<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.14
                          RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


                  This RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") effective as
of January 1, 1999, between Penton Media, Inc. (formerly known as Penton
Publishing, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Daniel J. Ramella
("EXECUTIVE")

                                   WITNESSETH:

                  WHEREAS, Executive is presently the President and Chief
Operating Officer of the Company and has made and is expected to continue to
make major contributions to the profitability, growth and financial strength of
the Company;

                  WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that, as is the case with many
publicly held companies, the possibility of a Change of Control (as that term is
hereafter defined) exists;

                  WHEREAS, the Company wishes to assure itself of both present
and future continuity of management in the event of any Change of Control;

                  WHEREAS, the Company wishes to ensure that certain of its
executives are not practically disabled from discharging their duties upon a
Change of Control; and

                  WHEREAS, the Company and Executive currently are parties to an
Employment Agreement (the "PRIOR AGREEMENT") providing certain benefits, and the
Company and Executive desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

                  1. EMPLOYMENT. The Company shall employ Executive, and
Executive accepts continued employment with the Company as of the date hereof,
upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period
beginning on the date hereof and ending as provided in paragraph 5 hereof (the
"EMPLOYMENT PERIOD").

                  2.       POSITION AND DUTIES.

                  (a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the
chief operating officer of the Company and shall have the normal duties,
responsibilities and authority of an executive serving in such position, subject
to the power of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "BOARD") or the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company to expand or limit such duties,
responsibilities and authority, either generally or in specific instances.
Executive shall have the title President of the Company, subject to the power of
the Board to change such title from time to time. During the Employment Period,
Executive shall also serve as a director of the Company for so long as the Board
(or a nominating committee of the Board) nominates him to that position and he
is elected to it, and as a director of any affiliate of the Company designated
by the Board for so long as the Board causes him to be elected to such position.


<PAGE>   2



                  (b) Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company.

                  (c) During the Employment Period, Executive shall devote his
best efforts and his full business time and attention (except for permitted
vacation periods, reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity, and,
provided such activities do not have more than a DE MINIMIS effect on
Executive's performance of his duties under this Agreement, participation in
charitable and civic endeavors and management of Executive's personal
investments and business interests) to the business and affairs of the Company,
its subsidiaries and affiliates. Executive shall perform his duties and
responsibilities to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy,
businesslike and efficient manner.

                  (d) Executive shall perform his duties and responsibilities
principally in the Cleveland, Ohio metropolitan area, and shall not be required
to travel outside that area any more extensively than he has done in the past in
the ordinary course of the business of the Company.

                  3. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.

                  (a) SALARY. The Company agrees to pay Executive a salary
during the Employment Period, in semi-monthly installments. Executive's initial
salary shall be $365,000 per year. The Compensation Committee of the Board (or,
if there is no such Committee, the Board) shall review Executive's salary from
time to time and may, in its sole discretion, increase it.

                  (b) BONUS(ES). Effective January 1, 1999 and for subsequent
years, Executive will be eligible for an annual bonus based on the achievement
of specified Company goals (the "Target Bonus") (as determined by the
Compensation Committee of the Board (or, if there is no such Committee, the
Board)). Any bonus payable pursuant to this subparagraph (b) may, at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board (or, if there is no such
Committee, the Board), after considering any preference expressed by Executive,
be paid in the form of cash, in a Performance Shares Award related to shares of
the Company's Common Stock or in a combination of both.

                  (c) STOCK OPTIONS. The Company has adopted a plan (the "1998
STOCK OPTION PLAN") pursuant to which options to purchase shares of the
Company's Common Stock, and other equity-based incentive compensation awards,
may be granted to Executive and other officers of the Company. Executive shall
be eligible to receive grants of options and other awards under the 1998 Stock
Option Plan, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board (or,
if there is no such Committee, the Board). Under the terms of the 1998 Stock
Option Plan, the Compensation Committee of the Board (or, if there is no such
Committee, the Board) has the right to amend the 1998 Stock Option Plan. If, at
the time of the grant of any option pursuant to this paragraph (c), the issuance
of shares upon exercise thereof has not been registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, it shall be a condition to such grant that Executive
execute and deliver to the Company a certificate confirming that Executive is an
accredited investor (as such term is used in Regulation D under such Act) and
including transfer restrictions and other provisions customary in connection
with grants under such circumstances. Each option to be granted as set forth
above shall be substantially in the form of EXHIBIT 1 attached to this
Agreement, except that it is understood that reference to any then existing
registration statement or related plan information document in EXHIBIT 1, or its
equivalent, shall be included if and only if the same exists at the time of
grant and is relevant to such option.



<PAGE>   3



                  (d) EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. The Company shall reimburse
Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by him during the Employment
Period in the course of performing his duties under this Agreement that are
consistent with the Company's policies in effect from time to time with respect
to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company's
requirements applicable generally with respect to reporting and documentation of
such expenses. Executive acknowledges that under the Company's current air
travel reimbursement policy, reimbursement is limited to coach fare (plus
Executive's cost of any upgrade certificates used to upgrade to first class) on
travel within the United States and is limited to business class fare on travel
to and from foreign cities.

                  (e) STANDARD EXECUTIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE. In addition to the
salary, bonus(es), stock options and expense reimbursements payable to Executive
pursuant to this paragraph 3, Executive shall be entitled during the Employment
Period to participate, on the same basis as other executives of the Company, in
the Company's Standard Executive Benefits Package. The Company's "STANDARD
EXECUTIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE" means those benefits (including insurance, vacation,
Company car or car allowance, equity-based benefits, and other benefits) for
which substantially all of the executives of the Company are from time to time
generally eligible, as determined from time to time by the Board.

                  (f) ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. In addition to participation in the
Company's Standard Executive Benefits Package pursuant to this paragraph,
Executive shall be entitled during the Employment Period to:

                  (i)      additional term life insurance coverage in an amount
                           equal to Executive's salary, but only if and so long
                           as such additional coverage is available at standard
                           rates from the insurer providing term life insurance
                           coverage under the Standard Executive Benefits
                           Package or from a comparable insurer acceptable to
                           the Company;

                  (ii)     supplementary long-term disability coverage in an
                           amount that will include maximum covered annual
                           compensation of $330,000 and maximum monthly payments
                           of $18,333, but only if and so long as such
                           supplementary coverage is available at standard rates
                           from the insurer providing long-term disability
                           coverage under the Standard Executive Benefits
                           Package or a comparable insurer acceptable to the
                           Company; and

                  (iii)    pursuant to authorization by the Compensation
                           Committee of the Board (or, if there is no such
                           Committee, the Board), participation in the Penton
                           Media, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
                           (the "SERP"), effective August 7, 1998, as currently
                           in effect, except that the beginning date for accrual
                           of a benefit shall be the date on which Executive's
                           employment with the Company began.

                  (g) INDEMNIFICATION. With respect to Executive's acts or
failures to act during the Employment Period in his capacity as a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Company, Executive shall be entitled to
indemnification from the Company, and to liability insurance coverage (if any),
on the same basis as other directors and officers of the Company.



<PAGE>   4



                  4. ADJUSTMENTS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, it is expressly understood and agreed that if there is a significant
reduction in the level of the business to which Executive's duties under this
Agreement relate, or if all or any significant part of such business is disposed
of by the Company and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates during the Employment
Period but Executive thereafter remains an employee of the Company, the
Compensation Committee of the Board (or, if there is no such Committee, the
Board) may make adjustments in Executive's duties, responsibility and authority,
and in Executive's compensation, as the Compensation Committee of the Board (or,
if there is no such Committee, the Board) deems appropriate to reflect such
reduction or disposition.

                  5.       EMPLOYMENT PERIOD.

                  (a) Except as hereinafter provided, the Employment Period
shall continue until, and shall end upon, the third anniversary of the date on
which the Employment Period begins.

                  (b) On each anniversary of the date on which the Employment
Period begins which precedes Executive's sixty-fifth birthday by more than two
years, unless the Employment Period shall have ended early pursuant to (c) below
or either party shall have given the other party written notice that the
extension provision in this sentence shall no longer apply, the Employment
Period shall be extended for an additional year (unless Executive's sixty-fifth
birthday occurs during such additional year, in which event the Employment
Period shall be extended only until such birthday). In no event shall the
Employment Period be extended beyond Executive's sixty-fifth birthday except by
mutual written agreement of the Company and Executive.

