One of the best things about going to a trade show as an exhibitor is the feeling users get when all the planning and hard work user’ve put into making it an informative and engaging event comes together.
FDIC International
And when it turns out better than the user could have imagined, well that’s just the kind of motivation that drives the user to work even harder to ensure every experience and interaction with the company is equally memorable.
That’s the experience Whelen had at FDIC International held in Indianapolis, Indiana from April 14-20, 2024.
Fire and Rescue conference
With so many people attending, as well as things to see and do, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd
As users may know, FDIC is the biggest and best Fire and Rescue conference in the world, bringing tens of thousands of attendees to the Circle City each April for a week of classes, workshops, and the showcasing of products and services from over 800 exhibiting companies.
With so many people attending, as well as things to see and do, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. That’s one of the reasons why Whelen is always evaluating the experiences it offers at trade shows. Whelen worked hard to create a high-quality experience for attendees.
Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love
Whelen was extremely proud and honored to bring so many to the booth for the unveiling of the special paint scheme for the No. 2 Whelen Chevy Camaro honoring 226 firefighters who died in the line of duty, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).
Among those in attendance for the unveiling was Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love, driver of the No. 2 car, along with NFFF president, Victor Stagnaro; Editor in Chief for Fire & Rescue Media and Education Director for FDIC International, David Rhodes; Whelen CEO, Geoff Marsh, and members of the Whelen family.
Fire Brigade Pipe & Drums
The unveiling took place in the Whelen booth on Thursday morning of FDIC week, shortly after the doors opened to the exhibit halls.
A sizable crowd gathered in and around the booth to watch and a hush fell over them as the Fire Brigade Pipe & Drums appeared in single file in front of the No. 2 car and began to play Amazing Grace. Looking across the crowd while the familiar melody played, the emotion was palpable.
special paint scheme
Matt Kehoe welcomed those in attendance and talked about how supporting firefighters is an important part of Whelen’s mission
Whelen’s Director of Fire and EMS Sales, Matt Kehoe, welcomed those in attendance and talked about how supporting firefighters is an important part of Whelen’s mission and culture. Speeches were then made by David Rhodes and Victor Stagnaro, and the No. 2 car was unveiled to show a large NFFF logo on the hood of the vehicle, and the names of 226 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023 displayed prominently on the car’s deck lid (trunk).
These firefighters were most recently honored at NFFF’s annual Memorial Weekend held May 4-5, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This special paint scheme will also be featured on the No. 2 car on August 23, 2024, at the NASCAR Xfinity race in Daytona Beach, Florida.
recognition of loved ones
No. 2 driver, Jesse Love, hung out after the ceremony to take pictures with fans and sign hero cards. “We’re proud to support NFFF and honor those who have lost their lives in the line of duty,” Love said.
“First responders are the heartbeat of our communities and keep us safe daily. It will be special to carry the names of the fallen on our No. 2 Chevrolet, and hopefully, we will be able to make their families smile with the recognition of their loved ones.”
Field Series™ Brow Light
Whelen would like to send much love and thanks to Billy Higgins and Billy Goldfeder and everyone at NFFF, the Fire Brigade Pipe & Drums, Clarion Events, and all those involved for helping us honor fallen firefighters and making the moment a memorable one.
The car unveiling wasn’t all Whelen had going on at FDIC, however. Whelen also unveiled the brand-new Field Series™ Brow Light! This new light is a game-changer and is the only brow light on the market that features revolutionary dynamic beam technology to provide advanced control and maximum visibility with the flip of a switch. Field Series illuminates the entire field of vision using Near and Far Field optics. So, the user can put the light where the user needs it most when the user needs it most.
live demonstrations
Jon Sestrom and Naomi Menard spent two full days at the conference delivering live demonstrations of the newest innovation
Many users had a chance to see and learn about this light by visiting the demo room Whelen created for the Field Series at FDIC.
Product Manager, Jon Sestrom, and Sales Representative, Naomi Menard, spent two full days at the conference delivering live demonstrations of the newest innovation and sharing all the details on the groundbreaking features and benefits it offers with attendees.
Field Series
Whelen heard A TON of great feedback on the Field Series at the show and is working hard to have it ready for release.
It includes behind-the-scenes interviews with engineers, footage from the tooling process, and a couple of anxious moments as Whelen turned this idea into reality, crafting it from the ground up. Needless to say, Whelen is particularly proud of this one.
innovations
By all accounts, FDIC exceeded Whelen expectations. Whelen is truly honored to help protect those who protect others and looks forward to the opportunities to share the innovations with those who rely on them every day.
It takes that responsibility very seriously, and it drives everything they do. Thank user to everyone who visited the Whelen booth, watched a demo, or just came up and said hello. Whelen appreciates the user and can’t wait to do it again next year.