Jessica Boudevin has been named Acting Managing Editor of Venues Today. She has served as the magazine’s Staff Writer since July 2011, having joined Venues Today in April 2011 as editorial assistant. Boudevin also interned at the publication while completing her degree in Literature from California State University, Fullerton. She replaces Dave Brooks, who resigned to pursue other interests after eight years with the publication.
Daniel Gray has been promoted from Hot Tickets Coordinator at Venues Today to Hot Tickets Manager/Accounting Manager. He will take on the responsibilities of Accounting Manager and HR Manager Becky Burson, who will retire July 11. Gray joined the VT team in June 2013, having most recently served as an office supervisor for a security company. Gray is a full-time student at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
The Board of Directors of the 33rd District Agricultural Association, San Benito County Fair in Tres Prinos, Calif., has named Donnette Silva Carter as its new CEO and fair manager. She most recently served as the president/COO of the Porterville (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce for 17 years.
Ricky Casady has joined Delaware North Companies Boston as director of Box Office and Ticket Operations for TD Garden, the Boston Bruins and The Premium Club at the arena. Casady brings more than 10 years of ticketing experience to his new position. Before joining Delaware North Companies, Casady was based in Hollywood, Calif., for six years as regional director of Ticketing for Live Nation.
California Exposition and State Fair has hired two new team members. Jennifer Castleberry is the new Marketing and Public Relations manager of the California Exposition and State Fair. Castleberry worked as Modamedia Communication’s GM from 2012-2014 and senior director of Marketing, Events and Entertainment for the Sacramento River Cats Baseball Club from 2010-2012. Laura Popyack has also been hired as the media director for the State Fair July 11-27. Popyack worked as a freelance director from 2012-2014 and as a producer at News10 (ABC) from 2009-2011.
Global Spectrum has hired Kathryn Coble as a sales manager at the Owensboro (Ky.) Convention Center. Prior to accepting this position, Coble worked as director of Client Development at Comdata SVS in Louisville, Ky.
The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Julie Coker Graham to executive VP of the official tourist promotion agency for Philadelphia, effective July 1. She began with the company in September 2010 and has been mentored by President & CEO Jack Ferguson as part of a long-term succession plan. Ferguson is expected to retire in 2016. Coker Graham joined the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau after serving as GM at Hyatt Regency Philadelphia.
Anthony Floreano has accepted the position of managing director of Freeman UK. He is relocating to the UK office after seven years with the company, working his way from general manager to VP/GM and finally to CEO.
Auerbach + Associates has announced leadership changes at Auerbach Pllack Friedlander and Auerbach Glasow French. Steven Friedlander will assume the role of president, while Patricia Glasow will become Exec. VP. Founder and previous President Leonard Auerbach will continue as chairman of the board and director of design, focusing on project design as his administrative duties have been reduced. Friedlander began his theater consulting career with Artec Consultants in 1986, formed his own practice in 1991, and joined Auerbach + Associates in 1994. Glasow began her career working for Strand Century and WED Enterprises before joining S. Leonard Auerbach & Associates’ architectural lighting group in 1984.
Comcast-Spectacor has announced three promotions. Dan Gallagher has been promoted to the newly created position of Sr. VP, Strategic Growth Initiatives. He joined the company in January as chief of staff working on special projects. Nora Gary has been promoted to director, Employee Communications. Gary has worked for Comcast Cable for 10 years and was director, Benefits Communications before accepting her new role. Linsey Levine has also been promoted to director, Organizational Development. Levine has worked for Comcast-Spectacor since 2007, serving on the Legal Team as deputy general counsel and chief compliance officer.
Sid Greenfeig has left The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., after just seven months on the job. The former Live Nation executive and Florida Panthers GM was hired as SVP of West Coast Business operations at the Madison Square Garden Company, which owns the venue. Dave Howard, president of MSG Sports, left MSG earlier this month, as did Ryan O’Hara, who joined in July 2013 and was MSG’s president of content, distribution and sales. Melissa Ormond, who was president of MSG Entertainment, has also exited the company following her pregnancy. In late February, President and CEO Hank Ratner was replaced by Cablevision executive Tad Smith.