                  (c) Notwithstanding (a) and (b) above, the Employment Period
shall end early upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

                  (i)      Executive's death;

                  (ii)     Executive's retirement upon or after reaching age 65
                           ("RETIREMENT");

                  (iii)    the Company's termination of Executive's employment
                           on account of Executive's having become unable (as
                           determined by the Board in good faith) to regularly
                           perform his duties hereunder by reason of illness or
                           incapacity for a period of more than six (6)
                           consecutive months ("TERMINATION FOR DISABILITY");

                  (iv)     the Company's termination of Executive's employment
                           for Cause ("TERMINATION FOR CAUSE");

                  (v)      the Company's termination of Executive's employment
                           other than a Termination for Disability or a
                           Termination for Cause ("TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE");

                  (vi)     Executive's termination of Executive's employment for
                           Good Reason, by means of advance written notice to
                           the Company at least thirty (30) days prior to the
                           effective date of such termination identifying such
                           termination as a Termination by Executive for Good
                           Reason and identifying the Good Reason ("TERMINATION
                           BY EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD REASON") (it being expressly


<PAGE>   5



                           understood that Executive's giving notice that the
                           extension provision in the first sentence of
                           paragraph 5(b) hereof shall no longer apply shall not
                           constitute a Termination by Executive for Good
                           Reason);

                  (vii)    Executive's termination of Executive's employment for
                           any reason other than Good Reason, by means of
                           advance written notice to the Company at least one
                           hundred twenty (120) days prior to the effective date
                           of such termination identifying such termination as a
                           Termination by Executive with Advance Notice
                           ("TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE WITH ADVANCE NOTICE") (it
                           being expressly understood that Executive's giving
                           notice that the extension provision in the first
                           sentence of paragraph 5(b) hereof shall no longer
                           apply shall not constitute a Termination by Executive
                           with Advance Notice); or

                  (viii)   the termination of Executive's employment (A) on
                           account of a Termination without Cause before the
                           second anniversary of a Change of Control, (B) on
                           account of a Termination by Executive for Good Reason
                           before the second anniversary of a Change of Control
                           or (C) in connection with but prior to a Change of
                           Control and following the commencement of any
                           discussion with any third party that (i) requests or
                           suggests that Executive's employment be terminated
                           and (ii) ultimately engages in a Change of Control
                           (collectively, "TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE OF
                           CONTROL").

                  (d)      For purposes of this Agreement, "CAUSE" shall mean:

                  (i)      the commission by Executive of a felony or a crime
                           involving moral turpitude;

                  (ii)     the commission by Executive of a fraud;

                  (iii)    the commission by Executive of any act involving
                           dishonesty or disloyalty with respect to the Company
                           or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates that harms
                           or damages any of them to any extent;

                  (iv)     conduct by Executive that brings the Company or any
                           of its subsidiaries or affiliates into substantial
                           public disgrace or disrepute;

                  (v)      gross negligence or willful misconduct by Executive
                           with respect to the Company or any of its
                           subsidiaries or affiliates;

                  (vi)     repudiation of this Agreement by Executive or
                           Executive's abandonment of his employment with the
                           Company (it being expressly understood that a
                           Termination by Executive for Good Reason or a
                           Termination by Executive with Advance Notice shall
                           not constitute such a repudiation or abandonment);

                  (vii)    breach by Executive of any of the agreements in
                           paragraph 8 hereof prior to the end of the Employment
                           Period; or



<PAGE>   6



                  (viii)   any other breach by Executive of this Agreement which
                           is material and which is not cured within thirty (30)
                           days after written notice thereof to Executive from
                           the Company.

