By R.V. Baugus

Ellen Schwartz, General Manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center, said she knew the timing was right to announce her retirement, which takes place on July 6.

“For me, I thought about I’m a certain age and I don’t want to be the person that worked and keels over the next day,” she said. “I want to be able to enjoy another chapter in my life and to be physically and mentally able to do that and I can so I’m going to!”

Schwartz most recently oversaw the Summit of the Americas and Anime Expo at the venue, and the Major League Baseball All-Star Week July 15-19 would have been next. Suffice to say, the ASM Global-managed venue is home to some of the world’s biggest events, and Schwartz played a major role in ensuring those events came off without a hitch for attendees.

She has been at the LACC since October 2013, serving as Assistant General Manager to Brad Gessner for four years before he retired. Prior to that, Schwartz spent 11-plus years in Long Beach and before that was at the Miami Convention Center.

“I actually worked on the other side of the business for many years as well,” Schwartz said. “I was a show manager and ran events. It was interesting when I transitioned to the facility world in Miami Beach. It’s been a great ride.”

Schwartz acknowledged the ride has been bumpier in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She referred to working during this period as a “brain drain” that started two years ago and will probably go on for the next three years for those in the industry.

“There are a whole lot of people who are going to be gone (retired),” she said. “People with the history, the legacy that understand the evolution of the business. It has evolved. Business today is not what it was just 20 or 30 years ago. It’s a whole different animal. We all know it’s not what it was even three years ago.”

Schwartz said that the Los Angeles Convention Center has performed very well through the turbulence and that the future is very bright with major bookings continuing to roll in.

She now joins an ever-growing list of industry veterans deciding it is time for a big career change that comes with retirement.

“I’ll be starting a new life that is less about other people’s expectations of me and more about my own expectations,” Schwartz said. “The pandemic sort of makes you rethink priorities. You have a little bit more time to think about things in a different way, at least for me. It actually was fairly interesting to be here during the pandemic and to do what we did was to survive. It was a whole different mode of operating. It was like the last challenge of surviving through the pandemic.”

Now it will be someone else’s challenge as the search for a replacement is underway. For Schwartz, she again gets to start from scratch, a prospect she relishes.

“It’s been a long time since the page was blank,” she said. “It’s exciting, it’s intimidating, all those things. It’s a great opportunity. I’m looking at it as a great opportunity to write another chapter.”

By Anagelica Gonzalez

The Baltimore Convention Center has appointed Phil Costa as the new Deputy Director, where he will be working directly under the leadership of Executive Director Peggy Daidakis. Costa’s responsibilities will consist of the overall management of the day-to-day operations and providing leadership and direction to all departments, partner managers, and staff. In addition, he will oversee the Center’s community outreach, policy development, and capital improvement projects.

Serving as the Director of Operations since 2017, Costa has managed the largest department at the BCC. He has helped develop and lead Center initiatives such as the venue’s sustainability program and GBAC-Star accreditation, and aspects of the COVID-19 Field Hospital and recovery. He earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Sports Business Management from the University of Central Florida along with dual Bachelors’ degrees from the University of Florida. In 2018 Costa was honored by being named to IAVM’s “30 under 30” roster.

Costa currently serves as IAVM’s Assistant Director for Region 1 and the vice-chair for the Young Professionals Committee. He has continued to guide the Baltimore Convention Center’s internal operations department to success and will now play a key role in leading the entire venue as the premier location for events in Maryland. Outside of work, Costa enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and two children at their home in Federal Hill.

When asked what he’s looking forward to within his new role, Costa responded, “My mission is to continue advancing our day-to-day operations and move the Center forward. I’m excited about this new role and being able to work with all departments within the Convention Center. With the pandemic’s effect on the hospitality industry, I am also looking forward to seeing the new realm of events.”

Anagelica Gonzalez is Marketing & Communications Manager for the Baltimore Convention Center.

By Amy Procaccini

Venue hospitality and management partner Sodexo Live! has added Brian Holtman and Kimberly Corbets to their Strategic Growth team in North America.

Holtman previously worked for Paradies Lagardère, the North American division of Paris-based Lagardère Travel Retail, where he led business development efforts on delivering engaging experiences for airport travelers across North America. He’s also held leadership roles across his 20+ year career with Vino Volo, JetBlue Airways, and Airport Wireless Brands, amongst others.

Corbets brings industry experience in various capacities to the team, most recently serving in a leadership and development role for Travelzoo. She is well-versed in the tourism and events space, having spent 5+ years with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), attracting top-tier meetings and events to South Beach.

In their new roles, Holtman and Corbets will continue to affirm Sodexo Live! as a leading hospitality partner to the most iconic venues and help to shape the future of live event hospitality by driving new business and ensuring existing clients are set up for success. Prodigy Search assisted Sodexo Live! in placing these roles.

Amy Procaccini is Strategic Brand Communications Manager for Sodexo Live!

By Carolyn Campbell and Mariauna Hernandez

Houston First Corp. continues to lead the charge in building sustainability as the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) recently achieved its first-ever LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

This year marks a tremendous milestone for the GRB as the 35-year-old building is not being recognized for its construction and design, but its sustainability, maintenance, and operational efforts. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, the GRB qualified for the highest version of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification–v4.1–because of its documented building standards.

