The former director of operations and events at BMO Harris Bank Center brings 20 years of industry experience to Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisc., as its new director of operations.
Julie Gallagher joins the Alliant Energy Center staff after directing operations and events at BMO Harris Bank Center, formerly MetroCentre, in Rockford, Ill., for the last two years. Gallagher served as the director of events for eight years and director of ticketing for 10 years at BMO Harris Bank Center. She has overseen the creation of the entire events department with a $1.04 million annual department budget and participated with city officials in an $18.5 million renovation and seating restructuring of the Historic Coronado Theatre.
“Julie’s background in the industry made her an ideal candidate for the director of operations position and we’re excited about Julie joining our team,” said Mark Clarke, executive director, Alliant Energy Center. “She brings a wealth of knowledge about operating public assembly facilities in a progressive yet efficient manner. Julie’s ability to work with our customers and assure customer service will be an instrumental part of Alliant Energy Center’s success.”
Gallagher is credited with creation of the BMO Harris Bank Center’s events department, which included the addition of event coordinators and the merging of two formerly adversarial departments into one team. She began her new position on Feb. 25.
“I am truly excited to be working with the staff and becoming an integral part of the AEC organization,” said Gallagher, who began her new position Feb. 25. “Madison is a beautiful area filled with cultural and entertainment opportunities and I look forward to being a part of this community through AEC.”
The Alliant Energy Center is situated on 164 acres and includes the Exhibition Hall, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Willow Island and the agricultural facilities. The center hosts more than 500 events each year that draw an estimated one million visitors and has an annual economic impact of $88 million.
Gallagher is a graduate of the International Association & Venue Management’s Public Assembly Facility Management School. She succeeds the previous director of operations, Bob Ehrenstrom, who served in that capacity for more than 30 years.