                  (ix)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall in no
                           event be deemed to have been terminated for "Cause"
                           hereunder unless prior to his termination there shall
                           have been delivered to Executive a copy of a
                           resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of
                           not less than a majority of the non- employee
                           Directors then in office at a meeting of the Board
                           called and held for such purpose, after reasonable
                           notice to Executive and an opportunity for Executive,
                           together with Executive's counsel (if Executive
                           chooses to have counsel present at such meeting), to
                           be heard before the Board, finding that, in the good
                           faith opinion of the Board, Executive had committed
                           an act constituting "Cause" as herein defined and
                           specifying the particulars thereof in detail. While
                           such a determination will be a condition precedent
                           for the existence of "Cause" for purposes of this
                           Agreement, such a determination will not be
                           determinative or create a presumption that "Cause" in
                           fact exists and nothing herein will limit the right
                           of Executive or his beneficiaries to contest the
                           validity or propriety of any such determination.

                  (e)      For purposes of this Agreement, "GOOD REASON" shall
                           mean:

                  (i)      a reduction by the Company in Executive's salary to
                           an amount less than "EXECUTIVE'S REFERENCE SALARY"
                           (i.e., Executive's initial salary or, in the event
                           the Employment Period has been extended pursuant to
                           paragraph 5(b) hereof, Executive's salary on the date
                           on which the most recent such extension occurred) or
                           any downward adjustment in Executive's Target Bonus;
                           or

                  (ii)     the Company's giving notice that the extension
                           provision in the first sentence of paragraph 5(b)
                           hereof shall no longer apply; or

                  (iii)    any breach by the Company of this Agreement which is
                           material and which is not cured within thirty (30)
                           days after written notice thereof to the Company from
                           Executive.

                  (f) For purposes of this Agreement, "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall
mean the occurrence of any of the following events during the Employment Period:

                  (i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within
         the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of
         beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
         under the Exchange Act) of 40% or more of either: (A) the
         then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Company
         Common Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
         voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
         election of directors ("Voting Stock"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that for
         purposes of this subparagraph (i), the following acquisitions shall not
         constitute a Change of Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the
         Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, a subsidiary of the
         Company or the Harris Group, (C) any acquisition by any employee
         benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
         or any subsidiary of the Company,


<PAGE>   7



         or (D) any acquisition by any Person pursuant to a transaction which
         complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subparagraph (iii) of this
         paragraph 5(f); or

                  (ii) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the
         Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason (other than death or
         disability) to constitute at least a majority of the Board; PROVIDED,
         HOWEVER, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date
         hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's
         shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
         directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific
         vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such
         person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such
         nomination) shall be considered as though such individual were a member
         of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose, any such
         individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an
         actual or threatened election contest (within the meaning of Rule
         14a-11 of the Exchange Act) with respect to the election or removal of
         directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
         consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

                  (iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or
         consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all
         of the assets of the Company (a "Business Combination"), in each case,
         unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially
         all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners,
         respectively, of the Company Common Stock and Voting Stock immediately
         prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
         indirectly, more than a majority of, respectively, the then-outstanding
         shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the
         then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
         election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from
         such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity
         which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or
         substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through
         one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions
         relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such
         Business Combination, of the Company Common Stock and Voting Stock of
         the Company, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any entity
         resulting from such Business Combination, the Harris Group or any
         employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
         Company, a subsidiary of the Company or such entity resulting from such
         Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 40% or
         more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of
         the entity resulting from such Business Combination, or the combined
         voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such
         corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to
         the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of
         the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business
         Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
         execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board,
         providing for such Business Combination; or

                  (iv) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete
         liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

                  (v) For purposes of this paragraph 5(f), the "Harris Group"
         shall mean Messrs. Irving B. Harris, Neison Harris, King Harris,
         William W. Harris and June H. Barrows, and their respective spouses,
         descendants and spouses of descendants, trustees of trusts established
         for the benefit of such persons (acting in their capacity as trustees
         of such trusts),


<PAGE>   8



         and executors of estates of such persons (acting in their capacity as
         executors of such estates), and each person of which any of the
         foregoing owns (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock or
         other voting interests and (ii) stock or other interests representing
         more than fifty percent (50%) of the total value of the stock or other
         interests of such person.

