June marked a month filled with people news that included long-time industry veterans announcing they were retiring, other trade show professionals being promoted and new hires into some companies.

Tom Mobley, who has served as Global Spectrum senior vice president of Convention Centers since January of 2006, has retired, effective June 30.  

Before joining Global Spectrum, Mobley served as general manager and CEO of the Washington Convention Center Authority in Washington, D.C.

He also spent 11 years as general manager of the largest convention center in the U.S., the McCormick Place in Chicago.  

"At a time when we were developing the convention center part of our business, Tom was an instrumental part of our sales and new business development team," said Global Spectrum President John Page. "With Tom's experience and knowledge, he helped us grow, develop, enhance and create training programs for our staff at all of the convention centers we manage, as well as represent us on a national level to attract new business for our facilities." 

John McClure, associate vice president of convention sales at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, also retired June 30, after a 34-year career in the convention and visitor industry.

“John is the consummate sales professional and has always worked to create successful partnerships for his convention clients as well as our community,” said Jay Burress, president and CEO, Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “His diligence and professionalism have contributed to Anaheim’s success as a leading convention and meeting destination.”

McClure started his career in the hospitality industry in 1981 at the newly-opened Anaheim Marriott as director of national accounts. In 1989 he joined the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau as one of its key convention sales directors.

The Association of Equipment Managers made a trio of announcements:

Sara Truesdale Mooney was CONEXPO-CON/AGG show director, managing AEM’s flagship exposition. Mooney is AEM senior director exhibitions and strategy; she also serves as show director for ICUEE-The Demo Expo and as exhibitions lead for AEM’s agriculture sector.

Mooney takes over day-to-day CONEXPO-CON/AGG planning responsibilities from Megan Tanel, AEM vice president exhibition and events, as Tanel focuses on expanded strategy and planning duties for the association’s growing portfolio of trade shows, meetings and events.

Melissa Magestro has assumed lead staff liaison responsibilities for AEM’s international exhibitions, including CONEXPO Latin America, which launches in 2015 in Santiago, Chile. Magestro is AEM senior director exhibitions and heads up AEM exhibit and sponsorship sales; she also serves as IFPE show director. In addition to CONEXPO Latin America, AEM’s international show presence includes bC India and bauma CONEXPO Africa.

And, Rich Prausa continues to serve as AEM staff lead and show manager for World of Asphalt Show & Conference and AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo while realigning his role within the association’s events services department to take on more responsibilities. He is AEM event services manager.  

Messe Frankfurt is increasing its focus on digital business and stepping up its management of worldwide digital activities. Effective Sept. 1, Kai Hattendorf will be head of Digital Business, the business division he has been setting up together with head of Strategy Klaus Reinke during the past three years, parallel to his function as vice president Corporate Communications and Marketing.

Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt, said, “We see digitisation as one of the central challenges facing the trade fair sector and will be making sustainable investments here in the coming years in order to pave the way for future growth in the Group. With Kai Hattendorf, we will have an internationally renowned innovator in this field at the helm.”

Mike Ruberry has joined Metropolitan Exposition Services, as vice president of Industry Relations.

Ruberry comes to Metro-Expo with 32 years of industry experience. The first 16 were on the service contractor side working for United Exposition Service Company (UX)/GES holding the positions of account executive, operations manager, assistant general manager, vice president and general manager and vice president of national sales. 

The last 16 were with George Little Management, now Emerald Expositions, most recently as vice president of Operations and Customer Relations.

The Executive Committee of the Board of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Julie Coker Graham to executive vice president of the official tourist promotion agency for Philadelphia globally, effective July 1.  

OFFPRICE Show, a subsidiary of Tarsus Group, has hired of Katy Albrecht as buyer relations coordinator.

In this position, Albrecht’s main responsibilities include increasing attendance at all OFFPRICE shows, daily outreach to new and existing buyers, tracking fashion and apparel trends, and coordinating hospitality arrangements for show attendees. She previously worked as a social media ambassador for the Teaching and Learning Center for University of Wisconsin-Platteville. 

James Mouton was named NürnbergMesse North America’s new managing director, as of July 1.His last position was director Trade Shows and Conferences with the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where he was running the first in-house trade shows production and management department.