“It All Started with a Cup of Coffee”

In 1963, Jerry Kallman, Sr., thought it would be nice to provide free coffee to his contingent of U.S. exhibitors at Electronica, the electronics industry show in Munich, so they wouldn't have to take time away from their stands to find it somewhere else.  

Sixty years later, Kallman Worldwide is respected around the world as the long-standing organizer of the USA Partnership Pavilion, America’s headquarters on-site at industry’s most important trade events, including the Paris Air Show. Its custom stand building, supply chain services, and workforce advocacy programs further solidify the company’s reputation as a strategic partner to the industries it serves. 

Kallman’s latest enterprise, launched in 2022, is a partnership with the new Sourcehere.com global supply chain network. Sourcehere supports thousands of suppliers and buyers with tools and utilities — including direct messaging — to connect, conduct business, and build trade relationships online, anywhere, anytime. 

“Trade shows are absolutely a core strength, but we’ve never thought of ourselves as just a trade show company,” said company President and CEO, Tom Kallman. “Our mission is advancing global trade, connecting suppliers and buyers wherever, whenever, however we can. Their business is a year-round conversation punctuated by trade events, and so is ours.” 

At Le Bourget 2023, Kallman’s USA Partnership Pavilion in the new Hall 3 is an emphatic exclamation point for America. 

“2023 is our 60th anniversary in the business of advancing global trade and our 28th year organizing Team USA at Paris,” said Kallman. “The scope of our program here exemplifies our brand of enterprise and innovation. We work hard to optimize every square meter of opportunity for our exhibitors, partners, and visitors. And in terms of scale, it’s bigger than anything we’ve ever done.”   

In addition to the 6,500 sqm USA Partnership Pavilion, which is home to 300-plus exhibiting companies, including 17 state pavilions and the FORUM thought-leadership stage, Kallman’s digital Pavilion directory on Sourcehere.com, Shared Chalet (with 21 companies on board), and the Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship Awards it will present Thursday 22 June, all align to amplify America’s prominent participation in the show and leadership in the global aerospace economy.  

After the trade days are done, Kallman’s “Workforce Weekend” program will transform the pavilion into a three-day science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) festival to inspire future generations of engineers and pioneers during the show’s Public Days. 

“My dad passed away in 2020, but the values he instilled in our company, particularly our spirit of community and service, are stronger than ever,” Kallman said. “Nation-to-nation, as a grateful representative of the United States of America, and people-to-people, as a responsible global citizen, Workforce Weekend is our way of thanking Paris for 28 years of true partnership.”