While some industries tend to slow down in the summer, the U.S. trade show industry has been doing anything but resting on its laurels, as evidenced by the plethora of event-related organizations and suppliers continuing the industry’s still-hot hiring and promoting trend. Here’s all the latest People News you need to know! 

RX  

RX has appointed Peter Lindsay as its new global chief strategy officer, responsible for formulating and executing strategies, leading corporate development activities, including mergers and acquisitions, and overseeing various projects and initiatives geared towards profitable growth for RX. When he assumed the role on Sept. 4, he will work to drive strategic projects, provide market intelligence and advise on key business development objectives. 

RX CEO Hugh Jones expressed enthusiasm about Lindsay’s appointment, emphasizing Lindsay’s proven track record in driving operational excellence and business transformation and praising his customer-centric approach and people-first leadership.

Lindsay recently served as chief strategy officer at Telegraph Media Group, where he achieved revenue and profit growth through significant transformation programs. Before that, he gained extensive experience at Bain & Company, a top-tier global strategy consultancy, working across different sectors and disciplines. 

Dallas Market Center  

Global B2B trade center and leading wholesale marketplace, Dallas Market Center, has welcomed industry veteran Nancy Barlar as senior executive director of new business. In her new role, Barlar will play a crucial part in identifying and inviting new gift and home décor brands to participate in The Temps at Total Home & Gift Market.  

Bringing more than two decades of experience, Barlar joins Dallas Market Center’s leadership team after serving as executive director at AmericasMart Atlanta, where she focused on new business development and sales for gift and home trade shows. She also held sales positions in AmericasMart’s publishing and media group.

National Association of Broadcasters 

Following nearly 25 years of dedicated service, Chris Brown, executive vice president, conventions and business operations for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), is leaving the organization following the 2024 NAB Show, set for April 13-17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. According to NAB officials, under Brown’s stewardship, the NAB Show portfolio has continually innovated to provide a superior event experience for broadcast, media and entertainment industry professionals. 

Following Brown’s announcement, NAB has initiated a nationwide search for an executive vice president and managing director of Global Connections and Events to oversee the NAB Show. This role presents an exceptional opportunity for an experienced executive with a strong background in trade shows and strategic business management to lead and motivate a team of 30 professionals responsible for executing NAB Show, NAB Show New York and NAB Amplify.

Interested candidates may submit their resumes and letters of interest to Allison McKee, NAB vice president of human resources, at hr@nab.org.

In order to ensure a seamless transition, Brown will play an integral role in identifying and mentoring his successor.

Destination DC  

Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, has promoted Shelby Luzzi to the new role of senior manager, sustainability, responsible for leading the development and implementation of DDC’s sustainability strategy, including addressing the growing demand for sustainable travel practices across meetings, conventions and leisure travel. She will also work to educate colleagues and industry peers about the latest city initiatives and trends in an effort to inspire stakeholders to embrace more sustainable practices. 

Luzzi previously served as a coordinator in DDC’s convention sales and services department and has been leading DDC’s internal sustainability task force since March 2022. Under her leadership, DC has been the only U.S. city to participate in the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS*) Index, a leading sustainability benchmarking and improvement program for destinations worldwide, in 2021 and 2022.  

Luzzi actively contributes to sustainability efforts through her involvement in Destination International’s Sustainability Task Force, the U.S. Travel Association’s Sustainable Travel Coalition and the Global Destination Sustainability-Index Technical Advisory Committee.

Exhibitor Group 

Exhibitor Group, a leading global provider of exhibition and event education, insights and commerce, has tapped 45-year event industry veteran David DuBois as its new CEO and president, effective Oct. 1. 

DuBois previously held the position of CEO and president at the International Association of Exhibitions and Events(IAEE), where he gained a reputation for his skillful leadership, strategic expertise, extensive network and a deep understanding of the trade show and events sector. During his tenure at the leading organization, DuBois showcased his ability to forge partnerships and drive growth, resulting in significant advancements for the association and the global industry at large. 

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) has welcomed Marcail Bayer as national sales manager, tasked with selling and marketing Atlanta as a premier destination for group meetings requiring 251-1,200 rooms on peak night, focusing on the Midwest market. She will also represent ACVB at trade shows and coordinate the participation of the organization’s partners. 

Prior to ACVB, Bayer served as the complex convention sales coordinator for Legacy Ventures, where she was charged with responding to leads and conducting site inspections.    

CSI DMC 

CSI DMC, Destination & Event Management, recently announced the addition of award-winning events and destination management expert Maddie DaMario as its new vice president of national sales, based in Chicago.  

Before serving a five-year tenure at Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, where she excelled in managing client relationships and driving convention business to Reno, DaMario successfully oversaw national conferences and meetings for the American Osteopathic Association. She currently serves on the PCMA National Membership Task Force.

Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau in Arlington, Texas, has announced the addition of Kelly Wildfong as its new director of national accounts. She will play a key role in supporting the sales endeavors and operations of the Arlington CVB sales team, working toward the successful promotion of hotel meetings and other venues in Arlington, as well as contributing to the development and implementation of strategic plans designed to ensure a positive ROI in convention sales.

Boasting an impressive background in hospitality sales spanning more than 12 years, Wildfong most recently served as the national sales manager for Caesars Entertainment’s extensive portfolio of 50 properties. Prior to that, she served as the national sales manager for Omni Hotels and Resorts. 

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

To further this mission of supporting small and emerging businesses (SEB) and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE) in the region, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has named LaToya Martinas its SEB program manager, responsible for overseeing SEB and DBE initiatives designed to enhance opportunities for diverse and small businesses to access NOENMCC contracts and projects.

Previously, Martin served in the City of New Orleans’ Office of Supplier Diversity as a compliance officer, where she later received a promotion to senior compliance officer. In this capacity, she supervised a team of four compliance officers and managed a substantial portfolio of public and private sector funds totaling $700 million. 

Martin assumes her new role as the previous SEB program director, Rocsean Spencer, was promoted to chief diversity officer, becoming the first individual to hold this role at a U.S. convention center. 

Have some trade show-related people news to share? Please send announcements and high-resolution headshots to lpsavas@tsnn.com.

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