Exhibit City News is pleased to announce the following promotions and hirings.
The Greater Columbus Convention Center and Legends Global announced the appointment of Dean Dennis, CVE, as general manager of the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). Dennis succeeds John Page, who has stepped into a new position of regional vice president of venue operations for Legends Global.
Dennis has more than 30 years of experience leading convention centers and public assembly venues across North America. He comes to Columbus from Memphis, Tennessee, where he most recently served as president and general manager of the Renasant Convention Center and Cannon Center for the Performing Arts.
Dennis was a general manager and regional VP with Global Spectrum/Spectra. He also brings valuable Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) experience to the general manager position, having served as VP, Convention and Visitors Council with the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the Greater Columbus Convention Center see their website www.columbusconventions.com.
Oak View Group (OVG), a global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality, and integrated venue services, today announced the appointment of Karen Totaro, CVE, as the new general manager of the Palm Springs Convention Center. Most recently, Totaro served as general manager of Huntington Place in Detroit, leading the team to record-breaking revenue months and LEED Gold recertification.
Her previous leadership roles include COO of the San Diego Convention Center and GM of the Atlantic City Convention Center. A former chairman of the board for the 8000 member International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Totaro is a certified venue executive (CVE) and has been recognized as one of the “Power Women” in the industry by Facilities & Destinations Magazine. For more information about Oak View Group visit their website www.oakviewgroup.com.
ASTOUND Group has announced the promotion of Brittany Castle to senior vice president, client partnerships. Castle has been with ASTOUND for eight years, starting as senior event manager in 2018. Prior, Castle was account supervisor, client consulting & services at GMR Marketing. For more information about ASTOUND Group visit their website www.astoundgroup.com.
ASTOUND Group announced that Karim Wazani has joined the company as head of sports. Wazani is also founder of Kizuna Agency and was head of partnerships at Amazon from 2021 to 2024. For more information about ASTOUND Group see their website www.astoundgroup.com.
Jacquelin Stern has joined Derse as account director. Previously Stern was at Catalyst Exhibits. For more information about Derse see their website www.derse.com.
ASAE announced today that Patricia Blake, FASAE, CAE, will serve as strategic advisor to the Association Governance Institute (AGI). Blake is a former chair of the ASAE Board of Directors who recently retired as CEO of the Heart Rhythm Society at the end of 2025. For more information about AGI see their website www.agi.asaecenter.org.
