People News: Spiro, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and More Expand Teams, Appoint New Directors

May 30, 2022

Spring continues to blossom with a slew of new hires and promotions and newly created positions at trade show and event-related organizations across the U.S. and abroad. Here’s the latest news about hard-working professionals in the trade show industry that you need to know!

Spiro 

Spiro, the brand experience agency within the GES Collective, has named marketing, PR and digital media content veteran Beki Winchel its thought leadership and innovation director. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, she will focus on creating impactful thought leadership content, strategies and campaigns designed to encourage innovative conversations, partnerships and solutions.

Prior to her time at Spiro, Winchel was a learning content and research developer at PCMA, where she worked with a wide range of well-known names, including Destination Canada, Visit Louisville, Marriott International and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. She also honed her skills at the likes of Ragan Communications and consulted for other companies, creating editorial, sponsored and event programming content featuring thought leadership from Estée Lauder, PayPal, Nike, NBC Universal, The Absolut Company, MSNBC, Microsoft, Facebook and AstraZeneca, among multiple others. 

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) recently appointed two new managers to its marketing team. 

In his new role as manager, social media, EJ King is responsible for overseeing the voice and message of the ACVB across all social media platforms, and for showcasing Atlanta as a top destination for business and leisure travel while ensuring content adheres to brand standards. He will also support sales and convention services to raise awareness for upcoming events. Previously, King served as lead brand ambassador for Porsche Experience Center Atlanta. 

As the destination marketing organization’s new manager, content, Daniela Cintron oversees the lifecycle of content, developing strategy and executing initiatives to help tell the story of Atlanta across ACVB channels and publications. She previously contributed as a bilingual writer for Discover Atlanta Now magazine and most recently served as director of marketing for a law firm with experience as a bilingual journalist and podcaster. 

OVG360

Content and booking professional Starr Butler-Jemison will join OVG360 as senior vice president of content development and private events, overseeing a new division focused on innovative private functions, major corporate events and content development across OVG360’s more than 300 arenas, stadiums and convention centers. She will be based in Detroit and start her new position July 5. 

Bringing more than a decade of experience in booking, venue and event management spanning arenas, stadiums, ballparks and non-traditional entertainment venues to her new role, Butler-Jemison will bring her creative approach to filling dark days, curating corporate experiences, securing unique content and generally supporting venues build and better activate their networks of promoters, content creators and corporate clients. 

Butler-Jemison joins OVG360 from the 2020-21 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks, where she served as vice president of booking and events for Fiserv Forum arena and Deer District, and prior to that, as director of booking and events at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Visit Spokane 

Visit Spokane recently added two new directors of sales and one sales manager to its team.

Bringing decades of experience in the hospitality sales sector to her new role, Ana Liberty has been appointed director of national accounts. She has worked as a sales manager for both Hilton and Hyatt Regency, and most recently, worked as national account director for Travel Portland. 

Director of National Accounts Kristina Ovies brings more than a decade of experience in hospitality sales, including roles at Wyndham Vacation Ownership and most recently, as national sales director at Nugget Casino Resort in Reno, Nev.

Chuck Carter joins the CVB’s team as sales manager, bringing more than 20 years of experience in hospitality sales. He previously worked for WestCoast Hospitality Corporation and as global director of sales at RLH Corporation. 

Ungerboeck 

Event and venue management software leader Ungerboeck has added two roles to its chief executive leadership team.    

Technology services executive Jim McPherson has been promoted to the newly created role of chief customer officer (CCO), responsible for the global efforts of Ungerboeck’s Professional and Technical Solutions and Customer Success Management teams. An employee of Ungerboeck for almost four years, he brings more than 20 years of technology, professional services and consulting experience to his new role. 

Sales and revenue management leader Mike Besecker has joined the company as chief revenue officer (CRO), focused on sales development and growth in the market segment strategy and building sales and business development globally.  

Bringing more than 22 years of experience leading software companies and building sales and revenue management teams to his new role, Besecker will lead a global team of account executives, account managers, solution engineers, sales development representatives and commercial operators responsible for the entire customer revenue lifecycle.    

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NVCVC) has welcomed Eddie Canaday to its sales team as director, national accounts. In his new role, Canaday will serve as the in-market representative for the mid-Atlantic area and Washington, D.C., where he is based. 

Bringing more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, public relations and leadership to his new position at the NCVC, Canaday previously worked for Visit Salt Lake in the Washington, D.C., market. He is a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), where he currently serves on the IGLTA Foundation’s board of directors, as well as co-secretary  of the foundation’s executive board of directors. 

SmartSource 

Leading technology solutions provider SmartSource recently hired Roy Benear as director of sales. Based in Dallas, Texas, he brings a proven track record in business development, strategic growth and sales force development spanning more than 25 years to his new role.  

Before joining SmartSource, Benear served as head of sales for Game Developers Conference and GameDeveloper.com, as well as Digital TV Europe and Television Business International on behalf of Informa Tech’s Media & Entertainment Group (London, UK). He has also held sales and leadership roles at Encore, Wyndham Jade, IAVM, Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visit Denver, to name a few.

Visit Salt Lake 

Visit Salt Lake recently promoted Karen Staples to managing director of sales, East Coast office, an expanded role in which she is responsible for booking all meeting and convention business in the Washington, D.C., and northeast regions.   

An employee of the CVB for more than five years, Staples previously held director of sales roles at Spokane Regional CVB and the Greater Hartford Convention Bureau. She will continue to serve as PCMA’s New York Chapter chair through 2022.

The CVB also recently named global marketing veteran Tyler Gosnell its new chief brand and marketing officer, responsible for helping to develop Salt Lake’s brand image and increase public perception through cohesive brand narratives and strategic marketing campaigns. 

He has led global brand and marketing programs for leading destination marketing organizations including Visit California and San Francisco Travel, and has most recently been a key member of the destination management and marketing team at the Royal Commission for AlUla in Saudi Arabia.

Have some people news to share? Please send announcements and high-res headshots to lpsavas@tsnn.com.

 

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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.