people-in-the-news
Suppliers ranging from convention and visitors bureaus to electrical services to display companies either promoted from within or added onto their ranks to mark the beginning of a busy spring season.
Claude Molinari has been named by SMG the general manager of Cobo Center, effective immediately.
Since SMG assumed operations management of Cobo Center in 2010, Molinari has been the assistant general manager of Cobo under Thom Connors.
Julie Coker Graham officially stepped into her new role Jan. 1 as the president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB).
She assumed the role following the retirement Dec. 31 of former President and CEO Jack Ferguson.
Whoever said December was a slow month, might have been wrong when it comes to end of this year’s new hires and promotions, with several companies bringing people on before kicking off a fresh start in 2016.
Global Experience Specialists recently named Wendy Gibson as executive vice president of global marketing.
Gibson is an accomplished B-to-B marketing leader with a high-tech background and brings 25 years of managing all aspects of marketing, including branding, lead generation, product marketing, corporate marketing, digital, social and business development.
This past month has been a busy one with several long-time industry figures switching jobs, being promoted or returning to prior places of employment.
In addition, there was the sad news that Earl C. Hargrove, founder of general service contracting firm Hargrove Inc., passed away at the age of 86.
A celebration of his life is planned for April 11, beginning 11 a.m. at St. James’ Church, 5757 Solomons Island Road, Lothian, Md. 20711, followed by internment.
Supplier and show organizers alike promoted from within and brought on new personnel for a variety of positions across the trade show industry in the past month.
Reed Exhibitions appointed Nick Pilbeam to the position of divisional director – Travel.
Pilbeam will oversee the travel division under Reed Travel Exhibitions, which includes the International Luxury Travel Market portfolio, World Travel Market portfolio and the newly branded ibtm events portfolio of global and regional events providing business solutions on five continents.
Autumn brought a busy time with companies adding sales, marketing, operations and executive positions to their employee rosters.
Shepard Exposition Services added of two new national sales managers to help support its expanding business in the Orlando and Las Vegas markets. Alex Shelton will be based in Shepard’s Las Vegas branch and Tony Diehl in their Orlando branch.
June marked a month filled with people news that included long-time industry veterans announcing they were retiring, other trade show professionals being promoted and new hires into some companies.
Tom Mobley, who has served as Global Spectrum senior vice president of Convention Centers since January of 2006, has retired, effective June 30.
Before joining Global Spectrum, Mobley served as general manager and CEO of the Washington Convention Center Authority in Washington, D.C.
Convention and visitors bureaus all over the United States made several hires in positions ranging from sales and marketing to business development.
In addition, other companies also kept us the brisk hiring pace that has been the trend for the past year.
The Fort Worth (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau (FWCVB) named Mitch Whitten as the new vice president of marketing and communications. A long-time resident of Fort Worth, Whitten is set to begin his new position Oct. 2.
Alan Liebensohn was promoted last month to executive director of the New York International Automobile Show from his position of business manager, a post that he held for seven years.
Prior to joining the auto show, Liebensohn was a consultant in the trade show and exposition industry for companies such as George Little Management, Biz Bash Media, COSEP and Curves for Women.
Matthew Rotchford, long-time sales and events manager for the Portland Expo Center, has been named facility director after a national industry search, according to Metro Visitor Venues, which oversees the center.
He replaces former Director Chris Bailey, who retired in September, after 17 years managing the regional venue.
Metro general manager of visitor venues Teri Dresler said the decision best supports the facility’s expansion into new markets.
