Star is a comprehensive producer of trade show exhibits and events.
Our mission is to transform ideas into dynamic events & environments, with a vision to always exceed customer expectations with a team of creative professionals. We’re focused on three distinct product categories—exhibits, graphics, and events.
Who We Are
Star is a comprehensive event solutions provider. Our creative event solutions are used for trade shows, conferences, and other events and environments. We service customers worldwide.
What We Do
Star designs and produces the exhibit and event structures, along with custom event graphics and other event visuals. In addition, we offer a full suite of strategic, tactical, and creative event support services.
Our Methodology
At Star, we follow a proven methodology with every project and every service deliverable that we provide to our customers. It’s a fine-tuned and highly-effective approach that helps us achieve our mission and vision—and, of course, ensures that we successfully surpass client expectations.
Discovery
This is where our process begins. We conduct an in-depth review with you to understand all your event needs and goals—including strategic marketing goals, functional and aesthetic design requirements, and an overall budget.
Design
After confirming your event goals, objectives, and criteria, we develop and design a concept that meets or exceeds those objectives. We collaborate and engage with you on the design and event solution, to ensure that the exhibit is successful.
Execute
Once we’ve developed an event design that achieves your marketing and design objectives, we start to execute and deliver on the vision. Our collaborative engagement with you continues at every step of this process—from production to the actual on-site implementation.
Evaluate
After your event, we follow up with you to ensure that all your objectives were achieved to your satisfaction. Obtaining this valuable feedback from you is crucial for continued success with future projects.
CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT
ImmunityBio
Company Overview
ImmunityBio, Inc. is a U.S.-based clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation immunotherapies and vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases. Founded in 2014 by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, it focuses on enhancing the body’s own immune defenses through natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, and cytokine-based technologies.
Its lead drug, ANKTIVA® (N-803), holds FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for bladder cancer and anchors a pipeline of more than 25 programs. The company’s vertically integrated model—from discovery to manufacturing—supports scalable, durable, and accessible immune-activating therapies.
Marketing Strategy and Goals
ImmunityBio’s marketing strategy centers on commercializing ANKTIVA® through physician adoption, insurance access, and international expansion.
- Commercialization: Built a commercial team with strong marketing and reimbursement experience.
- Positioning: Markets ANKTIVA as a first-in-class therapy that activates NK and T cells, offering a new immune-boosting approach versus checkpoint inhibitors.
- Access: Prioritizes insurance coverage and reimbursement pathways (supported by a new J-code) and focuses on outreach to urology practices of all sizes.
- Growth: Reports strong initial traction, including doubled net revenue and 150% unit growth post-launch.
- Engagement: Leverages Key Opinion Leader (KOL) events and investor communications to strengthen credibility.Marketing goals include driving physician adoption, expanding reimbursement, and establishing ImmunityBio as a leader in immune-based cancer therapy.
ImmunityBio + Star: Evolving Exhibit Solutions for a Growing Biotech Innovator
Since 2017, Star has partnered with ImmunityBio—originally known as NantWorks—to design and manage an exhibit program that reflects the company’s transformation from a research-based organization into a commercial-stage biotechnology leader.
As ImmunityBio’s brand evolved, so did their exhibit strategy. The company’s mission to “activate the body’s immune system to fight cancer and infectious disease” inspired a visual and spatial approach built around energy, transparency, and connectivity—core themes in both their science and their brand story.
Star’s team developed a multi-format exhibit program that delivers flexibility and consistency across events of all sizes, from premier oncology and urology conferences to regional symposia. The program includes:
- Large-format exhibits (30x40, 40x50, 50x60) featured at flagship events like ASCO 2024 and AUA 2025, emphasizing brand scale, confidence, and innovation.
- Reconfigurable designs, such as the 50x50 booth reimagined as a 30x50 footprint for ASCO 2025, maximizing reuse and return on investment.
- Smaller-footprint solutions, including 10x10 and 10x16 inlines and tabletop displays for events like LUGPA 2025 and the Genitourinary Cancer Symposium, extending brand presence into targeted, specialized venues.
Through strategic planning, modular engineering, and cohesive creative direction, Star’s exhibit program for ImmunityBio provides seamless adaptability across varying event scales, budgets, and audience types—mirroring the agility of ImmunityBio’s own scientific and market strategy.
Each activation benefits from Star’s integrated project model, with dedicated professionals in account management, design, project and production management, graphics, detailing, and financial oversight. This structure ensures ImmunityBio receives the same level of precision and partnership that defines its own approach to breakthrough science.
Together, ImmunityBio and Star continue to advance a unified presence—where the company’s immunotherapy innovation is expressed through bold, flexible, and experiential environments that connect scientific discovery with real-world impact.
An Exhibit from Star
Star has been providing engaging dynamic exhibits, environments, and events for our clients for over 60 years. Please see our attached examples, and our full online portfolio at www.starincorporated.com/portfolio.
Services & Support
Our Suite of Services
Whether you’re in need of portable solutions or customized exhibits, Star has the capabilities to achieve your vision.
At Star, we pride ourselves on our effective, multi-tiered approach to every aspect of your event—from start to finish. Star provides a full suite of creative, design, and marketing communication services for its clients that—combined with our acclaimed exhibit and graphics services—ensures a harmonious, one-stop event solution partner.
Exhibit Services
- Exhibit Design
- Exhibit Fabrication
- Logistics & Trade Show Coordination
- Transportation
- Installation & Dismantle
- On-site Supervision
- Warehousing
Graphics Services
- CNC Router
- Eco-Friendly Solutions
- Finishing
- Large & Grand Format Printing
- Lamination & Mounting
- Metal Fabrication
- Substrates
Event Services
- Creative Services (3D, Graphic Design, Interactive & Experiential Design)
- Event Planning
- Coordination & Logistics
- Exhibit & Event Consultants
- Marketing Support (Strategic & Tactical)
- Promotional Products & Apparel
- Production & Project Management
Service Spotlight: Star Marketing and Creative
Make Star your full-service agency for your marketing and creative needs! Star offers a wide range of marketing and creative services, including marketing communications, graphic design, and other agency services, including:
Creative Services
Star provides innovative, high-impact art and design services for every medium or platform imaginable.
- Exhibit/Event Design (of course!)
- Creative Direction / Concepting
- Art Direction & Graphic (Production) Design
- Print Collateral / Web Sites / Social Media Design
- Visual Branding & Logo Development
Media
As a full-service agency, the Star team can create dynamic visuals that highlight your brand and its capabilities.
- Renderings, Storyboarding, Visualization
- Video and Motion Graphics
- Copywriting
- Public Relations & Promotions
Management
Whether big or small, Star can manage every aspect of your projects—from the planning phase all the way to final on-site execution—and everything in between.
- Creative Project Management
- Presentation Development
- Construction, Delivery, and Implementation
- Vendor Management & Logistics
Whole Event Branding & Graphic Design
Star’s team of marketing and creative professionals can provide development and design of the overall event branding which includes everything from event campaign development/collaboration, establishing across-the-board graphic standards, and even digital signage development.
Sponsorship Graphic Support
Utilize Star creative services to provide graphic design support for sponsor pod and other sponsor package graphic elements. This is especially useful for sponsors who are lacking their own internal creative support
Specialty Advertising (Promos & Apparel)
Star’s marketing services can provide a wide variety of advertising specialty needs for you or your partners/sponsors. Take advantage of this valuable service for general promotional products and apparel, or as giveaways at your trade show exhibit or event.
The Star Team
Executive Leadership
Company Management
Nick Mangiardi
Principal
Star Inc.
With over 15 years of experience in the trade show exhibit industry, Nick brings a deep understanding of operations, production, and client management. His sales experience and his extensive knowledge and background in marketing and sales, will add benefit to your event projects. As Principal, he oversees company-wide operations and strategic direction, ensuring that every Star project reflects our high standards of craftsmanship, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Sales and Design
Lawrence (Larry) Holtz
Vice President
Star Inc.
