MT Magazine May/June 2025

IMTS

THE EMERGING MARKETS ISSUE

20

Lessons From a Career Well Executed Things learned during a career full of challenges, opportunities, and community. BY GARY S. VASILASH CONTRIBUTING DIRECTOR Peter Eelman, the chief experience officer of AMT, is retiring after almost 30 years. Peter has, quite literally, spent the entirety of his 45-year career working on IMTS. On his first day at his first job, he was tasked with figuring out how to consolidate his company’s five divisions into one major booth for their display at IMTS 1980. Unbeknownst to him, that first step into the professional world would shape his career for nearly half a century. Since then, Peter has led the orchestration and execution of the biennial IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago. His impact on both the manufacturing and trade show industries has helped them evolve, innovate, and thrive. Given his extensive involvement and leadership over the years, we want to acknowledge Peter’s contributions to the manufacturing technology community. We also want to share some of the lessons he’s learned throughout his career. While the context of each may differ from what you deal with every day, they are completely transferable – and quite valuable.