The trade show and events industry has always been a place that requires innovative problem solving and the ability to pivot on a dime, and COVID-19 is certainly putting those skills to the test as companies strive to find ways to keep their employees working – and help fight the pandemic at the same time. Blue Sky Exhibits LLC, an experiential marketing company headquartered in Marietta, GA, has been busy doing just that. Following the shutdown of face-to-face events, owners Don Keller (CEO) and Tim Kelley (COO) saw a chance to use its workers' skill sets to help businesses, schools, restaurants, government offices, and more around its home of Cobb County and across the country safely reopen. So they formed a sister company called Viral Protective Services (VPS).

VPS offers organizations and businesses customized protective architecture, personal protective equipment (PPE), and thermal scanning equipment. (The company has provided thermal scanning equipment to several schools and has others interested in acquiring it as well.) Looking to take its mission even further, the company partnered with medical professionals at Business Infection Prevention Partners LLC to develop and implement infection prevention training and certification for business staff and employees. And it's having a positive impact. "We are able to keep our engineers, project managers, warehouse labor, and carpenters still working to meet the demand for reopening businesses through VPS," Keller said.

Cobb County government offices leapt at the opportunities offered by VPS. The company has provided virus protection training and PPE to government employees. It has also installed a variety of protective barriers and solutions to allow essential offices – including the county's voter registration office and seven tax offices – to get back into the swing of things. "A few months ago, I'd never heard of social distancing or worried about virus mitigation," said Carla Jackson, Cobb County Tax Commissioner. "VPS has been a great business partner in helping us navigate how to service our customers in a safe environment."

And as other industries work to reopen, VPS has been providing services for them too, including corporate offices, schools, museums, community centers, and restaurants. "This is such an important part of our world now, and we want to help businesses come back to some sort of normalcy," Kelley said. "Now more than ever, people want to see businesses are taking every precaution necessary to keep their employees and customers safe." And although Kelley and Keller long for the days of creating marketing experiences again, they love what they are doing in the interim, and they are proud of the way their employees are embracing the new initiatives. "Although this is very different than creating marketing environments and experiences, it utilizes the same skill sets," Kelley said. "There is tremendous satisfaction in knowing they are helping companies get back on their feet and protecting staff and patrons at the same time."