Danita Johnson has been named president of business operations at Major League Soccer franchise D.C. United.

Johnson becomes the first black president of an MLS club and is believed to be only the third woman in league history to serve in the role.

Johnson joins the club from Women’s National Basketball Association franchise the Los Angeles Sparks, where she spent the last two years serving as president and chief operating officer. She previously developed and led the ticket sales and service department for the Washington Mystics while with Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

Johnson also has NBA experience with the Los Angeles Clippers and helped launch NBA G League team Bakersfield Jam in 2006 and WNBA outfit Tulsa Shock, which relocated from Detroit in 2010.

By Meghan Flanagan

Comcast Spectacor, owner of the Wells Fargo Center arena and the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, is advancing its commitment to renewable energy and sustainability at two of its primary facilities. Through an agreement with SunPower, a leading solar technology and energy service provider, Comcast Spectacor completed the installation of a 1.06 megawatt (MW) onsite solar system at the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone at Voorhees in New Jersey. Comcast Spectacor has also introduced an electric Zamboni ice resurfacer and will achieve 100 percent renewable electricity supply for the facility starting in 2021.

The Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone at Voorhees is the training facility for the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Wings and offers public ice-skating sessions and youth hockey activations year-round. Installation of the rooftop solar panels began in May 2020 and was completed in November 2020. Comcast Spectacor will sell the Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from the onsite solar and purchase national RECs to provide all Spectacor facilities with 100% renewable electricity. The Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone at Voorhees has also replaced its traditional propane Zamboni machine with an electric model.

“Comcast Spectacor is pleased to advance our support of renewable energy through this onsite solar technology installation by SunPower,” said Dave Scott, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Spectacor. “Combined with the activation of wind energy for Wells Fargo Center and our REC purchases, the Flyers will now train and compete in facilities completely powered by renewable electricity, which furthers Comcast NBCUniversal’s ongoing commitment to sustainable innovation.”

“Comcast Spectacor made a meaningful commitment to increase reliable, clean electricity in the Philadelphia region, and we are proud to help them achieve their mission with solar,” said Eric Potts, SVP, Commercial and Industrial Solutions at SunPower. “It’s not uncommon for a sports team to make an immense impact on its community — but the Philadelphia Flyers are raising the bar by using their footprint to work towards vital sustainability goals.”

The onsite solar project is the latest in an ongoing series of sustainability efforts across Comcast Spectacor facilities. In combination with the electric Zamboni machine, Comcast Spectacor’s purchase of renewable energy credits will contribute an additional annual reduction of more than 1,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gases. That reduction is equivalent to removing more than 370 passenger vehicles driven for a year.

“The renewable energy and sustainability efforts of Comcast Spectacor and the Philadelphia Flyers at their practice facility epitomize our overall NHL Green environmental sustainability work in North American community rinks where we play and enjoy the game,” said Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs. “These environmental efforts reinforce the League’s commitment and progress in creating vibrant and healthy communities through hockey for the next generation of passionate fans.”

These developments are in addition to Wells Fargo Center’s 100 percent renewable electricity initiative, which was achieved through an agreement with Constellation that completely powers the arena with wind. The wind power generation avoids more than 15,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas annually which is equivalent to the amount produced by 3,373 passenger vehicles over the course of a year. All of these efforts will provide Comcast Spectacor facilities with 100% renewable electricity and supports Comcast NBCUniversal’s long-term aspirational goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy.

Meghan Flanagan is Director, Corporate Communications for Comcast Spectacor based in Philadelphia.

The home stadium of the Pittsburgh Steelers will continue to be known as Heinz Field after the NFL team signed a one-year extension to its naming-rights partnership with food production company Kraft Heinz.

The new agreement will run until the end of 2021. Heinz has sponsored the stadium since it opened in 2001 and its deal with the Steelers had been due to expire at the end of the current NFL season.

Financial terms of the new deal were not disclosed. The original agreement was worth a reported $57 million.

“Over the years, the partnership has been a win-win for the Steelers – one of the NFL’s most storied and popular teams – and for Kraft Heinz, Kraft Heinz Chief Executive Miguel Patricio said in a statement. “Both the Steelers and the Heinz brand are synonymous with Pittsburgh.”

