Nick Barnes has joined United Talent Agency (UTA) as a digital strategy agent, based in the agency’s Nashville office. Barnes has spent the last three years as director of fan engagement and digital for Eric Church, while a member of global management firm Q Prime. Prior to that, Barnes spent three years as manager of digital marketing at Sony Music Nashville and Arista Records.
John Behling has been named chief marketing officer at Opry Entertainment Group, Nashville. Prior to joining Opry Entertainment, Behling served as executive VP of marketing for House of Blues Entertainment.
STRI Group has strengthened its UK regional consultancy operation with the addition of two new turfgrass agronomists. Michael Boyes joins STRI after a distinguished career in greenkeeping where he worked in Spain, Dubai and over five years at Loch Lomond Golf Club, Alexandria, U.K. He will be based in Milton Keynes covering the south of England and south midlands. Gary Walters will be based out of STRI headquarters in Bingley, West Yorkshire, U.K. Walters arrives from Myerscough College, Preston, U.K., where he worked as a full-time lecturer.
Nicolò Brambilla has joined Schuler Shook’s Melbourne, Australia, office as senior lighting designer. Brambilla has nearly 14 years of experience in the lighting industry. He has worked in Australia, Milan, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, China and Southeast Asia.
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Convention Centre (the Centre) has appointed John Burke as its new deputy GM. Prior to joining the Centre, Burke was director of operations, Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), Muscat. Before his time at OCEC, he was the director of IT at Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha, for four years. Burke kicked off his career with the NEC Group, where he gained over 15 years of comprehensive IT, technical and operational knowledge.
Mark Camillo is a new board member for Prevent Advisors. Camillo currently serves on Contemporary Services Corporation’s (CSC) senior management team and also serves as an appointed member of the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) Global Terrorism/International Crime Council. Camillo began his career in law enforcement as a special agent in the U.S. Secret Service where he completed a 21-year career that included three separate assignments at the White House.
Natalie Caplan has been promoted to the position of vice president of entertainment at Arena Network. Caplan was formerly director of entertainment for Arena Network. Caplan previously worked for Nederlander Concerts, Los Angeles, for 14 years as director of artist relations at the Greek Theatre.
Michael Downing has joined Prevent Advisors as vice president of security. Prior to this, Downing spent the majority of his career with the LAPD, becoming deputy chief of police over a 35-year tenure. He is considered a leading global expert in both public safety and counterterrorism. Downing regularly works with the Department of Justice collaborating on projects around the world and serves as a fellow at the George Washington University Homeland Security Institute, Washington, D.C.
Ticketmaster has appointed sports and entertainment industry veteran Greg Economou as chief commercial officer and head of sports. Economou most recently served as executive VP and chief revenue officer at Dick Clark Productions.
SMG and Symphony Orchestra Augusta (SOA) have tapped Marty Elliott to be the new GM at Miller Theater, Augusta, Ga. Elliott has more than 20 years of industry experience most recently in the greater Atlanta area leading the Fifth Third Bank Stadium and the Sports and Entertainment Park at Kennesaw (Ga.) State University.
United Talent Agency (UTA) has hired Joe Eshenbaugh as an agent in its comedy touring department. Eshenbaugh joins UTA after five years at Innovative Artists where he was a comedy agent. He will be based in Los Angeles.
Kentucky Venues has hired two key executives and promoted another. Gary Friedman is the new chief revenue officer for Kentucky Exposition Center, Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) and in-house produced events. North American International Livestock Expo and Kentucky Hoopfest. Friedman most recently served as GM of Louisville Arena Sports and Entertainment Properties at the KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky. Patrick Gregory is the new director of sales at KICC. He most recently served as director of resort parks for the Kentucky State Park system. Kentucky venues executive budget director Kevin Moore has been promoted to chief financial officer. Formerly with Louisville Metro Finance, Moore has been with Kentucky Venues since 2013.
Publicist Mike Gowen has been promoted to the position of account executive at The Mitch Schneider Organization (MSO). Gowen started with the company 2012 as a part-time assistant before advancing to the position of executive assistant to the president. In 2014, Gowen advanced to associate publicist.
