Mardeen Mattix
San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) appoints Mattix as its deputy CEO & CFO. Mattix joined the SDCC team in 1998, and since 2018 has served as its chief financial officer. She has been an integral part of SDCC through transformative moments, including transforming the building into an emergency shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. As CFO, she has successfully implemented a new sales strategy to attract high-value events that brought impactful economic growth to San Diego. In her expanded role, Mattix will provide strategic direction, drive business initiatives, manage financial operations and oversee daily operations as SDCC moves into 2025, the center’s 35th anniversary year, in which its events are predicted to generate approximately $1.7 billion in regional economic impact and $40.2 million in tax revenue for the city.
Justin Underwood
Hilton Anaheim appoints Underwood as director of hotel operations. He brings nearly two decades of experience in the hotel industry to this new role, in which he will lead the largest hotel in Orange County and work to enhance its reputation for delivering exceptional guest experiences. He will oversee every aspect of hotel operations, including guest services, culinary programming, banquet and events, housekeeping, maintenance and more, at a pivotal moment as the hotel embarks on a multi-million dollar renovation project.
Aoife Delaney
DMC Network promotes Delaney to the role of managing director from her current role as vice president of business development. She will assume her new role on January 1, 2025. She has spent over two decades in the DMC world and has played a major role in expanding DMC Network’s reach across six continents. A longtime volunteer leader with SITE as well as a leading speaker and popular panelist, Delaney is a familiar face for many in the meetings and events industry.
Abigail Fernandez
Fernandez joins the INNOV8 Meetings + Events team as manager, global accounts. She began her career in 2001 as a sales assistant in business travel and national sales before moving onto the events team, and later into the role of catering sales manager. Throughout her career, she has established herself as a seasoned professional dedicated to full-service event planning, specializing in sourcing, coordinating and executing impactful events. She brings extensive industry connections alongside her vast experience.
Katherine Gregory
Gregory takes on the role of director of sales and marketing at Sagamore Pendry Baltimore. She will oversee all aspects of group and transient business, catering sales, meetings and events, and marketing and public relations for the hotel. She brings over 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having began her career with Hilton, going on to lead the sales team for W Hotels Chicago, where she played a pivotal role in the transition from Starwood to Marriott. Later, she introduced Convene to the Chicago market as area director of sales and guided the team through the successful opening of four properties. Most recently, she served as director of sales and marketing at the Thesis Hotel Miami.
Kai Lerman and James Overbaugh
The Peninsula Hotels makes two significant leadership appointments.
Lerman is appointed as senior vice president of The Peninsula Signature Events. He has been a cornerstone of The Peninsula Hotels since 2009, and has served as the managing director of The Quail since 2017. In his new role, he will oversee The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels’ team and lead the motorsport experiences for both properties.
Overbaugh succeeds Lerman, stepping in as managing director of The Quail. He has worked with The Peninsula Hotels brand for over 16 years, beginning as executive chef of The Peninsula Beverly Hills. He went on to move through ascending roles, eventually serving as senior vice president of food and beverage operations for The Peninsula Hotels Worldwide at the brand’s head office in Hong Kong.
John Luckett
Southeast family-led hospitality brand Kessler appoints Luckett as president of hospitality operations. Formerly Kessler’s chief operating officer, Luckett brings over 30 years of experience in the industry, 15 of which he has spent with Kessler. He will contribute to the continued growth of operational strategies and corporate, commercial and human capital across the entire portfolio.
Louis Gonzalez
Gonzalez is appointed as director of sales at Terranea Resort. He brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, where he has established a reputation for exceeding sales goals and profit targets. He most recently served as executive director of group sales at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, and brings the insight, knowledge and expertise to take over the management of all aspects of revenue generation related to the group segment at Terranea.
Kaylin Miller
Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver appoints Miller as catering event sales manager. Miller brings over 13 years of experience in the events industry and will be responsible for collaborating closely with clients to bring their visions into reality, curate impactful and high-quality events and ensure that events reflect the brand’s standards for service and sophistication. She has worked in several prominent event management roles, including as community outreach and event manager for the City of Dacono and most recently as event sales manager at Hyatt Regency Denver.
Michael Balyeat
Balyeat is appointed as director of sales and marketing for Grand Hyatt San Antonio Riverwalk and Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk. In his new role, he will oversee all sales and marketing programs for both properties and implement strategies to increase brand awareness. He worked at the properties between 2012 and 2014 as associate director of sales before joining Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade as director of sales, events and marketing, and later moved to Hyatt Regency Columbus. He now returns to San Antonio.
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