Exhibitor Kit
May 9, 2025
Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue
KEY DEADLINES
April 18, 2025
Reserve hotel room for guaranteed CougsFirst! discounted rate. Rooms are based on availability.
April 23, 2025
Show Preview Promotions and Logos Due
April 25, 2025
Last day to order additional furnishings
April 25, 2025
Last day to order A/V & Electrical Power
April 28, 2025
RSVP to Exhibitor Reception on Thursday, May 8th
May 2, 2025
Register All Exhibitor Staff
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
CougsFirst! Lead & Exhibitor Private Reception
Invitation Only
Hyatt Regency, Bellevue
900 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, WA 98004
Cedar Ballroom
Thursday, May 8, 2025
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
CougsFirst! Power Lunch
Meydenbauer Center
11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, WA 98004
Conference Room 404
Friday, May 9, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
WSU Keynote Address
Meydenbauer Center
11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, WA 98004
Conference Room 406
Friday, May 9, 2025
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Show & Career Expo
Meydenbauer Center
11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, WA 98004
Exhibit Hall A
Friday, May 9, 2025
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
CougsFirst! Lead and Exhibitor Packet should be used for the ease of show preparation and where the CougsFirst! brand is represented.
SHOW & CAREER EXPO LOCATION
CougsFirst! Show & Career Expo
Meydenbauer Center
11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, WA 98004
For parking info and driving directions, click here.
SHOW & CAREER EXPO HOURS
**NOTE NEW TIME BELOW**
CougsFirst! Show & Career Expo
Friday, May 9th, 2025
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
*Please note that packing up your booth before 6:00pm, will result in you not being invited back to exhibit next year.
STAFF REGISTRATION
We ask that you register ALL exhibitor staff to include those working the booth and networking the Show floor. To increase your company exposure we encourage you to bring additional staff to capitalize on
networking opportunities.
Register all exhibitor staff no later than May 2, 2025.
IMPORTANT: Registering your staff prior to the Show allows for them to easily obtain a name badge indicating they are an exhibitor at the show.
We will also be hosting a reception for all Exhibitors and Sponsors. This event is invite-only and is intended to facilitate networking between fellow exhibitors and Coug companies.
There is no additional cost to attend, but all attendees must register by April 28, 2025.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Hyatt Regency, Bellevue
900 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, WA 98004
*UPDATE: NOW CLOSED*
Must book prior to April 18, 2025 to guarantee the CougsFirst! rate of $199/night. Rooms are based on availability.
For hotel accommodation questions including additional options, please contact Jessica Duren.
SHIPPING
Meydenbauer Center can accept limited freight one day prior to the event. Click here for more info.
Please contact Jessica Duren if you plan to ship materials to Meydenbauer Center. Alternatively, you may hand carry freight on the day of setup.
SHOW & EXPO SERVICES
All Show services must be ordered in advance of the event.
If you are in need of Electrical, Audio/Visual services, or equipment, you must order directly from Meydenbauer Center by Friday, April 25th - click here for order form.
If you are in need of Furnishing services for the CougsFirst! Show or Career Expo, please contact Jessica Duren before April 25th, 2025.
Your exhibit space will include complimentary Wi-Fi access.
COUGSFIRST! POWER LUNCH
In partnership with WSU's Carson College of Business, we will be hosting a Power Lunch on Friday, May 9th, from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm.
There will be a panel presentation titled "Capital for Cougs: What Investors Look for in Your Business" that will be moderated by Carson College of Business Dean, Debbie Compeau. Enjoy a plated lunch while learning more about the different types of investments and what investors look for when investing in your business.
This event is paid-admission only, with the option to buy a full table (seats 10) or an individual seat. Reserve your spot as soon as possible - space is limited and this event will sell out.
LEAD RETRIEVAL WITH EXPO PASS
To enhance your exhibitor experience, consider purchasing Lead Retrieval for the CougsFirst! Show! Lead Retrieval is allows exhibitors to trade contact info and make real business connections with attendees.
Here's how it works:
- A QR code is printed on each attendee’s badge.
- Using Lead Retrieval, you can scan an attendee's badge to collect their contact info.
- As soon as a badge is scanned, you can track who you are meeting and keep your team updated on new leads.
- After the event, download all your leads and add into your CRM database.
Lead Retrieval is an optional, additional cost that is separate from your booth registration and is managed directly through Expo Pass for payment and support. The cost per exhibitor is $250 and can be purchased by following the directions linked below!