                  6. POST-EMPLOYMENT PERIOD PAYMENTS.

                  (a) If the Employment Period ends on the date on which
(without any extension thereof) it is then scheduled to end pursuant to
paragraph 5 hereof, or if the Employment Period ends early pursuant to paragraph
5 hereof for any reason, Executive shall cease to have any rights to salary,
bonus (if any), options, expense reimbursements or other benefits other than:
(i) any salary which has accrued but is unpaid, any reimbursable expenses which
have been incurred but are unpaid, and any unexpired vacation days which have
accrued under the Company's vacation policy but are unused, as of the end of the
Employment Period, (ii) any option rights or plan benefits which by their terms
extend beyond termination of Executive's employment (but only to the extent
provided in any option theretofore granted to Executive or in the SERP or any
other benefit plan in which Executive has participated as an employee of the
Company), (iii) any benefits to which Executive is entitled under Part 6 of
Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("COBRA"), and (iv) any other amount(s) payable pursuant to the
succeeding provisions of this paragraph 6.

                  (b) If the Employment Period ends pursuant to paragraph 5
hereof on Executive's sixty-fifth birthday, or if the Employment Period ends
early pursuant to paragraph 5 hereof on account of Executive's death, Retirement
(provided such Retirement is not a Termination Following a Change of Control) or
Termination for Disability, the Company shall make no further payments to
Executive except as contemplated in (a)(i), (ii) and (iii) above.

                  (c) If the Employment Period ends early pursuant to paragraph
5 hereof on account of Termination for Cause, the Company shall pay Executive an
amount equal to that amount Executive would have received as salary (based on
Executive's salary then in effect) had the Employment Period remained in effect
until the later of the effective date of the Company's termination of
Executive's employment or the date thirty days after the Company's notice to
Executive of such termination. The Company shall make no further payments to
Executive except as contemplated in (a)(i), (ii) and (iii) above.

                  (d) If the Employment Period ends early pursuant to paragraph
5 hereof on account of a Termination without Cause or a Termination by Executive
for Good Reason, and such termination does not constitute a Termination
Following a Change of Control, the Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum
payment equal to three times Executive's base salary at the time of such
termination (or, if higher, Executive's Reference Salary). In addition, the
Company shall reimburse Executive (net after taxes on the receipt of such
reimbursement) for any premiums paid by Executive for health insurance provided
to Executive (for Executive and his dependents) by the Company subsequent to the
end of the Employment Period pursuant to the requirements of COBRA as in effect
on the date of this Agreement. The Company shall make no further payments to
Executive except as contemplated in (a)(i), (ii) and (iii) above. It is
expressly understood that the Company's payment obligations under this
subparagraph (d) shall cease in the event Executive breaches any of his
agreements in paragraph 7 or 8 hereof.



<PAGE>   9



                  (e) If the Employment Period ends early pursuant to paragraph
5 hereof on account of a Termination by Executive with Advance Notice, and such
termination does not constitute a Termination Following a Change of Control, the
Company shall make no further payments to Executive except as contemplated in
(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) above.

                  (f)(i)   If the Employment Period ends early pursuant to
                           paragraph 5 hereof on account of a Termination
                           Following a Change of Control, Executive shall be
                           entitled to receive the following:

                           (A)      For a period of three years following the
                                    date of termination, Executive's base salary
                                    at the time of such termination (or, if
                                    higher, Executive's Reference Salary)
                                    payable at the times such amounts would have
                                    been paid; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
                                    Executive so chooses, in his sole
                                    discretion, such payment under this
                                    subparagraph (f)(i)(A) shall be made in a
                                    lump sum;

                           (B)      A lump sum payment equal to Executive's
                                    Target Bonus for the year in which such
                                    termination occurs (or, if higher,
                                    Executive's Target Bonus for the preceding
                                    year or the year in which the Change of
                                    Control occurs);

                           (C)      If Executive's employment is terminated
                                    after July 1 of the then- current year, an
                                    additional amount equal to the product of
                                    (x) Executive's Target Bonus for the year in
                                    which such termination occurs (or, if
                                    higher, Executive's Target Bonus for the
                                    preceding year or the year in which the
                                    Change of Control occurs) multiplied by (y)
                                    a fraction, the numerator of which shall be
                                    the number of months that have elapsed, on
                                    the day of termination, during the
                                    then-current year (rounded up to the nearest
                                    full month) and the denominator of which
                                    shall be 12; and

