There really wasn’t a slowdown in hiring this summer; in fact, August saw plenty of new hires for suppliers and trade show organizers.

Cygnus Business Media appointed Brian Cassell as group show manager for Firehouse events. Brian will be responsible for the overall performance of Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, Md, and Firehouse World, in San Diego.

Cassell is a 20-year fire service veteran, serving on the marketing team for fire apparatus manufacturer KME for 10 years and as a volunteer firefighter with the Tamaqua, Penn., Fire Department.

In addition to his experience both as a manufacturer and firefighter, Cassell previously has served on the Exhibitor Advisory Boards of Firehouse Expo and Firehouse World, as well as FDIC and Fire-Rescue International. 

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) named Tracey Megee as its new national accounts manager.

Megee, who began her new position in July, will be responsible for the North East market, booking groups between 200 to 1,499 guestrooms on peak night. 

Denise Capello has been appointed as the new business acquisition manager for the exhibition industry at Amsterdam RAI , starting Aug. 1.

The core business of Amsterdam RAI involves both organizing events and offering space and services to third parties.

Capello will be responsible for acquisitions and joint ventures for Amsterdam RAI in order to grow its international portfolio of events. Her prior role was as a business development manager for the corporate and exhibitions market for the past nine years.

Shepard Exposition Services recently named industry veteran Thomas Bewsey national sales manager.

Based in Shepard’s Indianapolis location, Bewsey will spearhead Shepard’s strategic expansion into the Midwestern market, including Chicago, Illinois; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Nashville.

SmithBucklin promoted Scott Johnston to vice president, Information Technology Services. Johnston, an 18-year veteran of the company, will continue to work out of its Chicago office, reporting to Al Koob, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Bellagio announced the appointment of Meg Fasy, CMP as the resort’s new vice president of sales.  In this role, she is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for all sales efforts at Bellagio, a AAA Five Diamond, 3,933-room resort. 

Visit Orlando has hired Faye Memoli as senior national account executive for the Mid-Atlantic Region and Kelly Albert, senior national account executive for the Northeast Region. 

In this new role, Memoli will be responsible for convention sales in the Washington, D.C., market, where she also will reside. Memoli joins the team from Choose Chicago, where she was most recently director of Eastern regional sales. 

Albert recently held the role of national sales manager at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, where she was directly involved in creating and opening the sales and marketing department.