Sarah Rogers Thorson at an IAVM conference last year.
Sarah Rogers Thorson exited her role as director of development for the IAVM Foundation last week.
Thorson who married Martin Thorson of Spectra Venue Management last September, joined the International Association of Venue Managers in 2006 and was promoted to director of development in September 2011. She worked out of her Philadalphia home.
Prior to joining IAVM, Thorson was national special events manager for The Legends Group and before that, business development manager for Charity Sports Distributors and Home Game Auction.
Karen Totaro, chairman of IAVM and manager of the Atlantic City (N.J.) Convention Center, confirmed that Thorson separated from IAVM June 23, but declined further comment on a personnel matter, referring further questions to interim IAVM CEO Carol Wallace.
Totaro did say that the IAVM Foundation board of trustees was meeting today to outline all the point people for Thorson's responsibilities leading into VenueConnect in Minneapolis, July 23-26, where the Foundation has several fundraising events planned.
Appointment of a new director of development will probably be delayed until after IAVM has selected a new CEO, replacing Vicki Hawarden, who left in March. Totaro said IAVM has been through the first round of interviews for the CEO position and "hopes to have a new CEO by VenueConnect."
The new CEO would then select a team going forward, she said.