DETROIT
Wes Westley, president and CEO of SMG, announced that Claude Molinari will be the general manager of Cobo Center, effective immediately. Since SMG assumed operations management of Cobo Center in 2010, Molinari has been the assistant general manager of Cobo under Thom Connors.
Connors will continue his corporate role with SMG, including oversight of the Cobo Center account.
“This is a natural transition,” Westley said. “Both Thom and Claude will continue to bring their leadership strengths and industry vision to Cobo Center.”
Molinari has been with SMG for 18 years and during his tenure in Detroit, he was promoted to regional director of operations for SMG Mideast, where he oversaw the operations departments of 15 regional facilities.
Prior to his Cobo assignment, he was assistant general manager of Pittsburgh’s David Lawrence Convention Center, and the general manager of SMGX Exposition Services, a subsidiary of SMG.
In that capacity he gained experience working at some of the nation’s largest convention centers, including the Las Vegas Convention Center and Javits Center in New York.
“I am really looking forward to the challenge of the new role as general manager of the iconic Cobo Center and will do my best to succeed an industry veteran like Thom Connors,” said Molinari. “I am excited to work with the Cobo team to [improve] customer service, bookings and maintenance.”
Additionally, Cedric Turnbore has been promoted to director of operations for Cobo Center, and his responsibilities will expand to include the oversight of production, sustainability, and janitorial services. Turnbore came to Cobo with more than 20 years of experience with top brand properties including the Westin Book Cadillac and Marriott Hotels. Working for Cobo Center for over six years, he has moved up the ranks from production services manager to senior operations manager prior to this promotion.
With 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, Cobo Center offers one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and is the 17th largest convention center in the country.
