Meet the team.
The Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival Presenting Sponsor:
is produced by Koelnmesse Inc. These are the people who plan the festival, sell the floor, build the class program and answer the phone when something goes sideways during move-in.
Role & Contribution
I am the President and Managing Director of Koelnmesse Inc. My role involves coordinating with our international teams, bringing together exhibitors, sponsors and attendees, and shaping the vision for a vibrant, community-centered experience.
Crafting Journey
I come from a background in business development and marketing, but I have always admired the creativity and passion that fuels the crafting world. Working with Koelnmesse opened the door for me to bring those elements together in an event setting.
What Excites Me
Seeing the community come alive on the show floor. New friendships spark, creative collaborations form, and everyone walks away inspired and eager to create.
Fun Fact
I am an avid foodie. When I am not planning shows, you can often find me experimenting with new recipes and local cuisines.
Role & Contribution
As Show Director for h+h americas, the Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival and h+h cologne, I have the opportunity to work with key accounts, exhibitors and sponsors across North America. My passion lies in connecting businesses within the crafting community, helping them thrive, innovate and build creative partnerships that push the boundaries.
Crafting Journey
While my background is in interior design, I have a passion for crafts and the arts. I grew up spending countless hours crafting with my grandmother and mother, who are both incredibly skilled in sewing, crocheting and other creative projects.
Favorite Project
I have a passion for home design, and one of my favorite projects was designing the kitchen in our Minnesota home on the lake. It was exciting to create a space that was both practical and inspiring, blending traditional and modern design elements.
What Excites Me
Watching the show floor come to life, like a city being built from the ground up. It is inspiring to see new connections form and exhibitors and attendees leave energized with fresh ideas for their next project.
Fun Fact
Growing up in Minnesota, hockey has always been in my blood. My two boys both started playing at just two and a half years old and I have been hooked ever since, cheering on my younger son at the AAA level and my older son in juniors.
Role & Contribution
I am a Sales and Sponsorship Manager at Koelnmesse Inc. for h+h americas, managing the numbers and A to L alpha split. I help exhibitors secure booth space and explore the marketing and sponsorship opportunities that maximize their presence at the show.
Crafting Journey
I have always had a passion for the events industry, taking on many roles that let me connect with different communities. My route into the creative industry began when a close family member suggested an opportunity with a trade show in the fiber arts community. From the moment I joined, I was captivated by the warmth and energy of this community.
Favorite Project
While I do not craft in the traditional fiber and fabric sense, I would love to try my hand at crochet someday. My current creative outlet is decorating sugar cookies, and one of my favorite projects was for our grandbaby's gender reveal, with cookies designed around the theme “A little cutie is on its way!”
Fun Fact
I love Broadway theater and musicals, a passion I share with my daughter, who lives in New York City. Whenever I get the chance, I travel there so we can see shows together.
Andrea Abrahamson
Sales, Companies M–Z
h+h americas / h+h cologne
Role & Contribution
I am a Sales and Sponsorship Manager at Koelnmesse Inc. for h+h americas, managing the M to Z alpha split. I help exhibitors secure booth space and explore marketing and sponsorship opportunities, and my focus is making sure exhibitors and sponsors have a good experience from the first planning conversation through to execution.
Crafting Journey
My career has always been in craft publications and shows. The creativity and collaboration in this space is something special.
Fun Fact
I do not like chocolate.
Role & Contribution
I am the international exhibitor contact and visitor manager for h+h americas, supporting global participants and building connections within our community.
Crafting Journey
My journey into the crafting world began when I joined Koelnmesse Inc., where I discovered the world of makers and creative professionals.
Favorite Project
While I am not a crafter myself, my craft is language. Having lived in different countries, I am fluent in English, German, Spanish and French, which lets me connect with a wide range of participants.
What Excites Me
Welcoming international participation, exploring new pavilions, discovering the latest trends, and reconnecting with new and old friends.
Fun Fact
Even though I am not a fan of winter, I once spent a night in an ice hotel in Canada. It was an incredible experience.
Role & Contribution
I am an Account & Sponsorship Specialist with h+h americas, where I work with exhibitors and partners to create opportunities for brands to connect with the crafting community. I also support our shows and work to make the exhibitor experience as seamless and successful as possible.
Crafting Journey
My journey into the crafting industry began when I joined Koelnmesse Inc. With a background in marketing and advertising, I was excited to discover an industry where creativity, community and business come together. Since joining h+h americas I have enjoyed learning about the many talented makers, brands and creative professionals who make this community so unique.
