STRI Group has expanded its U.K. regional ecology and environment operation by bringing in Teneille Barwick. She started her career at an environmental consultancy in the energy sector in Canada. She has also worked as a project officer for Conservation Volunteers in New Zealand. Nicole Beckett has recently completed her degree in Physical Geography and also joins STRI.
The Milwaukee Bucks have named Barry Baum SVP of communications. Most recently, Baum was chief communications officer for Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. Before that, he served as a publicist for more than three years with PR firm DKC and he was a sports writer from 1994-2001 at the New York Post.
Sally Bradford is now the VP of marketing and communications at Handel + Haydn Society. Bradford spent the past five years as marketing communications manager at Hemenway & Barnes, Boston. Prior to that, she served as principal at Bradford Communications and she spent 11 years at BankBoston working as senior manager, marketing services.
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has appointed Paul Jeffrey Chandler as its new director of food & beverage. He joins HML, which is the private management and operating company for F&B at HKCEC. Chandler has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality field, which he gained through various senior positions in international hotels in Mainland China, Hong Kong, U.K. and Australia. Prior to joining HML, he was director, food & beverage operations of Shanghai Disney Resort, China, and held a similar position at Hong Kong Disneyland for more than three years.
James Finn has been named EVP and head of marketing at FoxNext. Finn is a 17-year veteran at Fox, having worked across Twentieth Century Fox Film theatrical, Fox Searchlight and Home Entertainment. Fox will continue in his role as EVP, co-head of marketing at Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Onexim Sports and Entertainment has named Maureen Hanlon, president. Hanlon has served as primary outside counsel to Onexim for the past eight years, while a partner at Hogan Lovells US LLP, where she has worked since 1996.
AudienceView has appointed Karen Hogg, VP, customer success. Hogg previously worked for PeopleSoft, SAP, Sierra Systems, NexJ Systems and Longview Solutions. Michael Burnett has also joined AudienceView as managing director, U.K. and Europe. Prior to joining the team, Burnett was director of sport for Ticketmaster/Live Nation. Earlier, he was founder and managing director of See Tickets from 2000 through 2012 and held key roles at Medoc and Derby County FC.
Jacksonville Symphony has selected JoLynne Jensen as VP & chief development officer. For 15 years, Jensen held several roles at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, including VP of development. Previously, Jensen worked as a consultant guiding nonprofits.
Jaime Lawson has been named account manager at New Day Underwriting Managers. Prior to joining New Day, Lawson was employed at various leading insurance agencies in New Jersey.
Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) welcomes the addition of two national sales managers, Brad Minton and Cara Marbach. Minton joins the GWCCA after most recently serving as director of global accounts for Omni Hotels and Resorts in Washington, D.C. His resume also includes several positions with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, including Hyatt Regency (Ky.) Lexington, and at the Lexington (Ky.) Convention Center. Marbach joins GWCCA after serving as senior sales manager at Napa Valley (Calif.) Marriott. She also served in a variety of positions for Marriott International, including the Marriott Marquis Houston and the JW Marriott Austin, Texas.
Michelle Minyard has been named national sales manager at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Minyard previously served as sponsorship director for the Festival International de Louisiane and the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. Minyard honed her sales skills in sales manager roles with the Hilton St. Charles Hotel New Orleans, a previous stint at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in 2004-2005, and the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Music and entertainment industry veteran Chris Monaco has joined LiveStyle, Inc. as chief revenue officer, brand partnerships and sponsorships. Previously, Monaco spent four years at Universal Music Group where he was senior vice president, strategic marketing and brand development/head of new business. Before his employment at Universal, from 2008 to 2012, Monaco was the senior vice president, music and entertainment for Octagon. Prior to Octagon, Monaco was director, entertainment marketing, Pernod Ricard. Monaco will be based in LiveStyle’s Beverly Hills, Calif., offices.
Mari Riddle is the new executive director at Grand Performances. Most recently, Riddle served as program director at Community Partners in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Community Partners, Riddle held the president and CEO position at Centro Latino for Literacy, as well as executive director roles at The Friends of the Levitt Pavilion–Macarthur Park, Telacu Community Capital and Coalition for Women’s Economic Development.
Donna Karl Sakelakos, CMP, has been named director of event services at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans. Karl most recently served as VP of event operations for Tradeshow Logic. Previously she served as the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau’s VP of client relations from 2004 – 2012. Karl began her career in the meetings industry with the American Academy of Pediatrics in Elk Grove Village, Ill. Over the course of 18 years, she rose through the ranks to ultimately serve as director, division of convention and meeting services. Karl earned her Certified Meeting Professional designation in 1992.
Spectra by Comcast Spectacor has selected Charles Saunders as their new General Manager, Spectra Food Services & Hospitality, at the 750,000-sq. ft. Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati. Saunders has held a number of leadership roles in the hospitality industry, including the Four Seasons, Starwood, and Marriott where he served as director of food and beverage. Saunders also boasts international experience in food and beverage leadership having worked in Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More recently, he finished a consulting assignment with the historic Strater Hotel, Durango, Colo. These positions called for him to introduce new dining concepts, increase food and beverage profitability, and management of international business relations.
Shane Shuhart is rejoining Nederlander Concerts as senior director of talent, effective immediately. Shuhart previously worked for Nederlander Concerts from 2008-2011 as director of talent and programmed venues from San Jose to San Diego. Most recently, Shuhart was a talent buyer for Live Nation Entertainment’s Philadelphia office where he booked shows for Live Nation’s owned and operated amphitheaters, arenas and other third-party venues throughout the Pennsylvania and New Jersey regions. He also oversaw booking for the Sands Bethlehem Event Center, The Pavilion at Montage, and the Peach Music Festival. Shuhart began his career at the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) in New York and became the territorial talent agent for APA’s northeast region when he moved to Los Angeles.
Hamlet Stepanian has been promoted to operations manager at Bittree. Hamlet’s experience with Bittree dates to 1996, beginning on the production assembly line before transitioning to a shipping and receiving role.