It looks like things are settling down. Bartlett's new boss at GES, Nort Rittmaster, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GES, concurs. Everything has gone well. We've had our ups and downs with morale, but we've tried to make this as painless as possible. The clout and financial backing of GES's parent company, the Dial Corp., makes some competitors fear a juggernaut that would squash all competition.
Freeman has few complaints about the transition period.
This was a natural progression. I think the GES purchases were a really positive thing. It has made for more financial stability. I've worked with GES about five years, and this expansion hasn't had a noticeable effect on our events. But the glowing reviews aren't unanimous.