                           (D)      For a period of one year following the date
                                    of termination, Executive shall be entitled
                                    to be a full participant in, and shall be
                                    entitled to the benefits provided under, the
                                    Company's Standard Executive Benefits
                                    Package (but shall not be entitled to stock
                                    option, performance share, performance unit,
                                    stock purchase, stock appreciation or
                                    similar equity-based compensatory benefit
                                    awards) and the additional benefits set
                                    forth in Section 3(f) hereof at the time of
                                    such termination (or, if higher, for the
                                    preceding year or the year in which the
                                    Change of Control occurs). If, however,
                                    Executive is not eligible to participate in
                                    the benefits as set forth in the preceding
                                    sentence, the Company shall reimburse
                                    Executive, on a monthly basis (net after
                                    taxes on the receipt of such reimbursement),
                                    for any premiums or other fees paid by
                                    Executive to obtain benefits (for Executive
                                    and his dependents) equivalent to the
                                    Standard Executive Benefits Package and the
                                    additional benefits set forth in Section
                                    3(f). Notwithstanding the foregoing or any
                                    other provision of this Agreement, (A) for
                                    the purpose of determining the period of
                                    continuation coverage to which the Executive
                                    or any of his dependents is entitled
                                    pursuant to the


<PAGE>   10



                                    requirements of COBRA, the Executive's
                                    "qualifying event," subject to the
                                    requirements of applicable plans, will be
                                    the termination of the one-year period set
                                    forth above in this subparagraph (f)(i)(D)
                                    and the Executive will be considered to have
                                    remained actively employed on a full time
                                    basis through that date and (B) the Company
                                    shall reimburse Executive (net after taxes
                                    on the receipt of such reimbursement) for
                                    any premiums paid by Executive for health
                                    insurance provided to Executive (for
                                    Executives and his dependents) by the
                                    Company pursuant to the requirements of
                                    COBRA as in effect on the date of this
                                    Agreement.

                  (ii)     LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS AND BENEFITS. Notwithstanding
                           any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if
                           any amount or benefit to be paid or provided under
                           this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to or by reason
                           of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or
                           arrangement, including without limitation any bonus,
                           stock option, performance share, performance unit,
                           stock appreciation right or similar right, or the
                           lapse or termination of any restriction on or the
                           vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing
                           would be an "Excess Parachute Payment," within the
                           meaning of Section 280G of the Code, or any successor
                           provision thereto, but for the application of this
                           sentence, then the payments and benefits to be paid
                           or provided under this Agreement shall be reduced to
                           the minimum extent necessary (but in no event to less
                           than zero) so that no portion of any such payment or
                           benefit, as so reduced, constitutes an Excess
                           Parachute Payment; provided, however, that the
                           foregoing reduction shall be made only if and to the
                           extent that such reduction would result in an
                           increase in the aggregate payment and benefits to be
                           provided to Executive, determined on an after-tax
                           basis (taking into account the excise tax imposed
                           pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code, or any
                           successor provision thereto, any tax imposed by any
                           comparable provision of state law, and any applicable
                           federal, state and local income taxes). The
                           determination of whether any reduction in such
                           payments or benefits to be provided under this
                           Agreement is required pursuant to the preceding
                           sentence shall be made at the expense of the Company,
                           if requested by the Executive or the Company, by the
                           Company's independent accountants. The fact that the
                           Executive's right to payments or benefits may be
                           reduced by reason of the limitations contained in
                           this paragraph 6(f) shall not of itself limit or
                           otherwise affect any other rights of the Executive
                           other than pursuant to this Agreement. In the event
                           that any payment or benefit intended to be provided
                           under this Agreement is required to be reduced
                           pursuant to this paragraph 6(f), the Executive shall
                           be entitled to designate the payments and/or benefits
                           to be so reduced in order to give effect to this
                           paragraph 6(f). The Company shall provide the
                           Executive with all information reasonably requested
                           by the Executive to permit the Executive to make such
                           designation. In the event that the Executive fails to
                           make such designation within 10 business days of the
                           Date of Termination, the Company may effect such
                           reduction in any manner it deems appropriate.

