People News: MMBC’s New Co-Chair, PCMA’s COO and More Fall Hiring News

October 8, 2020

From appointments to awards to new hires and promotions, this fall is keeping us on our toes for people announcements. Take a look:

Meetings Mean Business Coalition unanimously selected Michael Massari, chief sales officer for Caesars Entertainment, as its next co-chair in September. Effective January 2021, he will join Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company, in guiding the coalition and the meetings industry through the continued recovery from the pandemic.

PCMA has appointed Bruce MacMillan to the position of chief operating officer, effective Sept. 2. He was previously the organization’s chief marketing officer and brings more than 30 years of experience to his new position. He was also the architect behind PCMA’s Recovery Discovery initiative.

Jeff Hughes was named chief operating officer for Pittsburgh-based NEP Group, a technical production company for live sports and entertainment events. He was most recently with FOX Networks’ Digital Consumer Group, where he was president and COO.

Trumbull, Conn.-based Clarion Events has promoted Liz Irving, who's been with the company four years, to executive vice president and head of marketing, technology and customer experience. She will lead the company’s virtual product team on product development, integration, customer journey and audience engagement, as well as oversee new digital product offerings including virtual product showcases.

International Market Centers announced a new organizational structure for its leasing and leadership teams last month. Effective Sept. 11, Dorothy Belshaw and Scott Eckman are promoted into new executive leadership roles; and Ryan Mahoney, Julie Messner, Terence Morris and Caron Stover expand their category-specific leasing responsibilities across all IMC’s campuses. Belshaw is chief customer and marketing officer, also having executive oversight of LightFair, the world’s largest architectural and commercial lighting trade show; and Eckman will now oversee all permanent showrooms and temporary tradeshow leasing as chief revenue officer.

International Housewares Association named seven new directors, with three-year terms that began Oct. 1 that run through Sept. 30, 2023. They are: Kim Cole, CEO, Gleener Inc.; Kristine Malkoski, business unit CEO, foods, Newell Brands; Tom McMahon, president, Jura Inc.; Robert Michelson, president and CCO, Bradshaw Home; Keith Mirchandani, principal and CEO, Tristar Products.; Michael Otterman, president and CEO, Lodge Cast Iron; and Luke Peters, president and CEO, NewAir. Also elected were new board officers: Chairman William Endres, president, Select Brands; Vice Chair/Chair Elect Yvette Laugier, managing director, Peugeot Saveurs North America; and Treasurer Steve Greenspon, CEO, Honey-Can-Do International.

Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau Chief Operating Officer Rolando Aedo will join Destination International Foundation’s Board of Trustees, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering destinations globally to excel through innovation and resource incubation.

Claudia Stephenson has been appointed managing director for London-based [INVNT GROUP], EMEA region. She was most recently with Freeman and brings two decades of experience to her new position.

Fernando Gorbarán, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt Argentina, was selected as one of 15 most influential leaders in Latin America’s meetings industry by Latinamerica Meetings Magazine. With 20 years of experience in the sector, he has led the Argentine subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt GMbH since 2003 and served as regional director for South America since 2010.

Venue management company Spectra has brought on David DiSalvo as director of sales for the 102,000-square-foot Owensboro Convention Center in Kentucky. Most recently, he served as director of sales at Kalahari Resort in Mount Pocono, Penn.

Have more People announcements? Send them to kogletree@tsnn.com.

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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.