By R.V. Baugus
Russell Vandenberg, CVE, general manager of the Seaside (OR) Civic and Convention Center, announced that he will be retiring at the end of May and leaving a position he has held since 2005.
Vandenberg has more than 40 years of experience in the public assembly venue industry and told USAE that 
the timing was right for the 65-year-old to step down, saying, “I’m fortunate to reach 65 healthy and able to travel and spend time with family. I felt 40 years is enough in the industry, and I want to spend the next chapter doing things I want to do and enjoying this stage of my life.
The industry veteran will be going out with a bang following the completion of a $15 million expansion and renovation that fortunately occurred before the onset of the pandemic. Vandenberg added that 60 days are already booked in the long distance for 2030.
Vandenberg is well known along the Pacific coast after also working in Riverside and Irvine, California, as well as the San Diego Convention Center.
There is plenty of family to enjoy the upcoming time with including his wife, JoAnn, along with seven children, 16 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
But the end of May is not quite here, so the industry is still fortunate to have this most respected of professionals for a few more days yet.
