Freddie Georges, Founder and CEO
When Freddie Georges was a little girl, her parents would constantly return home to a redecorated home. Not once, not twice, Ms. Georges’ “home”-work was an ongoing occurrence her parents came to expect, and eventually, to enjoy.
Ms. Georges’s natural inclinations were further nurtured when she entered Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Interior Design—a program recognized by Interior Design magazine as one of the top five in North America. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree, Ms. Georges expanded her work from interior design to include innovative museum exhibits and installations.
Her first job was with the prestigious firm Design and Production, Inc., based in Lorton, Virginia, which specializes in museum design, fabrication and installation. After a few years of straight museum work, Ms. Georges was able to expand into the trade show business, through D+P’s small trade show division. Her first project was the AT&T booth at Comdex. Ms. Georges spent five years at D+P, developing an expertise into the world of trade show design and production. When Giltspur, now known as the ExhibitGroup/Giltspur (EGG), a Los Angeles-based trade show exhibit firm recruited Ms. Georges in 1985, she headed west—where she has resided ever since. From the time she started at EGG, Ms. Georges was consistently the firm’s top producer.
After five extremely successful years with EGG, she started thinking about her next move. After interviewing with a few companies, she had an epiphany—she remembered back to 1981, during her first interview for Design and Production—when she was asked the standard interview question, “What are your long term goals?” She quickly responded that she wanted to own her own company. So, she enlisted several of her EGG colleagues and Premier Displays and Exhibits was formed. The company quickly grew and gained blue chip clients including: Bausch and Lomb, MGM, Fila, Pharmacia, Rainbow Media Holdings, King World and Upjohn.
In 2001, Freddie Georges identified the need for a new kind of company, one whose mission was to produce innovative interior environments, museum displays, trade show exhibits, and corporate events with customer service and value to the client at the forefront. FG|PG was launched with five key clients who had previously done business with Ms. Georges, including Rainbow Media, a client for more than 17 years.
A serial entrepreneur, Ms. Georges is a partner in FormDecor, a modern furniture rental business that offers the collections of Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Mies Van Der Rohe, Le Corbusier, and Harry Betoia, as well as other mid-century designers.
FG|PG is a woman-owned business committed to supporting other women-owned and operated businesses. Ms. Georges is an active member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), Women in Cable and Telecommunications (WICT), and Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM).
Ms. Georges is a world traveler, with stamps from Africa, Europe, China, Japan, and the Middle East decorating her passport. She views her extensive travel as on-going education that enables her to bring a global perspective to the way she approaches business.
Melanie J. Chomchavalit, Partner and CFO
Melanie Chomchavalit became operating partner and started serving as CFO for Freddie Georges Production Group (FG|PG) in 2002. As CFO, Melanie Chomchavalit has responsibility for financial record keeping and planning across the organization. She also serves as a director and the secretary on the board of directors.
With the passion to organize, manage and direct, Melanie Chomchavalit always knew she wanted to become a businesswoman. She attended California State University, Long Beach and graduated with a BS in Business Administration in 1998. After graduation she was hired by Frederique “Freddie” Georges, Account Executive and Partner with Premier Displays, as her sales assistant. Under the leadership of Freddie is where Melanie gained an extensive knowledge of the Trade Show Industry. In 2000, Melanie jumped at the opportunity to assist Freddie and her partner with the launch of FormDecor, by serving as the accounting associate. In this position is where Melanie thrived, managing and overseeing the financials was rewarding and where she knew she wanted to be.
In 2001, an amazing opportunity surfaced when Freddie Georges created FG|PG. Melanie eagerly joined Freddie as the sales assistant and accounting manager for FG|PG. In 2002, Melanie was promoted to CFO and offered partnership in FG|PG, where she has been and continues to excel and fulfill her passion by organizing, managing and directing employees and particularly the finances. Melanie also has a very active personal life where she joyfully manages as a wife and mother of two with one more on the way. She is very busy with all of life’s events but with the passion to organize and manage, she enjoys every minute of it.
