People in the News: ASIS International, Core-Apps, Los Angeles CC Promote, Hire Employees

June 23, 2016

Summer’s kicking off with lots of new hires and promotions across the board in every kind of company, ranging from event apps to show management companies to convention and visitors bureaus.

ASIS International has named Shannon Burch, CEM, as the new vice president of Events and Business Development.

Burch, who previously served as director of exhibits, now oversees the entirety of the ASIS International Annual Seminar and Exhibits, as well as overall business development. ASIS is the leading organization for security management professionals worldwide.

Burch has been with ASIS for 24 years and has overseen the growth of the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits, which tripled in size from 80,000 square feet to 225,000 sq. ft.

During her tenure, the show has evolved from a niche event to a broad show encompassing the entire security spectrum.

Brandy Alexander-Wimberly recently was brought on as director of marketing at Core-Apps, an event app company. She will be responsible for the company’s marketing direction and helping customers with marketing for their sponsorships and promoting the app.

Alexander-Wimberly previously worked as the director of digital strategy at Interrupt and senior account manager and SEM specialist at Thrive Internet Marketing, as well as being published in Fast Company, INC. and VentureBeat, to name a few.

The Los Angeles Convention Center, managed by AEG Facilities, has promoted Ellen Schwartz, Estella Flores and Sandra Lady. Schwartz, vice president of sales and marketing, has been promoted to assistant general manager, effective July 1.

Flores, facilities manager, has been promoted to director of facilities, effective July 1. Lady, senior sales manager, has been promoted to director of sales, also effective July 1.

Destination Marketing Association International Chair Bob Lander President and CEO Don Welsh appointed Colleen Phalen to executive vice president, Program Development and Meetings.

Phalen joins the DMAI team, effective July 6 and will be based in Washington, D.C. reporting to Welsh.

Experient, A Maritz Global Events Company, hired veteran sales executive Jamie Murdock as its new vice president of sales.

Murdock brings more than 20 years of sales experience to Experient and will be responsible for all aspects of sales of the organization’s event solutions to event organizers looking to enhance their attendees’ experience, grow their event attendance and leverage business intelligence.

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Heather Kirksey to director of public relations.

In her new role, Kirksey will create and implement campaigns to support ACVB marketing, sales and tourism programs. She also will work closely with the organization’s leadership team on corporate positioning and community relations outreach.

SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals, a provider of computer, audio visual and technology solutions for businesses and events, appointed Patrick Fisher as an account executive based in the company’s Washington, DC office.

Fisher will be focusing on developing new client relationships with federal, state and local government agencies in support of SmartSource’s growth objectives.

Hargrove, the creator of experiential environments for trade shows, events and exhibits, hired a manager in the exhibit sales department. Caitlin Samples, a former employee of Hargrove, has re-joined the team as Manager of exhibit sales operations.

Exhibit Systems has expanded its market presence in northeast Wisconsin with the hiring of   Peter Linn, an account executive with a background in business-to- business sales and creative services.

Based in Appleton, Linn represents Exhibit Systems in a broad geographic swath including Green Bay, Appleton and stretching from Wausau to Sheboygan.

Linda Nuss has joined the German Convention Bureau’s New York City office as the new regional manager of North America effective June 1.

Nuss, who is bilingual in German and English, and holds dual citizenship, will lead all marketing, public relations and sales activities stateside communicating the value that Germany’s dedication to innovation, key industry expertise and sustainability brings to planners and delegates.

Visit KC (Kansas City), the region’s leading hospitality and tourism organization, has added Jessica Blubaugh as senior events manager. Blubaugh brings more than 12 years of event planning experience and creativity to the team. 

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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