MANAGEMENT
Greg Lehman has joined Venues Today as a staff reporter. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from California State University at Fullerton, as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from Lindenwood University in St. Louis, Mo. He last worked for The Record Reporter as production editor in Phoenix, Ariz.
Karmen White has joined Venues Today as accounting manager. She is currently attending California State University at Long Beach to complete her bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in marketing. She last worked for an education company that specialized in teaching investors how to trade in market with Direct Access. White also brings experience implementing trade shows and sales seminars.
Monique Potter joined Venues Today as Hot Tickets manager. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix, graduating with honors. Potter spent last year working for The Literacy Project, and is currently writing a phonetically-based book for children.
Randie Adam has been promoted to a newly-created vice president of marketing and visitor services role, overseeing all of the Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau destination marketing, communications efforts and visitor experience programs.
Pam Boeing-Rogers has assumed the role of director of convention services at the Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau following Sandy Clore’s retirement in February. With 32 years of experience in the industry, Boeing-Rogers has a background in event planning with both the Westin and Hyatt.
Miraval Group announced the appointment of Thomas P. Botts, a 28-year travel industry veteran, as senior vice president and chief marketing officer. He will be responsible for developing and executing all marketing strategy designed to drive customer acquisition, retention and profitability across its growing luxury resort, spa and wellness portfolio.
IEBA’s executive committee has appointed David Boyer as treasurer. Boyer is a business manager at Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy, where he guides the business and financial affairs of The Black Keys, Eli Young Band, Sam Hunt, Scotty McCreery and Andrew Bird, among others. Before beginning his work at FBMM in 2001, Boyer was a signed recording artist. He has served as treasurer for the Nashville Film Festival and was a member of Leadership Music’s Class of 2013.
Julie Calvert will start a full-time role as executive director of Source Cincinnati. She brings 15-years of experience from the CVB, where she most recently served as their vice president of communications and strategic development
Diane Catanzaro has been promoted to director, information technology and business intelligence at the Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Todd Coder has been appointed as talent buyer for Huka Entertainment. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Coder has a deep expertise in the Southeastern region of the U.S.
Mike Cronin has been promoted to executive director of the Denny Sanford Premier Center, Bemidji, Minn. Cronin is currently the Associate Executive Director of the VenuWorks-managed venue. Prior to his position at the Sanford Center, he held leadership positions in the Technical Departments at the Iowa State Center, Ames and Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, Atlanta.
Jason Dunn has been promoted to vice president of multicultural and community development at the Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau. In his new role, Dunn will lead efforts to continue expanding Cincinnati’s multicultural convention business.
Dave Fortune has been named Huka Entertainment’s vice president of touring. Fortune has worked in the live music sector for more than 30 years, most recently serving as vice president of production for Live Nation Canada, where he oversaw more than 1,800 shows annually.
Sally Grady has been appointed business development manager at The Gherkin, London, following a year as sales manager. Charley Taylor-Smith, the new sales and marketing manager at The Gherkin, spent more than four years with the National Theatre heading up the hospitality events department, as well as the commercial business development department.
StubHub has hired Rich Holtzman to join the partnerships and business development team as the head of music business development. Holtzman brings over 20 years of experience within the music industry, most recently as an artist manager for Red Light Management.
Members of IEBA have elected Jbeau Lewis, agent at United Talent Agency, to their board of directors. Lewis represents established and emerging recording artists, working with a broad range of UTA music and touring clients that includes Mariah Carey, Kanye West, DJ Khaled, Rachel Platten, Flo Rida, LANY, and The Smashing Pumpkins. Prior to UTA, Lewis spent 11 years in the music department at CAA.
Dan Merker has been appointed as senior talent buyer at Huka Entertainment. Merker has played an integral role in booking talent for the company's hugely successful Tortuga Music Festival.
Suntec Singapore has announced the appointment of Elvis Ng as chef de cuisine. The multi-award winning chef brings over 20 years of experience to the new position, most recently serving as sous chef and acting chef at Royal Plaza on Scotts, where he worked for 15 years.
Brent Silberstein, a 30-year concert production veteran, has been named chief production officer at Huka Entertainment. In addition to a lengthy resume of venue production positions, Silberstein has worked closely with such touring artists as *Nsync, Backstreet Boys, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac and Kiss.
Gateway Ticketing Systems has promoted Kimberly Weidman to marketing manager. Weidman joined Gateway in August 2015 as the company’s marketing content creator/influencer, responsible for managing its social media platforms and press relations.
PASSINGS
DAVID B. ROSS— 63, former manager of the Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau, Mo., and former president of the International Venue Managers Association, April 14. He began his career working for three professional soccer teams before returning to Chattanooga, Tenn., as the assistant director for the UTC Roundhouse Arena. From there, he was called to Cape Girardeau to help design, build and manage Southeast Missouri State University's new arena. Ross was the center's first director, holding the position from the building's grand opening in 1987 until his retirement in 2012. Ross earned his Certified Facilities Executive designation, served as president of IAVM and helped mentor students and colleagues who launched careers in stadiums and arenas across the country. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Susan; a daughter, Erin Ross; a son, Bryan (Jennifer) Ross; grandson, Owen; his mother, Cheryl Smith; two brothers, John (Cathy) Ross Jr. and Gregory Ross; two sisters, Peggy (James) Denny and Chesley (Ray) Vohden; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, colleagues and friends.
ROY SAUNDERS– 85, retired director of public events for Tulsa, Okla., and former president of IAVM, April 14 in Tulsa. Over his career as the city of Tulsa’s director of public events, overseeing both the downtown convention center (now the Cox Business Center) and Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Saunders also served his industry in various roles, including president of the International Association of Venue Managers. At the time of his retirement, Saunders was the longest-serving department head in the city of Tulsa history and had served under eight mayors. He served four years in the Army before getting a degree in business administration from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. He went on to manage public auditoriums there, in Utica, N.Y., and Bakersfield, Calif., before moving to Tulsa in 1963 to manage the then-under-construction convention center. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Joyce; a son, Greg Saunders; a daughter, Dawn Black; and four grandchildren.