People in the News: Rob Mesirow Steps Down from CTIA, Atlanta Convention Bureau Adds to Team
October 27, 2015
Robert Mesirow, vice president of business operations for CTIA – The Wireless Association, will be stepping down, after 17 years at the association.
“I want to thank CTIA, its board members and all of the wireless executives I have collaborated with over the years. Special thanks to my dedicated team,” Mesirow said.
He added, “This Association has been at the forefront of every major mobile event since the inception of the wireless industry, and it’s been a great ride!”
Nov. 4 is Mesirow’s last day at CTIA, and he said he will be staying in the industry as well.
There was a shakeup in Reno, Nev.’s tourism community, with the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) Board of Directors appointing Jennifer Cunningham as interim managing director, replacing President and CEO Chris Baum.
Cunningham has more than 30 years of tourism and sales related experience, including a previous stint with the organization as the director of tourism sales from 1987-1996.
Since that time, Cunningham worked for the Silver Legacy Resort Casino as the director of tour and travel sales, and spent nearly 10 years as the director of sales, advertising, entertainment and casino marketing at Circus Circus Reno.
Cunningham has served as the executive director of marketing for the RSCVA since 2010.
“I’m honored by the board’s confidence in my capacity to lead the RSCVA through its most current evolution,” Cunningham said. “I look forward to working with our partners to help promote and improve the perception of Reno Tahoe and to ensure our tourism endeavors are persuasive and impactful.”
The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) hired four new staff members to support the sales and convention services teams.
Vince Almoina and Amanda Dyson Dana are the newest sales managers to the organization, while Courtney Curry and Katie Kling joined as convention services managers.
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMB), a cross-industry communications and advocacy initiative, appointed Richard Harper, executive vice president at HelmsBriscoe, as the coalition co-chair effective January 2016.
Harper will work with fellow co-chair Michael Dominguez, senior vice president and chief sales officer at MGM Resorts International, to lead the organization as it showcases the substantial value of meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions.
Hargrove promoted two veteran employees to senior director positions in the trade shows division.
Will Alvey, with Hargrove for 20 years, has been promoted to senior director, National Sales & Industry Relations – Trade Shows, and Chuck Taylor, with Hargrove for 14 years, has been promoted to senior director, Business Development – Trade Shows.
DoubleDutch, the global leading provider of mobile event technology and event performance analytics, today announced the expansion of its executive team with the appointment of Brad Roberts as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Roberts will be responsible for overseeing DoubleDutch’s finance and accounting teams globally.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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