Sue Hocking, GM of Venue, Sales and Marketing for the Royal International Convention Centre (Royal ICC) and Brisbane Showgrounds, has retired. Hocking joined the RNA in 2011. Sally Pulford will be taking over Hocking’s position as the new GM of Venue, Sales and Marketing.
Barrie Molson Centre in Ontario, Canada, has announced the retirement of Event Operations Manager Randy Johnston, who left May 29. He worked with Exhibition Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for seven years and was with parent company Trade Centre Limited for 36 years.
Richard Krezwick has returned to AEG, having begun his new role of Sr. VP Facilities at AEG Europe on May 1. Most recently, Krezwick spent four years as president of Devils Arena Entertainment, responsible for operations of the National Hockey League club and Prudential Center in East Brunswick, N.J. Before his time in New Jersey, he served as Regional VP for AEG Facilities for nearly three years, also assisting with several European accounts.
Pointstreak Sports Technologies has appointed Peter Luukko as the company’s executive chairman. He has also increased his overall equity in Pointstreak by making an additional investment in the company. Most recently, Luukko served as president/COO of Comcast-Spectacor.
Global Spectrum has announced that Tom Mobley, who has served as the company’s Sr. VP of Convention Centers since January 2006, is retiring effective June 30. Before joining Global Spectrum, Mobley served as GM and CEO of the Washington Convention Center Authority, and also spent more than a decade as GM of the largest convention center in the United States, McCormick Place in Chicago.
Thirty-year facility management veteran Vivian Montejano has been appointed GM of Wortham Theater Center, which means a move across the street in Houston’s Theater District from Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, where she worked for four years before becoming manager in 1991.
Cheryl Pagilerani has joined The Agency Group’s New York office. Most recently, she worked at Creative Artists Agency where she booked and signed artists like Iggy Azalea, Waka Flocka & B.o.B., among others.
Rick Reno has been hired as executive director of the Mississippi Fair Commission, which runs Mississippi State Fair. Reno is currently executive director of VenuWorks in Dodge City, Kan. He takes over for Billy Orr, who recently retired from the fair’s executive position after 27 years. Orr will assist with the transition and remain on Mississippi Fair Commission staff as Public Relations director.
The Georgia World Congress Center Authority has appointed Pargen Robertson as in-house counsel. He has practiced law for more than 18 years and previously served as partner in an Atlanta-based firm, where he represented the GWCCA. Robertson has served as the GWCCA’s special assistant attorney general since 2003.
P+R Architects has hired David Rogers, fellow of the American Institute of Architects, as design principal. Rogers has 40 years of career experience in revitalizing city centers globally.
Pacific World has promoted Patricia Silvio as global marketing manager. Silvio worked as regional marketing manager for EMEA since 2011 and will now be responsible for the company’s marketing strategy and delivery.
Global Experience Specialists has appointed Jason Stead as CEO, exhibitions & events for its EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Region. Previously, Stead served as client experience director at i2i (formerly EMAP), which he joined in 2009 as procurement director.
Amy Stephen has joined the Broadmoor World Arena and Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs as director of Marketing and Sales. Most recently, she managed the marketing department of the 10,000-seat Ted Constant Convocation Center at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
Dionna Widder has joined the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers as VP of Ticket Sales and Services. She comes to the organization from the NBA, where she served as director of team Marketing and Business Operations for the NBA, WNBA and D-League for two years.
PASSINGS
Mark (Radar) Hennen — 58, booking director with Feld Entertainment, June 15 in Washington, D.C., after a long battle with cancer. Between working on tours and working for Feld, he held a number of jobs in family entertainment, including a stint with VEE Corp. and at MCA Concerts. In 1996, he joined Frank Roach’s company TourVen, promoting live shows for Barney the Dinosaur. In 2003, he joined Feld Entertainment and, a year later, was promoted to booking director. He is survived by his sisters Lois Wheeler and Maureen Schumann.