Business View Magazine - Feb 2024

“We continued with our equine events, and we had several large livestock shows as a result of other fairs closing down. It was important to us, as well as to the youth in our state, that they could continue to have a ‘normal’ life and be able to show their animals.” HELP-SEEKING BUSINESS The greater Abilene community has, historically, always worked to promote the county’s fairs and expositions and that relationship continues to this day. “There’s a daily collaboration with our Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau,” Johnson says. “And we are so fortunate to have them here in our city. They do such a tremendous job of soliciting business. That’s been one of the great things here at the Expo Center because I have not had to staff a position that goes out and recruits businesses.” “The Convention Bureau does that for us. Regularly, they are out there looking at other events, businesses, conventions, and whatever, that are taking place, not only in Texas, but in the United States, and they have brought in many horse shows and other events that get tourists to come here, which is beneficial to our community.” Johnson adds that the Expo Center also works closely with area hotels to make sure that they can offer the best possible rates to its visitors: “And then, we have many sponsorships and partnerships with businesses here in Abilene that help support the Expo Center as a non-profit organization to keep our prices reasonable so that these events will continue to choose Abilene.” LOOKING AHEAD “’2021 was still kind of an off-year for us,” Johnson reports.“’22 was a booming year; we saw an increase in all of our events’ attendance. And ’23 has become normal. I look for ’24 to be the same.” Going forward, Johnson says that she wants to capitalize on the recent renovations to the Coliseum to try to bring in more live entertainment. “That’s going to be my new focus,” she states,“trying to get more roadshows here. The facility seats about 8,000, so there’s a niche there.” Meanwhile, this former farm girl, who was raised on Built for the way you work . Toget her we domore. 1358 & 1357 S Treadaway Blvd, Abilene www.abileneequipmentcenter.com Built for the way you work. Togetherwedomore. 182 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 02