Creating Great Brand Experiences Together.

Cathy Hofknecht

founder & managing partner

With over 30 years of experience in technology, marketing and design, Cathy understands the challenges of building brand awareness and developing innovative marketing campaigns that support company's goals. She held a variety of leadership positions at Agfa and GretagMacbeth. Later, as Vice President of Marketing at Geomagic, Cathy focused on getting maximum exposure for the company’s 3D software products.

Cathy started Neu Concepts in 2010, with a vision of collaborating with her clients to create thoughtful brand engagements that inspire, engage and delight with each and every interaction.

Rudy Hofknecht

managing partner

With over 30 years of experience in exhibit industry, Rudy has been involved in all aspects of the business, including account and project management, booth design, site supervision, I&D, shop management, booth fabrication and cabinet making.

Throughout his career, Rudy has worked with numerous accounts, both large and small including Panasonic, Sirius Satellite Radio, Fujinon and Konica. He’s traveled around the country and across the globe to ensure his client’s events come together seamlessly. Rudy takes great pride in his attention to detail, his responsiveness and anticipating the needs of his clients.

Brittany Pelegrino

managing partner

Brittany is an alumnus of the University of Mount Olive. A member of the women’s basketball team, she graduated at the top of her class with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in English communications. During her 11 years with Neu Concepts, Brittany has been instrumental in helping to establish the company as a full-service design and build firm that can take ideas from concept to reality. Brittany is involved in all aspects of the business, ensuring that every detail is attended to throughout the process.

Brittany loves all things design, photography and is passionate about finding creative solutions that will help clients connect with their audience.

Kelly Brown

manager, account services

Kelly is a native of Boston, Massachusetts and an alumna of the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. At UNH, Kelly was a member of the women’s soccer team where she was voted captain her senior year. Her experience in project management is reflected in her attention to detail and her attitude towards building meaningful client relationships to ensure their vision is executed professionally and with ease.

Kelly loves to travel and learn about different types of cultures all over the world. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports, trying local restaurants, and reading mysteries.

Kendra Niederkorn

art director

Kendra is an alumnus of Savannah College of Art and Design where she earned her BFA in Graphic Design with a minor in Fibers. Kendra has over seven years of experience in design with a portfolio that includes web design, textiles, graphic design and more.

Kendra lives in Durham with her husband and her rescue dog named Pasta. In her free time, Kendra enjoys cooking vegetarian dishes, listening to podcasts, and reading.

Frank Pray

production manager

Frank comes to us with over 30 years of experience in the exhibit and signage industry. His extensive experience allows him to make critical decisions that are important to the integrity of your project so that not only do they function as designed, but also are a joy to put together. Nothing thrills him more than a challenging project or a problem to be solved. He takes pride in putting 110% into everything he does and enjoys seeing all the completed details.

Frank is a native of Connecticut and moved here to be closer to family. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 boys. He also enjoys learning new technologies and reading a good book.

Helen Knepper

accounting manager

Helen has her Bachelor’s from the University of Mississippi and Masters in International Business from the Cologne Business School. She has recently returned to the States after five years working and studying in the UK and Germany. She comes to Neu Concepts with a passion for small businesses and their unique place in building communities.

In her spare time, she enjoys adventures with international travel or relaxing at home, needlepointing and visiting with friends.

Daniel Oeland

designer

Danny is a recent Raleigh transplant hailing from Washington, D.C. and alum of James Madison University’s budding industrial design program. During his time in school, he grew as a multidisciplinary creative and lived in the design studio and fabrication lab. Danny loves the deep satisfaction that comes with working with his hands, and embodies the creative-meets-craftsman mission of Neu Concepts. When he’s not supporting the production team with his detail-oriented approach to design and CAD expertise, he’s in the shop bringing designs to life.

After hours, you can find him home brewing his own beer, shooting film photos, or exploring the great mountain biking trails in the area.

Brendan Lough

project manager

Brendan is an alumnus of Appalachian State University, graduating with a degree in Art Education. While at App State, he was a member of the football team and spent the rest of his time in and out of various art studios. After graduating he pursued a career in education as a middle school art teacher, coach, and Athletic Director before joining us here at Neu Concepts.

In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, art projects and playing video games.

