Julie Ratio

Account Executive

Julie is an Account Executive, an Account Manager and also handles marketing efforts. She spent 20 years in the tradeshow industry as an Account Executive before joining Lakeshore in 2023. Julie loves great exhibit designs and sees each one as a work of art – especially those with pendant lights! She is married with one 18 year-old son, and also has an identical twin sister who is her best friend. In her free time, Julie enjoys playing the piano, singing, and traveling, and has a daily meditation practice which helps keep her balanced and happy.

Debra Satala

General Manager

Debbie is Lakeshore’s General Manager. In her 30 years in the tradeshow industry, she has been involved in all sides of the business. From starting out with a general contractor, to selling to the industry, to being an exhibitor and finally landing at Lakeshore, there isn’t much that she hasn’t seen – and there definitely isn’t anything that she can’t handle! It’s the thinking on the fly while going 100 mph that keeps her hooked. In her down time (what’s that?), you’ll find her with her husband watching their two children participate in sports, or in their Wrangler with the doors off and top down – on to the next adventure!

Stephen Hurn

Graphic Production Director

Stephen is the Graphics Manager at Lakeshore Exhibits, responsible for running their stand-alone graphics operation called Chi-Town Graphics. He has been in the tradeshow and events industry for over 30 years, and has spent the last five years with Lakeshore. Stephen is originally from the UK and started up in business with a grant from the Prince’s Trust, a charity that Prince (now King) Charles was patron of! He likes to spend his time eating, drinking and listening to music. He is also actively involved in many sports, all from the comfort of his couch! Stephen has a 10 year-old daughter who is quite literally the best child in the whole wide world.

Jenny Ortiz

Account Manager

Jenny stumbled upon the tradeshow industry by accident, then fell in love with it as many of us did! She’s been with Lakeshore for 5 years as an Account Manager and is integral in keeping our clients happy. Anyone who knows Jenny knows she gives her “all” every day and wouldn’t have it any other way. In her free-time she loves to clean and decorate her home as well as “style” just about anything. Jenny enjoys spending time with her 8 year old daughter – who is her “mini me” – as well as staying active and being outdoors.

John Romero

Fabrication Shop Manager

John, Lakeshore’s Shop Foreman, is a passionate and talented carpenter with 37 years of experience building exhibits. He has a deep understanding of tradeshows and believes in their power to impact people and brands. John places a high value on quality workmanship: nothing leaves the shop without being perfect! Outside of work, John enjoys fishing, camping, and reviewing restaurants, as well as spending time with his wife of 30 years and two sons that currently serve in the Army and Navy, respectively.

Karl O’Reilly

Creative Director

Karl is Lakeshore’s Creative Director, with over 20 years of experience designing engaging and innovative visual spaces for trade show marketing programs. His expertise lies in designing environments and architecture for B2B user interface experiences. He has worked closely with hundreds of clients and agencies to advance and enhance their brand identity in numerous digital, spatial, and print disciplines. His professional creative experience has allowed him the opportunity to successfully execute marketing strategies that are value-engineered to be smart, exciting and ultimately increase sales.

Ed Zilinskas

EVP of Strategic Development

Ed is a graduate of DePaul University with a B.S. in Finance. He has 35 years of experience in the tradeshow and event industry. His first several years were spent with United Exposition, now known as GES, where he experienced the business from the ground up as a carpenter and display supervisor. His next 9 years were spent in display sales with The Exhibit House which later became Folio Chicago. Ed had become The Exhibit House’s leading Account Executive before becoming V.P. of Sales for Folio Chicago. He advanced his career to Metro Exhibit Corporation from 2001-2014 and then became one of the principles at Lab Exhibits & Services. In 2023, he joined the Lakeshore Exhibits organization. In his personal life, he spends a lot of time with his family, enjoys travel and is an avid fisherman (when time permits). Ed’s role as the team leader and communication point man will be to keep you on track and anticipate future speed bumps. He will also share his continued education in our marketplace by informing you of strategies and available resources to continually reinforce your brand in face-to-face marketing environments.

Mary Wittstock

Senior Account Executive

Mary has been in the tradeshow industry for over 40 years. Directly out of high school, Mary went to work for her father’s tradeshow company while attending college night classes. Mary was an office manager who spent a lot of time supervising on the tradeshow floor, where she learned the ins and outs of the tradeshow industry. She eventually took over the family business and ran the company successfully for over 20 years. In May 2015, Mary ran into Lakeshore’s leadership team at the National Restaurant Association Show. She approached them and mentioned she was looking for another tradeshow company for a merger. Six months later, Mary merged her business with Lakeshore Exhibit Services. Mary quickly outgrew her cubicle at Lakeshore and when Carl retired, Rick asked Mary to become a salesperson. Initially, Mary was not pleased with the idea because she disliked the mentality of most salespeople and she didn’t want to adapt it. It took some convincing but Mary eventually transitioned to sales while maintaining her friendly, caring, and honest approach to the tradeshow industry. She is an atypical salesperson who really cares about her clients, which she proved her first year by doubling her sales. The majority of the Mary’s clients have been with her for years and she has loved helping and watching them grow over time. Mary loves Lakeshore Exhibit Services so much that she comes into the office every day. She says, “I don’t have to be here. I can work from home, but I love to be here.”

