Less than a month since axing the majority of their sale’s staff, HX Media’s at it again, this time trimming down their Expo Division.
In case you’re not in the gay media mix, the Expo Division used to be Consolidated Management Associates – a name that got scrapped once HX Media merged with gay publishing giant, Window Media. Regardless of title, the division has spent the last nine years organizing the freaktastic Gay Life Expo and the pervtastic Gay Erotic Expo.
What’s more notable about this case is the fact that HX Founder Matthew Bank fired a man named Steven Levenberg: a nice Jewish boy who’s spent the last nine years toiling for Matthew Bank and his bank account.
The yet-to-be updated Gay Life website celebrates Levenberg:
Steven Levenberg, COO of HX Media LLC, has 15 years experience producing business and consumer expos and events. Dubbed the “master of the gay and lesbian marketing” by Crain’s New York Business, Steven Levenberg has guided the launch and subsequent success of the Gay Life Expo, Gay Erotic Expos, Gay Travel Expo, and the Gay Life Film Festival in various cities throughout the world during his tenure at HX Media LLC. He was instrumental in developing the first consumer show for people with aids and a special event for seniors.
He may have worked his tail off, but apparently it wasn’t enough. Rumor has it this year’s Gay Life Expo didn’t live up to expectations and, in fact, lost a bit of cash.
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Another employee, Jerry Beersdorf, got let go as well. Beersdorf only just started at HX a few months ago, taking over for another, anonymous employee who got canned for meeting johns during business hours. If only Bank and friends had known earlier – they could have asked for a cut.
And, yes, we know some of you “don’t care” about gay media news, but Levenberg’s more than just news. His work at HX Media- and at rival RDP before – helped create a space the one-armed fag, the bearded drag queen and the aging homo guido could call their own. Sure, it may be a bit nerdie and may seem a bit frivolous, but we’ve no doubt his work helped people. Not us…but, you know…people.
So, what does this mean for the expo division? We don’t know. We tried asking an insider, but he just cried into the phone. Seriously. He was bawling. You know things are bad when a New York City gay media type lets their emotions go…
Al
Aw man! Poor Jerry. No wonder why I haven’t heard from him in a few weeks.
tom
HX and that Blade thing are dead on the ropes.
Vicki
The rumor is incorrect. This year’s Gay Life Expo made money, as it has done for the past several years. Best of luck Steven! As a businessman, you’re outstanding. As a human being, you’re truly a gem. They obviously didn’t deserve you.
nystudman
Yeah, that’s too bad. Matthew Bank is a big fat selfish idiot. He’ll get his. Just don’t know when.
Paul
I’ve known Steve Levenberg for 30 years.
The fact he was fired means HX Media is in financial trouble.
Vicki is correct – the Gay Life Expo made money this year as it has for the past several years under Steve’s direction. Statements or rumors to the contrary are an attempt to make Steve look bad while covering up their own poor management of the other divisions, when in fact he has not only made money for HX but done it with talent, integrity and hard work.
How often in a sinking business have we seen myopic decisions made.
Steve Levenberg will be fine – His credentials and loyalty will take him to the next chapter — way beyond HX.
How HX will fare, however, remains to be seen.
Jon
Maybe Queerty needs to find out who moved into Steve’s office. Word on the street is that it happened today.
article
Really though, do we care about a third-rate nightlife and advertising publication? No.
Rex
The wheels are definitely coming off this wannabe media empire. Consider this:
1) The Philly paper is bleeding cash
2) The parent company needs money so desparately that they recently accepted 80 cents on the dollar if their largest advertisers paid up their outstanding balances.
3) The Boston paper is in shambles with staff unrest, and the paper itself is 12 pages smaller than it was 3 months ago, and those are almost all ad pages.
Steve
Steve Levenberg has a reputation, which has always led him to failure. Every organization he has worked for seems to have failed. If HX is going down the tubes, Levenberg had a major part in the deal.