By Jim Yeager

ASM Global has appointed Kimberly Weedmark of Universal Studios Hollywood as the new general manager for the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Weedmark, who brings a wealth of experience to the LA venue, has worked in the LA convention space for over two decades. Los Angeles Convention Center is part of the ASM Global portfolio, the largest and most diverse network of premier convention and trade show venues for millions of exhibitors and attendees across an extensive worldwide footprint that spans five continents.

In making the announcement, ASM Global’s Dan Hoffend, executive vice president of convention centers, said, “Los Angeles continues to grow as a hub for many of the world’s significant conventions and events; and with Kimberly’s longtime experience with one of the city’s iconic and most popular destinations, we anticipate LACC’s growth will be even more robust in coming years.”

In Weedmark’s new role, the former vice president of special events and group sales of Los Angeles’ most popular tourist attraction will work closely with the City of Los Angeles to grow even more beyond what is already one of the industry‘s leading convention halls.

“Playing a role in continuing to expand the growth of the LACC is an amazing opportunity,” Weedmark said. “It’s a venue with a remarkable history and a remarkable path ahead. “I‘m excited to be working closely with our clients and partners in one of the greatest cities on Earth to provide customized solutions that are the hallmark of ASM Global. I’m looking forward to working with our convention center leadership team to leverage ASM Global’s industry-leading innovations to deliver exceptional experiences for organizers, attendees, and exhibitors.”

“Kim Weedmark is an outstanding addition to the LA Convention Center team, and we are excited to work with her,” said Doane Liu, chief tourism officer for the City of Los Angeles and executive director of the city tourism department. “I know that Kim will continue the excellent stewardship that has marked ASM Global’s management of the convention center for the past nine years. Kim brings unmatched leadership qualities and experience, and I look forward to her invaluable input as the city moves forward with the expansion and modernization of the convention center.

Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the award-winning LACC recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

By R.V. Baugus

We are a couple of months late to this retirement party, but want to wish Jody Ulich, Convention & Cultural Services Director at City of Sacramento, all the very best in her next exciting chapter of life.

The retirement actually happened in August and from here we will let Jody tell from her LinkedIn page why that particular month made the most sense to her. We know you will understand!

“Well – today is the day to let all of you know about “Infinity and Beyond”. Or at least my beyond. As I told the Executive team – 8 is my favorite number. My birthday is in August (8), on the 18th – and for this message – I will be getting to that 8 years of service with the City of Sacramento. What better way to bid adieu and announce my retirement than surrounded by the incredible infinity symbol – 8 – signifying a concept of limitless eternity.

“I have been so privileged to serve the cities I have worked in: Phoenix, Tempe, Fort Worth, and now Sacramento. My time in each has been etched in eternity – leaving my mark, ever so subtly in each. Helping to establish the Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture; a new Performing Arts Center (The TCA) in Tempe, secured funding for the arts in Fort Worth; and renovations to our facilities here in Sacramento – those accomplishments in each city will live on way past my time and I am honored to have been a part of each (and so much more in all reality!). Overall – a total of 35 years of service to these four communities!

“Ready to be “RED” – retired, extremely dangerous.”

Eight is great and so are you, Jody. Thank you for an incredible career!

By Convention South

Georgia International Convention Center executive director Mercedes Miller was recently inducted into the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter.

Awarding her efforts in the City of College Park, Miller oversees the Gateway Center Campus including Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course.

“To be inducted into an illustrious organization such as the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter is an honor,” Miller said. “I have always strived to live up to the organization’s mission to advocate on behalf of black women and girls because representation and mentorship are essential to our community.”

Miller began her hospitality career in sales and marketing at the Stouffer Waverly Hotel. She then became part of the opening team for The Renaissance Concourse Hotel at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Her career path led her to the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) as the airport’s national sales manager before her long tenure on the Gateway Center Campus.

Miller attributes her success to her community involvement. She sits on several boards including the ATL Airport District CVB, the Motherless Daughters Foundation, the Atlanta Airport Chamber, and the ACVB. While working in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, Miller has been honored many times as a leader in her community, most notably by Who’s Who in Black Atlanta and Top 100 Leaders in Hospitality by the Atlanta Business Chronicle (2012-2018).

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate on behalf of black women and girls to promote leadership development and gender equity in the areas of health, education, and economic empowerment.

By New Orleans CityBusiness

New Orleans CityBusiness, a weekly business newspaper, has named Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President, as one of New Orleans’ most notable Industry Newsmakers in the field of tourism. This special distinction is given out to individuals who make headlines for their newsworthy contributions to their respective industry and consumers they serve. Since joining the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in early 2018, Sawaya has stewarded multiple transformative projects that will reshape the facility, positioning it to enhance its competitiveness in the national event industry and its place in the New Orleans community.

