Exhib-it

Meet Our Founder – DJ Heckes

Meet Our Founder, DJ Heckes

Founder of EXHIB-IT! Trade Show Marketing Experts
Author of Full BRAIN Marketing and NOISE behind BUSINESS: How to Make Trade Shows Work

A FOUNDING PURPOSE

EXHIB-IT! was founded and organized by DJ Heckes for the express purpose of providing quality exhibit marketing products and design services to federal agencies and commercial enterprises.

PASSION AND DRIVE

DJ Heckes is truly passionate about two things: her clients and marketing. “Small business is about people. That’s the lifeblood of EXHIB-IT! and New Mexico,” DJ Heckes said. “We live and breathe the success of every customer at EXHIB-IT!. Our core business involves relating to the person and their total trade show needs.”

Like you, DJ Heckes realizes the importance of relationship marketing and building for her customers. DJ is an expert in full BRAIN marketing. Unlike many speakers and consultants, DJ shows you exactly what to say and how to say it, and what to do and how to do it right. DJ’s conversations are interactive and engaging. Look up the word “go-getter” in the dictionary and you might as well see a picture of DJ.

PAYING IT FORWARD

DJ Heckes is firmly committed to growing business opportunities through involvement and dedication. Marketing and strategic growth are her passions and are what have driven her company to the success it has achieved since opening in February 2000. She has helped many businesses achieve this same level of success through her marketing and strategic development consultation. As a small business leader in her field, DJ is active in several chambers of commerce in New Mexico and Texas. If you know DJ, she is a “servant-hearted” person through her dedication and volunteerism in the community. Her Annual B2B Expo is New Mexico’s largest business-to-business trade show style networking event that demonstrates her “Pay it Forward” mentality. Each year, a nonprofit organization is chosen to be the award recipient and official spotlight of the event through outreach and a live auction. Her event draws in over 750 attendees each year.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

2017 Top Hat Award Finalist for Premier Supplier/Vendor of the Year, New Mexico Hospitality Association
2017 Best of Albuquerque: Women Owned Small Business Award
2016 Ranked #32 for Top Women Owned Business in New Mexico, New Mexico Business Weekly
2016 Graduate of Goldman Sachs National 10,000 Small Business Scholar Program
2015 Healthiest Places to Work Nominee
2015 Women on the Move Nominee
2013 Listed as One of Top 50 Small Businesses in New Mexico
2012 First Business Owner to receive “Honoring Heroes” Award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
2011 Top 5 Healthiest Business to Work, New Mexico Business Weekly
2010 Finalist in New Mexico Book Awards Book Competition for full BRAIN marketing in “Business” category
2010 Finalist in Best Books 2010 in “Business: Marketing & Advertising” category
2010 Finalist in Best Books 2010 in “Business: Entrepreneurship & Small Business” category
2010 Small Business Person of the Year, 
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
2009-2011 Mentor for Mentor-Mentee Program for Woman Business Owner Assigned, Women’s Business Council
2009 Top Performing CEO in New Mexico, New Mexico Business Weekly 
2009 Ranked #25 Top Women Owned Business in New Mexico, New Mexico Business Weekly
2008 Ranked #4 out of 100 Fastest Growing Business in New Mexico, New Mexico Business Weekly
2008 Enterprising Woman of the Year, Enterprising Women Magazine
2007 Small Business Person of the Year for New Mexico, Small Business Administration
2008 Ranked #35 for Top Women Owned Business in New Mexico, New Mexico Business Weekly
2007 Corporate Citizen Award, 
Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
2007 Ranked #8 out of 100 Fastest Growing Business in New Mexico, New Mexico Business Weekly
2007 Top 10 Women of Influence Award, New Mexico Business Weekly
2007 April Recognition during Small Business Week, SBA-Washington, DC
2007 Ranked #35 for Top Women Owned Business in New Mexico, New Mexico Business Weekly
2005 President of 
NM American Marketing ChapterUSA Chapter of the Year 2005
2005 Published in Who’s Who Entrepreneur
2004 Strathmore’s Who’s Who Entrepreneur of the Year
2004 Published in Who’s Who Entrepreneur
2003 Small Business Member of the Month, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
2001 Power Growth Rate of 20% Annually, Duke City Dozen, New Mexico Business Weekly

BOARD AND/OR COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION

2017 (2010-Present) Board of Directors, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
2017 (Present) Board Member and Certified Mentor, SCORE Albuquerque
2012 Past President of Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance – KeepitQUERQUE
2012 Ambassador, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
2011-2012 Education & Leadership Chair, National Assn. of Women Business Owners, NM
2011 President of Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance – “KeepitQUERQUE”
2010 President-Elect of Independent Business Alliance – “KeepitQUERQUE”
2009 Toastmasters International-“Gold” Level
2000-2009 Ambassador, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
2007-2010 National Professional Chapter Council, American Marketing Association
2006-2009 Ambassador, Albuquerque Economic Development
2005-2006 Past President, New Mexico American Marketing Association
2004-2005 President, New Mexico American Marketing Association
2003-2004 President-Elect, New Mexico American Marketing Association
2002-2003 VP of Programming, New Mexico American Marketing Association
1996-2005 Chair of various committees, Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce-Small Business Development
New Mexico Scholar Program Participant