In a LinkedIn post published Thursday afternoon, Jason McGraw announced that after six years with Emerald, now Forge, his time had come to an end at the company, “due to corporate restructuring.” However, ever graceful and positive, he spoke glowingly of his gratitude for “the experiences, opportunities, and especially the people I’ve worked with along the way.”
See more on Jason McGraw leaving Emerald/Forge…
For the last six years at Emerald/Forge, McGraw was Group Vice President and Show Director for both CEDIA Expo and KBIS (the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show). It was a challenging time, to say the least. Not only was CEDIA, the trade association, going through a set of wrenching changes, but then COVID-19 arrived to throw everything into turmoil.
With COVID, we suddenly all faced a situation the likes of which we’ve never seen before. Imagine being in charge of two major trade shows and charged with finding the path forward. In a tribute to Jason McGraw, former Editor of CEPro, Jason Knott called him the “ultimate professional.”
Facing Challenges and Epidemics
Knott added, “The leadership you showed during Covid set the standard for how to handle a crisis.”
I encourage you to read McGraw’s post on LinkedIn. Unlike many in his situation, McGraw didn’t take the space to simply pat himself on the back or grind out a list of where he’s been and what he’s done. Rather, he paid tribute to those around him and took pride in the events themselves.
“I have been fortunate to lead the CEDIA Expo and KBIS teams, working alongside talented colleagues, partners, and industry friends,” McGraw wrote. “I’m proud of what we accomplished together, including KBIS being named the Greatest Trade Show of 2025 at the Trade Show Executive Gold 100 Awards. Receiving Emerald’s Sally Shankland Mentorship Award was also a meaningful honor.”
Dozens of Tributes Poured In
Dozens and dozens of tributes began pouring in for Jason, making it clear that his optimistic and collaborative style is popular among many in the industry.
I reached out to Jason, who declined to comment on this story at this sensitive time, beyond telling me that he left the company on good terms. “I wish my colleagues [at Forge] great success!”
A Fitting Finale
In a fitting finale to his post on LinkedIn, Jason signed off with this: “I’m optimistic about what comes next and would sincerely appreciate any introduction or opportunities you think might be a good fit.”
See Jason’s entire post here…
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