A founding partner of Star and a degreed comprehensive designer, Larry provides both creative leadership and strategic sales direction. He has shaped the vision and growth of our design department while mentoring our exhibit and event consultants across the country. Larry’s balance of design innovation and client focus helps ensure every exhibit we create is both visually compelling and strategically aligned with our customers’ goals.
Client Marketing Services
Raymond (Ray) Cruz
Vice President
Star Inc.
With more than 25 years at Star and over 30 years of experience in marketing, sales, and process improvement, Ray oversees client marketing services that support our customers’ trade show success—ranging from exhibit graphic design and digital content to branded merchandise. Ray also drives Star’s technology strategy, integrating modern tools and platforms that enhance collaboration, efficiency, and the overall client experience.
Production, Project Management, Support Services
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Amber Nielsen
Project Manager
Star Inc.
Your Project Manager keeps everything moving behind the scenes and makes sure you always know what’s happening next. They’ll coordinate production timelines, logistics, and updates while staying in touch throughout your project. You can count on them to be proactive, responsive, and focused on delivering a smooth, stress-free experience.
Amber has over 10 years’ experience in coordination and project management.
PROJECT DETAILING
Seth Nicholson
Detail Manager
Star Inc.
Our Project Detailer is the link between creative concept and real-world construction. They produce the detailed drawings, and layout plans that guide fabrication and on-site setup—ensuring your exhibit looks and functions exactly as envisioned. Their attention to detail keeps your project running efficiently and accurately.
Seth brings over 15 years’ experience in production detailing and project management.
EXHIBIT PRODUCTION
Brent Nielsen
Production Manager
Star Inc.
Exhibit production is completed by our team of carpenters and supervised by our production manager Brent Nielsen. Brent is your point of contact if needed during the exhibit build process. He ensures that the details of your exhibit design and properly and flawlessly produced. This includes the structural exhibit components, exhibit materials, lighting, and any other components that are part of your exhibit, such as AV elements. He coordinates between our graphics production, our project management team, and account management team, and coordinates any necessary production meetings and viewings with the customer (remote or in-person).
Graphics Production
Meghan Dohnalik
Graphics Manager
Star Inc.
Our graphics production department ensures your exhibit graphics are produced flawlessly—from confirming artwork sizes to managing proofs and overseeing final installation. Our graphics manager is your point of contact for any questions about artwork files or production requirements, helping your brand stand out beautifully on the show floor.
Megan comes with over 8 years’ experience in marketing based graphic and print production.
Exhibit Design
Brian Killmore
Designer Director
Star Inc.
Our Exhibit Designer is the creative mind behind your exhibit concept. They’ll explore ideas with you, translate your goals into visual renderings, and make refinements until everything aligns perfectly. Working with pricing, sales, and production teams, they ensure your design is both stunning and buildable.
Brian has over 12 years’ experience in exhibit design in the trade show industry.
Marketing & Creative Services
Ray Cruz
V.P. of Client Marketing Services
Star Inc.
Our marketing and creative services team partners with you to extend your brand beyond the booth. Whether you need fresh exhibit graphic designs, digital display content, printed materials, or branded apparel and giveaways, we’ll help ensure your entire presence feels cohesive, engaging, and on-brand.
Accounting
Michelle Andersen
Accounting and Finance Manager
Star Inc.
Behind every great project is a team that keeps things running smoothly—including on the financial side. Your Accounting Manager is that person. They take care of invoicing, payment coordination, and any billing questions, making sure everything is clear and accurate.
Michelle has over twenty years’ experience managing accounting relationships with our customers.
International Services
International Trade Show and Event Programs
When your events involve locations outside the U.S., rest assured that Star is there to service that need. Through our strategic partnership with Display International—our global exhibit partner —you have the ability to host or participate in events throughout the world, while designing, planning, and managing your international project here with Star in the U.S. This partnership ensures design integrity and program consistency across all your projects—domestic and international.
