SMG hires Sharon Schuster as Controller and Director of Finance at Cobo Center
Detroit, MI – Thom Connors, SMG regional vice president and general manager of Cobo Center, announced that Sharon Schuster has joined the Cobo Center staff as the new controller and director of finance. Sharon comes to Cobo from the City of St. Clair Shores, MI, where she served as controller since 1997. During her tenure with the city, she managed the departments of accounting, accounts payable and payroll, and coordinated the annual audit efforts. She managed a city portfolio worth $30 million, and implemented a city-wide automated time and attendance system that increased the efficiency of the payroll process. She also oversaw the administration of two pension systems.
Born and raised in Hamtramck, Sharon is a lifelong Michigan resident. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Wayne State University in Detroit, and passed first sitting for her CPA. Moving to St. Clair Shores when she was hired as the city’s controller, she has lived there for fourteen years with her husband Tom, son Payton and daughter Paige.
Working with the year old Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) that developed a strategic plan to renovate and develop the Cobo Center as one of the nation’s leading meeting exhibition venues, Sharon provides leadership and coaching to the finance team at Cobo. She manages Cobo Center’s financial and accounting policies, systems and processes; payroll systems and process; ongoing budgeting and financial modeling; and annual business plan. Financial management reporting, performance cost analysis, accounts payable and receivable, and client and vendor contracts will also be in her charge.
“Sharon has all of the experience and qualifications we were looking for in the director of finance position, but I knew she was the best candidate for the job when she told me that she wants to work in a position that contributes to the revival of the City of Detroit,” said Connors.
About Cobo Center: With 700,000 square feet of exhibit space, Cobo Center boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and is the 19th largest convention center in the country.
About SMG: Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities and convention, congress and exhibition centers. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 11 million square feet of exhibition space. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides construction and design consulting, pre-opening services, venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming.
Visit www.smgworld.com for more information.