Randy Bloom has left Smart Financial Center, Sugar Land, Texas, where he was general manager since it opened. Gary Becker, co-owner, will take on that role fulltime.
Pawel Brzezinski has been named VP of hospitality for Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. Brzezinski joins Barclays Center after serving as director of restaurants for chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, where he was responsible for the operations of more than 20 establishments, including the flagship Jean-Georges restaurant at Central Park in Manhattan. Prior to working with Jean-Georges, he held roles at Melia Hotels International, OTG Management, Mandarin Oriental Hotels Group, and The Carlyle Hotel.
Atlanta’s Fox Theatre has hired historic preservation and community development expert Leigh Burns to manage the Fox Theatre Institute’s (FTI) program. Burns previously served as the education and outreach coordinator for the Georgia Main Street Program at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Burns currently holds a board position with the Georgia Downtown Association and the Young Harris College Alumni Board. She received a Master of heritage preservation degree from Georgia State University, Atlanta, and completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and associate degree from Young Harris (Ga.) College.
Jamie Curtis has left the marketing-public relations director position at Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore. Curtis will continue with SMG in the role of director of marketing & sales at the Wintrust Arena and Arie Crown Theatre, Chicago.
SMG-managed Intrust Bank Arena has chosen Lauren Dugan to be their new director of ticketing for Select-A-Seat. Prior to joining Intrust Bank Arena, Dugan served as the box office manager at the SMG-managed Save Mart Center at Fresno (Calif.) State University. Dugan earned her bachelor degree in sport management from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va.
Ware Malcomb has promoted Ted Heisler to VP, interior architecture and design. Heisler joined Ware Malcomb in 1994, most recently serving as principal, interior architecture and design. Heisler attended the University of California, Irvine, where he studied environmental design.
AudienceView has appointed Mike Hinson as VP, sales for college athletics. Hinson held senior leadership positions with numerous leading software companies including Paciolan as director of college athletics sales for 10 years.
Ayrton has announced the appointment of Jerad Garza to its international sales team. Garza entered the industry as show technician with Gemini LSV in Dallas; he was soon promoted to sales director and project manager. Roles in European & international sales followed, first with Solaris and, most recently, with High End Systems. Garza will be based in South Germany.
Spectra by Comcast Spectacor has picked Chuck Loewen to be GM, Vancouver Island Conference Centre in British Columbia. Before joining Spectra, Loewen was GM, recreation services, as well as the interim chief administrative officer for the City of Penticton, British Columbia, and oversaw Spectra’s contract at the South Okanagan Events Centre and the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre in since 2008.
Guy Ngata is the new GM at Dubai Arena. The veteran venue manager returns to the AEG Ogden family, for which he served as GM of the Qudos Bank Arena (then Allphones Arena) in Sydney from 2012 to 2015.
The Arizona Coyotes have hired former Arizona State University (ASU) athletic director Steve Patterson as team president and CEO. Patterson is no stranger to the area; he started with ASU’s athletic department in July 2011 as chief operating officer and managing director of Sun Devil Sports Group. He was named athletic director in March 2012 and led the creation and development of ASU's 425-acre sports facility district. He left to become the athletic director at University of Texas, Austin. Patterson spent nearly two decades as an executive with the Houston Texans, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.
Venue Coalition has promoted Andrew Saunders to director of booking. In his expanded role, Saunders will focus on business development while continuing to service new and existing Venue Coalition arena clients. Saunders started his career with Venue Coalition in 2012 after graduating from University of Southern California's Music Industry and Business Entrepreneurship programs. After working at Venue Coalition for two years, he was recruited by Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman to work in their tour accounting office. In 2015, Saunders returned to Venue Coalition as the company’s booking manager.
Brooklyn (N.Y.) Sports & Entertainment (BSE), the business enterprise that manages and controls Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Islanders’ business operations, NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y., and the Nets’ National Basketball Association G League team, the Long Island Nets, has promoted three key executives. Keith Sheldon has been promoted to executive VP of programming. Sheldon is playing an integral role in the future of Webster Hall, New York, and Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn, N.Y., and Paramount Theatre, New York, which are scheduled to undergo full renovations. He previously held the title of senior VP of programming. Kari Cohen has been promoted to VP & deputy general counsel. She was instrumental in the Brooklyn Nets’ successful relocation from New Jersey to Brooklyn and the opening of Barclays Center and she played a significant role in the procurement of the winning bid to renovate and operate the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and eventually the venue’s reopening in April. Cohen previously held the title of VP general counsel. Mandy Gutmann has been promoted to VP, communications. Since joining the company in 2012, Gutmann has played an integral role in the launch of the Brooklyn Nets brand after the team’s move from New Jersey, the grand opening of Barclays Center in 2012, and most recently, the reopening of NYCB Live’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Gutmann previously held the title of senior director of communications.
Dick Clark Productions has promoted Kevin Smith to SVP, business development & partnerships. Smith most recently served as SVP at Comcast Media. Prior to that, he served as president of affiliate sales/distribution for TelAmerica Media/CableConnect and VP & GM at Mega. Smith is a graduate of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Evanston, Ill.
The Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla., has selected Dave Straley to serve as an event coordinator. Straley has been with the O’Connell Center as interim event coordinator since October 2016.
The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) has tapped Shaun Tracy as the first Reno Tahoe representative to fill its new satellite office in Atlanta. Tracy had been director of banquets and catering at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. Most recently, Tracy spent the last six years booking for 38 U.S. properties owned by Caesars Entertainment Corp.
Music industry executive David Zedeck has joined United Talent Agency (UTA) as global head of UTA Music, partner and special advisor to the board of directors. Zedeck served as Live Nation Entertainment's EVP and president of global talent and artist development since 2012.
MIKE ILITCH — 87, an entrepreneur who founded Little Caesars Pizza and owned the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, Feb. 10 in Detroit. In 1959, he and his wife, Marian, founded Little Caesars in suburban Detroit. The company grew into the largest carryout pizza chain in the world, and the couple was listed by Forbes magazine as having a net worth of $5.4 billion in 2016. Ilitch is survived by his wife, Marian, and their seven children.