                  (g) Without limiting the rights of the Executive at law or in
equity, if the Company fails to make any payment or provide any benefit required
to be made or provided


<PAGE>   11



hereunder on a timely basis, the Company will pay interest on the amount or
value thereof at an annualized rate of interest equal to the so-called composite
"prime rate" as quoted from time to time during the relevant period in the
Midwest Edition of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. Such interest will be payable as it
accrues on demand. Any change in such prime rate will be effective on and as of
the date of such change.

                  (h) Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of
any payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise.

                  7. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Executive acknowledges that the
information, observations and data obtained by him while employed by the Company
pursuant to this Agreement, as well as those obtained by him while employed by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any predecessor thereof
prior to the date of this Agreement, concerning the business or affairs of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any predecessor thereof
(unless and except to the extent the foregoing become generally known to and
available for use by the public other than as a result of Executive's acts or
omissions to act, "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION") are the property of the Company or
such subsidiary or affiliate. Therefore, Executive agrees that during the
Employment Period and for three years thereafter he shall not disclose any
Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company unless and except to the extent that such
disclosure is (i) made in the ordinary course of Executive's performance of his
duties under this Agreement or (ii) required by any subpoena or other legal
process (in which event Executive will give the Company prompt notice of such
subpoena or other legal process in order to permit the Company to seek
appropriate protective orders), and that he shall not use any Confidential
Information for his own account without the prior written consent of the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. Executive shall deliver to the Company at the
termination of the Employment Period, or at any other time the Company may
reasonably request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer
tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to
the Confidential Information, or to the work product or the business of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates which he may then possess or
have under his control.

                  8. NON-COMPETE, NON-SOLICITATION.

                  (a) Executive acknowledges that in the course of his
employment with the Company pursuant to this Agreement he will become familiar,
and during the course of his employment by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates or any predecessor thereof prior to the date of this
Agreement he has become familiar, with trade secrets and customer lists of and
other confidential information concerning the Company and its subsidiaries and
affiliates and predecessors thereof and that his services have been and will be
of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company.

                  (b) Executive agrees that during the Employment Period and for
a period of one year after termination of his employment with the Company, he
shall not in any manner, directly or indirectly, through any person, firm or
corporation, alone or as a member of a partnership or as an officer, director,
shareholder, investor or employee of or in any other corporation or enterprise
or otherwise, engage in or be engaged in, or assist any other person, firm,
corporation or enterprise in engaging or being engaged in, any business then
actively being conducted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates.



<PAGE>   12



                  (c) Executive further agrees that during the Employment Period
and for a period of two years after termination of his employment with the
Company, he shall not in any manner, directly or indirectly, induce or attempt
to induce any employee of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates to quit or abandon his employ.

                  (d) Nothing in this paragraph 8 shall prohibit Executive from
being: (i) a shareholder in a mutual fund or a diversified investment company or
(ii) a passive owner of not more than 5% of the outstanding equity securities of
any class of a corporation or other entity which is publicly traded, so long as
Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation or
other entity.

                  (e) If, at the time of enforcement of this paragraph, a court
holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances
then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period, scope or
geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for
the stated period, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise
the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area
permitted by law.

                  9. ENFORCEMENT. Because Executive's services are unique and
because Executive has access to Confidential Information and work product, the
parties hereto agree that the Company would be damaged irreparably in the event
any of the provisions of paragraph 8 hereof were not performed in accordance
with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and that money damages
would be an inadequate remedy for any such non-performance or breach. Therefore,
the Company or its successors or assigns shall be entitled, in addition to other
rights and remedies existing in their favor, to an injunction or injunctions to
prevent any breach or threatened breach of any of such provisions and to enforce
such provisions specifically (without posting a bond or other security).

                  10. EXECUTIVE REPRESENTATIONS. Executive represents and
warrants to the Company that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by Executive does not and will not conflict with, breach, violate or
cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or
decree to which Executive is a party or by which he is bound, (ii) Executive is
not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, noncompete agreement or
confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity and (iii) upon the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be
the valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with
its terms.

                  11. SURVIVAL. Subject to any limits on applicability contained
therein, paragraphs 7 and 8 hereof shall survive and continue in full force in
accordance with their terms notwithstanding any termination of the Employment
Period.

