FouNDED ON EXPERIENCE
more than 30 years In b2B & B2c
Shawn Samson, Chairman & CEO of Expo City, was the President of Triple Five International, which starting in 1989 developed and operates the Mall of America, the largest B2C destination in the U.S., with more than 40 million visits a year. He was also a co-founder, co-developer and partner in World Market Center (WMC), launched in Las Vegas in 2005. At more 5.5 million square feet of B2B showrooms for the home furnishings, home décor, and gift industries, it is the largest trade show venue in Las Vegas. He is also a co-founder and partner in International Market Centers (IMC), which in 2011 along with Oaktree Capital and Bain Capital, acquired WMC and the key showroom properties in High Point, NC. At a combined 12 million square feet, it is the largest trade show platform in the U.S. for the home furnishings industry. In 2017, the partnership successfully sold IMC to Blackstone Capital.
BACKED BY INVESTMENT
Oaktree Capital: Global Financial Partner
Expo City’s global financial partner is the private equity firm of Oaktree Capital. John Brady is the global head of Oaktree’s Real Estate Opportunities Group. Shawn Samson and John Brady have collaborated together for more than 15 years on various projects and private equity transactions. Under John’s leadership, Oaktree was an investor in World Market Center and International Market Centers, projects founded by Shawn, which their partnership successfully sold to Blackstone in 2017. Oaktree Capital is a publicly traded company with more than $100 billion in assets under management in its private equity funds that invests in a diverse portfolio of alternative assets, including operating businesses and properties. Oaktree Capital fully shares and is committed to Expo City's vision globally.