Freeman President John O'Connell Retiring, Bob Priest-Heck Stepping Into Role
July 18, 2013
Freeman’s chief sales officer, Bob Priest-Heck, will step into the president and COO role when John O’Connell, the company’s current president, retires June 30, 2014.
The leadership transfer will be in phases, with Priest-Heck assuming the COO role Aug. 1 of this year and reporting to O’Connell and Freeman CEO Joe Popolo.
When O’Connell retires, Priest-Heck will step in his new president role, overseeing the Freeman Companies, overseeing Freeman’s Exposition business, as well as Freeman AV and FreemanXP.
"As a family and employee-owned business, we take great care to ensure that our leaders reflect our company values of integrity, empathy, innovation, enthusiasm and performance excellence,” Popolo said.
He added, “This thoughtful, long-range approach has enabled us to build our management team with strong leaders like John and Bob, whom our customers and employee-owners can count on to be with us for the long haul.”
Prior to joining Freeman, Priest-Heck served as president and CEO of both Immersa Marketing and Wheelhouse Solutions, which Freeman acquired in 2011.
He also served as president and CEO of MediaLive International Inc., where he worked with media brands such as Interop, Business Communications Review Magazine, COMDEX, Seybold Seminars and Publishing, and Web 2.0.
In addition, was vice president, International Operations at SOFTBANK Expos; executive vice president of Operations for Ziff-Davis; and held various positions with Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
Priest-Heck also is a board member for the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR).
He will be only the fifth person to hold the president title at Freeman in 86 years.
“Bob has a proven track record of bringing together strategic, collaborative and high-performing teams,” O’Connell said.
He added, “I’m confident that Bob’s passion and expertise uniquely position him to lead the Freeman team as we continue to not only grow and expand our business but also deepen our relationships with our valued clients.”
O’Connell has worked with Freeman for 25 years and personally produced several of Freeman's largest shows including the New York International Auto Show and the Boston Seafood Show.
“John is an outstanding leader. He helped guide our company through both challenging times and exciting opportunities,” Popolo said.
He added, “We are all incredibly grateful for John’s many contributions to our clients, our employees and our company throughout his distinguished tenure with Freeman and look forward to benefitting from John’s leadership as a member of our Board of Directors.”
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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