Heinz Field welcomed a limited number of fans to a handful of games earlier in the season before restrictions were put in place starting with the game against Washington Football Team on December 6.

The Steelers had been welcoming around 5,500 fans until that point but new orders from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf forced the team to restrict access to family and friends of the team.

Heinz Field has a capacity of around 68,400 and also serves as the home of the University of Pittsburgh’s American football team. The stadium has also staged NHL ice hockey games and music concerts over the years.

Cesar Ramirez, is currently the Director of Event Services & Facility Sales at Destination El Paso in El Paso Texas. His interest in the industry came through a love for music and live shows. After graduating from UTEP with a Bachelors in Commercial Music and then his Masters of Business Administration in 2017, he was fortunate enough to begin his journey with Destination El Paso which led him to my current role. He looks forward to many more opportunities within the industry that will allow him to continue to learn and grow as an industry professional.

“When I received my notice, I was very happy and excited, not only due to the fact that I felt a huge sense of accomplishment, but also it was good news amongst all the bad. After all the bad news through the current situation, it was nice to hear something positive and know there was still something to look forward to and be proud of.”

Join your Foundation in congratulating Cesar on being honored as one of the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 and don’t forget to come back each Thursday as we spotlight another honoree!

By R.V. Baugus and Joint Meetings Industry Council

Cliff Wallace, CVE, added another deserved recognition recently when he was selected to receive the 2020 Unity Award from the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC). Wallace was formally presented with the award December 10 as part of the IBTM World awards program this year taking place online by Kai Hattendorf, President of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC).

“In an industry that has been evolving as quickly as ours the importance of long-standing industry leaders, advocates and role-models cannot be underestimated,” Hattendorf said. “This year’s Unity Award winner exemplifies the concept of lifetime achievement, not only through his organizational affiliations but as a pioneer, educator and mentor for generations of industry participants.

“At the same time, he played a huge role in introducing the industry and the principles it stands for into new regions at a critical point in their development. While each year we are presented with a challenge in selecting just one recipient for the Unity Award I can honestly say that this recipient is particularly deserving for both the length and breadth of his contributions.”

Wallace has had many years of service in the development, design, construction, project planning, managing, operating and day-to-day business of public assembly venue management and has elevated those venues to a respected presence in the communities in which they are located. At the same time, he has been a senior leader of numerous industry associations and a highly respected instructor / mentor in a wide range of key industry training programs. He has won a number of global awards for his work, and continues to contribute well into his semi-retirement as an industry ambassador and advisor.

The Unity Award is made annually to an individual who represents the best qualities of Meetings Industry Leadership and who has devoted major efforts to creating stronger relationships and a greater cohesion for the industry. Award criteria evaluate industry leadership and initiative both in a candidate’s own professional conduct and the efforts they put into industry-building through association, education and professional development activities.

To see the video of the presentation and Cliff’s acceptance of the award, click here.

Previous Unity Award Winners

2019 Joachim König | Managing Director, Hannover Congress Center

2018 Karen Bolinger | CEO, Melbourne Convention Bureau

2017 Ray Bloom | Chairman, IMEX Group

2016 Anita Pires | Director, Pires & Associados Assessoria Ltda

2015 David Peckinpaugh | President, Maritz Travel Group

2014 Tom Hulton | Director of International Relations, IMEX Group

2013 Michael Hirst | Chairman of the Business Visits & Events Partnership in the UK

2012 Airy Garrigosa | Director Barcelona Convention Bureau

2011 Luc Maene | Director General, International Fertilizer Industry Association and President, Society of Association Executives

2010 Christian Mutschlechner | Vienna Convention Bureau

2009 Barbara Maple

2008 Hans Friis | Brahler ICS AG

2007 Roger Tondeur | President and Founder MCI Group

2006 Luca Favetta | SAP

2005 Laure Mouton | Executive Director, Palais des Congrès de Paris

2004 Olivier Lépine | Director, Biarritz Tourisme

2003 Jorge Castex | Managing Director, ICS International Conference Services