Across the events spectrum, new hires and promotions are continuing to happen at a record pace as the trade show industry gears up for a busy new year ahead. Check out who’s jumping on or climbing up the industry ladder.

Exhibit Concepts, Inc.

Exhibit Concepts, Inc. (ECI) recently promoted Dominic Conti to vice president of production and Masten Worley to vice president of sales and account management. 

In his new role, Conti will be responsible for fabrication, graphic production, prep, warehouse operations, installation, field supervision, traffic and shipping in both Dayton and Chicago locations. He will also focus on process improvements, mentoring leaders and recruiting skilled craftsmen to accommodate our increasing number of projects.

Conti has been a part of ECI for more than 16 years, starting in the shop as a fabricator, moving to client-facing positions as an account manager, transitioning to program and account director in 2009 and serving as production director since 2016.

Since joining ECI as director of sales in 2018, Worley has been responsible for developing strategic sales plans and driving improvements in the sales process to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the team. Prior to ECI, he was director of business development for Sparkbox and held several sales, marketing and operational leadership roles at software and technology companies. 

In his new role, Worley will be responsible for new business acquisition, growth and retention across all lines of business, including trade shows, multi-media engagements, commercial interiors, museums and education. He also has responsibility for the account management team, focused on deepening relationships and business with key strategic accounts.

Hawai‘i Convention Center  

The Hawai‘i Convention Center has welcomed 25-year culinary leadership veteran Hector Morales as its new executive chef. He most recently served as the chef de cuisine at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Island of Hawai‘i, and also founded a food service consultancy that works with well-known restaurants in Hawai‘i and Nevada. 

Morales previously served as the executive chef at the Polynesian Cultural Center for eight years, overseeing culinary and food services for thousands of guests daily across luaus, restaurants and concessions. He started his Hawai‘i career at O‘ahu’s Turtle Bay Resort, where he was executive chef for 16 years, managing the resort’s three restaurants, as well as the culinary operations for a variety of large-scale events. Morales also advised food and beverage teams at Turtle Bay Resort partner properties throughout the country.

Additionally, Morales boasts extensive international experience, working as a chef at the SAS Norway, as the banquet chef for the King of Norway and as chef de cuisine at The Regent Sydney in Australia.

GES 

Experiential marketing partner GES has hired Billie Jo Poufcas as account director and Diego Herrera as director new business development.  

In her new role, Poufcas will lead an account team focused on managing large program healthcare accounts offering experiential marketing solutions to GES’ healthcare client base. Bringing more than 15 years of leadership, strategy and healthcare program management experience to GES, she previously served as account director for 3D Exhibits and Matrex Exhibits, where she provided day-to-day strategic management for healthcare program accounts. 

As director of the new business development team, Herrera is focused on developing new partnerships and innovative face-to-face marketing strategy. Prior to joining GES, he spent four years as an account executive at 3D Exhibits and has worked with high-profile clients including Merck Animal Health, Hills Pet Nutrition, Tecan, HMS Networks and many more. 

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau 

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) recently appointed Carol Motley as senior vice president of convention sales and services, responsible for driving occupancy and attendance for conventions, trade shows and meetings in Greater Miami and Miami Beach. Working alongside GMCVB President and CEO David Whitaker, she will also establish and coordinate all convention sales strategies to assist in overall corporate objectives.  

Motley brings several years of experience in the tourism industry in sales and leadership roles. She is relocating to Miami from Washington, D.C., where she previously acted as director of convention sales at Destination DC, where she led a team of 16 sales professionals prior to the pandemic. Prior to that, she served as senior national account director at Visit Orlando, and has held roles with Choose Chicago, the Hyatt Regency Chicago and the Baltimore Convention Center.  

SmartSource 

Event and IT technology solutions provider SmartSource has appointed George Mader as its new senior vice president of sales. Bringing more than two decades of senior level sales experience with leading technology brands to his new position, he most recently served as senior vice president of sales with Dallas, Texas-based Maxxsure, LLC, where he implemented a cross-matrix revenue strategy with multiple sales channels and vertical markets, among his many successes there.  

Mader has also held positions as area director with Renesas Electronics, and prior to that, as global account director with Dell and Hewlett Packard and as regional sales manager with NEC Electronics. 

Impact XM 

Global event and experiential marketing agency Impact XM has appointed experiential marketing veteran Sohini Mitraas vice president of experiential services, responsible for overseeing the account management business process as well as managing meetings and events and the experiential productions departments.  

With more than 20 years of marketing experience immersed in the trade shows and event industry, Mitra has worked with clients in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, consumer products, technology and gaming. 

