Meet Amy Sondrup of Access in Whitinsville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Sondrup.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My father, Michael Yag, started Access TCA 32 years ago. The company originally had a regional focus but has now become a global force in the exhibit and events industry. Growing up, I was always very aware of the business and my dad’s enthusiasm for it, but for the longest time, my interests lay elsewhere. I attended college in Salt Lake City and earned a BA in history from Westminster College and an MA–also in history–from the University of Utah. For several years, I taught U.S. History and Western Civilization at Westminster College.

As much as I enjoyed teaching, I was curious and drawn to the exhibit industry. I moved to Boston and took a support role at the company. The support role evolved: I became more involved in the day to day business as well as industry associations and working with internal teams on client initiatives.

I was named managing director of the company. At that point, I began to see how the company could improve. To be honest, there were people who were holding Access back and who were resistant to growth; I made changes. Our staff is now composed of people who are zealous about the future and all the possibilities it holds. Last year, I was named President of the company. I took board positions in two associations: Healthcare & Convention Exhibitors Association (HCEA) and Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA). I also took a board seat at our sister company, Nuvista, a supplier of premium labor to the trade show industry. I began speaking at conferences and frankly creating a recognizable personal brand.

Although it is not the only industry we service, Access derives a significant part of its revenue from the healthcare industries, across all segments. To that end, I have been helping to continue to sharpen that focus and promote the excellent work our teams perform. I have surrounded myself with experts in their fields because I realize I need to continue to learn and to work in an environment that nurtures my employees–and me. Travel is a critical part of my job, and I am so grateful that I have a supportive and loving husband, Brenton Sondrup.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been a number of struggles. First was the decision to leave teaching–I loved it. Second, was taking my place in a leadership position in the company. I was–I am–young and a woman–a fairly tiny woman. My appointment was met with resistance and sarcasm by many people did not take me seriously. I also found that people tended to pander to me. I had to start to evaluate what each person was contributing to the company, I had to be assertive with the people who questioned my authority, and I had to recognize who was contributing–and who was just talking about their contributions. This was all very difficult, and I can’t believe I can describe all of this in a few sentences. To be blunt, I had to fire a lot of people. I had to populate whole departments with team players who were also as passionate about their work as I am. I had to learn who was trustworthy and who was not. I must say things have evened out quite nicely in the past two years, but for a while, the stress level was high.

Please tell us about Access.
Quite simply, we design and build–we say “fabricate”–trade show exhibits for clients the world over. We are known for our work in healthcare–including animal health–as well as for the many awards we win in industry competitions. Part of the reputation we have gained in healthcare comes from years of study and experience in an industry that is highly regulated. We have the knowledge and expertise to deliver compliant promotional trade show exhibits. We know how to drive traffic and to build interactions with healthcare professionals. We also work in technology, consumer products, and automotive.

We have design teams that transform our clients’ messages and brand promises into compelling three-dimensional environments that promote meaningful engagement. We have the best account management team in the trade show industry, which, by the way, is very large and makes a significant contribution to the GDP.

One thing that sets us apart is our willingness to make a commitment to a more educated industry community by sponsoring educational opportunities for people enrolled in certification programs, including our own employees. We contribute in meaningful ways to our local community by holding service days at various charities and by inviting students at local high schools to our company for education about our industry.

This might sound trite, but as a company, we are most proud of our people. They are the ones who make it all happen, who travel weekends, take client calls at night, who spend hours crafting proposals–with a generous spirit, humor, and passion.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I was really young, I attended a sporting goods show because Access had an athletic footwear client. I was “allowed” to wipe down and clean the exhibit after the show ended each day. I felt very grown up and important.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.accesstca.com
• Phone: 508-234-9791
• Email: asondrup@accesstca.com
• Instagram: #accessgram
• Facebook: @accessTCAInc
• Twitter: @access_tca
• Other: https://vimeo.com/accesstca; https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/23809/

Image Credit:
Padgett Photography

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