Larry Zuker

President & CEO

Ask Larry Zuker about the past thirty-seven years, and he’ll tell you he has been on one incredible adventure! The Lakeshore team will tell you Larry’s genuine warmth and perpetual optimism are the heart of the company. A ‘glass half full’ kind of guy, Larry is more interested in brainstorming solutions than worrying about problems, and he’ll happily go every extra mile necessary to smooth any bumps in the road. Many of our clients will tell you his unique combination of skill, enthusiasm, and personal attention is a major reason they continue to partner with Lakeshore year after year. Larry’s passion for the tradeshow industry started before graduating college. Larry signed onto McCormick Displays part-time one summer for a single project while attending his alma mater, Western Illinois University. He soon fell in love with the business and continued on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. After graduating, Larry was asked to join McCormick full time where he readily jumped in, honing his skills and aspiring to achieve what it takes to make a show successful – all while treating clients like they’re the one and only. He carried that motto with him all throughout his career which proved to be the key to developing and maintaining uncountable mutually rewarding relationships that continue to flourish year after year! His real education—and his magnetic people skills—were gained and applied while working alongside every client he’s ever worked with. Larry is the guy—the one you want on your project as part of your team, and the guy you want to celebrate with when the job is done!

On a personal note, Larry is devoted to his family and can be heard bragging all the time about his mom, sisters, and three amazing nephews—Ryan, Tyler & Kyle. He loves to travel whenever possible – Palm Springs, Marco Island, and Saugatuck Michigan in the summers where he also owns a home. Larry loves finding the best local food and can recommend all the top places to eat in every major tradeshow city! He’s always ready to treat his team and his clients to a great meal. Larry loves the water – being on the water, around the water or in the water! For several years, vacations were with the family down to the Lake of the Ozarks where they called a community of cottages home and a boat named…what else? Lakeshore1! After all the years, Larry still loves what he does and according to him, he “wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Jill Heilemann

Senior Exhibit Designer

Jill is our Senior Exhibit Designer here at Lakeshore. Working alongside Creative Director Karl O’Reilly for over 12 years in the industry, Jill rounds out a solid, talented design team with decades of combined experience. Keeping up with new tradeshow design trends and making her clients’ exhibits really “pop” is what Jill enjoys most. She is a huge dog lover who appreciates travel and spending time with her husband.

Michelle Moya

Project Manager

Michelle Moya is a talented newcomer to the tradeshow exhibit world. She brings with her a keen eye for detail with over 20 years of experience in kitchen design. With a passion for functionality and aesthetics, Michelle has honed her skills in innovative kitchen spaces and attention-to-details that cater to diverse client needs. Her transition into the tradeshow industry leverages her design expertise in a new and dynamic environment. She believes in the power of collaboration and creativity and looks forward to making a significant impact as Project Manager at Lakeshore. Outside of her professional life, Michelle enjoys exploring the latest design trends, home improvement projects, and spending time with her family.

Jen Harris

Account Executive

Jen is an Account Executive dedicated to our largest client – Middleby Corporation. She has worked in tradeshows since 1992 and has been with Lakeshore since 1999. Jen has a huge breadth of experience and expertise in managing complex exhibit projects and is truly a wizard on the show floor! She knows Middleby’s hundreds of products and brands inside and out, and Middleby relies on her to be an extension of their marketing and tradeshow team. What Jen loves most is when all her hard work comes together at a show and her clients are happy. Jen is married with an 18 year-old son, and in her free time you can find her boating on the Illinois River, playing poker with the girls, or working on a crossword puzzle.

Layne Phillips

Account Manager

Have you seen that movie?! Well, if you haven’t, or even if you have, Layne will tell you all about it! Little miss chatterbox loves to tell her stories and loves just as much to listen to yours. She joins the Lakeshore team with a decade of residential design experience, looking for new and exciting opportunities and the right team to build with. Ask for her opinion and you’ll get it…with a smile of course! If you’re lucky enough to have her as your Account Manager, expect quick responses with eager exclamation marks and excited emojis! If you experience “the force that is Layne” in person, expect her to show you her new nail color and see how happy a pop of something new makes her. (Not as happy as her two little Pomeranians, but concretely above the national average!) Layne is hardworking, strives for the best possible results in everything she does, and always holds client satisfaction as a top priority – all while telling her coworkers about some movie she hardly remembers from seven years ago that they absolutely HAVE to watch. If nothing else, she’s an accomplished multitasker – with impeccable nails!

Eric Montanez

Operations Manager

With an educational and career background in Mechanical Engineering as well as over 11 years of experience in the tradeshow industry, Eric joined the team in 2021 as Lakeshore’s Operations Manager. Eric describes himself as a bit of a dare-devil – with an “ANYTHING is possible” mentality when it comes to engineering and building tradeshow exhibits. He thrives off challenges, welcoming the most complex projects and developing newer team members into experts at their craft. Eric wants Lakeshore’s next exhibit to be bigger and better than the last – and loves seeing his projects looking effortless and amazing on the show floor. Outside of work, Eric is a dedicated father to his 5-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter and occasionally has a bit of spare time to jam on his guitar. Fun fact? Eric used to design and build custom exotic aquariums, some so large he could fit inside. Bottom line: there’s nothing he won’t try!