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Jennifer Powers
The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) has announced the appointment of Jennifer Powers as director of customer satisfaction and convention services. The 27-year industry veteran most recently served as director of catering & convention services for the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. In her new position, Powers is responsible for leading the organization’s effort to exceed the needs of meeting, convention, sporting group, and trade show clients.
Chad Chappell
Chad Chappell, CMP, has joined The Expo Group as national sales director. He previously worked as director of sales development for Visit Baltimore. In his new position, Chappell will remain in Baltimore to be near clients in Washington, D.C., and Chesapeake, Virginia.
Laura Thompson
PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, has promoted Laura Thompson to senior director of expositions. Thompson, who has spent 19 years with PMMI, was most recently director of trade show operations. In her new role, she will oversee PMMI’s show department — including sales, promotions, and operations — out of its Reston, Virginia office.
See more from the week of July 10.
Carlisa Cashman
Visit KC, Kansas City’s hospitality and tourism organization, has appointed Carlisa Cashman as business development manager. Cashman will be responsible for researching and generating new citywide convention and hotel business for the Visit KC sales team. Before joining the team, Cashman, who has more than a decade of sales and management experience, served at Marriott International and Fairfield Inn & Suites.
Albert Tucker
Albert Tucker, who leads the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau multicultural group sales department, will serve as the CVB’s interim vice president for convention and group sales. He succeeds Christine Roberts, who resigned at the end of June. Tucker will oversee day-to-day responsibilities until a replacement is named.
Rene McCoy
Rene McCoy has been chosen to spearhead Montego Bay Convention Centre’s North American associations and corporate markets sales segment as the Jamaican property’s newly appointed national sales manager. She is based in Washington, D.C., and will also work closely with the Jamaica Tourist Board to improve market share in this segment.
See more from the week of July 3.
Christine Shimasaki
Christine “Shimo” Shimasaki, CDME, CMP, will transition from her role as DMAI’s managing director of empowerMINT.com to a full-time consultant position effective July 1. At that time, she will launch 2Synergize Inc., a new company dedicated to helping CVBs create competitive advantages in the meetings market. Shimasaki will continue her involvement with DMAI on key sales and product initiatives for the remainder of 2017, and possibly into 2018.
Kristin McGrath
Newly rebranded Visit Albuquerque has hired Kristin McGrath as vice president of convention sales, services, and sports. In her new position, she will oversee the sales, services, and sports divisions responsible for generating leads that will be dispersed to Albuquerque hotels, event facilities, and the Albuquerque Convention Center. McGrath previously worked as vice president of sales and services for Richmond Region Tourism in Virginia.
Brent Athon
Brent Athon has joined Fern, marketing support and tradeshow services provider, as an account manager. In this role, he will serve clients and events held in the southwest region and nationally. Athon brings decades of experience in the trade show and events industry to his new position. He previously worked for Conference Services International and Brede Exposition Services in executive roles.