People News: Jeffrey L. Portman Named Vice Chair of AMC, Inc., Several Other Job Postings Mark Busy Month

February 4, 2014

The past month has been a flurry of activity with companies either beefing up their ranks or promoting from within.

AMC, Inc.’s President and CEO Jeffrey L. Portman has gained another post as the company board’s vice chairperson, effective immediately.

Portman has led AMC, Inc. and AmericasMart Atlanta through a period of growth unprecedented in the companies’ 54-year history, commencing with the rebranding of the former Atlanta Market Center as AmericasMart Atlanta in 1996, and continuing with expansion of its U.S. market share and global business base.

FreemanXP, an experiential marketing agency within Freeman, has strengthened its tean with the addition of industry veteran Kim Myhre as senior vice president, International and the appointment of Mark Fein to senior vice president, Strategy.

Hospitality sales leader Darren Green has been named senior vice president of sales at the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LA Tourism). In this capacity, he will lead both the citywide convention sales team and the hotel sales team, along with the destination services team. 

Parenting Expo, a new series of expos designed to give parents one place where they can gather and share reliable and relevant information, has appointed Kendra Nicastro as general manager of Parenting Expo Columbus (Ohio).

In her duties, Nicastro will help manage exhibit sales for the Columbus event and assist in operations and marketing for the expo coming Aug. 16-17 to the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Experient, the source for integrated meeting and event solutions, announces the expansion of its sales team by four to the Experient Sales Network (ESN).

The new additions are Antionette Aris, Jim Scherbel, Andy Thompson and Alison Winston.

The Norman (Okla.) Convention and Visitors Bureau (NCVB) board of directors has hired a new executive director, Dan Schemm, to run the bureau.

He comes to Norman directly from the Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau as the director of destination sales and services in Wichita, Kan.

Seattle-based WARP Exhibits, a leading manufacturer of tension-fabric displays and structures for the exhibit, architecture and event industries, has added Duffy Delgado as its new director of sales and marketing.

Add new comment

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