Trade show and event-related organizations are continuing their growth trajectories by promoting staff, welcoming new team members and launching new departments headed up by experienced industry leaders. Take a look! 

RX  

Effective Sept. 1, Rachel Travers will take the helm of the RX UK Hub business unit, which includes the UK, Middle East, Turkey, South Africa and India, as its new president. She joins RX from sister company Lexis Nexis, where she most recently served as vice president and general manager of Law360 in New York, and prior to that, as managing director of Lexis Nexis New Zealand. 

As president, Travers will be responsible for leading and managing the overall delivery and execution of the RX UK Hub business unit, as well as ensuring the events portfolio accelerates customer value and market expansion. She will also play a key role in contributing to the strategy and growth of the broader RX global organization as a member of the company’s Global Executive Leadership Team. 

Massachusetts Convention Center Authority 

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) hired Herschel Herndon as chief diversity officer, a role in which he will make diversity a priority for the organization in developing its workforce, working environment, regional convention industry partnerships and procurement strategies. 

Herndon most recently served as chief diversity officer for Thrivent, a Fortune 500 not-for-profit financial services organization, and since 2012 has led a consulting firm offering strategic guidance focused on global diversity and inclusion, market development and community engagement.  

Huntington Place

Detroit’s Huntington Place, managed by ASM Global, tapped Gloria Redmond to lead the venue’s new guest experience department as its senior manager. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in customer service, management and hospitality in non-profit, food service, retail, financial services and higher education to her new role, she is tasked with providing overall direction, coordination and evaluation of customer satisfaction at Huntington Place.

Redmond is also the founder and executive director of Detroit’s “Dope Black Business Owners,” which works to support entrepreneurs of color with better employee training and consumer marketing strategies to bridge the perceived customer service gaps in black businesses.

Heritage 

Special event and trade show contractor Heritage welcomed Brian McHugh as its new vice president of sales to support and drive new business growth. Bringing an extensive background in new business development in the IT industry to his new role, he will aid in developing and leading new business development efforts across the organization, including working in close collaboration with the entire sales and account management team. 

McHugh previously served as director, strategic accounts at Tanium, and prior to that, worked in various sales, account leadership and management roles at Google, VMware, Cisco and HP. 

Choose Chicago 

Choose Chicago recently bolstered its leadership team with key appointments and a promotion. Eric Kincaid, who has been on the organization’s sales team for two years, was promoted to vice president of sales, and Lisa Nucci and Tara Welch were welcomed as chief marketing officer (CMO) and its first-ever chief of staff, respectively. 

Formerly associate vice president of sales, Kincaid joined Choose Chicago in 2021 and, since then, has played a leading role in recruiting numerous new clients and securing the Democratic National Convention for August 2024. He has more than a decade of experience working in sales at destination marketing organizations and hotels, previously serving as a national account director at Destination DC. In his new role, Kincaid will fill a key leadership position on the sales team and will work to execute Choose Chicago’s business plan and achieve organizational goals.  

Bringing more than 15 years of experience to her new role, Nucci boasts a background in sports, cultural and non-profit organizations, as well as creative agencies. Most recently, she served as chief creative strategy officer at the Chicago Architecture Center, and prior to that, was executive director of marketing for the Chicago Bulls. As CMO, Nucci will be tasked with leading Choose Chicago’s strategic marketing initiatives across the organization to attract leisure and business visitors, as well as meetings and events to Chicago. 

A veteran operations leader with more than 20 years of experience in both New York City and her native Chicago, including an extensive background in operations, project management and program leadership, Welch most recently served as director of program operations at Global Cities Inc. Prior to her career in operations, she spent 15 years as an educator with Chicago Public Schools. As chief of staff, she will be responsible for managing and implementing special initiatives and serving as a strategic advisor to Choose Chicago President and CEO Lynn Osmond.  

Momentus Technologies 

Global venue and event management technology company Momentus Technologies has added to its leadership team with two experienced industry professionals: Joel Sackett as chief product officer (CPO) and James Hughes as chief technology officer (CTO). 

Sackett previously oversaw a diverse portfolio of 10 product lines at Ellucian, a higher education student success and workflow platform. As CPO, Sackett will assume responsibility for product management, including the optimization of user experience and defining the product strategy.  

Hughes has experience managing all aspects of software delivery over the past 20 years. Prior to joining Momentus, he served as the CTO of Therapy Brands. As CTO at Momentus, Hughes will collaborate with the product and engineering teams to ensure the consistent delivery of exceptional software solutions, prioritizing customer satisfaction and safety. 

Visit Salt Lake 

Visit Salt Lake (VSL) recently named Krista Parry as chief development officer, a newly established role tasked with pioneering new models for growth to support a more robust visitor economy in Salt Lake. This encompasses innovating and diversifying VSL’s memberships and partnerships and fostering strategic alliances and authentic relationships to deepen and expand VSL’s community impact.  

A 20-year tourism industry veteran, Parry brings a wealth of expertise to her new position, including leadership and senior roles at CRUDE, POWDR and Park City Mountain Resort.

Nanolumens 

LED design and manufacturer Nanolumens recently appointed Rob Lamb as its new CFO, responsible for leading the company’s finance, accounting, international procurement and information technology functions.

Lamb joins Nanolumens from Hodinkee Inc., a New York-based e-commerce and media company specializing in the luxury watch industry, where he also served as CFO. Prior to that, he spent nearly 20 years with Turner Broadcasting, where he served in a variety of finance roles across the organization before concluding his career with Turner as the vice president of finance for Turner Sports, Turner Studios and Content Distribution.

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