more isolated from others in their company and industry.

“This report shatters the myth that Gen Z prefers digital-only interactions,” said Janet Dell, CEO of Freeman. “The evidence points to a significant shift in how organizers and companies should approach engaging with Gen Z. The primary insight is clear – Gen Z views in-person events as the optimal setting to build strong business relationships, advance their careers and ultimately build confidence. By designing experiences that foster meaningful connections and support career development, we can help Gen Z thrive while shaping a stronger, more collaborative future for the events industry.”

Key findings from the study include:

• 89% of Gen Z professionals agree that relationships made at in-person events are critical to building professional confidence
• 86% want their companies to allocate more spending to live events to help build stronger business relationships
• Gen Z reports having fewer strong business relationships (16 on average) compared to Millennials (21) and Gen X (40), indicating a strong need for in-person networking opportunities

The full report, titled “Gen Z Report: The Value of Live Events in a Digital World,” marks the first in a series of three research releases from Freeman.

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Media Contact:
media@freeman.com

About Freeman:
Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 98-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/.

The post New Research Reveals Gen Z Digital Natives Crave In-Person Events for Building Connections and Advancing Their Careers appeared first on Freeman.

Dallas, TX –  Inside Live Events, a new book by Bob Priest-Heck and Carrie Freeman Parsons, serves as a comprehensive playbook for creating impactful, meaningful live events. Drawing on Freeman’s decades of experience, the book serves as a quick reference for events industry veterans while equipping newcomers with practical insights and actionable strategies to navigate and thrive in this dynamic field.

At its core, the book breaks down the power of live events into a timeless four-phase methodology: getting started, designing the plan, building the plan, and reviewing and improving. This structured approach provides clear steps to create meaningful connections and impactful experiences for professionals at any stage of their careers.

“Inside Live Events captures the expertise and insights of industry leaders,” said Carrie Freeman Parsons, co-author and Freeman Chair of the Board. “For event pros, it has checklists and tips that help promote continuous improvement. But it’s also designed to help those new to the industry find a unique career path. It’s like a Masterclass on how to make a meaningful impact through live events. Our goal is to demystify what we do, celebrate the adventure of live events, and help those new to the industry feel more confident.”

“As an industry veteran, I’ve witnessed the evolution of events and the incredible ways it continues to shape connections, trust, and collaboration,” said Bob Priest-Heck, co-author and Freeman Board Member. “I hope this book will help more people embrace and amplify the power of events to create positive change.”

Inside Live Events shares valuable tips and techniques inspired by the proven strategies the Freeman company has used successfully for 97 years. The book combines practical advice with firsthand stories that highlight the excitement of working in live events.  

“At Freeman, we believe investing in talent strengthens our entire industry,” said Janet Dell, CEO of Freeman.  “This book reflects our commitment to attracting, developing, and retaining top talent at every career stage. By sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for growth, we’re empowering the next generation of event professionals.”

For more information on Inside Live Events, visit here.

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Media Contact:
media@freeman.com 

About Freeman:
Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 98-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/.

The post Inside Live Events: Your Playbook for Mastering the Experience appeared first on Freeman.

Dallas, TX – Freeman, the global leader in events, today released its annual Impact Report for fiscal year 2024. The report details the company’s continued progress in fostering sustainable practices, empowering its people, and upholding the principles that drive responsible growth.

“Freeman’s purpose is to bring meaningful connections to everyone and everything we touch through the power of live events,” said Janet Dell, CEO of Freeman. “As we reflect on the past year and look ahead, we remain focused on solutions that deliver measurable impact, grounded in sustainable innovation and responsible progress.”

The Freeman Impact Report details the Company’s dedication to meaningful progress in three areas:

• Planet: Our journey towards a sustainable future and the measurable progress we continue to make in environmental stewardship.
• People: Empowering our people through recognition, diversity, and a culture of belonging.
• Principles: Upholding our core values through rigorous safety practices, ethical conduct, and responsible business operations.

FY24 Progress Highlights:

• Planet:
  • 250 Green Team members and growing – a global network who lead local sustainability initiatives
  • 9% decrease in emissions from electricity
  • Founding signatory for Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative (NZCE)
  • 150,000 kWh in renewable energy
• People:
  • 93.7% employee retention rate
  • 37.9% of executive roles at Freeman held by women
  • 34.2% employees at Freeman who identify as racially or ethnically diverse
  • 393 lives saved through on-site blood drives
  • 6629 US donations supporting the Kids in Need foundation
• Principles:
  • 125 Moment Makers safety stars
  • 7 Freeman branches without safety incidents through the entire year
  • 1,000+ employees and union partners trained on safety practices via AI app
    • 1024 hours
    • 167 course completions
  • 209 crisis management event venue plans
  • 100% of employees completed safety compliance training

By fostering innovation, championing sustainability, and prioritizing the well-being of its people and communities, Freeman is shaping a future where its impact is both enduring and positive.

