Healthcare Design - June/July 2021 - 8

Sh o w T alk
FAVORITE THINGS
Enough whiskers on kittens. Give me a face-to-face
smile from an old industry friend
By Kristin D. Zeit
JUST YESTERDAY (at the time of this writing),
the CDC announced that COVID-vaccinated
people can safely go unmasked both outdoors and
indoors in most cases. There are countless concerns
and questions to be ironed out, of course,
but still: What a joyful sign of things to come.
We're getting ready to open registration for
the 2021 HCD Expo & Conference (Oct. 23-26,
Cleveland), and that's pretty exciting, too. I keep
thinking about all the things I've missed most
about the show. Maybe you can relate:
* Team building. Many of the Healthcare Design team members work
remotely in locations across the country, even in non-pandemic times.
So for us, the annual expo is a welcome opportunity to meet in person-
both professionally and less so, over drinks and meals. I'm sure a lot of
our attendees and exhibitors this year will fi nd themselves in a similar
situation, finally getting to sit down and enjoy the company of their
teammates without glitchy Zoom connections or the interruption of
neighbors' leaf blowers.
* The awards luncheon. It's always inspiring to see great healthcare
projects that emerge from unique challenges. While the Design Showcase
and Remodel/Renovation Competition winners were honored in
the pages of the magazine and online in 2020, it will be wonderful once
again to congratulate this year's winners in person and allow them a
literal spotlight in front of their peers at our annual Healthcare Design
Awards Luncheon on Monday, Oct. 25.
* Actual hands-on experiences. Getting to lay our eyes and hands on
a wide variety of products tailor-made for healthcare environments,
all under one roof, is another inspiration jolt we've had to live without
for two years. I'm especially looking forward to walking around the exhibit
hall with Nightingale Awards judges, as they take in new product
designs for a new era and decide which ones stand out the most. (The
awards will be handed out the morning of Oct. 25.)
* The HCD networking party. Hanging out
with my team over lunch is great; raising a
toast to industry friends while listening to a
live band or watching facility managers participate
in, say, a limbo contest is a particularly
special pleasure. Seriously, how great
will it be to stand side by side with old colleagues
and to introduce yourself to potential
new clients? I'm sure we'll all be a
little rusty-but that's what makes a lively
networking party (also Oct. 25) an ideal
backdrop to ease into the swing of things.
* Personal show rituals. Does anyone else
use an upcoming trade show as an excuse to
buy new clothes/shoes/bags every year? It
can't just be me. I've also developed a habit
of grabbing a large mocha and warm croissant
from my hotel coff ee shop on the way to
the opening keynote session, a comforting
indulgence before I take the stage to kick off
the day's events.
What about you? What have you missed
the most from your pre-pandemic work life,
and will you join us for this year's HCD Expo?
Take a little time to reflect on your own favorite
things. I hope you'll get to enjoy them-and
maybe share some of them with us and your
peers in Cleveland-very soon. 
Oct. 23-26, 2021
Cleveland, Ohio
HCDexpo.com
VICE PRESIDENT/
GROUP SHOW
DIRECTOR
Kevin Gaff ney
kevin.gaff ney@
emeraldx.com
770.291.5446
ASSOCIATE
SHOW DIRECTOR
Kristin D. Zeit
kristin.zeit@
emeraldx.com
513.717.1155
ACCOUNT
EXECUTIVE
Cindi Richardson
#'s, A-G, T-Z
cindi.richardson@
emeraldx.com
661.644.4222
ACCOUNT
EXECUTIVE
Scott Goist
H-S
scott.goist@
emeraldx.com
216.288.4170
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER
Emily Clay
emily.clay@
emeraldx.com
770.291.5439
CUSTOMER
SUCCESS
MANAGER
Elana Ben-Tor
elana.bentor@
emeraldx.com
216.373.1202
HCD EXPO CHECKLIST
❏ Registration is
scheduled to open
June 7. Check out the
session lineup, peek at
the exhibitors on the
show fl oor, and then
sign up early for
the very best rates at
HCDexpo.com.
08
JUNE/JULY 2021
❏ Looking for great ideas
and recommendations
on how to spend your
free time around
the city? Bookmark
ThisIsCleveland.
com and plan your
itinerary in advance.
❏ HCD Expo Exhibitors:
Check out our
sponsorship
opportunities to gain
even more exposure
before, during, and
after the show. Talk to
your account executive
for more information.
HCDMAGAZINE.COM
http://hcdexpo.com http://www.HCDexpo.com http://www.HCDexpo.com http://www.HCDMAGAZINE.COM
Healthcare Design - June/July 2021

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