                  12. NOTICES. Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable
overnight carrier or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to
the recipient at the address below indicated:

                  NOTICES TO EXECUTIVE:
                  ---------------------

                  Mr. Daniel J. Ramella
                  2204 Land's End Lane
                  Westlake, OH  44145


<PAGE>   13



                  NOTICES TO THE COMPANY:
                  -----------------------

                  Mr. Thomas L. Kemp
                  Chief Executive Officer
                  Penton Media, Inc.
                  1100 Superior Avenue
                  Cleveland, OH  44114

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any
notice under this Agreement will be deemed to have been given when so delivered,
sent or mailed.

                  13. SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

                  14. PAYMENT OF CERTAIN COSTS AND EXPENSES.

                  (a) PREVAILING PARTY'S LITIGATION EXPENSES. In the event of
litigation between the Company and Executive related to this Agreement, the
non-prevailing party shall reimburse the prevailing party for any costs and
expenses (including without limitation attorneys' fees) reasonably incurred by
the prevailing party in connection therewith.

                  (b) CHANGE OF CONTROL OF THE COMPANY. Without limiting the
generality of (a) above, in the event that there is a Change of Control of the
Company, if it should appear to Executive that the Company has failed to comply
with any of its obligations under this Agreement or if it wrongfully withholds
from Executive any amount payable to Executive pursuant to the SERP, or in the
event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action
to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or
other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Executive the
benefits provided or intended to be provided to Executive hereunder, the Company
irrevocably authorizes Executive from time to time to retain counsel of
Executive's choice, at the expense of the Company as hereafter provided, to
advise and represent Executive in connection with any such interpretation,
enforcement or defense, including without limitation the initiation or defense
of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or
any Director, officer, shareholder or other person affiliated with the Company,
in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client
relationship between the Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably
consents to Executive's entering into an attorney-client relationship with such
counsel, and in that connection the Company and Executive agree that a
confidential relationship will exist between Executive and such counsel. Without
respect to whether Executive prevails, in whole or in part, in connection with
any of the foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially responsible
for any and all attorneys' and related fees and expenses incurred by Executive
in connection with any of the foregoing.

                  (c) SOURCE OF PAYMENTS. Except as otherwise specified herein,
in the event a Change of Control occurs, any payments to Executive pursuant to
this Agreement and the


<PAGE>   14



performance of the Company's obligations hereunder shall be secured by amounts
deposited or to be deposited in a trust established by the Company for the
benefit of Executive (and, at the Company's option, for the benefit of other
executives of the Company who are entitled to payments similar to those provided
in this Agreement) (the "Trust"). The Company shall transfer to such Trust
assets from which all or a portion of the payments provided under this Agreement
are to be paid, provided that such assets of the Trust shall at all times be
subject to the claims of general unsecured creditors of the Company and that
neither Executive nor any other person entitled to payments through the Trust
shall at any time have a prior claim to such assets. Any payments to Executive
under this Agreement that are not paid through the Trust shall be paid from the
Company's general assets, and Executive shall have the status of a general
unsecured creditor with respect to the Company's obligations to make payments
under this Agreement.

                  15. COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This Agreement embodies the complete
agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and effective as of its date supersedes and preempts any prior
understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties, written
or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

                  16. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in separate
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and both of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

                  17. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall bind and
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, the Company and their
respective heirs, executors, personal representatives, successors and assigns,
except that neither party may assign any of his or its rights or delegate any of
his or its obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other
party. Executive hereby consents to the assignment by the Company of all of its
rights and obligations hereunder to any successor to the Company by merger or
consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of the Company's assets,
provided such transferee or successor assumes the liabilities of the Company
hereunder.

                  18. CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the
internal law, and not the laws of conflicts, of the State of Ohio.

                  19. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. The provisions of this Agreement may
be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and
Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the
provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement.



<PAGE>   15


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date written below.

                                   PENTON MEDIA, INC.



Date: February 5, 1999             By   /S/ THOMAS L. KEMP
                                     ------------------------------------
                                            Thomas L. Kemp
                                            Chief  Executive Officer



Date: February 10, 1999                     /S/ DANIEL J. RAMELLA
                                     ------------------------------------
                                            DANIEL J. RAMELLA