Kelly Austin has accepted a position with Global Spectrum Facility Management as director of Marketing at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario. A native of London, Ontario, Austin served as Budweiser Gardens’ Marketing coordinator from 2009 to 2012 before being promoted to the director of Sales and Marketing at Mattamy Athletic Centre at Ryerson University in Toronto.
IACC Europe has elected Rachael Bartlett as their president for a two-year term. Bartlett has served as vice president and a member of the IACC Global Board of Directors for the past four years. She is head of Sales and Marketing at Warwick Conferences, University of Warwick. She will be assuming the position left by Jeu Bressers, who stepped down after serving for five years.
Jim Blackhall has joined Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga., as director of facilities. He brings more than 25 years of facility experience to his new position. Most recently, he owned Blackhall associates, a venue consulting firm, during which time he also served as general manager of specialty construction company MIT of North Atlanta, Inc.
SMG has appointed Leonard Bonacci as regional vice president of its stadium and arenas division. He worked for nearly 17 years as a senior executive for the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles, where he was responsible for all game day and special event management duties at Lincoln Financial Field including the bidding and solicitation of events including Army v. Navy game, NCAA Lacrosse, international soccer and other large events. Most recently, Bonacci has worked for SMG in a consulting capacity for the last six months with a focus on the new Minnesota Stadium project where SMG serves as manager. He will be based in SMG’s corporate headquarters in Conshohocken, Pa., and will report to Stadium and Arena Division Executive Vice President Doug Thornton.
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events appointed Cathy Breden as executive vice president where she will manage the day-to-day operations of the association. Breden had served as the managing director of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research.
Centaur Exhibitions has appointed Sam Chance as Marketing manager to help increase UK buyers at The Meeting Show 2015. Chance will be responsible for traditional and digital marketing with a focus on launching a new show website. Chance comes from Reed Exhibitions.
Freeman has hired Paul Cunniffe as vice president of business development in the Exposition division. With more than 20 years of experience, Cunniffe’s customer list includes the Democratic National Convention, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League and the American Physical Therapy Association.
IMN Solutions named Steve Doyle director of Global Initiatives. Doyle has served as chairman of The Alliance for International Meetings and Commerce, an organization founded by IMN Solutions and has experience with AMI and DAI, two association management companies.
John Frank has been named director, Business Development, BITAC/Hotel Interactive, West Palm Beach, Fla. He will be working to bring together, in an upscale environment, major hospitality suppliers and buyers for one-on-one meetings and scheduled networking events. Frank has spent the past 10 years with Southern Aluminum.
The Board of Directors of Meet Puerto Rico appointed Peter Hopgood as chairman of the board. Hopgood has been in the hospitality business for over 20 years, starting with the Coronado Plaza Hotel. Hopgood currently serves as vice president of Sales and Marketing for International Hospitality Enterprises. He has been part of Meet Puerto Rico’s Board of Directors since 2011.
Delaware North has named three of the Jacobs brothers as co-CEOs, following in the footsteps of their father, Jeremy Jacobs, who has served in the position since 1968. Louis Jacobs and Jeremy Jacobs Jr. have been named co-chief executive officers at Delaware North, while Charlie Jacobs will serve as CEO of Delaware North’s Boston Holdings including TD Garden, New England Sports Network, the Boston Bruins, and real estate holdings. The three brothers have all held senior executive positions within the company for the last several years. They will be supported by a board of directors, that will include father, Jeremy, as chairman, and the existing executive team. Multiple leadership positions could help ease the void when current president and chief operating officer at Delaware North, Charles Moran, retires in December.
After a nationwide search, Kathy Kramer has been hired as the OC Fair and Event Center’s new CEO. Kramer will replace Doug Lofstrom, who stepped in as interim CEO in 2013. Kramer had been vice president of Business Operations with Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and brings a diverse background in for-profit, government and not-for-profit organizations.
Christine Scott-Laasko has been promoted from assistant box office manager to manager of Events and Planning at the Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas. She will be responsible for planning, staffing and directing box office operations at the Frank Erwin Center where she has been since 1997, holding a variety of positions.
Julie Morin has joined Visit Spokane as a Business Development Sales manager as an expansion of their Business Development department. Her previous work includes Bozzi Media, Inlander Publications and Greater Spokane Incorporated.
Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. has appointed Adam Nance as chief development officer of Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Murray Theatre and the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, Fla. Nance most recently served as executive director of the Seattle Central College Foundation.
The Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau has appointed Sue Oxarat as the director of communications. A native of Ontario, Oxarat brings more than 25 years of marketing experience and most recently served as
marketing director of Citizens Business Bank Arena.
Jerry Reece has retired after serving 48 consecutive years on Northeast Arkansas District Fair’s board as general manager in Jonesboro. Citing health issues, Reece is stepping down to spend more time with his family.
Wendy Riggs has been named VP, Operations at the Walton Arts Center/WalMart AMP in Fayetteville, Ark. Riggs brings more than 30 years of experience, including work with the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Amphitheater, True Colors Theater Company, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta, Fox Theatre, Atlanta, and Walt Disney World, Orlando.
Mike Sherrard, Mirabelle Chatterjee and Liz Bokaie have been appointed to Nineteen Events’ management team.
Patrick Talty has been named general manager for SMG at the new Minnesota Multipurpose Stadium in Minneapolis. He will assume the role on Jan. 12, overseeing construction and hirings for the $1.26-billion facility, which is scheduled to be complete in summer 2016. Talty has worked around the globe, most recently serving as senior vice president, live events, for World Wrestling Entertainment where he was responsible for global touring and event marketing for more than 420 annual events. Before his time with WWE, Talty served as general manager of Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, a multivenue complex including a 45,000-seat soccer stadium, from 2009-2012. Talty has opened an NFL stadium before, having served as assistant general manager for Global Spectrum during pre opening services and continuing operations at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Farrah A. Usmani has joined the firm of Marcus & Colvin, LLP as a senior associate in its entertainment industry practice. Usmani has experience in drafting agreements related to live music after spending several years in business affairs at the Creative Arts Agency. Usmani earned her J.D. from University of Houston Law Center.