People News: SGIA, Reno, Atlanta, Bellagio and More Make Hires

August 25, 2018

Hiring didn’t slow down in the typically mellow month of August with several cities adding to their convention and visitors bureau ranks, as well as some service providers and show organizing companies.

Rachel Thomas has joined the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) as the new Director of Exhibit Services, overseeing the SGIA Expo and upcoming PRINTING United trade show floors and managing exhibitors’ experiences.

Thomas will handle communication and coordination related to the 2018 SGIA Expo — both prior to and during events — to make the show more engaging for both exhibitors and attendees.

In 2019, the SGIA Expo will transition to PRINTING United, a brand-new trade show focused on the opportunities in convergence of the printing industry. 

The Board of Directors of Visit KC has selected industry veteran Jason Fulvi as its new President and CEO. With more than 32 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industries, Fulvi comes to Kansas City from VisitPITTSBURGH, where he has served for 16 years and most recently as the organization’s Executive Vice President.

A Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), Fulvi begins his new role at Visit KC Sept. 12.

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) promoted Brandy Hudgins to sales manager, small meetings.

In her new role, Hudgins is responsible for leveraging client relationships in all domestic markets to book small meetings and reunions in Atlanta requiring 10-50 hotel room nights on peak. Prior to joining the in-house sales team, she served as trade show sales coordinator, assisting in selling and marketing Atlanta and Georgia as well as coordinating logistics for Atlanta’s presence at national trade shows.

Hudgins began her career with ACVB in 2015 as a trade show administrative assistant. Before joining ACVB, Hudgins worked with Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart, World of Coca-Cola and Atlanta Braves.

The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) brought on two new hires on the heels of the Authority’s recent deal with SMG to take over management of the area’s meetings and convention facilities.

Kelly Carr has been appointed general manager for SMG-contracted facilities in northern Nevada, and Dante Nicastro has been brought on as the northern Nevada General Manager for SAVOR, SMG’s food and beverage division.

MCI USA has welcomed two longtime event industry professionals to its Strategic Events, Meetings & Incentives (SEM&I) business unit based out of Plano, Texas.

Jeff Moore has joined the team as Vice President, Technology & Innovation. In his role, Moore will work with the established technology development team to accelerate programming goals for the company’s proprietary ONEsystem+ and identify key integration and partner technologies for MCI SEM&I.

Moore has spent the past 15 years working on key systems for Experient, including a registration and housing platform, lead retrieval app, database marketing tool, exhibitor CRM, event app, attendee behavioral tracking systems and analytics platform.

James Kelley will serve as Director, Onsite, Lead Retrieval & Business Development. He will lead and develop MCI USA’s expanding onsite and lead retrieval teams while helping the company drive registration business.

Kelley also joins the team from Experient, where he held positions over the course of 19 years as Account Executive, Senior Account Executive, Strategic Account Manager and Director, Onsite Services. His vast array of experience and knowledge were utilized to drive all onsite registration products and services.

Bellagio named Amanda Voss as the resort’s new vice president of Sales.  In this role, she is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for Hotel Sales and Convention Services at Bellagio, a AAA Five Diamond, 3,933-room resort.

With more than 200,000 square feet of space, Bellagio’s elegant and flexible meeting and convention facilities have received numerous awards including 5 Keys (the highest designation) from Green Key Meetings Rating Program. 

SmartSource® Computer & Audio Visual Rentals, a provider of computer, audio visual (AV) and technology solutions for businesses and events, announced the appointment of Marty Fuchs as Solutions Architect.

Fuchs will be based in SmartSource’s Orlando, Florida location. He will be responsible for providing technical and customer service expertise for audio visual solution installations and working closely with the sales team to prepare RFPs.

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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. TSNN 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 future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.