People News: Meet AC’s New CEO, Plus Fresh Hires at Reed Exhibitions, 42Chat and More

June 25, 2020

While this summer’s hiring news isn’t as busy as in other years, companies in the events industry are expanding where they can to help gain a cutting edge for events as they begin to return. Here’s the latest news.

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On June 22, Meet AC, Atlantic City’s group sales and marketing organization, named industry veteran Larry Sieg as its new president and CEO. He replaces Jim Wood, who departed the agency at the end of 2019. Bringing nearly three decades of tourism, sales and hospitality experience to his new role, Sieg will officially take the reins on July 13.

"Being someone who lives, works and plays in Atlantic City, I understand it has always been a place of great importance regionally,” Sieg said. "I look forward to the challenge we face as we settle into a new normal and have our destination be top-of-mind for meeting planners throughout the country.”

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Larry AlexanderAfter 22 years with the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, President and CEO Larry Alexander will retire from his position, effective Dec. 31. Over the past two decades, he’s played a pivotal role in the economic metamorphosis of the city, and also helped to guide transformation of TCF Center to attract larger meetings and events to Detroit.

“When it comes to attracting conventions and visitors, at one time Larry had one of the most challenging jobs in the country, and in the tough times he was there with creative strategies and steadfast advocacy for our community,” said Marla Drutz, chairman of the CVB’s board of directors. “As Detroit began its rebound, Larry was always one step ahead in presenting metro Detroit as a phenomenal location for events and visitors. His work ethic, command of complex issues and client focus are also exemplary.”

A nationwide search is underway for Alexander's successor.

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Petra Cullmann and Bernd Jablonowski have been appointed heads of the operative business division at Messe Düsseldorf in Germany. Cullmann has been with the company for nearly 30 years, most recently serving as global portfolio director for plastics and rubber; while Jablonowski has 25 years under his belt and was previously global portfolio director for packaging and processing.

“Their many years of trade fair expertise in Germany and abroad, their outstanding knowledge of the industry in Messe Düsseldorf's portfolios and their leadership experience make them ideal candidates to position our company for the future,” said Werner M. Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. Dornscheidt will retire on June 30 and be succeeded by Wolfram N. Diener, who will take over as CEO of Messe Düsseldorf effective July 1.

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Reed Exhibitions this week announced Jamie Harrison as new vice president of product development, replacing Richard Remington, who left the company to join sister company Elsevier as managing director of submissions systems and analytics. Harrison has been with Reed for 11 years and will now oversee product development focusing specifically on customer-facing services, including the web platform Atlas.

“[Harrison] has been the driving force behind the development of our global website platform, Atlas, which is adding value and improving customer experiences across more than 500 of our events, with rollout on target for completion by the end of 2020,” said Brian Brittain, chief technology officer.

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Utah-based tech company 42Chat, which creates text AI chatbots for live events, has added three to its sales team: Ray Baum, who was most recently with Core-apps; Collin Tokosch, also from Core-apps; and Mike Flynn, who’s worked with event companies Balluun, DMB Events and UBM.

"We know that events of all types will come back strong post-COVID, but likely with far fewer staff, requiring better tools to deliver a superior attendee, exhibitor, speaker and staff experience,” said Chuck Elias, CEO of 42Chat. “These proven professionals will help event managers and organizations of all types take advantage of our products to deliver a more responsive, personal and meaningful experience both during the event and throughout the year.”

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LaGrange, Georgia-based Association Services Group has two new hires. Chris Butts has joined the company as account executive for the Forest Products Society and the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, having previously served as executive director for the Georgia Green Industry Association. VJ Mayor has also joined as account executive for the Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors, having most recently served as senior director of communications for the National Confectioners Association.

Have People News to share? Send an email to kogletree@tsnn.com for a chance to be featured in next month's edition.

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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.