September 2012

1595 MacArthur Blvd.

Mahwah, NJ 07430

The new building is located just 20 minutes from NYC off of route 17 with easy access from the NY Thruway and Garden State Parkway.  This larger, new facility will enable Dimensional Communications to move all operations under one roof increasing efficiency and control.

Paul Raffanti, Special Events Manager

Paul Raffanti, former Chicago city manager, has been promoted to Special Events Manager, as announced by Scott Rudel, Sho-Link President.

Paul started in the trade show business over 30 years ago as an I & D carpenter at McCormick Place. Because of Paul's talent, he  has been involved in all aspects of the I & D business, and has had many opportunities. Paul was asked in Sho-Link's infancy period to help manage labor crews for the Kitchen and Bath Show and quickly became an integral part of Sho-Link's success. In 1998, Paul became Assistant City Manager for Sho-Link, and promoted to City Manager in 1999.  

With Sho-Link ready to start its 20 year anniversary, Paul was asked to consider handing over his duty as city manager to take on the corporate position of Special Events Manager. Scott Rudel shares, "I am excited to announce Paul's acceptance of the new position. This move will enhance our ability to best serve our membership using Paul's talents and industry knowledge." Paul will also take on other corporate duties and help support the City Managers nationwide in finding efficiencies in bringing top quality service to the show floor.

Mike DeGiacomo, Chicago City Manager

Mike DeGiacomo started working in the trade show and special events industry in 1980. Mike has held many key roles through his tenure including working in exhibit house shops as a bench carpenter and becoming a traveling I & D supervisor for many high profile clients. Mike started with Sho-Link Chicago as a union carpenter in 2002, and quickly became a lead supervisor on larger projects. In 2008, Mike's responsibilities increased as a show foreman on larger shows. This August Scott Rudel, Sho-Link President, was excited to announce Mike's promotion to Chicago City Manager, "We are definitely looking forward to Mike's new role and bringing new enthusiasm to our team."

Mike said, "I am looking forward to the opportunity to manage Chicago for Sho-Link. Having worked for many contractors over the years and seeing how they operate within our industry will allow me to incorporate the best of what I've seen with our team in Chicago."

Ray "Mike" Haren - Sho-Link Atlanta City Manager

 In fall 1986, Mike Haren had his first experience working in a shop building an exhibit, and then on the show floor installing what he built. A manager noticed his skills and insisted he be hired full time.

He opened the Sho-Link Atlanta office with Marie McMann in 1993. Mike continued on this path until 1995, when he went back to work in the family construction business. He returned to the show floor in fall 1998 and has been a part of Sho-Link ever since.

In 1999, he became the assistant to Ken Broadbent, which eventually evolved into East Coast Operations Manager. In summer 2002 he became the Senior Field Supervisor and has had the pleasure of working in that capacity since , and during his busiest years he has been on the road for over 270 nights. The variety of exhibits Mike has worked on is as vast as his supervisory experience, and he has worked in nearly every large tradeshow venue across the country over his career. Mike has supervised crews of over 300 workers, and been responsible for exhibits over 60,000 square feet.

Per Joe O'Reilly, Regional Operations Manager, "Mike will instill the years of experience, dedication and consistent great quality and effort that is his trademark into the Atlanta job and crew. While managing the Georgia area, he will still be traveling the country as Sho-Link's Senior Field Supervisor when his Atlanta duties permit. But Atlanta will be job 1 and it will benefit from his commitment."

Robert Tarolla, Sho-Link Las Vegas Show Foreman

Robert Tarolla joins Sho-Link as Las Vegas Show Foreman. Robert, an industry veteran, began in the trade show industry in 1991 while attending college in Chicago. He worked at McCormick Place until he moved to Las Vegas in 1995.

Robert soon became a teamster in Local #631 and worked his way over 16 years from managing high profile client exhibits to the role of City Manager of many venues in multiple states. Having  remained in management he now brings his experience to Sho-Link Las Vegas.

"Sho-Link is excited to have Robert join the Las Vegas team," Bill Redman, Las Vegas City Manager, states, "His passion and dedication for customer service fits in perfectly."Robert resides in Las Vegas with his wife and three children.