PRESS RELEASE – DOWNLOAD
January 14, 2026
Koelnmesse Inc. Promotes Jessica Boweak to Show Director for the Handicraft Family of Events
Chicago, IL — Koelnmesse Inc. is pleased to announce the promotion of Jessica Boweak to Show Director for the Handicraft Family of Events, effective immediately.
Jessica has been part of the Koelnmesse journey from the very beginning—joining the original core team that launched h+h americas five years ago and helping guide the event from a bold idea into one of the fastest-growing platforms in the global craft industry. Since day one, she has been instrumental in shaping exhibitor experience, operational excellence, and long-term growth strategy across the portfolio.
Prior to joining Koelnmesse, Jessica served as Director of a large Midwest lawn and garden consumer show, where she led large-scale event operations, managed complex stakeholder relationships, and delivered consistent audience growth. That consumer-show leadership experience will play a key role as the Handicraft Family of Events continues to expand deepening community engagement, introducing new formats, and scaling sustainably.
In her new role, Jessica will oversee the strategic and operational direction of h+h americas and the broader Handicraft Family of Events, working closely with exhibitors, partners, and the Koelnmesse global team to deliver high-impact, future-focused experiences.
“Jessica combines institutional knowledge, operational discipline, and a genuine passion for this industry,” said Darrin Stern, President & Managing Director of Koelnmesse Inc. “She understands where we came from, where we are, and, most importantly, where we’re going.”
Please join us in congratulating Jessica on this well-earned promotion. The best chapters are still ahead, and she’s now holding the pen.
About Koelnmesse
Koelnmesse employs around 1,200 people worldwide. As a city trade fair in the heart of Europe, it occupies the third-largest trade fair grounds in Germany and, with almost 400,000 square meters of hall and outdoor space, ranks among the top ten largest trade fair venues in the world. Each year, Koelnmesse organizes and manages about 80 trade fairs, guest events, and corporate events in Cologne and in key markets around the globe. Its portfolio reaches more than 49,000 exhibiting companies from 129 countries and about 2.5 million visitors from over 220 nations. By 2040, Koelnmesse will have invested more than one billion euros in developing its trade fair grounds through the most extensive investment program in its history—enabling it to accommodate all event formats in the future. Koelnmesse celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024—100 years of bringing people and markets together worldwide.
