BECKY BIXBY ANNOUNCED AS AGM OF HUNTINGTON PLACE, DETROIT’S WORLD-CLASS CONVENTION CENTER
DETROIT— Jan. 19, 2022 – Today, Karen Totaro, general manager for ASM Global, announces Becky Bixby as the new Assistant General Manager (AGM) of Huntington Place. Becky is Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) with 29 years of event experience in successfully leading teams in customer service training and new technology implementations.
The name Huntington Place was announced by Detroit’s convention center last month after Huntington merged with TCF Financial Corp. in June of 2021, creating a top 10 regional bank. The new name signifies an important moment in the transformation of Detroit’s gathering place for events as the industry emerges from COVID-19 restrictions, and is attracting new business while participating in the rebuilding of the city and metropolitan area. The venue is the 16th largest convention center in the country.
As AGM of Huntington Place, Becky will be responsible for all day-to-day operational aspects of the venue with a key role in ensuring that all clients’ needs are understood and met. She will take point on working towards Platinum LEED certification and all sustainability initiatives that cross over multiple departments.
She will be assessing all emergency response plans and establish safety and security measures to create organic and appropriate responses that secure public safety at all times. She will work towards resolving any client union or staffing concerns. She will ensure all operational departments are on track with their budgets and financial goals for the year.
“Becky brings a full 360 perspective to her new role as AGM. She has worked in venues, she has been the general services contractor building the show and she has been the actual show manager,” said Totaro. “We are so lucky to have her joining the team to ensure we exceed the customer experience from every angle.”
Previously, Becky served as senior manager, Client Services for Informa Markets, a company that delivers large-scale exhibitions, virtual events, online marketplaces, specialist content and data services to the global event industry. There she oversaw 20 trade shows & over 20 digital events comprising over $150 million in revenue. Responsibilities included oversight of customer relationship management technologies, collaborating with outside vendors such as general service contractors, insurance agencies, registration, housing, fire marshal and health & safety departments, and developing improvements to event systems and customer experience.
Prior to Informa, Becky was vice president, Exhibitor Services for Freeman, a company that has been providing integrated event services around the globe for over a century. Having been promoted four times within her tenure and graduated from the prestigious iLead leadership program with the organization, Becky managed customer service and processes across 22 branches.
“Becky will not only lead our operationally based departments she will take point on several major cross venue projects such as researching and creating an RFQ for a new complete event-based software system from sales through to invoicing and then overseeing implementation and training,” said Totaro. “Becky has the experience and ability to break down major hurdles into manageable bites.”
Becky has been a member of several industry associations including the International Association of Exhibitions and Events and the International Association of Venue Managers. She holds an M.A. in Communications and a certification in the Executive Education program for Influence and Negotiations Strategies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
"I'm thrilled to be joining the amazing team at Huntington Place,” said Bixby. “It's an exciting time to be working at such a beautiful venue and to be a part of the community within the city of Detroit."
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About Huntington Place
With 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, Huntington Place, Detroit’s convention center, boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and has the largest ballroom in Michigan with 40,000 square feet. It is a LEED Gold certified venue and has received numerous industry awards for excellence including the 2020 USGBC Leadership Award for Building Performance, making it the only convention center in the history of the award to receive it. Visit online at www.huntingtonplacedetroit.com
About ASM Global
ASM Global is the world's leading provider of innovative venue services and live experiences. The company's elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 325 of the world's most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. From Aberdeen to Anchorage, and Sydney to Stockholm, its venues connect people through the unique power of live experiences. ASM Global's diverse portfolio of clients benefit from the company's depth of resources and unparalleled experience, expertise and creative problem-solving. Each day, the company's 61,000 passionate employees around the world deliver locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to deliver maximum results for venue owners and amazing experiences for guests. By consistently looking for new ways to envision, innovate and empower the spaces and places that bring people together, ASM Global elevates the human spirit while delivering the highest value for all stakeholders. ASM Global was formed in 2019 through the merger of AEG Facilities, the venue management affiliate of Anschutz Entertainment Group, Inc., and SMG, an Onex portfolio company. For more information, please visit www.asmglobal.com