People News: Flurry of Hires Across Variety of Trade Show Sectors
November 7, 2017
The fall kicked off with a flurry of new hires across a variety of trade show sectors, including show organizing companies, display and contractor companies and convention and visitor bureaus.
Clarion UX (formerly Urban Expositions) named Desiree Hanson vice president of Fashion Events overseeing the Womenswear in Nevada (WWIN) portfolio. She reports to UX CEO, Greg Topalian.
In her new role, Hanson will oversee all sales, marketing and management functions for the semi-annual WWIN womenswear apparel trade show held at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
She also will work closely with former WWIN Show Director Chad Timney who has moved into a consultant role with the show.
The Spokane Public Facilities District (District) named current Spokane Convention Center General Manager, Stephanie Curran, as incoming CEO.
Kevin Twohig, District CEO, announced back in September that he will be retiring at the end of 2017. The District engaged Venue Solutions Group to lead a national search process and recently conducted a series of candidate interviews.
Curran, who has been an employee of the District since 2003, has served in many roles, ranging from event supervisor to assistant general manager of the Spokane Convention Center and INB Performing Arts Center to being named general manager in 2015.
Detroit-based Display Group recently added Andy Olis as chief operating officer (COO).
Olis rejoins Display Group after spending 10 years in the professional audio-visual industry in various management and operations roles.
Olis has held several leadership roles in his career and has been successful in developing and achieving goals by implementing efficient sales and field best practices with clear performance measurements.
Previously, Olis was the general manager at Display Group and is being welcomed back with open arms for his homecoming.
TradeTec Skyline, a full-service B2B exhibit house specializing in trade show displays and services is pleased to announce the recent expansion of their project team:
- Krista McCloud, who joined TradeTec as an account coordinator in October 2015 has been promoted to the role of account manager.
- Haley Doss has joined TradeTec as an account coordinator.
- Victoria Scholly has joined TradeTec as an account coordinator.
Visit Baltimore, the official sales and marketing organization for Baltimore, welcomed Kireem Swinton to the convention sales department as director of convention sales development, Mid-Atlantic region and tradeshows.
Swinton brings a wealth of industry knowledge and strong passion for promoting Baltimore to his new role.
He will focus on sales development for citywide conventions from the Mid-Atlantic region, with an emphasis on new business development from the trade show market.
Sue Holle joined Hargrove as a director, National Accounts. She is responsible for operational oversight for all national trade show business, working with the internal sales team to introduce industry- leading technology and best practices to our clients, as well as developing new business relationships.
MC2 hired on Aaron Miller as executive creative director.
In this role, he will work closely with the company’s chief strategy officer, national design director, designers and account executives to inspire, lead and motivate teams to create breakthrough face-to-face brand experiences.
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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