Denise Gonzales has been hired as director of entertainment for Arena Network. Gonzales takes her new position after working for Live Nation, Los Angeles, for the past seven years. For the past six years, Gonzales was project manager of touring at Live Nation.
Craig Hassall has been appointed CEO of the Royal Albert Hall, London. Prior to this, he was the chief executive of Opera Australia. Prior to that, Hassall was CEO of the English National Ballet and COO of Raymond Gubbay Ltd. He also consulted on cultural aspects of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Hassall replaces Chris Cotton who left his post after seven and a half years.
Auerbach Consultants has promoted three staff members and welcomed back a team member. Robert Hill is a new principal and studio manager for the San Francisco office. Emily Brainerd is a new associate and worked at Iowa State University, Ames, prior to joining the firm. Kevin Macpherson is the new LEED AP as well as a new associate and previously worked as a scenic and lighting designer and production manager in New York City, both on and Off Broadway. Grace Gavin Rhodes has rejoined the firm as a senior associate after relocating to Europe.
Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) has named Art Jimenez executive director of tourism sales. Most recently, he was the VP of marketing for Travel Leaders Group. Prior to that, Jimenez spent more than 17 years in multiple leadership positions at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Agent David Klein has joined the Los Angeles office of United Talent Agency (UTA). Klein comes to UTA from Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where he spent nearly 12 years. Klein began his career at Electric Factory Concerts, Philadelphia, before joining CAA in 2005.
Andy Miller has been hired as executive director, global partnerships at Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. Miller most recently served as director of national sales for NBC Olympics & Sports Ventures, where he managed western regional partnerships. Miller will work out of the West Coast Office.
Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) has hired Darren Pfeffer as executive vice president of MSG Live. Pfeffer joins the company after spending the last two decades at iHeartMedia, where he most recently served as senior vice president of music and entertainment marketing.
Michael Rodriguez is a new board member of Prevent Advisors. Rodriguez currently serves as director of security for the United States Tennis Association and the US Open Tennis Championships. In addition to his over 20 years of sporting event security experience, Rodriguez has extensive operational experience addressing terrorism-related issues. Rodriguez also serves as co-chair for the Department of Homeland Security’s Sports Leagues Subsector Council.
Juan Rodriguez has accepted the position of executive vice president and general manager for BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston. Rodriguez worked in Houston for SMG at NRG Stadium for 14 years prior to moving to Sacramento to become senior VP and general manager of the then under-construction Golden 1 Center, Sacramento. Rodriguez starts the new job June 15.
Gold Medal Products has hired Andy Shang as VP, engineering. Most recently, Shang served as director of quality and engineering with Henny Penny.
Tina Suca has joined Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment as VP, industry relations. Suca will support the booking efforts for all BSE properties: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.; NYCB Live, Uniondale, N.Y.; Webster Hall, New York; and the soon-to-be renovated LIU Brooklyn (N.Y.) Paramount Theatre. Prior to this, Suca served as VP, entertainment for Arena Network; GM of Nassau (N.Y.) Veterans Memorial Coliseum under SMG; GM of The Forum, Inglewood, Calif.; and GM of The Wiltern, Los Angeles. Suca will work out of the West Coast office.
IMN Solutions has named Melissa Tighe, VP, client development. Tighe is a hospitality veteran, joining IMN Solutions after spending the last six years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in the Washington, D.C. market.
Thomas Tingle, has joined the DLR Group Sports studio, Overland Park, Kan., as a client leader. Tingle brings 30 years of diverse experience in the sports industry and has been responsible for the development of several high profile sports venues across the U.S.
PASSINGS
ALVIN RICHARDS — 79, assistant general manager and then general manager, Calgary (Alberta) Convention Centre, April 8. A long-time International Association of Venue Managers member, Richards started his career in the Canadian Forces and spent some time in the oil business. Richards’ was a long time tourism promoter and sports fan. He is survived by his wife, Muriel, and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.