Michael Hart, an industry veteran best known as editor-in-chief of Trade fair week, died on March 12, 2021, at the age of 67, after a battle with cancer.
Hart began his journalism career as editor-in-chief of the Glendale Star And The Peoria Times in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Hart’s interest in local journalism landed him a job at The Los Angeles Times in 1998, where he edited the “Our Times” division, which focused on the great diversity of Los Angeles neighborhoods. The Los Angeles Times taken over by The Chicago Tribune ended its neighborhood focus, but found another “local” niche in the business-to-business magazine business. He first edited the San Fernando Valley edition of The Los Angeles Business Journalthen became editor-in-chief of Trade fair week, until It was closed in 2010.
Hart took advantage of this interlude to change direction and edit a journal on educational technology, and soon after, he edited the monthly on the events industry, EXPObut the magazine only survived for five years before it ceased publication. He continued to work for various media and events companies as an editor, writer, conference producer and event planner until his retirement in 2019.
“Michael was smart, curious and always looking for the ‘story behind the story,’” said Sam Lippman, president of Lippman Connects. “He succeeded because he could be trusted. In the trade show industry, we appreciated and benefited from his professionalism.”
“Michael had a long-term view of events,” said Warwick Davies, Director of The Event Mechanic. “With his long experience in the industry, he could see the impacts of change over time and was able to guide others through his writing. He had a very sharp mind and will be greatly missed.”
He attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where he graduated from Raymond College, and as a graduate student he pursued journalism at the University of Arizona.
Besides his wife, Susan, he is survived by his half-sisters, Shirley Crotwell, Carol Castillo and Sandy Bass, all of the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area.
You can contact Susan Hart at huntsusan22@gmail.com