The tenth annual NeoCon East attracted 6,808 attendees and 272 exhibitors to the Baltimore Convention Center, October 17-18, 2012, once again making it a hugely successful show in the Mid-Atlantic region.

“NeoCon East has grown tremendously since it was launched in 2003, which is an indication of how important the Federal Government has become to many manufacturers,” said Mark Falanga, president, MMPI. “We continue to see growth in the number of attendees, as well as the number of quality exhibitors. These numbers prove that the NeoCon East show is the largest and fastest growing commercial furnishings exposition on the East Coast.”

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the show, NeoCon East show organizers partnered with AIA Baltimore to present Canstruction, a design and build competition for the architecture and design community to create inspired structural designs made entirely of canned food. Attendees were also involved in this philanthropic initiative by donating canned goods to “NeoCon East CANucopia.” Altogether, this initiative was hugely successful and resulted in 1,814 pounds of canned goods that were donated to the Maryland Food Bank at the close of the show.

“The results of Canstruction and CANucopia far exceeded our expectations and we are so pleased to have donated nearly 2,000 pounds of food to the Maryland Food Bank,” said Falanga. “We are humbled by the support of the A&D community and so pleased to be able to give back to Baltimore that has generously hosted NeoCon East for ten years.”

Getting business done and getting government buyers connected with the right people was a focus at this year’s show. Of the 272 exhibitors NeoCon East hosted, 191 were on the GSA schedule, more than any other NeoCon East show. This is the largest concentration of products and services for commercial interiors on the GSA schedule, making NeoCon East the most cost-effective method for attendees to source products for interior design projects. The show also featured the GSA Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center booth on the show floor to assist attendees and exhibitors with the federal government procurement process.

NeoCon East offered more than 35 CEU-accredited programs in 13 distinct educational tracks. This year’s keynotes, John W. Chapman AIA, principal of Karn Charuhas Chapman & Twohey (KCCT) in Washington, D.C., and Todd Bracher, founder of Todd Bracher Studio LLC, based in New York City, were at capacity with standing room only attendance. 

NeoCon East 2013 will return October 16-17, 2013 to the Baltimore Convention Center. For more information visit www.neoconeast.comor call (800) 677-6278 (MART).