Caitlin Lopez has joined Venues Today as Circulation Coordinator/Marketing Assistant. Prior to joining Venues Today, she worked for Apple Inc., teaching consumer software. Her background is in the performing arts. She has spent the past few years developing and leading her own theatre company, Ophelia's Jump Productions, which is partnering with Pomona (Calif.) College for the 2014 season to produce plays in the Seaver Theater.
Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services has announced several new additions. Kayce Amato and Kimala Woodruff have joined the company’s Las Vegas office as event services coordinators. The Chicago office has welcomed Angelina Cazares as an event services coordinator. She has several years of trade show experience as an operations supervisor. Also, Jesse Dancy Weathers will serve as an event services coordinator at the San Diego office, after serving as an event and sales manager for events in the San Diego Area. Jessenia Vitali has joined the Miami office as an event services coordinator.
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) in Nashville has announced the appointment and promotion of several employees. Katelynn Baker is a new events sales and services manager. She has been an event industry professional for eight years. Caitlin Cuppernull, whose professional background includes office management, marketing and journalism, will serve as HR and payroll coordinator; while Phillip Lunsford, who has IT and engineering experience, has been hired as web services manager. Daniela Medina will serve as manager of Public Relations and community outreach. TPAC also promoted five employees, including Teresa Ellithorpe, who has been with the venue since 1999, to VP of Events Sales and Services. Ronda Helton ascended to VP of Marketing and Communications, and Tony Marks has been promoted to director of Communications and Public Relations. Karen Palin has worked with TPAC since 1994, and will now serve as director of Technical Operations; while Kathleen Cecil has been promoted to ticket sales supervisor.
Balich Worldwide Shows, launched last December, has announced its management structure, including Marco Balich as president. He has produced the Olympics and served as creative director of major international events, as well as winning two Emmy Awards. Gianmaria Serra will serve as CEO and Simone Merico will be the company’s VP and business director.
Kristin Baysinger has been promoted to GM of Carlson Center in Anchorage for SMG of Alaska. Previously she served as the Marketing and Box Office manager of Carlson Center.
Twickham (U.K.) Experience has appointed Emma Brown to the role of business development manager. She joins the conference and events sales team led by Samme Allen, who was named head of conference and events Sales in January. Brown’s appointment follows the announcement of several new recruits to the operations team, including Laura Mason as event coordination manager and Natalie Barrel-Hicks as event coordinator. Also, Nadia Zakhari has taken up the role of Sales executive.
Centerplate has named Adrian Dishington COO of its UK division. He brings more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry. He replaces Adam Elliot, former executive VP of Centerplate and president of UK operations, who will remain as a consultant during the transition. Also, the company has hired Gary Prell as VP of culinary development.
Global Spectrum has appointed Joe Dolan general manager of the Mullins Center on the
campus of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He most recently served as the Asst. GM of the Global Spectrum-managed Roanoke (Va.) Civic Center. He replaces Shane Cadwell, who has joined the Global Spectrum-managed Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., as general manager.
Don Eash has joined Gateway Ticket Systems as director of Operations. He brings more than 20 years of industry experience in strategic IT leadership.
Earls Court and Olympia London has appointed Nick Graham as head of Sales. He has been with Earls Court and Olympia for 11 years, having spent the last four as a senior Sales manager.
Rob Hallett has left his position at AEG Live where he was President of International Touring. Hallet was based in London and created the company's UK and International touring divisions in 2005. Prior to joining AEG Live, Hallett spent 10 years as head of music at the Mean Fiddler Group.
Harold Hansen has joined VenuWorks as a senior consultant. He will also continue as a member at Venue Management Consultants Group, which he has been part of since 2008. He served as director of Life Safety & Security at International Association of Venue Managers for the past seven years.
Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and its Global Spectrum management have promoted Andi Sempier to the newly-created role of assistant director of Sales. She joined Global Spectrum and the Duke Energy Convention Center in 2007, prior to which she worked at major hotel brands.
John Sutherland has been hired as COO of WinSport, completing the executive team for the Calgary-based winter sports institute. He has more than 25 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry in both the public and private sectors. He most recently served as managing director for SMG Europe, and also spent time working as VP of Operations for the BC Pavilion Corp. in Vancouver. Other new hires include VP and General Counsel Kim Jones, who previously served as law clerk to Honourable John Major at the Supreme Court of Canada; as well as new CFO Cal Wilson, who spent five years as CFO at Calgary-based Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities. Former VP Dr. Stephen Norris was promoted to WinSport’s executive VP, chief sport officer.
BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee has brought on a new director of Booking. Doug Johnson, a co-founder of agency Pursuit Live, has played a key role in shaping the lineup for Summerfest since 2001. He has been hired for the newly-created role to help turn around the arena's concert business. The 26-year-old facility hosted three major music tours last year. Johnson will continue to work on this year's Summerfest with Pursuit Live through July 6, and will also continue to work with his Pursuit Live partners on Yellow Phone Music Conference in September.
