People News: Hirings Close Out 2014, Continue into 2015

January 9, 2015

Going into the end of last year and starting 2015, companies have continued to add to their ranks by adding board members, promoting from within or hiring a veteran in the field.

Lew Shomer, chairman of 5NET4 and ABILITIES EXPO, said that Charlie McCurdy, CEO of Apprise Media, will join the Board of Directors of 5NET4.

McCurdy’s role will be to help Abilities Expo extend their brand through spin-offs, additional launches and acquisitions.

David Korse, president and CEO of 5NET4, said, "As 5NET4 continues to make an impact on the disability community and, through its Abilities Expo, has an outstanding record of internal growth through space sales and attendance, we feel Charlie's presence on our Board will allow us to go to the next level."

McCurdy has a strong record of success in the business services and media sectors. He has partnered with several private equity firms in acquiring, transforming, scaling and realizing value in a wide range of business service and media companies.

Most recently, McCurdy partnered with Providence Equity Partners to acquire GLM, one of the leading trade show organizers in the United States, in September 2011.

Prior to this, McCurdy partnered with Spectrum Equity Investors to acquire Canon Communications, the leading business-to-business events, publishing and online company exclusively covering the advanced manufacturing sector.

He was co-founder, president and director of Primedia, Inc., where he oversaw the acquisition, development and growth of more than 20 platform niche media companies serving a wide variety of consumer and business markets.

dmg events USA has promoted Rebecca Jennings to show director of ad:tech’s two U.S.-based events, San Francisco and New York.

She will have full P&L responsibility for the two annual events, which are the longest running marketing events in the United States focused on digital solutions. ad:tech events also are held each year in New Zealand, Sydney, New Delhi, Tokyo, Kansai and London. Prior to this move, she was sales director for ad:tech.

“Rebecca is a motivated, creative, individual who faces challenges with enthusiasm,” said Amy Allen, executive vice president, dmg events USA. “I have confidence in her leadership abilities and look forward to the innovation she will bring to ad:tech in the coming year.”

Jennings has more than 10 years’ experience driving top-line revenue and coaching teams toward organizational growth. With a proven track record for successfully leading strategic event initiatives tapping multiple event management disciplines, Jennings’ leadership skills are well-suited for ad:tech’s bottom-line goals.

Prior to joining dmg events USA, she held sales and management roles with Hanley Wood Exhibitions.

Convention Data Services has named John Hawley as its new Chief Technology Officer. Hawley brings to CDS a strong technology architecture and development background along with 15 years of experience managing diverse technical teams. In this new CTO role he will oversee all technology groups, including product development and support, product management, application delivery, infrastructure management, information management and quality assurance. 

“John Hawley’s strong leadership experience makes him the ideal person to lead our CDS technology team. His expertise in strategic technology development will facilitate our continued technical evolution and commitment to our clients to create and improve technology solutions for their events,” said John Kimball, president and CEO, Convention Data Services.

Hawley’s extensive background in all aspects of technology spans over two decades. He has held numerous senior management positions, most recently at the TJX Companies and NeuEon Inc.

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact