ONTARIO, California – Michael Krouse, President and CEO of the Ontario Convention Center has announced the hiring of a new General Manager, Shannon Perry. Perry will oversee the day to day operations and lead the management team at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California.
Perry started her new position as General Manager of the Ontario Convention Center on October 1, 2017. “Shannon brings years of experience to the team with an extensive background in signature events and leadership, which will serve her well at Ontario Convention Center” said Michael Krouse, Regional Vice President of Convention Centers with SMG Worldwide Management. “Recently Shannon served as Assistant General Manager at the SMG venue, Hampton Roads Convention Center. We welcome her back to her roots of Southern California and look forward to working together toward our goals.”
Shannon Perry has approximately 18 years of event planning and facility oversight experience with two national companies: Westwood One Radio Network and SMG Worldwide Venue Management. At Westwood One, in addition to managing the production studios in Culver City, CA, she was responsible for planning and coordinating the media round tables for multiple high profile events including the Grammys, BET Awards, and the CMT Awards.
A native of southern California, Shannon Perry made her home in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia in 2004, and immediately began planning events at the newly constructed Hampton Roads Convention Center, including the facility’s formal grand opening festivities in April, 2005. A year later, when SMG began its tenure as the private company chosen to manage the facility, Perry remained at the property and was promoted to direct the efforts of the events management team. Progressively advancing within the organization over the next 12 years, her roles and responsibilities have included the direct oversight of the sales, events, housekeeping, change-over, and security teams as Assistant General Manager. Under her guidance, the facility has averaged a 93% approval rating in customer evaluations. With her customer-centric approach, Perry progressively advanced in each organization she has worked with by focusing on exceeding service expectations.
She has served on the Board of Directors for Hampton’s Healthy Families Inc., and volunteers for various civic organizations. She is looking forward to learning more about Ontario and the local community. In addition to being a mother to two fantastic and rambunctious school-age boys, she has remained a Lakers fan no matter what part of the country she lives!
About the Ontario Convention Center
A breathtaking venue, frequently used by filmmakers as an onsite location for movies and commercials, Ontario Convention Center is ideally located in Southern California. This is the place to meet, connect, and explore! Built and owned by the City of Ontario and privately managed by SMG. Contemporary in design and equipped with the latest in technology, it boasts more than 225,000 square feet of flexible exhibit space, 2,600 parking spaces, meeting and function space and is ideal for conventions, trade shows, exhibits and meetings. The Center provides a full range of services, world-class cuisine and flexible options provided by a professional, award-winning staff. There are over 6,000 full service and economy hotel rooms in the Greater Ontario area, including 2,500 rooms within walking distance to The Ontario Convention Center. For more information visit: www.ontariocc.org
SMG
Celebrating its 40th anniversary and founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to 233 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theaters, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 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 NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering companies, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide.