Meet the Team Who’s Changing the Industry

We’re raising the bar for exhibits, events and experiences. Get to know the people making it happen.

Iman McFarland, Chief Executive Officer

Iman McFarland serves as Chief Executive Officer of 21st Century Expo Group, leading the award-winning firm into a new era of creativity, innovation, and cultural fluency within the events and exhibits industry. With more than two decades of hands-on experience at 21st CEG, she brings a deep understanding of operations, client service, and strategy—combined with an entrepreneurial mindset shaped by founding her own consulting and event firms, ILM Solutions and TMG Events.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she captained the women's basketball team, Iman earned her Executive MBA from Howard University and is an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. Beyond her executive leadership she is an engaging speaker and youth advocate, touring nationally with the Strong Youn Strong Communities (SYSC) initiative alongside the Pro Football Hall of Famer to empower and inspire the next generation. She has represented small business interests before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and has appeared on television programs in Detroit and other markets highlighting community leadership and entrepreneurship. Iman remains an active voice in NMSDC, WBENC, EDPA, and Women in Exhibitions, championing diversity, opportunity, and workforce development across the industry.

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Leslie McFarland, President

Leslie McFarland serves as President of 21st Century Expo Group, bringing more than three decades of expertise in event management, finance, and organizational leadership. A seasoned professional with a background in both corporate and nonprofit sectors, Leslie played a pivotal role in shaping 21st CEG’s growth and reputation as one of the most respected general service contractors in the industry. Before officially joining her husband, founder Ray McFarland, in 1992, she served as Deputy Director of the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation, where she gained valuable experience in administration, finance, and workforce development.

At 21st CEG, Leslie oversees financial operations, staffing, and client account management - combining sharp business insight with a deep commitment to service and community impact. Her leadership reflects a balance of fiscal discipline and cultural fluency, ensuring the company remains both competitive and connected to the diverse communities it serves.

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Jeff Hannah, Chief Growth Officer

Jeff Hannah serves as Chief Growth Officer at 21st Century Expo Group, where he leads strategic initiatives focused on brand development, market expansion, and long-term growth. Drawing on more than two decades of global experience, Jeff brings a unique combination of creative insight, business strategy, and cross-cultural expertise to help propel 21st CEG into its next phase of evolution.

Recognized internationally as a thought leader in the exhibition and event industry, Jeff is also the Founder and President of Global Exhibitor and the creator of Trade Show Basics, the industry’s most comprehensive introductory training course for newcomers. His career spans leadership roles with top firms in the U.S., U.K., and Middle East - guiding multicultural teams across more than 50 countries and shaping experiential environments for brands such as Nike, Boeing, and Cisco.

Jeff is a frequent speaker, writer, and educator on topics including global engagement strategy, cultural fluency, and brand experience design. He has presented at major industry forums such as EXHIBITORLIVE, EuroShop, and IFES, and serves on the faculty of the CTSM Program. A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Industrial Design, Jeff continues to apply a designer’s mindset to strategy, helping organizations connect creativity with measurable growth.

Connect With Jeff on LinkedIn

Mats Bruin, Chief Financial Officer

Mats Bruin is the Chief Financial Officer at 21st Century Expo Group, bringing over 30 years of experience in finance, strategy, and business leadership. He holds the equivalent of a BA in Accounting and an MBA, and is recognized for combining deep financial expertise with a modern, pragmatic, and technology-forward approach to scaling organizations. Mats partners closely with executive teams to drive sustainable growth, financial clarity, and data-driven decision-making in dynamic and complex environments, with a strong emphasis on accurate, timely reporting and disciplined balance sheet management.

Originally from the Netherlands and now based in Wilmington, North Carolina for more than two decades, Mats brings a global perspective and a people-first leadership philosophy shaped by building and leading a family-run financial services firm. He is known for leveraging modern accounting and bookkeeping technologies to enable real-time visibility into financial performance, daily reconciliation, and precise expense tracking, allowing leadership teams to make informed decisions with confidence and speed. His commitment to operational rigor, transparency, and strong financial controls helps ensure that organizations remain well-balanced, well-informed, and positioned for long-term, sustainable success.

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Ray McFarland, Founder & CEO Emeritus

Ray McFarland is the Founder and CEO Emeritus of 21st Century Expo Group, a company he built from the ground up in 1991 with a clear vision - to create exceptional exhibit and event experiences while empowering diverse talent across the industry. His journey began in the hospitality sector as an assistant banquet manager, where he discovered a passion for logistics, service, and the artistry of event production. That passion evolved into a career spanning more than 30 years, coordinating hundreds of trade shows, special events, and corporate exhibit programs nationwide.

Under Ray’s leadership, 21st CEG established lasting partnerships with organizations such as the NAACP, Howard University, NMSDC, and multiple Presidential Inaugural Committees, earning a reputation for reliability, creativity, and cultural fluency. A graduate of Howard University, Ray also completed the Tuck / Google Digital Excellence Program for Entrepreneurs at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Beyond 21st CEG, he has launched ventures such as The Campus, a youth sports training facility, and The McFarland Group (TMG). An active advocate for economic development in Prince George’s County and a contributor to event tourism initiatives across the Washington D.C. region, Ray continues to champion growth, opportunity, and excellence throughout the communities he serves.