Las Vegas exhibit house lauded for its rental-first strategy, which minimizes trade show marketing waste while maintaining the full client experience
The Exhibit Happy by Steelhead rental-first model minimizes waste without sacrificing any part of the customer experience, and that’s an approach the events sector ought to take note of.”— Russ Fordyce, Chief Recognition Officer, Business Intelligence Group
Exhibit Happy by Steelhead, an event marketing and exhibit agency headquartered in Las Vegas, has been selected as a winner in the 2026 Sustainability Awards from the Business Intelligence Group (BIG), taking home the Sustainability Initiative of the Year honor. This accolade recognizes organizations, products, teams, and individuals who are converting sustainability commitments into tangible, quantifiable achievements.
The 2026 Sustainability Awards celebrate accomplishments across a wide variety of sectors and applications, highlighting entities and leaders that are moving sustainability past promises and into practical, responsible outcomes. This year’s program honored 57 winners spanning nine categories and seven countries.
Exhibit Happy by Steelhead earned the distinction for its rental-first exhibit approach, which prolongs the useful life of trade show assets and alleviates the waste, expense, and warehousing demands tied to conventional exhibit ownership, all while retaining the creative adaptability clients count on. During the previous 12 months, the firm kept 77,668 pounds of waste out of landfills, prevented 36,767 water bottles from being used, planted 870 trees, and reduced per-employee energy consumption by 61%—even as its facility expanded by 56% from 80,000 to 125,000 square feet and its workforce grew from 72 to 82 people.
“Exhibit Happy by Steelhead demonstrates that sustainability and creativity don’t have to be competing priorities in trade show marketing. Their rental-first model minimizes waste without sacrificing any part of the customer experience, and that’s an approach the events sector ought to take note of,” said Russ Fordyce, Chief Recognition Officer, Business Intelligence Group.
“We’re thrilled to be named a winner in the 2026 Sustainability Awards,” said Sean Combs, CEO and co-owner of Exhibit Happy by Steelhead. “This recognition speaks to the hard work of our entire team, the confidence our clients and partners place in us, and our dedication to sustainability programs that deliver real results, not just buzzwords. We’re convinced the future belongs to organizations that can pair ambition with accountability, and we’re proud to be part of that shift.”
As a Certified B Corporation exhibit house with EcoVadis recognition ranking the company in the top 35% globally for sustainability performance, Exhibit Happy by Steelhead paired this year’s environmental strides with an outstanding 9.8 client satisfaction rating—proof that sustainability and service quality can move forward hand in hand.
To view the complete roster of 2026 Sustainability Awards winners, visit: bintelligence.com.
About Exhibit Happy by Steelhead
Established in 1996 and marking three decades in business in 2026, Exhibit Happy by Steelhead is a Las Vegas-based event marketing and exhibit agency focused on custom rental exhibits. The company assists brands in crafting high-impact trade show experiences while avoiding the waste, cost, storage, and redesign pressures typical of traditional exhibit ownership. Exhibit Happy by Steelhead is the first B Corp certified exhibit house in North America and holds EcoVadis recognition, placing it in the top 35% globally for sustainability performance. Learn more at exhibithappy.com.
About the Sustainability Awards
The Sustainability Awards recognize organizations, products, teams, and individuals who are leading the way in environmental and social responsibility. The program assesses achievement across a broad spectrum of industries and regions, celebrating initiatives that transform sustainability commitments into measurable, validated outcomes. Evaluated by a panel of seasoned business executives who offer transparent feedback and detailed scoring, the awards honor those proving that sustainability and business success can advance together.
About Business Intelligence Group
Business Intelligence Group (BIG) is an independent awards organization that has been honoring outstanding business achievements since 2012. Now in its 14th awards season, BIG runs 12 annual programs covering innovation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, customer service, cloud computing, sustainability, sales and marketing, workplace culture, and women’s leadership. Winners receive a comprehensive promotional toolkit, including blockchain-verified credentials, press release support, social media assets, and prominent placement across BIG’s global network of more than one million business professionals. For more information, visit bintelligence.com.
Elizabeth Martinez
Exhibit Happy by Steelhead Productions
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