Cincinnati International Wine Festival

The non-profit Cincinnati International Wine Festival recently welcomed Brad Huberman as its new executive director, responsible for managing all aspects of the festival’s operations and financial performance, building and sustaining stakeholder relationships, marketing and promotions, volunteer recruitment and management, board relations and event management activities.   

Bringing more than 20 years of comprehensive leadership experience spanning not-for-profit, corporate, start-up and arts organizations to his new role, Huberman’s extensive background includes launching a start-up, development and fundraising, volunteer and program management, and business and executive leadership.  

Prior to assuming his new role, Huberman spent 10 years with the American Sign Museum, first as its managing director before being promoted to executive director in 2019. Prior to that, he served as development manager for the Cincinnati Ballet; owned a retail startup; led the operations of a multi-million-dollar wholesale distributor as vice president; and served as administrator of a non-profit biomedical research institute at the University of Louisville.  

Louisville Tourism  

Louisville Tourism’s Marketing Communications department recently underwent some staffing role changes. Jessica Dillree has transitioned from marketing communications manager to digital marketing manager, serving in a shared role in both marketing and technology with responsibilities for the CVB’s website support and outbound digital communications to stakeholders. She has been with Louisville Tourism since 2011.

Anna Lundy has changed roles, moving from event manager to marketing manager, responsible for marketing the Convention Sales and Destination Services departments. Lundy has held several roles within the organization’s various departments since 2014. 

Lynnelle Morgan has stepped into a marketing manager role, changing positions from the leisure sales manager in the CVB’s Tourism department, where she will be responsible for marketing various promotions and initiatives. She has been with Louisville Tourism and the Tourism department since 2012. 

Janel Clements has joined the Louisville Tourism team as a convention sales assistant supporting the trade, business and commercial markets as well as the state, religious, social welfare, agriculture and veteran markets. She was most recently with Main Event Entertainment in a sales, event and donations coordinator role.

The Expo Group 

In support of its growth strategy, The Expo Group has hired two senior team members: Michael Guillory as vice president, marketing and communications and Brooke Graham as senior project manager. 

Guillory recently led Worldwide Corporate Brand Communications for Texas Instruments where he was responsible for the company’s global brand, events and trade shows, advertising, corporate messaging and creative teams. Prior to that role, he served in marketing leadership positions for Philips Electronics and Sage Software.   

Brining extensive experience with customer support, relationship management, experiential engagement and driving operational and logistical excellence to her new role, Graham joins The Expo Group after having served as a client solutions manager for Freeman. 

Fort Worth Public Events Department 

The City of Fort Worth’s Public Event Department (PED) has recently promoted and hired new executive team members. 

After acting in an interim role since August 2019, Cynthia Serrano has been promoted to assistant director (general manager of operations) for the Fort Worth Convention Center. She has been with the City of Fort Worth since 1999 and has worked in several departments, including Finance and Community Relations. 

New to the team is Keith A. Chisolm, who has been named capital projects manager. He previously served as assistant director of Public Works at the City of Colonial Heights, Va. Prior to working there, he served in the U.S. Army for 22 years, including combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.   

Blake Moorman has been promoted to director of sales and marketing for the FWCC. He had been acting in the position in an interim role since April 2020. He previously was managing director for Jubilee Theatre in Fort Worth before coming to the City in 1998. 

Bringing 18 years of prior experience at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where she was vice president of communications, Andra Bennett has joined PED as its first marketing communications coordinator. 

Ungerboeck  

Global event software provider Ungerboeck has expanded its executive team and promoted several key leaders. 

As the company’s first CFO, Ryan Morrow will focus on building a high-performing organization that will scale with the expected growth coinciding with a recent investment from Cove Hill Partners. As a strategic advisor to Ungerboeck’s CEO and board of directors, he will drive the overall financial strategy of the business while building out FP&A, corporate development, accounting, treasury, tax and other departments.

Fred Lazzerini has been promoted to senior vice president, international, responsible for overseeing sales and delivery for all markets outside of the Americas. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in the events industry, he first worked for the technology branch of GL Events, a venue and exhibition management company based in France, after which he held a variety of roles with Ungerboeck, including overseeing the expansion of the Asia-Pacific region for the last decade. 

As vice president, people and culture, Mike Cameron will continue fostering a workplace culture where employee engagement, strong leadership, employee relationships and successful endeavors can thrive. 

Jennifer Diebling has been promoted to vice president, marketing, a role in which she will be responsible for designing and implementing the organization’s strategic global marketing plan. 

After a six-year hiatus from Ungerboeck, Joe White is returning to the company as vice president, product development, a role in which he will concentrate on automation, unit testing and a heightened level of customer satisfaction and confidence in the products that the department delivers. 

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