Jun 21, 2024
A bevy of CVBs, venues and other event-related organizations have been expanding leadership and teams as they position themselves for growth via new business opportunities.
Sphere Entertainment
Live entertainment and media company Sphere Entertainment Co. announced a key promotion and a new executive hire.
Jennifer Koester has been elevated from president of business operations to president and COO of Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium in Las Vegas. In her expanded role, she will continue working with executive leadership and across the broader Sphere team to grow the business… more
May 31, 2024
Ahead of the upcoming Cvent CONNECT, set for June 10-13, Rachel Andrews, the software giant’s head of global events, sat down with us for an exclusive, tell-all interview that makes it clear why she was chosen for our new and ongoing “Industry Trailblazers” feature.
Andrews began her 13-year tenure at Cvent when “the meetings and events team wasn’t really a team,” she explained, adding that the team of merely six “was kind of a bunch of disparate people working on tactics that weren't cohesive.”
“We didn't really have a strategy other than we're just going to host a bunch of lunches and… more
May 22, 2024
Event-related organizations, especially industry suppliers, have been welcoming new leadership and growing staff as the number of meetings and business events continue picking up pace nationwide.
Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority
The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) has selected a new president and CEO: Mike Larragueta, who for nine months has served as the CVB’s interim president and CEO since Charles Harris left the position in 2023.
Bringing nearly 30 years of travel and tourism industry experience, including15 years of local executive experience,… more
May 13, 2024
Tasked with a lofty vision to create equitable healthcare for all, National Medical Association Director of Conventions & Events Derrick Johnson is doing everything in his power to help the organization change the world through connection, ensuring that physicians and partners share and learn in creative and meaningful ways.
At Connect Spring Marketplace 2024 in Las Vegas, Johnson joined us in our podcast booth on the show floor at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center to share his experience and passion for adult learning and connecting people.
The 122nd Annual Convention and… more
Apr 26, 2024
Who’s moving up at event-related organizations and companies throughout the U.S. and abroad? Take a look at our latest roundup of industry professionals making career moves in the corporate events industry.
Event Leaders Exchange
The Event Leaders Exchange (ELX), an invite-only community for global heads of events from the world’s largest corporations, appointed Nicola Kastner as its new CEO.
Renowned for her expertise in event marketing strategy, Kastner brings a wealth of experience and accolades to her leadership role at ELX. Most recently, she was the founder of The Event Strategist, a… more
Apr 25, 2024
Adobe, a public company that produces two major corporate events in the U.S. annually, drew more than 10,000 attendees to its annual Adobe Summit at The Venetian Convention & Expo Center when it was held March 25-28.
The event featured 12 tracks with more than 200 sessions and keynotes with leaders like Adobe President, Digital Experience Anil Chakravarthy; GM Chair and CEO Mary T. Barra; Pfizer Chief Digital & Technology Officer and EVP Lidia Fonseca; and basketball legend, entrepreneur and media personality Shaquille O'Neal.
We caught up with Adobe Senior Event Marketing Manager… more
Apr 18, 2024
Ask Amy Calvert about her path to the C-suite, and she will share a common thread that has persisted throughout her professional journey: a steadfast love and respect for the human connections that business events can foster.
Calvert started her career in the hospitality sector, gaining experience working for the InterContinental Hotels Group and Loews before transitioning into the destination marketing world, serving in various leadership positions on the Visit Baltimore sales and services team for more than 15 years before taking the helm of the Events Industry Council (EIC) as its… more
Apr 10, 2024
Visit Anaheim, the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Anaheim, Calif., has appointed Mike Waterman as its new president and CEO, effective April 29. A hospitality industry veteran with more than 30 years of leadership and sales experience, Waterman comes to Anaheim from Visit Orlando, where he previously served as chief sales officer.
Upon assuming the helm of Visit Anaheim, Waterman will be responsible for developing, directing and overseeing the CVB as well as leading its efforts to draw conventions and visitors to the Anaheim area to bring economic growth to the… more
Apr 04, 2024
Spring kicked off in the corporate events industry with organizations and suppliers announcing key staff promotions, new hires and expanded executive teams. Check out all the seasoned industry professionals on the move in this month’s People News.
Impact XM
Impact XM elevated James Morris from senior vice president of client services to executive vice president of growth, responsible for spearheading strategic growth initiatives for the full-service event and experiential marketing agency.
In his new role, Morris will play a pivotal role in shaping Impact XM’s trajectory, spearheading… more
Mar 25, 2024
Celebrated every March, Women’s History Month is an opportune time to celebrate the female achievers of the trade show and events industry. In this third in a series of exclusive interviews with outstanding female industry professionals, we had the pleasure of speaking with Freeman President Janet Dell and beMatrix CEO Tara Ericson to find out how their organizations are supporting women, how the industry can accelerate gender equity and inclusion and what advice they can offer women to reach the C-suite.
Janet Dell, President, Freeman
Current role: Dell oversees Freeman’s long-term… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is more