When passion meets planning, industries change. This is how the Jewish trade show world was born.
Let’s start from the beginning—how did this whole idea even come about?
Sure. Maybe we can spend a few minutes going back to how this all started. First of all, to introduce myself—my name is Mike Weber. I grew up in Boro Park and went to yeshiva there for a few years. I got married in Boro Park and started out working upstate in the Catskills. My first job was actually managing a bungalow colony.
It so happened that they needed some upgrades, and during my first year managing, I got involved in some construction projects. That’s really what got me into construction. While I was doing that, a friend introduced me to the National Builder Show in Vegas. It was a big group of frum people who went together.
The timing was complicated because the show was Thursday through Sunday, which meant being there over Shabbos. But we had an organized group and a full Shabbos program. This was about 23 years ago, when the internet was barely a thing. Email wasn’t common, and social media didn’t exist—so trade shows were one of the few ways to connect and share.
I remember thinking, “We need something like this for our community.” But these things take time, money, energy. A few years later, I partnered with a good friend, Mendel Lerner, who ran the Raleigh Hotel in South Fallsburg. I told him, “Mendel, we need to do something. Maybe you’ll help me out?” He said, “Sure, I’ll give you the venue and a good price on food—just make it happen.”
We scheduled it three weeks later, and boom, we were doing an expo.
Most people in the community had never even heard of a trade show. They thought it was like a camp performance—they didn’t really get the concept. So I had to explain: “You do what you do every day. You talk to people about your product or service. You see if they’re interested. You give more information. That might lead to a deal. That’s a trade show.”
Fast forward 15 years—now you have big events being done by major kehillos like Satmar, Skver, Klausenburg, and others across New York. People are much more familiar with what a trade show is. And it’s taken off in a very big way.
Today, the New York show takes place in a venue over 60,000 square feet. We get over 5,000 attendees and 300+ booths. It’s become a real movement.
That’s a major leap—from a bungalow colony to 60,000 square feet in NYC. How did it grow from Catskills-to the broader community and start reaching other communities like Washington D.C., Silver Spring & Baltimore?
At some point, I felt a sense of mission—this can’t just be for New York. Other communities need it too. The first event I did outside of New York was actually still upstate, in the Catskills, but on a small scale. Since I was already a contractor, I had connections with a lot of subs. I reached out to them, and we put together our first local expo with 30 booths. That was the first year. And it was a hit—people left on a high.
The next year we had 50 booths. The following year? Seventy. It just kept growing. Then someone came to me and said, “You need to take this to the next level. It’s time to do something for the broader community.”
Upstate was still limited—it was mostly for the bungalow colony crowd. People had just started buying second homes up there, but it wasn’t the main market. So we pivoted. We decided to bring the event to the Monsey area—Monsey, Monroe, that whole region.
It was a huge step. I still remember: one company really pushed me. They said, “I’ll sponsor. I’ll help. Just do it.” I ended up getting nothing from that company in the end, but it was their nudge that gave me the guts to put down a $25,000 deposit on a 60,000 square foot venue. That was a serious leap of faith.
That kind of risk—$25,000 upfront—that’s not small change. Did you already feel confident in the model?
I knew we had something powerful. The event had already proven itself. So we jumped in. And since then, we’ve done more. We did a big event for the tri-state area, centered around the five boroughs and surrounding parts of New York. Obviously, Brooklyn is a hub, and people were asking us, “When are you doing something for the city?” So we did it.
But I always try to emphasize: nothing starts out big. It starts with a vision, and it takes a huge amount of effort—cold calling, explaining what this is, convincing people to try something new. It was a process.
Last year, we brought the show to Baltimore for the first time. And baruch Hashem, it was a huge success. We had nearly 1,000 attendees and over 50 exhibitors. For that community, it was brand new. The concept was unfamiliar. But people were excited.
And now we’re gearing up for year two. There’s momentum.
You’ve built something incredible—what’s your message to families and professionals in Silver Spring, Potomac, Rockville, Chevy Chase, and D.C.? Why should they be there?
Because amazing things happen when people come together. I’ve seen it—guys walk in not expecting much and walk out with real opportunities! New vendors, new clients, even new direction. There’s so much talent and drive in your area, and this event brings it all into one space. If you’re even a little curious, just come. You never know who you’ll meet or what doors might open.
And you really believe one day can make that kind of impact?
I do. When people show up with an open mind and good energy, powerful things happen. One conversation, one handshake—it can shift your entire year. And that’s what this is about: real connections, real growth.
And the truth is, we’re just getting started.
There’s so much more I want to share in Part Two next week. You’ll see—it’s only going up from here!
OJBA Mid-Atlantic Builders Meetup
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Baltimore Convention Center – Baltimore, MD 21201
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www.ojbamidatlantic.com
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