St. Louis convention commission adds to staff
From Illinois Business Journal news services
ST. LOUIS – Several new employees joined the staff this summer at the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission.
– Brendon Wagner is the new director of event management. In this role, Wagner will be responsible for directing and coordinating activities in the event management department at America’s Center. He will also be responsible for coordinating and assisting clients and contractors. With more than 15 years of event and entertainment industry experience, he previously worked as the director of operations for VenuWorks in Iowa and North Carolina. Wagner, a St. Louis native, earned a bachelor of science degree from Missouri State University and a master of business administration degree from Webster University.
– Leah Spinks is the new event coordinator. She will coordinate event activities between clients, contractors and the departments of America’s Center. Spinks is a recent graduate of the University of Missouri Columbia. She received a bachelor of science degree in hospitality management, with an emphasis in conference and event management and a minor in business.
– David Rayment is the new national convention sales manager. Rayment will be responsible for directing and coordinating sales activities in the Western Region of the United States. With more than 25 years of event hospitality industry experience, Rayment previously worked as the director of national accounts – West Coast Region for Gaylord Hotels. Rayment, who will continue to reside near Boulder, Colo., earned a bachelor of arts degree from University of New Hampshire.
– Libby Dischert will be filling the role of national convention sales manager. She is responsible for managing sales activities in the Midwest Region as well as the Northeast Region of the United States. Dischert earned a bachelor of arts degree, in hotel & restaurant management, from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Early in her career, Dischert held various hotel positions including: front office operations, catering, and sales and marketing. Later, she moved out of hotels and worked for several years as a senior meeting planner for Experient, Inc., earning her CMP designation at that time.
Patti Sanders has been promoted to Convention Services manager. Sanders will be responsible for meeting and convention support services to clients in obtaining repeat convention business for the city. She will also act as a liaison between the client and area suppliers to help the client realize a successful meeting or convention in St. Louis. She has more than 15 years of experience in the Sales Department for the convention commission and was the senior sales coordinator.