Leah Gates

account manager

Leah is a 2021 graduate of UNC Wilmington where she studied business administration with a concentration in finance. She is a native of the Durham, NC area and is excited to be returning to the community. Leah developed a passion for building customer relationships at a young age while working in her father’s small business. Her methodical, detail-oriented approach ensures that the big picture comes together seamlessly.

When she is off the clock, she enjoys taking trips to the beach, cooking, and helping out on her family’s farm.

Nick Hofknecht

account manager

A recent New York City transplant, Nick joins the Neu Concepts teams after 16 years in the service industry leading various teams all throughout New York. A graduate from Queensborough Community College with a degree in business management, Nick is passionate about growing relationships and customer satisfaction.

During his off hours, he enjoys being outdoors, sporting events and spending time with family.

Felicia Kelly

senior account manager

Felicia is a recent Washington D.C. transplant and Chicago native, coming to Neu Concepts with more than 15 years of experience in project management. Her expertise in planning special events, conferences, and meetings on a local and global scale has allowed her to join our team with a unique perspective for building relationships. Felicia is passionate about conceptualizing new ideas, creating memorable experiences, and problem solving.

Jessie Gay

CAD detailer

Jessie was raised in the small town of Emporia, Virginia. He recently graduated from James Madison University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design. His skills combine art, business, and engineering to design a wide range of consumer products. He has an extensive background in mechanical drafting and 3D computer aided modeling.

He recently moved to North Carolina with his high school sweetheart and their pug, Meila. His favorite hobbies include fishing in local lakes and rivers, woodworking, and 3D printing.

Josh Brown

business development manager

Josh comes to us with over a decade of experience in the trade show and live events industry, focusing mainly on business development. Josh prides himself on his attention to detail and building long-lasting client relationships. A graduate of Appalachian State University, Josh is no stranger to North Carolina. Born and raised in Cary, NC, Josh has spent the last 22 years in the Charlotte Metro.

When Josh is not in the office or traveling to shows with clients, he enjoys spending time with his family and traveling with them to anywhere it is warm. He occasionally gets out for a round of golf and enjoys attending sporting events.

Heather Pace

account manager

Heather was raised in Miami and is an alumna of Florida State University, where she earned her BA in English Literature with minors in Communications and Spanish. She discovered her passion for event management at WGBH-TV in Boston and has since garnered over 15 years of experience producing a variety of events for film and music festivals, museum exhibitions, fundraising galas, academic conferences, trade shows, and brand activations all over the country.

Heather lives in Raleigh with her husband and young daughter. When she’s not juggling work and #momlife, she enjoys listening to music, swimming, and sculpting pottery.

Jennifer Heinser

graphic designer

Originally from Oceanside, New York, Jennifer spent years living in Pennsylvania. She received her BS in Graphic Design with a minor in Art History from Mansfield University, then relocated to the Raleigh-Durham area in 2014. She has over a decade of design experience focused on editorial design, signage, logos, and advertising. Jennifer is also a watercolor artist.

After business hours, you can find her creating art, kayaking, playing disc golf, climbing walls at the local climbing gym, or trying to improve her Egyptian Arabic. She lives here in the Triangle with her husband and son.

Grace Dorsett

account coordinator

Grace is a North Carolina native and a 2020 graduate of Elon University, where she studied Strategic Communications. After graduating, she worked in sales and marketing. She ran a freelance communications consultancy business where she developed a passion for cultivating strong relationships with her teammates and clients, problem-solving and creative collaboration to boost client success. Grace’s ability to manage a variety of clients makes her a great addition to the Neu Concepts team, and she is excited to learn and gain more industry experience.

Outside work, Grace loves spending time with friends and family, traveling, taking trips to the NC mountains, going to concerts and exploring the Raleigh-Durham area.

Todd Ashcraft

project manager

Todd is a native of New Orleans and an alum of Bennington College, earning an MFA in photography. He is also a recent alum of North Carolina State University, earning his second master's degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. During his time between degrees, Todd honed his craft by working in exhibition and lighting design at two prominent New England museums. He eventually opened the Todd James Art Gallery on Cape Cod, MA. Todd has 25 years of experience in the creative arena with a portfolio that includes filmmaking, academic research, commercial photography, landscape architecture, and 3D design.

Todd is married and lives in Raleigh and loves adventure travel, live music, and exploring the food scene in every city he visits.