MANAGEMENT
James W. Brown, CFE, has been appointed the director of the First National Bank Arena, Jonesboro, Ark. For the past 18 years Brown has been associated with the Ervin J. Nutter Center at Wright State University, Fairborn, Ohio, serving since 2010 as executive director of the facility.
The Spokane (Wash.) Public Facilities District has named current Spokane Convention Center GM Stephanie Curran incoming CEO, replacing retiring Kevin Twohig. Curran has been an employee of the District since 2003 and has served in many roles ranging from event supervisor to AGM of Spokane Convention Center and INB Performing Arts Center, Spokane. She’s been the convention center GM since 2015. The transition will occur on Feb. 1, 2018.
Wim Desloovere is assuming the role of country manager for the Brussels AIM Group International Office. Desloovere has 20 years of experience working in various positions linked to the meeting industry.
Five executives at Staples Center, Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live, Los Angeles, have been promoted to senior vice presidents. Included are Laura Geery-Larson, hired in August 1999 as the Telecommunications manager, who is now SVP of Telecommunications & IT; Christy Castillo Butcher, who has been with Staples Center since September 1999, SVP of Booking and Events; Wade Loewe, who began his career at Staples Center before the arena opened its doors in September of 1999, SVP Broadcast/ Multimedia Productions; Matt Rosenfeld, who joined in November 1999 as a Group Sales Account Executive, SVP of Sales; and Michele Kajiwara, who has been with AEG for 14 years and is currently serving as vice president of Premium Seating to SVP, Premium Sales and Services.
SMG Europe has appointed Dan Harris as GM for the new UK Venue in Hull, due to open late summer 2018.
Quicken Loans Arena and the Cleveland Cavaliers have announced several promotions within the organization. Jason Hillman has been named basketball chief of staff/team counsel; Brandon Jirousek has been promoted to VP, digital and web services; Holly Yanak has been promoted to VP, community relations and player programs; and Hallie Yavitch has been promoted to VP, event booking.
The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, Memphis, Tenn., has promoted Jasmine Hirt to marketing and event services coordinator. Hirt began her position an assistant less than a year ago. Hirt is a graduate of the Music Industry program at the University of Memphis. She began her career at the Cannon Center as an intern in June 2015. In October 2016, she was hired as the marketing and event services assistant.
Cape Arts & Entertainment has selected Jonathan Kaledin as president and CEO. Kaledin is a lawyer and seasoned nonprofit executive with more than 30 years of extensive experience working in both government and the private sector.
Townsquare Media has hired veteran editor and journalist Craig Marks as editorial director. Previously, Marks was an executive editor at Billboard, editor-in-chief of Blender magazine, Spin and Popdust. He is the co-author of the best-selling oral history "I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution," and has written for New York, GQ, New York Times and Details.
LiveStyle, Inc., Beatport’s parent company, has named Robb McDaniels its new CEO. Most recently, McDaniels served as a venture partner for Dubai-based investment company TechInvest. In early 2016, he launched Faction Entertainment. Previously, McDaniels was the founder and CEO of INgrooves where he built the company into a full-service distribution and artist services operation.
Populous has added senior leader Bruce Miller to its Global Holdings Board. In addition, Bob Gillcrist, Shireen Hamdan, Jonathan Mallie, Brian Mirakian and Sherri Privitera have been promoted to senior principals, while Brad Albers, Marc Bertolino, Steve Boyd, Steve Caudle, Tiric Chang, Rhys Courtney, Jeanette Johnson, Marc Klein and Whitney Williams have been promoted to principals.
Ontario (Calif.) Convention Center has hired Shannon Perry as their new GM. Perry has 18 years of event planning and facility oversight experience with two national companies: Westwood One Radio Network and SMG Worldwide Venue Management.
Steve Romer has taken the new role of chief operating officer for the Bluesfest festival and their associated companies including Bluesfest Touring. Romer has worked in the live music, sport and entertainment industries for 30 years. He is a past chair and CEO of the Venue Management Association (Asia Pacific), and has held a wide variety of senior management roles including stints at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Sydney 2000 Olympics Satellite Stadiums, and with amusement park operators Macquarie Leisure Trust (now Ardent Leisure) and Village Roadshow Theme Parks.
The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club has hired award-winning chef Joe Schafer as executive chef for Philips Arena. Schafer previously served as executive chef at Bacchanalia and Little Bacch. Prior to that, Schafer worked at King + Duke. Schafer trained at Art Institute of Atlanta.
The AEG-run Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) has announced the appointment of Debra Simkiss as director of operations and Ekta Gandhi as marketing & communications manager. Simkiss worked her way from senior event coordinator to event manager and then in 2008 to the executive role of director of operations until 2017. Gandhi joined the Chedi Muscat as their marketing & communications executive. In 2015, Ghandi joined the pre-opening team for Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort. Ghandi has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from the Insititut Vatel, Nîmes, France, as well as further hotel management diplomas from Montreal, Canada.
Visit Baltimore has named Kireem Swinton director of convention sales development, Mid-Atlantic region and tradeshows. Swinton comes to Visit Baltimore from Visit Seattle, where he served as national account director for the Washington, D.C., area for five years. Prior to his role with Visit Seattle, he spent 15 years with the Marriott brand including the Baltimore Marriott properties from 2008 to 2012.
Kimberly Vincent has been promoted to senior account manager at New Day Underwriting Managers LLC. Vincent joined the company in 2014. Prior to New Day, Vincent worked with BCG Advisors and Westrope Insurance Managers.
Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, has appointed Richard Wong as GM. Wong previously held executive roles with Nova Hotels, Travel Alberta and Sutton Place Hotels Group.
CAPS Payroll has named Jeremy Young as director of music tours and live event sales. Most recently, Young was an artist manager at Vector Management. Prior to that, Young spent four years as tour manager for Gavin DeGraw, Toby Kightman and Matt Nathanson. Young also served as marketing director at Clear Channel Entertainment.
PASSINGS
FRANK LIBERTO — 84, Ricos products founder and former Liberto Specialty Company president and CEO, Nov. 5 in San Antonio, Texas. Liberto is credited with inventing the concession nacho in 1976, which is now a staple in the event world. “The King of Nachos” is one of only three Honorary Lifetime Board Members of the National Associations of Concessionaires (NAC). Liberto is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Denise, sons Rick and Tony, grandchildren Megan, Preston, Danielle, Brianna, Madeline and Nicolas and great-grandson Wyatt.