People News: Several Companies Make Hires, Announce Promotions

Even though summer typically is a slower time in the trade show industry, it’s been a busy one on the hiring and promotion front, with several companies recently making staffing announcements.

• Reed Exhibitions promoted Dave Bonaparte to senior vice president of JCK Brands. Bonaparte will take on the responsibility on a global level as the industry development leader for Reed’s jewelry portfolio. He will be responsible for growing the JCK brands around the world. He will continue to oversee the JCK Events and Magazine portfolio as the strategic brand leader. “Dave has demonstrated industry and customer insight to successfully lead the team in growing the JCK portfolio,” said Executive Vice President Nancy Walsh. “We are pleased with what he and the team have accomplished on behalf of the jewelry industry and look forward to JCK’s new phase of domestic and international growth.”

• Convention Data Services appointed Doug Levinson as chairman of the board and selected John Kimball as president and CEO. Levinson will be stepping into the role of chairman of the board effective January 1. He will be available to the CDS executive staff as an advisor, and participate in quarterly board meetings. Levinson will relinquish the running of the day-to-day operations of the company to John Kimball, who will take over as president and CEO also effective January 1. “My executive team and I have worked on this plan for over a year and have carefully mapped out a timeline, in order to ensure a smooth transition and no disruption to the company. I have worked closely with John Kimball for over eight years. Under his leadership, I know the company will be in the hands of a trusted and respected leader,” said Doug Levinson, current president and CEO. Kimball, current CFO, brings to his new role more than15 years of experience with the company and the tradeshow industry. "Doug Levinson is a remarkable leader who has cultivated a customer service oriented environment at CDS. I look forward to working with the CDS team in my new role because I believe in strong partnerships and furthering our commitment to customer service," Kimball said.

• The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau appointed Darren Temple as its new senior vice president of sales & services. Temple is responsible for the overall direction and supervision of DCVB convention sales and services efforts. Temple will lead the convention sales, convention services, member services and visitor information services departments; work closely with various hospitality stakeholders both locally and nationally to boost existing sales efforts and explore new, mutually beneficial partnerships; and increase Dallas’ visibility through industry involvement. "I’m pleased to introduce Darren as the DCVB’s new senior vice president, sales & services," said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the DCVB. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the regional, national and international convention and tradeshow markets and a familiarity with our hotel sales channels. Darren’s leadership, enthusiasm and proven track record of creating teams and accountable business development efforts will be tremendous assets." Temple previously worked for PSAV Presentation Services and Freeman.

• The Meet Minneapolis: Official Convention + Visitors Association recently named Amanda DePhillips as its new director or marketing. "It's truly an honor to be a part of Meet Minneapolis. This is a world-class organization with world-class experts,” DePhillips said. “I look forward to lending my experience and sharing my enthusiasm for this great city and this organization." As director of marketing, DePhillips will be responsible for managing the production of marketing campaigns for Internet, publications, presentations, creative development and advertising efforts, while maintaining the Meet Minneapolis brand and message throughout. “Amanda has held marketing and public relations roles for well-known industry brands, providing her with an exceptional grasp of the intricate aspects of destination marketing,” said Amy Alegi, vice president of destination branding and strategy. “Her overall industry experience will play a vital and strategic role in supporting all of our sales efforts.” DePhillips previously worked for the Minnesota State Fair, Visit St. Paul and metroConnections.

Here are a few more recent hires:

• Shepard Exposition Services hired three new National Sales Managers: Elizabeth Ritter and Nancy Davis will work out of Shepard’s branch in Las Vegas and Heather Zucker for their Baltimore branch. “This rapidly evolving industry simply means we have to make sure that the right people are on the team,” said Richard Maples, Vice President of Sales.

• Nth Degree brought Emily Puccio on board as a customer service representative in Las Vegas. Puccio will be providing daily office assistance and show floor support for Nth Degree’s customers in the Las Vegas market. “Emily comes to Nth Degree with direct customer service experience in the trade show industry and an in-depth knowledge of Las Vegas having worked in this fast-paced market for over 11 years. She is bright, energetic and will be a complementary addition to our already strong team in the Las Vegas market,” said Steve Daugherty, vice president of Labor Operations.

• Derse added Christopher Thornton to its team as a senior account executive based out of New York. “Christopher is recognized as an important resource to the fashion industry. His ability to create and execute events, trade shows and permanent environments is exceptional,” said Eric Preston, vice president of sales for Derse. “Ultimately, our clients seek to gain from Christopher’s rich knowledge and industry background.”