By Ereka Brim
Hornets Sports & Entertainment announced the promotion of Donna Julian to Executive Vice President & Spectrum Center General Manager.
In her 15th year with the organization, Julian has served as Senior Vice President of Arena & Event Operations since Spectrum Center opened in 2005 and added the position of General Manager in 2008.
One of a small number of female general managers of NBA arenas, she serves as the lead executive for all aspects 
of the day-to-day operations of the venue, including booking, guest services, management, marketing, public safety, and more.
She is recognized for her outstanding leadership directing and overseeing the preparation, production, and execution of all arena events from performances by prominent entertainers and high-profile political conventions to major league sports and athletic competitions.
Julian places a high priority on maximizing the customer and client experience by promoting and instilling a team-wide commitment to creating a service-driven culture for the benefit of all guests, promoters and artists who visit Spectrum Center.
Under her leadership, the arena hosts more 150 sporting events, concerts, and family entertainment shows annually. Showcase acts which have performed at Spectrum Center include the Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, and Andrea Bocelli.
Spectrum Center has established its industry reputation as a prime site to host an impressive catalog of collegiate basketball championship tournaments on behalf of the NCAA, ACC and CIAA.
In addition, Julian is proud to have led arena operational logistics as Charlotte served as host for the 2012 Democratic National Convention and the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Julian was also nominated for IEBA’s (International Entertainment Buyers Association) 2018 Venue Executive of the Year. In addition, Spectrum Center has been recognized annually since 2013 by Facilities & Event Magazine as a Prime Site Award winner and received Mecklenburg County’s 2018 Wipe Out Waste (WOW) Ambassador Award Recipient for waste reduction and recycling measures.
Julian is also highly involved in the Charlotte community where she is currently serving as the Vice-Chair of Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas.
Additionally, she is a Foundation Board Member for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and a member of the Women Executives of Charlotte. Julian has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.
Julian’s additional honors and recognition include being named one of Venues Today’s Women of Influence (2017), Career Masters Women in History Leadership in Action Awards (2017), Charlotte Business Journal’s Women in Business (2016), Charlotte Mecklenburg Times’ 50 Most Influential Women (2016) and selected as one of BizWomen’s Women to Watch (2016).
Prior to coming to Charlotte, Julian spent 15 years as General Manager of 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore. She was elevated to General Manager after serving in a number of roles in sales, marketing and event administration for Centre Management, the operating company for the Capital Centre (later USAir Arena), home of the Washington Bullets and Washington Capitals. In 2002, she was named to the Baltimore Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 list.
Julian received her bachelor’s degree in athletics administration from Ohio University, was a four-year letter winner and co-captain of the tennis team as a senior, as well as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
She and her husband, David, live in Matthews, North Carolina, with their two sons, Griffin and Donovan.
Ereka Brim is manager of arena marketing for Hornets Sports & Entertainment.
