If NASA Calls, Please Take A Message

Working in the trade show industry means you enjoy working on projects that involve all sizes and types of companies and organizations. From small mom and pop shops to multi-national corporations, you eventually see it all if you stay in the industry long enough.

I've found that some of the most enjoyable projects are the smaller companies because you get to work intimately with the owners to create something special they enjoy and value for years to come. However, every now and then you come across a project from larger entities that you didn't expect and it stays with you in your memory.

One such project for me was several years ago when I was fortunate to work on a NASA display. There was going to be a traveling exhibit for a NASA historical item that needed to be portable but appear custom. After many months of multiple quotes and changes, NASA selected my company at the time to execute the job. It was a pretty simple 20ft wide modular display that could have easy assembly for those that were traveling with it.

But, the real fun for me was that I got to speak on the phone with NASA employees and work with the organization.

The project went well and NASA came back a few times over the next couple of years to update the unit. However, the original salesperson that worked on the job was no longer with the company. Therefore, because I was involved with the project from day one, the updates and sales became my responsibility.

This is where we get to the memory part of the story. As each update was needed, I would eventually be expecting a call from the client. And, it was such a joy for me to say one day to my coworkers, while I was attending a client lunch, to say "if NASA calls, please take a message for me".

How many times in your life do you get a chance to say those words?

To this day it is one of my most enjoyable stories while working in this wonderful creative industry of trade shows. There were other times when I was in the office expecting a call and I could actually say the words, "if NASA calls, give the call to Jacob". That's gold!

Just recently I was fortunate to complete a project that will be placed into the Pentagon!

So if the Pentagon calls, give the call to me! Or, be sure to take a message if I'm at lunch! I'll get right back to them.