Mount Laurel, NJ –

Catching up with New York City Foreman Ian Cody isn’t easy. Between show floors, job sites, and managing crews, his days fill up fast. We finally found a moment to sit him down and talk about his 20 years with On Location, and even longer working alongside our team. From his early days setting up installations to running New York’s operations today, Ian has seen just about everything this industry can throw his way. And even with his packed schedule, he still made time to share a few stories and reflections from the past two decades. Here’s what he has to say.

“While I have been setting up jobs and installing stores directly for On Location for 20 years now, I have actually been doing their work even longer. Prior to On Location opening in New York as a contractor, they used to sub their work in New York to a company Renaissance, and I was one of their leads. So, my time with On Location actually began as a client and Chris DiIenno was the onsite supervisor for On Location. Chris also happened to be the first manager I began working for in the 90’s through a company called Preferred and one of their top sales was Joyce Mollure.”

Do you remember your first day with On Location? What was it like? 

“Naturally once On Location began working directly in New York, I transferred over to work with Chris once again. There is not a better person in the industry to learn from. The first job I set up directly for On Location was the Vision show for the company Transitions.

On the first day the crew was brought in to lay out the floor, and I was brought in to pick up the equipment for the crew. The temperature plummeted that day and we ended up with a massive ice storm that shut the roads down and I ended up getting stuck on the side of the turnpike with a van that shut down and was filled with the crew’s equipment. Due to the storm no one could get to me for hours. Chris arrived in an empty van, and we were able to get everything onsite that night and we were ready to go for the first day of install. The job went up as scheduled and we gained a client for years.”

How have your job and the industry changed over the years?

“While the industry has changed over the years, especially in the information end of things, it’s always been a close-knit community where no matter the company you are working for or city you are in we are all connected to each other at some point in our careers by someone we know. That may be the main thing that’s changed, and the pandemic had a lot to do with it. Many of the names and faces that made this industry what it was had decided was a good time to move on, which is great but at the same time left a void in the knowledge of how things really worked. I was lucky to have the people around me learn from and lean on when needed. Seems like everyone wants recaps and emailed updates constantly throughout the jobs, which is good but also can be overwhelming at times. I still find the best solution overall is direct interaction, that’s where trust and respect is built. That’s how the knowledge of the industry is learned.”

What has been your biggest achievement/success at On Location?

“For me, that time spent learning and building relationships led me to where I am. Our region was growing and On Location was looking for someone that can run New York so that our manager can concentrate on the northeast operations and I was called to see if I would be willing to come in for an interview. I was given the position to see how it worked out and a year later I was invited to an office dinner where everyone presented me with a manager’s shirt to make it official. The shirt didn’t mean much, it was that the people I spent years working for and with made it a point of presenting it to me as one.”

What’s the most memorable day you had on the show floor

“My most memorable day was actually a recent one. I overheard a client talking and he let someone know that no matter what he needed on the show floor, I was able to get it done for him right away. It showed me that the relationships I’ve made over the years are strong and that the respect we all have for each other in the building is even stronger. We all try to look out for each other and will do what we can to make sure our jobs go smoothly and the clients are taken care of.

Congratulations to Ian Cody on 20 years with On Location. His experience, leadership, and dedication have made a lasting impact, and we look forward to many more years ahead.”

About On Location:

Founded in 1991, On Location provides nationwide labor and management services for exhibits, events, and environments. The company has built a reputation not only with its commitment to being more than just a service provider but being a trusted partner that understands each project is a unique opportunity to create the extraordinary.

As an Exhibitor Appointed Contractor (EAC), On Location has executed countless successful exhibits, events, and environments nationwide with a team of highly experienced professionals who become a seamless extension of each client’s vision. For more information, visit www.onlocationind.com.