Jillian Beckelman, Account Manager
Jillian began her customer service career in 2002 as a licensed Esthetician and Skin Care Therapist. Although skin care therapy may seem to be unrelated to the exhibit and event industry, there were hidden similarities that brought her to where she is today. Jillian had a keen interest in event design and management since she was a teen in high school and regretted that she didn’t pursue that career direction in college.
In 2004, one of Jillian’s career dreams was realized when she was presented with an opportunity to work with a small event agency as a Corporate Event and Wedding Coordinator. Finally she was able to pursue her passion in an industry she loved and she jumped on the opportunity. She continued to build her clientele as an esthetician and balanced both careers for nearly two years until it came to a point where she had to choose which path she wanted to invest her whole self in—her instinct was to continue to design incredible events and see creative vision come to life.
In 2006, Jillian joined FG|PG and Freddie took her under her wing and mentored her not only on the thriving corporate event industry, but provided Jillian with an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the exhibit design and management side as well. Jillian was surprised at how much she loved the custom exhibit side of the production industry and became heavily involved with project management after her first year training with Freddie and the account services team.
Jillian never forgets that one of the main attributes to her success and rapid career growth with FG|PG was instilled in her the first day she met Freddie and has held onto this perspective… our clients are our lifeblood and we will always strive to provide stellar customer service, innovative design and unmatched project management to FG|PG’s clientele.
Leslie A. Chase, CMP, Senior Account Manager
Before joining FG|PG, Leslie was Sr. Account Executive at George P. Johnson, where she managed the strategic trade show and event programs for clients such as Life Technologies, Roland US, and Allergan. Leslie has worked in the event industry for 13 years, both in show management and client-side for companies such as Bobit Business Media and Internet start up CarsDirect.com, where she produced large sponsorship events like the NASCAR CarsDirect.com 400 in Las Vegas.
Leslie holds her CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) from the Convention Industry Council and her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon.
In her free time, Leslie enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, wine tasting, and attending as many Oregon Duck football games as possible.
Laverne Ortiz, Account Manager
Laverne Ortiz joined FG|PG back in 2010 and has been in the Trade Show Industry for over 15 years. Previously, Laverne Ortiz served as an Account Manager for the Exhibit & Design Department at GES for over six years. She has gained extensive knowledge of the industry by the many hats she has worn over the years.
Laverne has worked as Show Management, the Show Contractor, the Exhibitor selling on the show floor and as a Trade Show Manager to name a few. In her spare time Laverne loves to spend time with her children whom are always engaged in many sporting events. She herself plays in a co-ed Softball team and loves to engage in many outdoor activities.
Dan Oken, Creative Service Manager
Over 20 years ago, Dan started his path to becoming a Designer by working as a Finish Carpenter and Cabinetmaker designing and building custom furniture. Dan later transitioned into the field of 3D computer graphics where he worked on over a dozen console game titles featured in the United States and Japan.
Continuing to work as a 3D Artist Dan fulfilled his dream to experience working on projects with the highest expectation of 3D Rendering quality on Feature Films. He worked as a Lighting Technical Director on 6 Feature Films such as Planet Of The Apes(Remake), Cats and Dogs and Dr. Dolittle 2.
Now, with over 7 years experience as a 3D Illustrator and Designer for Trade Show Exhibits and Events Dan has enjoyed being a part of extremely diverse and incredibly creative projects.
Joey Esparza, Drafting and CAD Specialist
Joey Esparza is happy to tell you that he was born and raised in sunny southern California. He began drafting in high school and was fortunate to have a shop foreman as a father, who happened to work closely with drafters and engineers. Now Joey carries on the family legacy by working in the same trade. Joey has over a decade of experience working in the trade show business and feels as if it’s his personal video game at times. He thoroughly enjoys his part in “THE GAME”, and truly that loves what he does.
Some of Joey’s passions include: COD – MWF2 [Handle: SwiftKidGSX], Electronic Gizmos, Sport Cars and Mechanics, Gardening, and last but not least, The Lakers!
