ST. LOUIS – Leann Harrison, logistics specialist of exhibitions & international trade fairs for UniGroup Worldwide UTS, a global mobility management company, was recently appointed to the IELA (International Exhibition Logistics Associates) Organizer Committee. IELA, a Worldwide Exhibition Logistics Organization, is dedicated to the professionalism of the transportation logistics and freight handling segments of the exhibition industry. IELA represents most major international exhibition forwarding and on-site logistic companies including 103 member companies in 44 countries.

Additionally, John Harrison, sales director of international fairs and exhibition forwarding for UniGroup Worldwide UTS, was appointed as Chairman of the IELA Organizer Committee at the organization’s annual convention in Santiago, Chile. John is also a member of the Training Working Group. Both John and Leann attended the 23rd IELA Congress in Melbourne, Australia, in May. While there, John presented to the Organizer Committee a slogan, “Recognition Branding Business,” to produce a cost-effective, quantifiable recognition. The committee’s strategy includes enhancements to the IELA Web site including reciprocal IELA links to the industry organization and association Web sites. The committee has made significant progress by developing Web links with exhibit service provider and designers throughout the world.

The UniGroup Worldwide UTS Fairs & Exhibitions offices opened in 2001 with a sales office in New Jersey and operations in Indiana. UniGroup Worldwide Fairs & Exhibitions staff have been appointed as the “Official U.S. Forwarded” by major international trade fair organizers for more than 65 international fairs in the past seven years. The U.S. staff has been on site throughout Europe, Brazil, South Africa, China, Singapore and Mexico, in addition to other venues.

During this time, UniGroup staff generated thousands of international exhibition shipments including those on behalf of international trade fair organizers, individual corporate clients, exhibit builders, U.S. trade associations and governmental agencies.

UniGroup Worldwide Fairs & Exhibitions is one of the few United States members of IELA. It is estimated that IELA members account for 75 percent of total worldwide exhibition logistic revenue. As an IELA member, UniGroup Worldwide UTS can expect an IELA on-site logistics partner to provide the highest quality of preferential service at any major trade fair venue worldwide.

UniGroup Worldwide UTS is an operating company of UniGroup, Inc, a $2.2 billion transportation and relocation services company based in suburban St. Louis, Mo. UniGroup Worldwide UTS specializes in the coordination and handling of shipments of high-value products, trade show materials, general commodities and household goods for corporate clients and the relocating public. More information about UniGroup Worldwide UTS can be found at www.unigrouputs.com. UniGroup, Inc., through its subsidiaries United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit, operates one of the largest privately owned trucking fleets in the United States. Within the current domestic exhibition client base of United and Mayflower agents, UniGroup Worldwide UTS believes there is a wealth of potential international exhibition business. The company provides the agents with a diversified marketing strategy and operations capability to successfully develop and service international exhibition business.