Illinois
Iowa
Michigan
Missouri
Wisconsin
- Karen Riha-Johnston was named director of association sales for the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. Previously, she served as director of national accounts for the association market with Marriott Global Sales in Chicago. … Michael P. Zels was appointed general manager of the Hotel Cass Mag Mile Chicago, A Holiday Inn Express, formerly the Hotel Cass. Zels, a 25-year hospitality industry veteran, previously worked as general manager for the Red Lion Denver Central and Doubletree Tulsa at Warren Place. Zels is overseeing final renovations for the hotel’s September opening.
Iowa
- Todd A. Moyer was named general manager at Diamond Jo Casino, which will open in Dubuque next year. Moyer brings with him over 17 years of experience in the Nevada and Atlantic City gaming markets. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of marketing at Trump Marina Hotel Casino in Atlantic City.
Michigan
- The Greater Lansing CVB hired three new staff members, Shari Berger, Heather Kim and Laura Beach. Berger was named vice president of sales, bringing more than 27 years of convention experience as the former director of sales and convention services at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. Kim is the new sales manager, and was formerly sales manager with the Holiday Inn South Convention Center. Beach was named marketing manager and will focus on the bureau’s new media technologies. … Asaad Farag was appointed vice president of hotel operations for MotorCity Casino Hotel, due to open this fall. Prior to this position, Farag was general manager of the Conrad Istanbul and also served as general manager of the Regent Wall Street Hotel & Spa in New York City. Farag’s responsibilities will cover all aspects of hotel operations, including the spa, retail, catering, and conference sales. … The Kalamazoo County CVB appointed Greg Ayers president. Ayers previously worked as the director of the Bloomington-Normal Area CVB and most recently as executive director at the South Bend/Mishawaka CVB in Indiana.
Missouri
- John F. Brewster was named director of sales for the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Brewster brings more than 20 years of experience to the position. Prior to his appointment he served as director of sales for the Louisville Marriott Downtown. …Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention Center in Branson named Douglas Wojick director of sales and marketing. Wojick’s extensive sales background includes work at Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt and Hilton brands, as well as at major independent resorts like the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and the Treetop Resort in Michigan. … Global Spectrum’s Shura Lindgren, general manager of the St. Charles Convention Center, was nominated by the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM) to become the second vice president of the organization. Lindgren previously served as chairman of the IAAM Convention Center Committee.
Wisconsin
- Kristin Timmer takes the reins as general manager of the Delafield Hotel in Delafield and will oversee all aspects of the hotel’s operation. Prior to this position, Timmer was the director of catering at the Pfister Hotel and served as general manager of the Milwaukee Yacht Club. … Susan Kainz was appointed director of sales and marketing of the Delafield Hotel. Most recently she was with Marcus Hotels & Resort’s Grand Geneva Resort & Spa as corporate sales manager, and before that held the same position with Interstate’s Wyndham Milwaukee City Center hotel. … Ed Hauptmann was named director of sales and marketing at the Marriott Madison West Hotel. Prior to this position, Hauptmann served as senior sales manager at Marriott International’s Atlanta regional sales center. He also was a general manager and director of sales for Marriott Hotels in Georgia and Tennessee.