Tina Lutz has joined CenterEdge Software as director of Development. She is a 13-year information technology professional. Most recently, she served as senior manager of application development for TrialCard. She joins other recent hires, including 20-year industry veteran Merrik Keller who will lead CenterEdge’s sales efforts; web and mobile device developers Chris Barrett and Bill Bailey; technical writer Tim Jewett; bookkeeper Vicki Carr; and project managers Kris Echols, Henry Lopez, Chrystal Gusler and Charlie McNeill.
Palace Sports & Entertainment has appointed Ted Major as VP of Corporate Partnerships. Most recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Major also spent five seasons with the Florida Panthers as executive director of Sales. PS&E also announced two new additions, Jessica Merkle as producer/editor and Tiffany Kress as promotions coordinator. Merkle most recently interned with the Cleveland Browns in video and scoreboard production. Kress, a former figure skater with Disney on Ice, comes to the company from Performance Events Services, and has also worked with the Detroit Red Wings as an event Marketing assistant.
Brian Maliske has resigned his position as GM of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, in Rapid City, S.D., effective June 6. He has served the city for 20 years, playing instrumental roles in numerous renovations and expansions such as additions to the food court and construction of the ice arena.
Ed Manetta has been named director of Sports Programming for Barclays Center in New York. Most recently, he served as managing director at Fastlane Communications. Manetta has more than 25 years of experience in the sports industry, including working at MSL Sports and Entertainment.
Visit Spokane (Wash.) has hired four new employees to the team. Lisa McHaffie has been named the director of national accounts. She previously worked at the Raddison Seattle Airport and at The Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) Resort. Joanne Ross has been hired as Sales associate. She has years of experience working in hotel and restaurant operations, sales and catering in Hawaii, Los Angeles and San Diego. Ashley Reese will assume the role of convention services coordinator. Most recently, she worked at The Davenport Hotel and the Glover Mansion, both in Spokane. Jody Chambers has been named executive assistant. She previously worked at General Dynamic Itronix as a trade show and events manager.
Zarin Metha has brought new artistic vision and leadership as co-executive director at Weill Hall at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center in Rohnert Park, Calif. He previously worked at the New York Philharmonic and the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Ill. Larry Furukawa-Schlereth is the other co-executive director.
AEG Ogden has hired Beverley Parker as director of Business Development for the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney. Parker has been executive director of Sales and Marketing for the Dockside Group for the past 14 months. In addition to working senior executive roles with Four Seasons Hotels and Accor Asia Pacific, she served five years as the director of Sales and Marketing with the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. Parker serves on the board of Business Events Sydney and the Australian Racing Car Drivers Club. ICC Sydney is due for completion in December 2016.
Live Nation Entertainment’s Alan Rakov will transition to his new role of chief strategy officer, United States Concerts. He will continue to be based in Live Nation Entertainment’s Beverly Hills office. Rakov joined Live Nation’s concerts division in 2010. He previously worked with Ticketmaster for seven years in a variety of positions, including leading Ticketmaster’s TicketExchange.
Fathom Events, with its owners, AMC Entertainment, Cinemark Holdings, and Regal Ent. Group, have appointed John Rubey as chief executive officer, effective April 7. He will serve as the first CEO for the company after a restructuring established it as an independent entity from National CineMedia. Rubey will also serve on the board of directors. He brings more than 25 years of entertainment marketing experience to his new role, most recently serving as president of AEG-TV and AEG Network Live since 2000.
Daniel Ward has been appointed the new coordinator of training, exercise and assessment at National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Previously, he served as the deputy director of emergency management at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss.
PASSINGS
RYAN HUIE — 27, booking agent with The Agency Coalition, March 30 in Nashville. After graduating from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., he began working at Outback Concerts. He is survived by his father, Creative Artist Agency's John Huie, his mother Dawn and brother Jason. The family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Jason Foundation, 18 Volunteer Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075.
JEFFERY D. PUGH — 60, the outdoor amusement business industry veteran and owner of Pugh Shows, passed away after a long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) April 10 at Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, Ohio. He was in the outdoor amusement business his entire life and was a member of Victory Hill Church, Coonpath Rd., Carroll, Ohio. He is survived by his wife of 39 years Beverly, children Jeffery, Matthew (Tracy) Alissa Clark (Mark), grandchildren; Marissa and Christopher, Kolson, Kylan, Addicyn Cox-Pugh; and brothers and sisters Robert Pugh (Debby), Deborah Woodman (Pietro), Tom Pugh (Debbie), Diane Huston (Danny), nieces, nephews and sister-in-law Judy Bresler. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Richard Pugh.