Available International Services
- Design
- Exhibit Production
- Graphics Fabrication
- Field Services
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Onsite Field Supervision
- Storage
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Transportation
-
Audio/Visual Service
- Event Planning
- Project Management
- Marketing and Creative
- Promotional Products
Star Customer Portal
Star Online Customer Workspace Portals
Through Star’s work and project management platform—Podio, Star provides clients with a direct, online portal to access key information about their account and projects, and engage with their Star team members.
Compatible Workflow Platforms
Our Rates & Fees
The costs for Star products and services
At Star, the costs for our products and services are provided in one of two formats—fixed fees or by an hourly rate. This section is meant to explain the differences between the two, and the options you have as a Star customer.
For more information on our services and costs, see our general rates sheet. Or for a detailed design and cost proposal for your project—please contact your Star representative.
Fixed Fees
Fixed fees are predetermined set costs for a product or service that we provide at Star. Examples of fixed fees at Star include build costs and coordination fees. When we refer to the term “build” in this section, it refers to any tangible physical deliverable that we manufacture or provide as part of your project. This includes exhibit components, printed graphics, and any other manufactured, assembled, or purchased items that are part of your project.
Our build proposals are always based on fixed fees. These fees are established per project based on the proposed design, and takes into account our estimate of time and/or cost of materials to provide the final tangle product(s) for your project. Coordination Fees are other fixed or set fees.
Hourly Rates
Another way Star provides its services is by an hourly rate. These are typically for service based project deliverables—not part of the original build—that are utilized to complete or execute your project. Examples include onsite services such as labor for installation and dismantle, and additional ancillary services such as event planning, creative services, or additional carpentry services.
Fixed Fee vs. Hourly Rates
Services provided on an hourly rate are reconciled at the close of the show, and justified through final invoices and time accounting. The benefit to the customer is that they pay exactly based off of incurred and logged time, but those actual costs incurred aren’t realized until some time after a project.
Fixed Fee Proposals—which typically cover our build portion of a project—can also include services as part of that fixed fee, if desired. The benefit to the customer in a fixed fee proposal, is that the fee is predetermined and set ahead of time. The customer can plan on a set project price based on any of the products or services provided as part of the fixed fee proposal. But please note that not all services can always be provided as a fixed fee.
The Star Advantage
Why our clients choose Star
Over 60 Years of Experience
We apply over sixty years of valuable experience to every project–experience that comes from a passion for what we do, our problem solving design approach, and our consistent execution of quality driven services.
Green Alternatives
Star utilizes sustainable materials whenever possible in an effort to minimize our client carbon footprint.
Volume Discounts
Star offers volume discounts for all premium clients and “Gold” level strategic partners.
Comprehensive Services
Our wide selection of services streamlines and minimizes your coordination efforts. Working with us means the convenience of having all the necessary services at your disposal to create a successful trade show or marketing event.
Trade-In & Trade Up
Star offers its clients a “Trade-In” option when seeking out alternatives to reduce costs.
0% Percent Financing
Exhibit clients benefit greatly by engaging in our “0” percent financing and costumized payment plans.
Free Design Services
Star provides all our customers FREE design consultation.
Smart Solutions for Any Budget
Star has some of the most aggressive pricing and flexible financing in the industry. We’re confident that we can provide our customers with creative solutions to meet any budget scenario, and welcome opportunities to match competitive solutions.
Facts, Links, & References
Company Site
Star On Social Media
Applicant References
Lotlinx
Mary McDonnell
mmcdonnell@lotlinx.com
DriveCentric
Audrey Fusz
afusz@drivecentric.com
Immunity Bio
Gina Wells
gina.wells@immunitybio.com
Comments or Questions?
For any questions regarding this presentation site, or Star’s products and services, please contact:
Nick Mangiardi
Principal
nmangiardi@starincorporated.com
847-695-2040 x124 Office
847-695-1108 Fax
Star Incorporated
38W636 US Highway 20
Elgin, IL 60124-8119