DETROIT
Claude Molinari is the the general manager of Cobo Center.
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. The Center offers over 100 meeting rooms and 200,000 square feet of space.
“This is a natural transition,” said Wes Westley, president and CEO of SMG. “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 wholly owned 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 bring customer service, bookings and maintenance, to even higher levels in the future.”
