Lewis Shomer
Krakoff Award Winner: 2022
Chairman,
Abilities Expo
United States
Lewis Shomer, President and CEO: Shomex Productions, Santa Monica CA, 1984 – Present. Executive Director, Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), January 2009 – Present; Chairman, 5NET4 Productions, and Abilities Expo, Present Shomex Productions, founded in 1984, by Lew and Clare Shomer was the nation’s largest producer of Diversity Career Fairs. The company no longer produces career fairs after 25 years in business. Shomex is now the administrative organization for The Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO). 5NET4 Productions is the parent company for Abilities Expo, an exhibition and trade show for people with disabilities, caregivers and professional healthcare workers. Abilities Expo currently produces shows in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta. Lewis Shomer (Lew) holds a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University and an MBA from The Bernard Baruch Graduate School of Business at CCNY in New York. Mr. Shomer’s career started with IBM in New York, and he later joined Honeywell Information Systems in White Plains. He moved to London in 1967 and spent 10 years as Vice President, International Operations for Computer Investor’s Group, a leading computer leasing company. When he returned to the US he held various sales, marketing and general management positions with Mohawk Data Sciences, Novation, Inc. and Pertec Computer Corporation. Before starting Shomex, Lew was Vice President, Marketing and Sales for The Interface Group, producers of COMDEX, the Nation’s largest Trade show. Prior to becoming the Executive Director, Mr. Shomer served on the Board of Directors of SISO for 9 years including the position of Chairman. He served on the Board of Directors for The American Friends of the St. Petersburg (Russia) Philharmonic. Lew is a fifteen year member of the NAACP Board of Trustees, Special Contributions Fund, serves on the Image Awards committee, and is a Golden Heritage Life Member. Mr. Shomer has owned a soul food restaurant in Atlanta and an antique mall in Los Angeles. Lew lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Clare and has one son, three dogs, 2 cats, and 3 horses.