people and development

Straight Talk: Claude Molinari, President & CEO, Visit Detroit

Starting a new job in a difficult business climate can be challenging enough, but what about during the height of a global pandemic? That’s exactly where Claude Molinari found himself when he took the helm of Visit Detroit as its new president and CEO in January of 2021 as the global events industry was reeling from the impacts of COVID-19.

People News: SITE, ASM Global, Ungerboeck and More Welcome New Executives, Team Members

While the hiring craze that has consumed the corporate events industry over the past 18 months is beginning to slow, event-related organizations far and wide are still welcoming new and experienced talent to their teams, including established industry veterans, as they set their focus on success and growth in 2023. Take a look!

People News: Events DC, Aramark, Tourism Diversity Matters and More Promote High-Performers, Welcome New Leaders

While the job market may be cooling off across the nation, the meetings and events industry appears to be keeping steady as venues, tourism agencies, event tech companies and more continue attracting new talent, promoting staff and expanding their leadership teams.

Women at the Helm: Kerry Painter, Director and General Manager, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex

Ask Kerry Painter about her celebrated career in the events industry and she will tell you she can’t imagine doing anything else with her life. As the director and general manager of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex in Raleigh, N.C., Painter is responsible for overseeing three downtown venues: Raleigh Convention Center, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and Red Hat Amphitheater, as well as the nearby Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek. 

People News: Caesars Entertainment, The Opus Group and More Continue Growth Trajectories With New Appointments, Executive Promotions

Despite rumblings of a slowing job market, the events industry is continuing its robust hiring and promoting momentum, with organizations far and wide filling executive roles with seasoned industry veterans and elevating strong-performing team members to new positions. Check them out!

People News: ASM Global, Oak View Group, MCI USA and More Fill Executive Roles, Expand Teams

This month’s People News demonstrates that CVBs and venue management companies are among the busiest event industry entities continuing their hiring streaks as the demand for in-person meetings and events continues to surge toward pre-pandemic levels. Take a look!

ASM Global 

Leading venue and event strategy and management company ASM Global is continuing its growth trajectory with an executive appointment and a major new hire at one of its convention center partners in Detroit.

People News: Orange County Convention Center, Hyatt Centric Buckhead Atlanta and More Promote Team Members, Tap Industry Veterans

As summer turns to fall, the corporate meeting and event industry’s hiring and promoting craze is starting to show some signs of slowing. Nonetheless, many hotels, CVBs and event venues are continuing to expand their teams, appoint new leadership and reward hard-working professionals with elevated roles. Check them out!

Straight Talk: Louisville Tourism’s Cleo Battle on Baseball, Bourbon, DEI and Evolving Beyond the Pandemic

Right off the bat (pun intended), I knew Cleo Battle was someone who makes the most of an experience.

No more than a couple of minutes into our conversation, the discussion turned to how much he treasures his personalized Louisville Slugger in purple—the color of his hometown baseball team, the Colorado Rockies—which he’s had since moving to Louisville almost 10 years ago, and how he enjoys his fine Kentucky bourbon on occasion—with a nice cigar and a great Sinatra album.

Taste Trends: Lumarie Rodríguez-Soto, F&B Director and Executive Chef, Waterloo Convention Center/OVG Hospitality 

Growing up in a culinary family in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, Chef Lumarie Rodríguez-Soto initially avoided a career in the culinary arts. As a young woman, she tried pursuing other career paths, but her innate creativity and love for baking eventually led her back to the kitchen and then to culinary school at La Escuela Hotelera de Puerto Rico, where she honed her skills, grew her knowledge and perfected her craft. 

Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. Corporate Event News had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to more