Karolyn Kirchgesler, who currently leads Minnesota’s Visit Saint Paul CVB, is set to take the reins as CEO of Team San Jose [Calif.] after current CEO Bill Sherry retires in September.
“I could not be more thrilled to join Team San Jose,” Kirchgesler said. “I can’t wait to get there and get started—it’s going to be a long 60 days.”
According to Michael Mulcahy, chairman of the board for Team San Jose and managing partner of SDS NexGen Partners, Kirchgesler rose to the top after a year-long search because of her experience operating a CVB-convention center partnership model similar to Team San Jose’s. During her tenure at Visit Saint Paul, Kirchgesler engineered a merger nine years ago between the former Saint Paul CVB and RiverCentre Convention & Visitors Authority.
“Essentially, we have the sales and operations all under one umbrella,” Mulcahy said of Team San Jose’s structure. “The uniqueness of the model is that we have a board that is made up of hoteliers, arts organizations, four theater venues and labor partners.”
Kirchgesler, a 25-year industry veteran, has extensive experience with the Team San Jose model.
“We actually patterned our organization after what they have in San Jose and consulted with them in the early stages,” she said. “You have some flexibility in regard to scheduling, flexibility in regards to cost and staffing, and it’s much easier to prevent unseen logistical challenges when you have a single point of contact for booking.”
Kirchgesler’s first duty will be to consult with outgoing CEO Sherry, meet with board members and representatives from the business community, and promote the soon to be completed expansion of the San Jose Convention Center.
“The board and staff have built a good foundation, and it’s my job to build on that foundation,” Kirchgesler said. “The one thing I felt really strong about is that San Jose is an organization that is really on solid ground, from a timing standpoint, having renewed their partnership with the city of San Jose. I feel I’m coming in at a real good time.”