Among the largest projects of the $557 million Capital Improvement Plan that Sawaya has seen to completion was the construction of a 7.5-acre Pedestrian Park that runs the entire length of the Convention Center, transforming the way New Orleanians interact with the facility, improving the safety of Convention Center Boulevard, and providing external customers with brand-new ways to enjoy their stay at the facility.

Sawaya also implemented one of the largest environmental improvement projects to ever be completed in the gulf coast area, which saw the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center transition to energy-efficient LED lighting, improvements to the facility’s water usage, as well as upgrades to its heating and cooling systems, significantly reducing the Convention Center’s carbon footprint by lowering the amount of water and electricity needed to run the three million square foot facility.

Additionally, Sawaya implemented policies that have positioned the Convention Center as a national leader in providing real opportunities to Small and Emerging Businesses (SEB) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). Through its policies during his tenure, the Convention Center aggressively promotes the hiring of local vendors for the purchase of goods and services and has created easy access to new business opportunities.

Since the program launched in 2019, the Convention Center’s program has increased SEB/DBE contracts by 36%, increased payments from 2% to 20%, registered 1187 new businesses, grown the database to 1250 vendors strong, and created the SEBconnect app.

Under his leadership, Sawaya put policies in place that helped the Convention Center thrive throughout the uncertain times of the COVID-19 Pandemic, investing in the facility’s staff who continued to make improvements and upgrades to the Convention Center.

Sawaya also encouraged facility leadership to pursue certifications, like the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s STAR Certification, which proved to be critical in getting the New Orleans tourism industry back on track. As a result of these bold initiatives, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center emerged on the other side of one of the most threatening times in the New Orleans tourism industry as a premiere venue and industry leader.

Looking toward the future, Sawaya is at the helm of a $557 million Capital Improvement Plan that will transform the facility to exceed the expectations of current and future users and support the destination in being more competitive nationally. The massive, transformative project also includes laying the groundwork for construction of future developments, including new facilities like a headquarters hotel and mixed-use entertainment district that includes the construction of an exciting new residential neighborhood adjacent to the Convention Center.

“It is indeed a very distinctive honor to be named a Tourism Newsmaker in a city that is very well known for its unique take on expositions and events,” Sawaya said. “I sincerely appreciate the responsibility that I have to ensure that this great city and its convention center continues to be heralded as a leading-edge organization known for innovative delivery of exceptional event experiences in our world-class destination.”

By Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip

The Pennsylvania Convention Center announced that it has received its Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR reaccreditation for a second consecutive year.

GBAC STAR is considered the gold standard of healthy and resilient facilities. Reaccreditation is awarded to facilities following a comprehensive evaluation process of its cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention protocols over the past year to ensure that the venue remains committed to and effective at maintaining and delivering a program that supports a clean, safe, and healthy environment for workers and guests.

“The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority is proud to have, once again, earned the GBAC STAR reaccreditation,” said David A. Nasatir, Esq., Chair of the Board, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “Since receiving our initial accreditation in 2020, and reaccreditation in 2021, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to the health, safety, and overall well-being of all who enter our facility.”

In the two years since first receiving its GBAC STAR accreditation, the Pennsylvania Convention Center implemented additional phases of its capital improvement projects and, in partnership with Siemens, is currently working on completing the installation of further HVAC upgrades and sensors connected to the air handling units which will monitor, in real time, the air quality, and system performance.

These upgrades not only maintain a healthy and safe environment for guests and workers but also help to facilitate the Center’s sustainability objectives.

“As a state-of-the-art facility, the Pennsylvania Convention Center has gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of our guests and staff while maintaining the highest levels of customer service and hospitality,” said John J. McNichol, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “Simultaneously, as a steward of the public good, at the forefront of our operations is the commitment to the environment and the community in which we serve. For over 20 years we have partnered with Siemens to implement technology that strategically reduces the environmental impact of our operations and positions the Pennsylvania Convention Center as a leader in smart infrastructure and sustainability.”

Many of the Center’s upgrades, such as the connection of the facility’s two central heating and cooling plants, have also had a direct impact on the facility’s energy efficiency. Additionally, the Center has implemented further initiatives such as increasing its daily purchase of renewable energy certificates to 50%, increasing its waste diversion rate goal to 50%, and eliminating single use plastics in the venue, to further cement the Pennsylvania Convention Center as a “green” facility.

As an ASM Global managed facility, these sustainability initiatives form part of ASM Global ACTS, a corporate social responsibility program which was launched in October 2021 by the Center’s venue management partner.

“The ASM Global ACTS program focuses on three key pillars; protecting the environment, investing in people, and strengthening our communities,” said Kelvin D. Moore, Regional Vice President for ASM Global and General Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “The mission of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority aligns with the pillars of the ASM Global ACTS program, and the Authority has been a steadfast supporter of the various initiatives that are a part of the program. Being able to partner with the Authority in these and other initiatives, enhances our collective ability to deliver positive impacts to the community.”

Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip is Senior Communications Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.