Larry Arnaudet is a native of Jennings, Louisiana.  After attending the University of Southwest Louisiana, New Mexico Military Institute and Louisiana State University, Larry entered the meetings and convention industry in 1970 with Manncraft Exhibitors Services in New Orleans.  When Manncraft was purchased by Greyhound Exposition Services (GES) in 1972, Larry remained with the company and was promoted through a series of positions in warehouse operations, drafting and design, show site operations, sales and executive management.  In 1979, he was named Regional Vice President, Southwest Region of GES, based in New Orleans.

In 1981, Freeman Decorating Company purchased the eastern half of GES and Larry assumed the position of General Manager of the New Orleans office.  He was promoted to Regional Vice President in 1982 and was named Vice President, Sales Administration in 1983.  In 1987 Larry was promoted to Vice President Sales, for The Freeman Companies, relocating to the Corporate Offices in Dallas, Texas.  In 2001 Larry was promoted to Executive Vice President of Sales with responsibilities of directing and overseeing the sales activities and direction for Freeman’s 26 North American sales operations and 250+ member sales team.
 

Larry served on Freeman’s Long Range Planning Committee, Executive Committee and Board of Directors.  He was presented with the Buck Freeman Award in 1992 for his outstanding contributions to the company.  In addition, Larry was actively involved in sales and account management serving as primary account executive with a number of Freeman’s national accounts including the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, American Truck Dealers, American Welding Society, Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition, International Autobody Congress & Expo, International Pool & Spa Exposition, International Work Boat Show, National Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers, National Automobile Dealers Association, National Beer Wholesalers Association, National Remodelers Association, National Roofing Contractors Association, Pan American Leather Expo, Seatrade Cruise Shipping, Surfaces Expo and World of Concrete.

Larry has served on the Board of Directors for ESCA in the positions of board member, Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President and President and also served as Annual Meeting Program Chairman for their Annual Summer Educational Conference for five years.  He has served on the Greater New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau Sales & Marketing Committee, the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau Sales & Marketing Committee and was active in other industry associations as well.  He is a charter Associate Member of the International Association of Exposition Managers and served on the Exhibits Committee and Allied Member Committee for the International Association of Venue Managers.

In 2004 Larry took early retirement from Freeman, joined The Augusta Group and established The Arnaudet Group, LLC in January of 2005.  Shortly thereafter he and associate Don Vaughn started a new division, Augusta Group Management (AGM). In 2006 AGM assumed association management of ESCA and Larry was named Executive Director.

In the 2014 Larry was given the ESCA Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the exhibition and meetings industry over his 45 year career.