Click here to view and download the full report.

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Media Contact:
media@freeman.com 

About Freeman:
Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 98-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/.

The post Freeman Releases Impact Report for Fiscal Year 2024 appeared first on Freeman.

Studio Blue addresses a critical market need by delivering agile AV solutions with flawless technical execution for a range of corporate programs, including general sessions, sales meetings, and large employee events.

“Studio Blue reflects Freeman’s commitment to understanding and addressing the evolving needs of our corporate clients,” said Janet Dell, Chief Executive Officer at Freeman. “We’ve seen firsthand the demand for this capability through our work with major brands and government agencies. By providing nimble, expert technical production for focused events, Studio Blue empowers our clients to achieve their vision with speed and confidence.”

For more information about Studio Blue or to request its services, visit here.

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Contact:
media@freeman.com    

About Freeman:
Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 97-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/

The post Freeman Launches Studio Blue to Expand AV Production Services for Corporate Clients appeared first on Freeman.

“We’re excited to welcome Becky to Freeman,” said John Herrold, Chief Financial Officer at Freeman. “Her leadership and expertise will strengthen our finance team, allowing us to better support our clients, enhance our financial processes, and adapt to the changing needs of our industry as we continue to grow.”

As CAO, Becky will oversee global accounting operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and the accuracy of financial reporting. She will lead the financial accounting, financial reporting, and tax teams, while serving as an advisor to Freeman’s lines of business and various departments to maintain the integrity of financial controls.

Becky brings over 20 years of accounting experience to Freeman. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President of Accounting at Apex Service Partners, where she led a team of more than 100 and implemented new financial policies, procedures, and controls to drive efficiencies and mitigate risks. She has also held Chief Accounting Officer roles at At Home Group Inc., Forcepoint, and Varsity Brands.

Contact:
media@freeman.com    

About Freeman:
Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 97-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/. 

The post Freeman Welcomes Becky Haislip as Chief Accounting Officer appeared first on Freeman.

The certification was awarded after successfully passing a detailed audit of dozens of practices across more than 20 categories, including recruiting, training, employee incentives, management roles and responsibilities, and quality assurance capabilities.

“Empathy and integrity are central to Freeman’s culture, and this recognition is a reflection of the commitment and passion our customer experience team displays daily,” said Janet Dell, President and CEO of Freeman. “At Freeman, we prioritize fostering an environment where our people are empowered to deliver outstanding experiences for our clients. This recognition highlights our team’s unwavering focus and dedication to exceeding client expectations at every touchpoint.”

For certification status, a contact center must also perform within the top 20 percent of customer service scores, which are based on benchmarks established in J.D. Power’s cross-industry customer satisfaction research. The research criteria include the customer service representative’s courtesy, knowledge and concern for the customer, promptness in speaking to a person, and timely resolution of the problem or request. Additionally, the experience with the automated phone system is evaluated based on the clarity of the information provided, the ease of navigating the phone menu prompts, and the ease of understanding the phone menu instructions.

J.D. Power 2024 Certified Customer Service ProgramSM recognition is based on successful completion of an evaluation and exceeding a customer satisfaction benchmark through a survey of recent servicing interactions. For more information, visit www.jdpower.com/awards.

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Contact:
media@freeman.com

About Freeman:

Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 97-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/.

The post Freeman Earns Certification for Customer Service Excellence by J.D. Power for the 12th Time appeared first on Freeman.

“We are honored to receive this recognition, which reaffirms the strength of Freeman’s culture and our commitment to fostering a supportive and collaborative workplace,” said Janet Dell, CEO of Freeman. “By investing in our people, we have created an environment where every member of our team feels valued and empowered to do their best work, which not only benefits our employees but also drives innovation and helps us deliver exceptional results for our clients.”

The Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards recognize organizations that excel in specific areas of workplace culture. Freeman has been honored in four new categories:

• Woman-Led: For fostering and building a stand-out workplace culture under the leadership of a female executive.
• Employee Appreciation: For demonstrating gratitude towards employees’ efforts, motivating them to give their best at work.
• Employee Well-Being: For placing the health and wellness of employees at the center of its workplace culture.
• Professional Development: For focusing on the growth and development of employees’ careers, enabling them to grow professionally.

Earlier this year, Freeman was recognized as an overall Top Workplaces in the U.S. and was honored in the 2024 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards for embedding innovation into its culture, fostering work-life flexibility, and offering meaningful compensation and benefits.

The Top Workplaces program has a 17-year history of surveying and celebrating people-first organizations nationally and across 60 regional markets with the Culture Excellence awards recognizing organizations that excel in specific areas of workplaces culture. Top Workplaces awards are based on feedback from a research-backed employee engagement survey. Details about how Freeman builds a great workplace culture are available on Top Workplaces.

