TD Garden in Boston, operated by Delaware North Companies Boston, has promoted Jason Beckett to serve as vice president of operations. Beckett is no stranger to TD Garden — he’s worked there for 20 years. After graduating from University of Massachusetts Amherst, Beckett began working at the venue in 1993. Most recently, he served as director of operations. In his previous position, Beckett led a restructured operations team that is responsible for executing more than 200 events each year.
Jennifer Bilfield has joined Washington Performing Arts Society as president and CEO. Most recently, she served as artistic and executive director at Stanford (Calif.) Live at Stanford University. She also held the position of president at Boosey & Hawkes in New York.
SMG Canada has hired Lynn Carlotto to serve as GM of the K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ontario. Carlotto most recently served as GM of the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Conn. She has also managed the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. Carlotto succeeds Ken Noakes, who has been promoted to regional general manager with SMG Canada.
John Johnson III and Lila Kahn have joined Centerplate. Johnson will become purchasing manager for facility management and design. Johnson comes to Centerplate from Chihade International where he served as a category manager. Kahn has been named director of marketing for Centerplate Restaurant Group. Kahn has led development projects for leading companies such as Welch’s, Kraft, and Unilever. In addition, Ashley Brown has been promoted to VP of specialty retail. She will be based out of San Francisco. David Winarski, who has been with Centerplate for nearly a decade, has been promoted to VP of Human Resources.
Greg Maffei has been appointed nonexecutive chairman of the board for Live Nation Entertainment. Maffei is president and CEO of Liberty Media Corporation. He has served on the Live Nation board of directors since 2011. He first joined Liberty Media in 2005.
Staples Center in Los Angeles has hired a former intern and promoted two employees. Tim McNeff has been named senior event manager. He has been event manager since 2006 after being hired full time in 2004 as special events coordinator. He began with the arena as an intern in 2003. Harrison Seeler has been promoted to assistant event manager. Most recently, he served as special events coordinator. Ashley Sinclair will serve as the new special events programmer. She recently graduated from the University of San Francisco and interned at Staples Center Fall 2010-Spring 2012.
Jeremy Mottola has been named VP of US Sales at Bon Chef. Before his promotion, Mottola served as the company’s VP of Eastern Regional and International Sales.
The SMG-managed Reliant Park in Houston has had several management additions. Chris Rogers has been appointed event coordinator. He brings six years of experience to his new position, most recently working at Albuquerque (N.M.) Convention Center. McKenzie Rowley will work as premium seating and suite sales coordinator. She is a graduate of Northwood University. Shannon Shoemaker has been hired as event sales coordinator, having recently worked for Biomet. Greg Tyler has been appointed event coordinator. He previously worked for the Seattle Sounders Football Club of Major League Soccer. Lastly, Kyle Walstad will serve as Sponsorship & Sports Marketing coordinator. He worked for SMG at Reliant Park as an intern for the two summers leading up to his hiring.
Jackie Tauber is moving up the ladder at Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati. She has been promoted to operations manager at the Global Spectrum-managed building. Previously, she served as operations supervisor. She has also served as director of Premium Seat Sales at the HiFi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta. Tauber graduated from the University of Illinois in 2003 and joined Global Spectrum in 2008.
The government in Westminster, London, has appointed Mark Taylor as the new chief executive at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, commencing April 4. Taylor brings more than 30 years of experience to the QEIICC. He has served as assistant director of Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau, marketing manager of the Wembley Convention and Exhibition Centre (and subsequently of Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena), and director of sales and marketing for Wembley International. Taylor also held the chief executive position at Wales Millenium Centre from 2010-2012. Most recently, he worked as an associate at Why Not Consulting, and currently serves as a nonexecutive director of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Taylor will succeed Ernest Vincent, who served as chief executive at the QEIICC for 10 years.
Tim Leiweke, who served as president and CEO of AEG since 1996, is leaving by mutual agreement. AEG Chairman Philip F. Anschutz plans to take a more active role in the company and has taken it off the market. Announced changes at AEG so far include appointment of Dan Beckerman, who joined AEG more than 15 years ago, to the role of president and CEO. Previously, Beckerman served as chief financial officer and COO. Jay Marciano will assume the role of chief operating officer for AEG. Marciano has a high profile in the industry, having previously served for six years as president of MSG Entertainment, part of the Madison Square Garden Company. Before going to MSG, Marciano was chief strategy officer of AEG Live and, before that, president and CEO of Universal Concerts. Ted Fikre will become the company’s vice chairman and assume responsibility for the governmental and media relations, while continuing as chief legal and development officer. Todd Goldstein will continue as AEG’s chief revenue officer, and Steve Cohen will take on the position of AEG’s chief strategic officer while retaining his role as executive VP of the Anschutz Company.
Vendini has named Ruth Lutes vice president of Customer Service. Most recently, Lutes served as Sr. VP of Customer Care and Quality at Synaptics. She has also served as the director of Customer Care and Quality for HP Storage.
Stacey Phillips Webb has been promoted to program manager at The Special Event Company. Prior to her time with The Special Event Company, Phillips Webb was involved in theatre, acting, and stage production.
Jan Allan Zarr has been appointed executive director of the Topeka (Kan.) Performing Arts Center. He joins the VenuWorks team after working at the Morrison Center in Boise, Idaho, and at the Dunn Center in Rocky Mount, N.C. Most recently, Zarr served as director of programming operations for SKyPAC in Bowling Green, Ky. He succeeds Barbara Wiggins, who is leaving the venue to assume new responsibilities in the corporate office.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment has promoted Wayne Zronik to executive VP, Venues and Entertainment. He has been with MLSE for five years. Zronik replaces Patti-Anne Tarlton, who was recently appointed senior VP and COO of Ticketmaster Canada.
PASSINGS
FRED MCCAIN — 90, former IAVM member who ran the University of North Texas’ Coliseum in Denton, Feb. 26 in Denton, Texas. McCain’s history with UNT stretches far beyond his years as a venue manager. He began playing football at the university in 1941 and stayed for two seasons before taking a hiatus to serve in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946. He came back in 1946 to continue as quarterback, helping advance his team to the 1946 Optimist Bowl and 1947 Salad Bowl games. He served as assistant football coach 1950-1971. McCain’s career at the school continued 1973-1982 when he managed UNT Coliseum. He then moved to the position of athletic director until being inducted into the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. Along with his successes as an athlete, McCain helped bring Abner Haynes and Leon King to the football program while coaching in 1956. The two African American players were among the first to integrate into college athletics in Texas. McCain received both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from University of North Texas. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and children Ray and Karen.
ARTHUR PITZER—94, former manager of North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh, Dec. 29. Not only did he serve as manager of the fair for 17 years, but Pitzer also served as president of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions in 1972 and was elected president of the North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs in 1973. IAFE inducted Pitzer into its Hall of Fame for his work with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture since 1957, including his time with the fair. Pitzer was born in Ohio but received his degree from North Carolina State University. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII, seeing action in both the European and North African campaigns. Pitzer is survived by his wife of 61 years, Merle Sasser Pitzer, his three children Eddie Pitzer, Sue Harrington and Bill Pitzer, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.