The overall unemployment figures still might be down in the United States, but the trade show industry job market seems to be very busy with several new hires and promotions announced in the first part of May.

After a three-month nationwide search, the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau recently selected Bennish Brown as the organization’s new president and CEO.

Brown has a strong background in the destination marketing industry and served the past 12 years as the executive director of Rock Hill/York County Convention and Visitor Bureau in South Carolina.

Brown will begin take his new post at the TRCVB around June 1. He will lead the TRCVB’s staff of 15 and will report to the TRCVB’s board of directors.

The Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau recently selected Debbie Jordan as the new eastern sales director for the AOCVCB Meetings and Conventions Sales Division.

Jordan joins the organization with more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry, a large part spent working with Marriott Hotels and Resorts. Her most recent position was with the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau as regional director of sales.

Nth Degree, a leading full-service global event marketing and management company, appointed Caroline Gallaher as an account manager. Gallaher will be based in Nth Degree’s corporate office and will be supporting the day-to-day operations of projects for key clients nationwide. 

Gallaher brings more than 3 years of client services experience to her role as an account manager. She also has experience working with brand giant Coca-Cola at the World of Coca-Cola attraction in Atlanta where she assisted with marketing research through guest relations and concierge activities.

The San Diego Convention Center Corporation recently appointed DeeAnne Snyder, Donald Bottger and Debbie Dyer to head up three key divisions.

Effective in March, Snyder was named director of event services, and also effective in March, Bottger accepted the position of director of facility services. In April, Dyer was named director of convention services, the position formerly held by Snyder.

GenieMobile also recently announced Traci Browne has joined the company to lead business development in North America. Browne joins a growing U.S.-based team to further develop what is already an important market, according to GenieMobile officials.

Giles Welch, GenieMobile's managing director, said "As a show planner and respected commentator on the events industry herself, Traci brings an unrivalled understanding and empathy with our customers, present and future, and represents well the consultative and thought-leading approach that needs to be in place to deliver the very best solutions in this evolving marketplace."

The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomed a new member to its sales team, with the addition of James Delmar, national accounts manager. Delmar’s focus is on the Midwest and West, with room nights of 10 to 500 on peak, as well as the Northeast with 10 to 200 on peak and the LGBT/International Group Markets.

The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau also welcomed two new hires to the sales and membership teams, Sonia Storbeck as national sales manager of corporate accounts and Chris Hendley as director of membership.

Storbeck joins the ACVB team with more than 12 years of experience in hospitality sales and marketing including positions with the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Ritz-Carlton and Capital One Financial.

Hendley brings 11 years of sports experience in sales, marketing and management to the ACVB, including positions with Georgia Force of the Arena Football League, The Arena at Gwinnett Center and Philips Arena.

NexxtShow has hired Susan Moser as national account executive.

Based in Las Vegas, Moser will be a client liaison on specific account projects to coordinate work with all internal departments; facilitating information between design, detailing, estimating, production, logistics and operations to track schedules and deadlines to ensure continued client standards and service.

She comes to NexxtShow with more than 22 years of experience in the tradeshow industry. For the past 16 years, Moser worked as a Senior Account Manager at GES where she was responsible for the design and production of hundreds of trade shows ranging in revenue from $10K to $3Million.