Shannon Carbone
Bensenville,IL
Summary
Lead vendor, dealer, and sponsor operations for two of the Midwest’s largest sports memorabilia conventions, supporting 400+ vendors per event and tens of thousands of attendees annually across multi-day, high-traffic venues. Drive sponsorship growth, exhibitor success, and operational excellence while delivering a best-in-class show experience.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Vendor Coordinator
Chicago & Detroit Sports Spectacular
01.2022 - Current
- Serve as primary liaison for sports memorabilia dealers, card vendors, collectors, auction houses, and authentication partners including Pristine Auction, CGC, and JSA
- Oversee exhibitor onboarding, contracts, booth sales, premium placements, and sponsorship agreements
- Identify, pursue, negotiate, and secure sponsorships with memorabilia brands and industry partners
- Develop and sell tiered sponsorship packages and on-site activation opportunities from qualified lead lists
- Design and manage detailed 200,000+ sq. ft. convention floor plans, optimizing traffic flow, high-value dealer placement, and sponsor visibility
- Coordinate sponsored autograph guests and brand activations, managing logistics for 70+ signing sessions per show
- Collaborate with show ownership, marketing, operations, and venue leadership to execute high-traffic, multi-day events
- Prepare, train, schedule, and manage 30+ on-site staff per show, ensuring efficient check-in, ticket handling, and booth operations
- Oversee vendor and sponsor logistics including load-in/load-out schedules, security coordination, lighting, electrical, display cases, and insurance requirements
- Ensure all memorabilia, activations, and exhibitors comply with authentication standards and show policies
- Build and maintain Constant Contact vendor lists and email threads to deliver show announcements, deadlines, and logistical communications
- Track vendor and sponsor payments, contracts, deliverables, and post-show reporting
- Resolve exhibitor and sponsor issues on-site quickly and professionally to protect show reputation
- Support planning, execution, and continuous improvement for 3–5 large-scale trade shows annually
- Compile comprehensive post-event summaries and present findings to ownership during extended after-show meetings
Skills
- Vendor Relations & Retention
- Sponsorship Sales & Negotiation
- Exhibitor Onboarding & Contracts
- Dealer & Partner Relations
- Large-Scale Event Execution
- Load-In / Load-Out Coordination
- Autograph Guest & Brand Activation Management
- On-Site Activations
- Vendor Performance & ROI Analysis
- Stakeholder Communication
- On-Site Staff Training & Scheduling
- Issue Resolution & Escalation Management
- Security & Safety Compliance
- Payment Tracking & Reporting
- Authentication Standards Compliance (Pristine Auction, CGC, JSA)
- Post-Event Reporting & Continuous Improvement
Accomplishments
- Generate $800K+ in annual vendor table revenue through strategic booth sales, premium placements, and exhibitor relationship management
- Increase sponsor participation by 10% by launching tiered sponsorship packages and on-site activation opportunities
- Maintain 90%+ vendor and sponsor retention through proactive communication, relationship management, and rapid on-site issue resolution
- Successfully manage exhibitor operations for 400+ vendors per event across conventions drawing tens of thousands of attendees
- Optimize floor plans across 200,000+ square feet, improving traffic flow, sponsor exposure, and high-value dealer positioning
- Coordinate 70+ sponsored autograph signing sessions per show, ensuring smooth scheduling, guest satisfaction, and operational efficiency
- Secure and manage partnerships with nationally recognized brands including Crystal Clear Cases, AMT, Goldin Auctions, and Rochester Sports Cards
- Improve operational efficiency by implementing centralized vendor communication through Constant Contact, ensuring consistent delivery of critical show information
- Deliver detailed post-show performance analysis and actionable recommendations to ownership, contributing to continuous improvements in operations, security, and customer experience
Timeline
Vendor Coordinator
Chicago & Detroit Sports Spectacular
01.2022 - Current