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May1, 2008      

O n   T h e   M o v e
John Vogt has been named the new executive director of the Duplin County Events Center in Kenansville, NC, announced VenuWorks President/CEO Steve Peters, CFE. Vogt has worked in venue management for more than 30 years and comes from the Turnage Theaters Foundation, Inc. in Washington, D.C. where he was executive director since 2005. He was responsible for the planning and implementation of the rehabilitation/restoration of the historic Turnage Theater, which reopened in November 2007. “We could not have found a better fit for this account than John,” said Carl St. Clair, VenuWorks vice president of operations and projects, who headed up the transition team at Duplin County.
 
Freeman announced a series of senior level promotions as part of the company’s ongoing management development and succession program. Donald S. “Don” Freeman, Jr., chairman and CEO, retains his position as chairman and is being succeeded as CEO by Joe Popolo, formerly president. Carrie Freeman Parsons becomes vice chairman in addition to her duties as chief marketing officer. John O’Connell moves from executive vice president and COO to president. Jeff Price, formerly executive vice president, becomes COO of the exposition services division. “These new assignments reflect a carefully planned transition that has been taking place over several years to assure a smooth and seamless integration of the next generation of Freeman management,” said Freeman.
 

The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg (SC) announced that Jan Benjamin has been named operations director for The Arts Partnership. In that position, Benjamin will be responsible for managing the operations of the Chapman Cultural Center. Her duties will include oversight of facility management staff and operations, event scheduling, facility rentals, and working with resident arts agencies at the Chapman Center to coordinate events and activities. She was previously manager of the 2,500-seat Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach, FL. “Jan’s experience and expertise will be a tremendous asset to our team,” said Perry Mixter, president and COO of The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, which owns and operates the Chapman Cultural Center. “Her collaborative management style and work experience are the ideal combination for the position of director of operations.”
 

The Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission named Joni Marie Johnson to serve as its human resources manager. Johnson will oversee recruitment and hiring, compensation and performance management, employee and labor relations, and workforce training. “Joni’s strong business background and diverse human resources management experience are a great fit for our agency,” said MERC CEO David Woolson. “We are very excited to have her join our team.” MERC is a subsidiary of Metro and the management authority for the Oregon Convention Center, Portland Center for the Performing Arts and Portland Expo Center.

Live Nation has appointed John Drury as the new general manager of Wembley Arena in London. Drury, who currently heads Live Nation’s venue bookings team, replaces Peter Tudor, who is exiting after 10 years working with the iconic London venue. Drury, who will report to divisional manager, music Graham Walters, has been with the organization for six years.

Smart City announced that seven of its employees have been promoted at several of its facilities located in Las Vegas, Orlando, Reno and San Diego. Keith McNeely is senior director of technology services for all Las Vegas-based Smart City operations; Gary Suskind is senior systems engineer and Chris Martinkovich is now general manager of Smart City’s Las Vegas Convention Center team; Priscilla Acierto is manager of customer sales and service for the Las Vegas hotel properties that are serviced by Priority Networks, which includes Bally’s, Caesars Palace, the Flamingo, the Paris and Las Vegas Hilton; Greg Smith is facility manager for the Priority Networks, Inc. (PNI) team at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno; Julia Slocombe is director of technology services at the San Diego Convention Center; and Brandon Morris is operations supervisor for Smart City’s Orange County Convention Center team in Orlando
 

The Sacramento (CA) Convention & Visitors Bureau appointed Julie Gorman national sales manager in the three city partnership with Baltimore and Fort Worth. Gorman will focus her sales efforts on corporate businesses located in 12 western states. “Julie’s extensive sales and event planning background will be a tremendous asset to our three city sales efforts and we’re excited to have her covering the entire west coast in our partnership with Baltimore and Fort Worth,” said Tom Bennett, senior vice president, sales & service, for the Sacramento CVB.