Belinda Oakley Takes the Helm of Sodexo Live! North America, IAEE Welcomes New Chairperson Dennis Smith
January 16, 2023
A leading hospitality partner and a top exhibition industry organization announced some major leadership changes recently.
Sodexo Live!
Sodexo Live! tapped proven international business leader Belinda Oakley as its new CEO, North America. Bringing two decades of foodservice management experience to her new role, Oakley is responsible for leading more than 20,000 team members at more than 150 partner venues throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Oakley replaces outgoing CEO Steve Pangburn, who will stay on with the company to help with the transition in an advisory capacity through the end of March 2023. Pangburn is stepping down in order to spend more time with his family in France, where he will continue working with Sodexo.
A native Australian, Oakley has led organizations on three continents, successfully leading enterprise growth strategies through operational excellence, innovation and the development of high-performing teams, according to Sodexo officials.
“It is impossible to put into words the level of excitement I have for this new role,” Oakley said. “This is a sector and industry I have admired for years now. We are just getting started and I look forward to serving the organization and bringing a new perspective to the organization.”
As an integral part of Sodexo’s Global Executive Committee, Oakley will report to Global CEO Nathalie Bellon-Szabo, who expressed her excitement in welcoming her to the team as the company doubles down on pursuing its ambitious growth goals.
“[Belinda] has an outstanding track record in commercial and business development,” Bellon-Szabo said. “With [her] leadership and capabilities, the talents and engagement of the North America team and the strong positive momentum of our business, I am confident we will be successful in accelerating our growth in North America.”
Most recently, Oakley was the CEO of Chartwells K12, a $1B business where she led 16,000 employees serving 2 million meals daily at 4,400 schools across the U.S. She has also held leadership roles for Famous Brands International, Brumby’s Bakeries and Benugo. She is also an honors graduate of the Executive MBA program at the University of Denver, where she still serves as an Adjunct Professor for the Daniels College of Business.
According to Sodexo officials, this evolution in leadership comes as a natural next step in the continued growth trajectory of Sodexo Live!, as it prepares for a milestone year in North America, from hosting the Formula One Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium and the 2023 MLB All-Star Game at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park to an anticipated high-volume calendar of meetings and events at convention centers and cultural attractions. Its airport lounge business is also preparing to open multiple new premium lounge spaces with British Airways, as global travel continues its momentum toward pre-pandemic levels.
When asked what she will be focusing on first as she settles into her new role, Oakley said she will be spending as much face time as she can with the company’s various teams.
“The most important thing in the first few months is meeting with as many of our teams as possible in order to gain a complete appreciation for what makes us special, and then, with that understanding in place, it’s my role to help make it better than it is,” she said. “This could mean doubling down on our fantastic culinary team and empowering our people even further, so we can truly invest in our workforce better than any of our competitors.”
She added, “We have to always be anticipating what’s next, and I’m looking forward to ensuring we get ourselves and our venue partners there.”
IAEE
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) announced the election results of its 2023 Board of Directors and welcomed new Chairperson Dennis Smith. The announcement took place last month during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2022 in Louisville, Ky.
As the vice president of business development for the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), Smith is an industry veteran who previously served as senior director for exposition sales and business development at AVIXA, the global trade association for the pro AV and integrated experiences industry. He began his trade show career in Europe and spent close to 18 years living in the continent working for some of the top global trade show organizations.
“Dennis has served in many roles throughout the association across his years of involvement with IAEE,” said IAEE President and CEO David DuBois. “We are pleased to welcome him as the 2023 IAEE chairperson and look forward to a productive year ahead with our new and continuing board members.”
Apart from launching his own trade show company in 1997, Smith has held several executive-level positions and has been directly responsible for organizing more than 250 international events in more than 30 countries serving myriad industries, including textiles, automotive, manufacturing, technology, food and construction.
A Colorado native who served in the U.S. Army, Smith has an MBA in international business and is highly experienced in global strategy for events around the globe.
“I look forward to supporting IAEE’s three key pillars of Membership, Learning and Advocacy in 2023,” Smith said. “It is also my goal to help develop strategies IAEE members can use to grow their events, deliver increased ROI to stakeholders and make an impact to ongoing efforts in areas of workforce development, sustainability and DE&I initiatives.”
New 2023 IAEE board of directors members include:
- Director Michael Clarke, director, global sales B2B marketing and events, Americas, Marriott International.
- Director Michelle Edmonson, vice president, exhibitions, AMT, The Association for Manufacturing Technology
- Director Mary Pat Heftman, president, MPH LLC
- Director Nichapa (Nikki) Yoswee, senior vice president, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)
Continuing board of directors include:
- Chairperson-Elect Marie Browne, group vice president, RX
- Secretary/Treasurer Janet Sperstad, faculty director, event management business solutions, Madison College
- Immediate Past Chairperson Carrie Ferenac, president, CNTV (Convention News Television)
- Director Bilal Al Barmawi, CEO, 1st Arabia Company Exhibitions and Conferences Organizers
- Director Mary Bender, vice president of sales and operations, Taffy Event Strategies
- Director Mark Bogdansky, vice president, meetings and events, Auto Care Association
- Director Chuck Grouzard, executive vice president, business development, GES
- Director Anytra Lowe, senior vice president, client services, Freeman
- Director Justine L. McVaney, senior vice president of event planning and operations, National Association of Broadcasters
- Director Brian Pagel, executive vice president, EmeraldX
- Director Necoya Tyson, director of meeting operations, CASSS–An International Separation Science Society
Ex-officio directors are:
- Representing the Chapter Leaders Council: Sarah Kokernot, director of meetings and events, Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society
- Representing the IAEE Asia Council: Xuebin Gu, founder and CEO, WeMeet
- Representing the IAEE MATSO Council: John Rozum, senior director, ag and utility exhibitions and events, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
- Representing the Past Chairpersons’ Advisory Group: Julie Smith, senior vice president, exhibition sales, GES
- Representing the IAEE Consumer Events Council: Michelle Metter, partner, Fast Forward Event Productions
Members of IAEE’s Board of Directors are elected on an annual basis by the official voting member of each IAEE member company. All officers serve a term of one year, except the secretary/treasurer who may hold the office for two years. The directors each serve three years in staggered terms to ensure continuity in the governance of the association, according to IAEE officials.
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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.
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