MOVE OF THE MONTH
Stephen D. Rountree, managing director and CEO of Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group, will retire March 31. Rountree joined the group as managing director in 2015 after serving as president and CEO of The Music Center from 2002 to 2014. Rountree was also CEO of the Los Angeles Opera from 2008 to 2012, a position he held concurrently with his role at The Music Center.
PMI Entertainment Group promoted Brendan Bruss from executive vice president to chief operating officer. Bruss has been with PMI since 2003 and has since served as executive vice president and president of the Green Bay Gamblers junior hockey team. Ken Wachter will continue to serve as CEO and has been named to the board of directors.
Nederlander Concerts named Jordan Harding general manager of City National Grove of Anaheim, Calif. Harding replaces Adam Millar, who was named general manager of Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.
Wilson Butler Architects, which specializes in arts and entertainment, added four partners: Robert C. Levash, Ben Marcionek, Rebecca Durante and Paul Vaivoda are all now principals with the firm.
The Wisconsin Center District named Steve Marsh senior vice president and chief financial officer. Marsh has been with BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee for 12 years, most recently as senior director of financial operations and business strategy.
The president and CEO of Nashville’s Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Kathleen O’Brien, will retire from her post next July. O’Brien is the first woman to lead TPAC in its 38-year history. She started as public affairs director in 1988 and has served as the organization’s chief since 2005.
Michael Prescott retired as CEO of The International Centre convention center near Toronto. Vice President Trevor Graham and Chief Financial Officer Dany Lester will assume co-chief operating officer roles.
SMG and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin named Stephanie Rivas general manager of the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center in Midland, Texas. Rivas was assistant general manager for the past year and a half. She joined the SMG team in 2011 and oversaw marketing for four years before moving into management.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment promoted Michele Montague, a 2017 VenuesNow Woman of Influence award winner, to senior vice president and general manager of Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Montague also married and will now be known as Michelle Powell.
SMG named Chris Semrau general manager of Chesapeake Energy Arena and Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. Semrau was most recently the assistant GM of the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., also an SMG building.
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. has appointed Andrea McFadden director of the Mid-Atlantic regional office and Artrice McNeil director of national accounts for the Washington, D.C., market.
The Los Angeles Convention Center promoted Ellen Schwartz to general manager. Schwartz joined LACC in October 2013 and held a variety of executive and management positions including vice president of sales and marketing before being named assistant general manager in July 2017. Brad Gessner, who has held the position of general manager since AEG Facilities took over the management of the venue, has been promoted to senior vice president.
Martin Sirk stepped down from his position as CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association. Sirk joined ICCA as CEO in 2002 and led the association as it grew from 600 to over 1,100 member companies and organizations in 97 countries.
AEG Facilities promoted Chuck Steedman to chief operating and development officer. Steedman will retain his title of chief operating officer. Before assuming the COO role with AEG, Steedman was senior vice president and general manager of the company’s properties in Hartford, Conn., while also leading the organization’s growth in Latin America. Steedman will continue to be based out of Los Angeles.
Brad Weaber launched Washington, D.C.-based Brad Weaber Consulting Group LLC after leaving his position as chief operating officer for housing and event management company Connections Housing. Connections Housing is Weaber’s first client.
Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., is restructuring its premium sales and marketing departments. Shani Tate Ross was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing and Tyler Murray was named director of premium and partnerships sales.
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station has named Peta Wittig executive director and Aaron Sprowl curator for the opening of the attraction in fall 2019.
SMG named Sammy Wallace general manager of H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas. Wallace returns to Cedar Park after spending two years as GM at the SMG-operated Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center in Midland, Texas. He was assistant vice president of booking and marketing and assistant general manager of H-E-B Center 2013-16.
PASSINGS
Bill Curl, 77, best known as the spokesman for New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome and Smoothie King Center, June 15 at Ochsner Medical Center. Curl was a New Orleans sports fixture for more than 50 years. He was also the sports information director at Tulane University 1966-74 and the public relations director for John Curtis Christian High School athletics after his retirement from the Superdome.