The Spokane Public Facilities District announced that Johnna Boxley, general manager of the Spokane Convention Center and INB Performing Arts Center (PAC), will retire. Stephanie Curran, currently the assistant general manager, will assume the role of general manager for both facilities. Boxley has been the Convention Center general manager since 2000 and with the SPFD since 2003. During Boxley’s tenure, the Spokane Convention Center has become a productive economic engine for the region, bringing millions of dollars into the local economy. She has overseen thousands of successful events, two major expansions.
Diane Chen has been appointed Shenyang New World Expo’s deputy general manager. Chen joined Expo in June of 2012 as director of Business Development and holds a bachelor’s degree in Law and a master’s degree in Business Strategy Management. She has received a certificate in International Business and Operations Management and is a member of the International Association of Venue Managers.
Paul Crewes will take the artistic helm at the two-year-old Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in the heart of Beverly Hills, Calif., as the company’s first artistic director. He will assume full-time artistic leadership in April 2016. Most recently, Crewes served as chief executive and executive producer of Kneehigh, an internationally recognized theater company located in the United Kingdom.
Linda Forlini will be leaving her position as director of customer relations at New York Philharmonic after 12 years to join Ticket Philadelphia as vice president. Forlini will be responsible for the overall management of Ticket Philadelphia and the various services it provides to the Kimmel Center, Inc., the Philadelphia Orchestra and other resident companies and clients. Forlini will replace Gary Lustig who retired in July. Forlini will make the move next month, and New York Philharmonic will begin the search for her replacement.
VenuWorks has hired Tricia Gonyo as the vice president of Sales and Marketing. Gonyo comes from 17 years with Ticketmaster, most recently working as senior client development director. Gonyo will be responsible for the sales and marketing efforts corporately and at each of its managed facilities.
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has announced Peter Haycroft as the new executive chef. Haycroft joins the team after 14 years with Epicure at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, most recently as the director of Culinary Operations. Having worked in various senior roles at some of the world’s premier hotel kitchens including Hyatt and Accor, Haycroft brings over 35 years of experience, expertise and leadership to MCEC.
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has promoted Alice Lem Chu Hong to deputy director of Sales. Hong will be responsible for maintaining the financial and commercial viability of the Centre’s five core business segments, identifying new areas for sales revenue, maximizing venue occupancy and yield from events, and managing the sales team. Tiffany Chung Suk Wei has taken over the sales manager position.
TopTix UK has hired Peter I’anson and Ken Paul as business development directors and Kimberly Waterman as consultant trainer. I’anson brings over 10 years of experience in box office and ticketing operations oversight and worked most recently with AudienceView as director of Business Development. Paul brings 30 years of experience in the ticketing industry, most recently working as an account management consultant and commercial manager for ENTA Ticketing Solutions. Waterman last worked with Het Concertgebouw and brings seven years of experience in the ticketing and box office industry.
VenuWorks has announced that Deb Mulch has been hired as the new executive director for the Burlington Memorial Auditorium. Mulch has held a number of leadership positions in the past, including president of the Board of Directors for the Burlington Rotary Club, as well as being on the Greater Burlington Partnership Board of Directors. Mulch recently served as the executive director for the Burlington Area YMCA.
Joseph Nawa has been promoted to Senior Consultant in the Construction Division of New Day Underwriting Managers LLC. Nawa joined New Day as a consultant in 2013.
Proof of the Pudding by MGR has named Adam Noyes president. As the company’s president, Noyes will be responsible for providing leadership for the organization by working with the senior management team to implement goals, strategies, plans and policies, as well as oversee the daily businesses and activities of Proof of the Pudding. Phil Noyes, Adam’s father and the company’s longtime leader, will continue with Proof of the Pudding as chairman.
Jason Rittenberry has joined Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and Austin360, Austin, Texas, in the newly-created position of Chief Strategy Officer. Rittenberry will be responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of global strategic initiatives, business models and revenue streams for COTA. He had been president and CEO of IRG Sports & Entertainment. He has also resigned his position as president of the Florida Facility Managers Association, since he is now based in Texas. He continues to maintain a residence in Nashville.
Comcast Spectacor announced that Brian Rothenberg has been promoted to senior vice president and General Counsel for Spectra, the Comcast Spectacor business unit engaged in all aspects of live event management. Previously, he was vice president and Senior Deputy General Counsel. In his new role, Rothenberg will be responsible for all of the day-to-day legal affairs for all three of Spectra’s divisions, in addition to working closely with the Spectra Business Development team.
3AWORLDWIDE has named Brenda Sandoval as the company’s new director of Agency Alliances. In her new position, Sandoval will manage 3AWORLDWIDE’s relationships between the agency’s North American, Caribbean and Latin American affiliates. Additionally, she will identify specific gaps that the agency can fill. Sandoval is a seasoned industry veteran; her specialties include marketing and advertising, sales and strategic planning. In addition to this promotion, Sandoval will continue to maintain her position of vice president of Global Media, overseeing research, planning and buying within the agency’s media department.
Eric Capogrosso, co-founder and CEO of CAPS, has announced that Doug Sylvester, most recently president of Vubiquity, will succeed him as the company’s CEO. At Vubiquity, Sylvester drove the company’s growth in the premium content services space, negotiating significant long-term agreements with TV service providers, major studios, cable TV networks, and sports leagues, and leading the company’s global expansion. Capogrosso will stay on in a consulting role through the end of 2015. He will retain an ownership interest in the company and remain active on the company’s Board of Directors.
Tim Taylor has been hired as the new CEO of Walker Arena, Muskegon, Mich. Taylor, who is the former president of the Muskegon Lumberjacks and vice president of the former Muskegon Fury, grew up playing hockey at the arena and even attended his high school graduation there. Now his two sons play at the downtown arena, and Taylor helps coach a Junior Jacks team. It will be Taylor’s job to market the arena for additional uses outside of hockey.
VenuWorks has hired Robert Warren as executive director of Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines, Iowa. He replaces the late Carol Pollock. Warren comes to Hoyt Sherman Place after having served as the executive director of Hartford Performs in Hartford, Conn. His career has also included positions such as director of Education and Community Engagement at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Fla.