“Our industry-leading entertainment and convention venues are constantly evolving to exceed expectation, and this latest accolade further solidifies our commitment to healthy and sustainable practices,” said Houston First Corp. President and CEO Michael Heckman. “We are fortunate to have partners like Levy Restaurants and TDIndustries who work alongside us providing support and assistance so that we continue making improvements that protect and benefit our community and our future.”

Previously achieving LEED Silver in 2011 and recertification in 2017, the GRB was critiqued in areas including energy conservation, waste reduction, indoor air quality improvement, and water conversation for this year’s certification. The LEED rating system recognizes buildings that excel in sustainability through construction, design, and operation practices that improve environmental and human health.

The Houston First Corp. management team has implemented various processes to decrease the facility’s carbon footprint, some of which encourage GRB guests to make more sustainable choices such as utilizing compostable utensils or refillable water bottle stations, and learning about the venue’s hydro garden program, which spotlights the environmental impact of sourcing local produce.

In addition to greener facility methods, Houston First Corp. also works with local non-profits like Second Servings who assists with delivering unserved food from GRB events to more than 90 local shelters, soup kitchens, and charities. Some of the donated items are also repurposed or redistributed as materials for art and construction projects.

“Transforming our buildings and spaces happens one project at a time. The George R. Brown Convention Center understands the value of LEED and has shown extraordinary leadership in reshaping the market,” U.S. Green Building Council President and CEO Peter Templeton said. “The success of LEED is due to the partnership and support of those committed to advancing green buildings and sustainability. Each new LEED certification brings us one step closer to revolutionizing the spaces where we live, learn, work, and play.”

Carolyn Campbell is Director of Communications and Mariauna Hernandez is Corporate Communications Manager for Houston First.

By Blair Cardinal

Starting July 1, OVG360 began overseeing venue management, food and hospitality, and corporate partnerships at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, a 10,000-seat arena, 140,000-square-foot convention center, and 2,500-seat auditorium – complex designed to host concerts, sporting events, professional and amateur rodeos, culture and arts events, and conventions and meetings.

Industry veteran Brian Martin will be the General Manager of the facility and Joe Castor will serve as General Manager of Hospitality overseeing all food and beverage operations. Nick Ustruck has been named Executive Chef.

“The City of Corpus Christi is extremely excited to have OVG360 lead the operations of our very important American Bank Center. Their business approach is being well received by the City Council and our partners. Under OVG360, we look forward to improved venue booking, ticket sales, customer care, food service experience, and positive community impact,” Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni said.

Martin started his career with Oak View Group in 2008 at the University of South Carolina, working in ticket operations for the Colonial Life Arena after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Entertainment Management. He navigated his career in ticketing and event operations at the Augusta Entertainment Complex in Augusta, Ga., where he worked as Director of Ticketing and, eventually, Director of Event Services. In 2016, he accepted a position as Assistant General Manager of the Macon Centerplex, where he increased event bookings, exceeded financial goals for the venue and county, and ingrained himself into the community.

Castor grew up in the Midwest, attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and graduated with a double major in Economics and Military History in three-and-a-half years to take a job as a Banquet Manager for The Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. The catering company also had a contract to provide food and beverage service at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where his passion for Sports & Entertainment Catering began. During his 30-year career, he participated in the openings of The Conseco Fieldhouse, Arlington, Racetrack, Gillette Stadium, Citizens Bank Park, Nationals Park, Busch Stadium, UBS Arena, and most recently, the new Moody Center in Austin, Texas. He also led Premium Operations for the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Convention Center, Javits Convention Center, and Washington Commanders. He was also the Director of Event Operations at the Embassy of Italy and General Manager of The Cow Palace and the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

Ustruck is an Executive Chef with 17 years of culinary experience. He was born in Baton Rouge, La., but raised in Rockport, Texas. It was here in the Coastal Bend that he discovered his passion for food. He is a graduate of Scottsdale Culinary Institute of Arizona. After attending culinary school, he focused on a broad scope of catering from small intimate dinners to large-scale events, such as PGA Tour Events, Barrett Jackson Car Auction, and NCAA College Football Playoffs. Innovation in cuisine and its mechanics are his passion. He looks to find new challenging opportunities to create the ultimate culinary experience. He is always focused on his passion for food while making fresh food home for his family with the locally sourced game and ingredients.

“With Brian, Joe, and Chef Nick as the vanguard of our new top-shelf team at American Bank Center, we were ready to hit the ground running on July 1,” Greg O’Dell, OVG360’s President of Venue Management, said. “Our team will not only focus on optimizing the overall guest experience – from excellent customer service to delicious food and hospitality – at the facility, but we also look forward to driving positive economic impact and helping bring the community together.”

OVG360 is the third-party, service-oriented division of Oak View Group (OVG), the leading global venue development, advisory, and investment company for both the sports and live entertainment industries. OVG Hospitality will be managing food and beverage operations at the complex.

Through OVG360’s expertise in sustainability, public safety and health, concessions and catering, marketing and sales, parking and mobility, event booking and content development, sponsorships and premium seating, data & analytics, procurement and many more key areas, the team will support American Bank Center in optimizing operations and enhancing the total guest experience.