With the countdown to the highly anticipated March 1 opening, the SMG-managed Albany Capital Center announces the hiring of Joseph Leavens as operations manager beginning February 6, 2017. With this appointment, the ACC continues to round out its internal senior management team.
Having started his career in the Capital Region, Leavens comes to the ACC from his most recent position at another SMG-managed property, Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Va. As facilities operations manager at HRCC, Leavens managed its security and maintenance departments. Prior to his role as operations manager, Leavens was the manager of housekeeping and setup for the convention center.
“Leavens brings a distinctive leadership skillset that matches with our vision for our new, modern facility,” said Doug McClaine, general manager, Albany Capital Center. “Having managed a property the size of Hampton Roads Convention Center in Virginia, we are fortunate to have this expertise on our team and are looking forward to working with him.”
Leavens is a graduate of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in business and finance. A Whitehall, N.Y. native, Leavens looks forward to his move back to the region where in his free time he enjoys hiking and fishing in the Catskills and Adirondack Mountains.
Additional job opportunities are available with the ACC and Mazzone Hospitality, the exclusive caterer of the convention center, and can be found online at the website link below.
ACC also announces today that is has signed an agreement with The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local #14. The union will become the exclusive provider of production services and rigging services for the ACC. IATSE Local #14 has maintained a contract with neighboring SMG- managed Times Union Center since opening in 1990. Its other local contracts include The Palace Theater and Proctors.
“We have a solid, longstanding relationship working with SMG at the Times Union Center and we look forward to adding the neighboring Albany Capital Center to our future Responsibilities”, said James Anziano, business representative, Stage Hands Local 14.
Opening in March 2017, the Albany Capital Center, operated by leading venue manager SMG, is a modern, premier event and meeting destination in New York’s culturally rich Capital Region. Connected to the Times Union Center, Empire State Plaza and Renaissance Albany Hotel via enclosed walkways, the convention center will host a diverse array of trade shows, consumer and social events, and meetings for up to 5,000 guests. It will boast 22,500 square-feet of ballroom/exhibit space, 6 meeting rooms with 9,200 square-feet of space, and 13,500 square-feet of pre-function space, state-of-the-art technology, and impeccable dining options. The ACC is conveniently located in downtown Albany and within walking distance to the New York State Capitol, business and warehouse districts, performing arts venues, museums, shops, restaurants and nightlife. For more information about the Albany Capital Center visit www.albanycapitalcenter.com.
Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theatres, performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 14.4 million square feet of exhibition space and over 1.75 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s Reliant Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions, catering and special events division, SAVOR, currently servicing more than 100 accounts worldwide. For more information, visit www.smgworld.com.