Favorite Project
One of my favorite parts of my role is connecting with exhibitors and learning the stories behind their brands. I love helping businesses find the right opportunities to showcase what they do and connect with the people who are excited about their products.
What Excites Me
I am excited by the creativity and energy that come together at h+h americas. I especially enjoy discovering new brands, meeting exhibitors, exploring the latest trends, and seeing the many different ways people turn their creativity into something meaningful and beautiful.
Fun Fact
I am a dog mom to a tiny Papillon who weighs about six pounds but somehow has the confidence and attitude of a 60-pound dog. She is basically convinced the entire household revolves around her, and honestly, she may be right.
Role & Contribution
As Sales & Sponsorship Manager for h+h americas, I bring a background in sales, retail, trade shows and relationship building. I am excited to work with exhibitors, sponsors and industry partners to create meaningful opportunities that help brands grow, increase their visibility and connect with the right audience. I love bringing people and businesses together and turning those relationships into successful partnerships.
My Creative Journey
Creativity has always been a big part of my career. I owned two women’s boutiques, where I was involved in everything from buying and merchandising to decorating the stores and creating displays and events. I loved finding creative ways to showcase products and make the stores an experience for our customers.
Favorite Project
One of my favorite projects was building and decorating my boutiques. I loved taking an idea and bringing it to life: choosing the merchandise, designing the space, creating displays and constantly changing things to keep the stores fresh and exciting.
What Excites Me
I love the energy of a trade show and watching an empty show floor come to life. What excites me most is connecting exhibitors with opportunities, whether through booth sales, sponsorships, partnerships or creative ways to give their brands more exposure. I understand both the retailer and the exhibitor side of the business, and I am excited to bring that perspective to h+h americas.
Fun Fact
Outside of work I love staying active, spending time with family and friends, playing pickleball and doing yoga. And after years in fashion, I still love putting together the perfect outfit for just about any occasion.
Role & Contribution
I am an event professional with more than 10 years of experience bringing events of all sizes to life, from large-scale conferences and corporate gatherings to weddings and special celebrations. My role is taking the many moving pieces of an event and turning them into something that feels seamless for both our clients and their guests. Over my career I have managed complex logistics, vendor relationships, multimillion-dollar budgets, and large teams of speakers and stakeholders.
Crafting Journey
My background is in hospitality and event management. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Food Service Management with a concentration in Sales, Meeting & Event Management from Johnson & Wales University. What drew me here is that the crafting community brings the same energy to their work that I love in events: a lot of care poured into something meant to be shared.
What Excites Me
Building strong relationships with clients, vendors and event partners. The best events come from thoughtful planning, clear communication and a little creativity, and no matter the size or type of event my goal is always the same: make the planning process feel manageable and the final event feel effortless.
Fun Fact
I run marathons and ultramarathons, which most people tell me is a little crazy. I take that as a compliment.
Role & Contribution
I am the Senior Event Technology Manager for Koelnmesse Inc. I build and run the systems behind our shows: registration, the mobile app, our data and CRM tools, and the websites that tie it all together. If it touches how you find a session, scan into the hall, or connect with an exhibitor, chances are I had a hand in it.
Crafting Journey
I have been making things with my hands since high school, when I designed and sewed my own clothes and started turning out macramé scarves for friends and family. I still make them. My career took me toward technology, but working with Koelnmesse brought both halves back together: I get to build for a community I have belonged to since I was a teenager.
What Excites Me
Watching all the invisible plumbing disappear. When registration is quick, the app just works, and nobody on the floor is thinking about the technology, that means people are free to think about the craft instead. That is the whole point.
Fun Fact
I rode my bicycle across the United States, from Yorktown, Virginia to Florence, Oregon. Then I rode down the West Coast. Twice.
Role & Contribution
As Conference Manager for h+h americas and the Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival, I am responsible for curating our speaker lineup, coordinating educational sessions and crafting an experience that resonates with our community. I also work closely with the venue team to make sure the education program runs smoothly.
Crafting Journey
My background is in hospitality and social media, with a strong focus on community engagement. I have always loved bringing people together, and the crafting world offers a rich, passionate community that makes those connections even more meaningful.
Favorite Project
Remodeling our first home in America is one of the projects closest to my heart. Professionally, building the education program from the ground up has been incredibly rewarding.
What Excites Me
Seeing the crafting community come to life, when people discover new passions, collaborate with others, or simply feel seen and inspired. That energy is what makes this work meaningful.
Fun Fact
I love to bake and blog. Outside the kitchen I try to keep up with the tennis world, and I am training as an amateur runner with a goal of finishing a 10K.