COUGSFIRST! CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions about:
- The Show & Career Expo, exhibitor logistics, or other Show-related activities, please contact Jessica Duren at events@cougsfirst.org.
- CougsFirst! Memberships, registration, or other upcoming events, please contact Angela Lenssen at angela@cougsfirst.org.
- Marketing and promotion, logos and branding, website and social media, or public relations and press, please contact Corissa Cruzen at marketing@cougsfirst.org.
Any other general questions or inquiries, including lead sponsorship opportunities, can be sent to info@cougsfirst.org.
EXHIBITOR BOOTH
- 8' x 10' booth space
- 8' x 30" white draped table
- Two chairs
- Company ID sign
- 8' high draped back-wall and 3' high draped side walls
- Complimentary Wi-Fi access
*CougsFirst! Cancellation Policy, click here
NOT INCLUDED: Electrical power and AV rental equipment must be ordered separately and in advance. Deadline to order is April 25th, 2025.
SET-UP
CougsFirst! Show & Career Expo
Friday, May 9th, 2025
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Doors open to attendees at 3:00 pm)
Meydenbauer Center offers convenient freight elevator access from the parking garage for vehicles 6'9" and smaller, without trailers. The freight elevator on the first parking level provides direct access to the exhibit hall, where the Show and Career Expo will be held. Please pull into the parking garage and use Exhibitor Drop-Off Spaces.
On-site security has carts available for load-in and load-out on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you will be loading in hand-carried freight or using a small dolly, you may also load-in via passenger elevators that are accessible from Parking Levels P1, P2, and P3.
Please click here for more Load-in and Load-out info, including options for vehicles larger than 6'9" or with trailers.
Please email Jessica Duren (events@cougsfirst.org) if you have additional questions or concerns.
MOVE-OUT
CougsFirst! Show & Career Expo
Friday, May 9th, 2025
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Please click here for additional Load-in and Load-out info.
STORAGE
During the event empty cases and crates must either be kept inside your booth space or stored off-site.
Cases, crates and boxes containing materials cannot be stored on the loading dock. There is NO accessible storage.
SHOW & CAREER EXPO FLOOR MAP
You should receive communication from CougsFirst! or Jessica Duren about selecting your booth space. We recommend selecting at least your top 3 locations to ensure you end up with a space you are happy with. In the case that none of your preferences are able to be accommodated, Jessica will reach out to discuss additional options.
All booths will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you haven't selected your booth space or submitted preferences by April 25, 2025, you will instead be assigned.
*Please note that all booths that will be sampling alcohol (i.e., Wine, Beer, Cider, etc.) will be assigned randomly across the Show floor in order to distribute traffic.
HELP US PROMOTE THE SHOW & EXPO
Let's spread the word to Coug nation that this is the biggest WSU event of the year in the Seattle region!
Please use these approved promotional graphics to share on your social media networks and company newsletters. Feel free to add it to your website as well.
INCLUDE YOUR COMPANY IN OUR SHOW PREVIEW
CougsFirst! will be sending out a newsletter ahead of the Show & Career Expo to give a preview of the exhibitors that will be attending, exciting activities and booth attractions, and exclusive offers, giveaways, or discounts that will be available.
Please let us know if you'll be offering a special promotion for attendees at the Show & Career Expo so that we can include you in those pre-event communications.
Please provide to us by Wednesday, April 23rd:
- Graphic, Image, or Logo (at least 720px x 420px, 72 dpi or higher; jpg or png)
- Promotion details (giveaways or savings can help entice).
- If hiring, please let us know what roles you're looking to fill!
- Click here for an example newsletter and what others have offered in the past. (Please note, we reserve the right to change the formatting and included content for this year's newsletter)
COMPANY INFORMATION
You should have submitted your company logo while registering your booth. If you have not submitted this file, or you need to update the file submitted, please contact Corissa Cruzen (corissa@cougsfirst.org). Your logo must be received by Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 in order to be included in the Show brochure and on the website.
Click here to update your logo
IMPORTANT: Logo files need to be high-resolution (300 dpi). We will accept logos in the format of .ai, .eps, .jpg, or .png.
AIRPORT SHUTTLE
Flying in and out of SEA-TAC and need transportation to Bellevue?
Visit Bellevue provides an Airport Shuttle Service to and from the Hyatt Regency Bellevue (and other nearby hotels). Learn more and book your ride today by clicking here.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Thanks to our partners at Visit Bellevue, click here for more activities and local resources available in Bellevue, WA.