Contact:
media@freeman.com

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About Freeman:
Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 97-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/.

About Energage:
Making the world a better place to work together.^TM

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 18 years of culture research and the results from 27 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations,  Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

The post Freeman Recognized Again with New Honors of Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards by Energage appeared first on Freeman.

Dallas, TX (October 8, 2024) – Freeman, the global leader in events, has released its latest Freeman Trends Report, “Event Organizer Trends Report Fall 2024,” which analyzes how macro trends are shaping the future of events.

Gen Z has officially overtaken Boomers in the workforce, and within the next five years, Millennials and Gen Z combined will represent 75% of the overall workforce, according to a Glassdoor analysis of Census Bureau data.

“We’re at a pivotal moment for the events industry with five generations working side by side for the first time in history,” said Janet Dell, CEO of Freeman. “The rise of Gen Z in the workforce is not only reshaping attendee expectations but redefining how the industry thinks about the value we deliver. For organizers, this is an opportunity to embrace innovation, adapt to new trends, and deliver experiences that resonate deeply with today’s audiences. That’s why, at Freeman, we’re focused on evolving with purpose to meet the needs of our customers and define what comes next for the events industry.”

Historically, events have been designed for Boomers, but that mindset needs to shift. The Freeman Trends Report identifies a new group of event planners that recognize the need to reach and design for this emerging group of younger attendees –  a group the report defines as “The Innovators.”

Key findings from the report reveal that while most event organizers think they understand what attendees and exhibitors want, the data suggests there’s work to be done. To bridge this gap, organizers can reimagine engagement with an “Innovator’s Mindset”, which suggests:

• Rethink Learning: 65% of organizers stick to traditional classroom formats, yet 56% of attendees prefer interactive, hands-on learning for a more collaborative experience.
• Reimagine Immersive Experiences: While 51% of organizers highlight tech tools such as apps and digital displays as a priority, 64% of attendees prefer immersive experiences.
• Untap the Growth Potential: Having an Innovator’s Mindset is to focus on non-attendees too. 48% of organizers understand what potential exhibitors and non-attendees want, and that knowledge and attention could create a significant opportunity to grow audiences and evolve event planning.

Results of the “Event Organizer Trends Report Fall 2024” can be downloaded here. Learn more about Freeman at https://www.freeman.com/.

Contact:
media@freeman.com

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About Freeman:
Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 97-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/.

The post New Freeman Trends Report Unveils a Generational Shift: How Gen Z & Millennials are Shaping the Future of Events appeared first on Freeman.

“Janet’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision are precisely what Freeman needs as we embark on this exciting new chapter,” said Carrie Freeman Parsons, Freeman Chair. “Her understanding of our business, combined with her innovative approach, will build upon our legacy of putting people first and delivering for our customers. We are thrilled to welcome Janet to the Freeman Board and look forward to benefiting from her valuable perspective and expertise.”

As CEO, Janet leads Freeman’s long-term strategy and execution across the globe, with a focus on data-driven decision-making. Since joining Freeman in 2018, Janet has been integral to setting Freeman’s strategy and guiding the Company’s digital transformation, driving Freeman’s success in redefining live events.

“My focus is ensuring Freeman is continuously innovating to support our employees. Our goal is to always deliver meaningful and impactful events to our customers, in a dynamic industry, business and technology environment,” said Dell. “I appreciate the confidence that Carrie and the Board have placed in me and the talented team at Freeman to continue to grow and strengthen the company in the years to come.”

Janet is also a board member of Harris Company, a leading national mechanical contractor, and a former advisory member for Cara Collective, an organization seeking to break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employment.

Contact:
media@freeman.com

About Freeman:
Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 97-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/.

The post Freeman Appoints CEO Janet Dell to Board of Directors appeared first on Freeman.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Angie to Freeman,” said Janet Dell, President and future CEO of Freeman. “She will be a great addition to the team as we continue to develop our risk management capabilities and raise the bar around safety for both Freeman and our industry. Angie’s wealth of experience will help support our future growth, capital, resource needs, and most importantly Freeman’s employees.”

As CRO, Angie will partner across the business to identify, assess, manage, and mitigate the various internal and external risks that might impact Freeman. Additionally, as Treasurer, Angie is responsible for ensuring Freeman has an appropriate capital structure, access to capital and financial flexibility to achieve our business objectives.

Prior to joining Freeman, Angie brings extensive experience from her time at Home Group, where as Treasurer and SVP of Risk Management she was responsible for treasury, insurance and risk management, investor relations, indirect sourcing, and procurement. She also held various finance and treasury roles in her 14-year tenure with Hunt Oil Company. Angie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University.

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Contact:
media@freemanco.com

About Freeman:
Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 97-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/.

The post Freeman Welcomes Angie Baldwin as Treasurer and Chief Risk Officer appeared first on Freeman.