Owensboro Convention Center Announces New Appointments

The Owensboro Convention Center has welcomed new employees.

Mark Pruett is the new Director of Food and Beverage. He is joining the Global Spectrum team with 20 years of successful catering and large scale food service management experience.

“Mark has an exceptional background in food service management, and his experience will be a valued addition to our growing team,” stated Dean Dennis, Global Spectrum’s General Manager of the Owensboro Convention Center. “He is vastly knowledgeable in this industry, and we are excited to have his expertise on the Global Spectrum team.”

Pruett’s experience includes opening several convention centers and arenas; notably The Walter E. Washington D.C. Convention Center, The Penticton Trade and Convention Centre in British Columbia, and the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine. He was previously employed at River Downs in Cincinnati, OH where he was the General Manager for Ovations Food Services. Prior to that he was the General Manager at The Lakeland Center in Lakeland, FL and the Assistant General Manager at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH for Ovations Food Services. Pruett was also honored as the “Most Creative General Manager” while working for Ovations.

Pruett is excited about becoming a part of the management team at Global Spectrum, and is ready to share his talents with the staff and local community. Pruett now resides in Owensboro where he enjoys renovating his 120 year old home.

Todd Denk joined the team as a new Event Manager at the Owensboro Convention Center. Denk has an impressive background including previously working as the General Manager at Roberts Stadium for 13 years. In 2012, he also was employed as a contracted promoter rep, which allowed him the opportunity to go on tour with several famous country music acts.

Denk graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Communications. He enjoys listening to live music, watching movies, and spending time with his family, including his wife Misty and their twins, Kyle and Tyler.

Kate Douglas has been working as a part-time Event Coordinator since before the opening in January, and has joined the full-time staff as an Event Supervisor. Prior to working for Global Spectrum, she was a Staff Assistant for a not-for-profit called Public Notice in Arlington, VA. Before that Douglas worked as an intern in Washington, D.C. for Congressman Guthrie. During her time working in Washington, Douglas had the opportunity to actually coordinate an event that took place on Capitol Hill.

Allen Herzog has joined the Global Spectrum team as the new Operations Manager. Herzog previously worked as the Facilities Manager at Kentucky Wesleyan College for nine years. “We are very happy to have Allen on board,” stated James Wade, the Director of Operations. “He is very knowledgeable in this field and his prior experience is quite notable.”

Herzog is a native of Owensboro, were he attended Brescia University. He enjoys watching basketball (especially KWC), hunting, fishing and spending time with his three kids.

Jamie Sheffer also joined the team as a Staff Accountant with the Owensboro Convention Center’s finance team. Prior to joining the Global Spectrum team Sheffer was employed at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art as a Business Manager. Before that he also worked as a Multiple Line Representative with Kathy Hudson State Farm. “Jamie will make a great addition to our finance team,” stated Lee Deeg, the Director of Finance. “He is a very competent accountant, and I am confident his skills will help the convention center be fiscally successful.”

Sheffer earned both an undergraduate and graduate degree from Murray State University, where he graduated Cum Laude. He enjoys spending time outdoors, especially playing ultimate frisbee and hiking trails.

“I really enjoy working at the Owensboro Convention Center, and it has given me many opportunities to continue learn and grow,” stated Douglas. “My favorite part of the job is getting to know so many people throughout the community by helping plan various events.”

Kate is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, where she was a Travel Stead Scholar from 2009 – 2011. She now resides in her hometown of Owensboro, and enjoys singing, photography and hiking.

About the Owensboro Convention Center (owensborocenter.com): Western Kentucky’s newest, premier meeting space - the Owensboro Convention Center - is a full-service meeting facility overlooking the scenic Ohio River in revitalized downtown Owensboro, KY. The multi-purpose center boasts 92,000 sq. ft. of meeting space consisting of a 44,000+ sq. ft. exhibition hall, and 48,000+ sq. ft. of additional ballroom and meeting space. Global Spectrum, a worldwide leader in venue management, proudly manages the Owensboro Convention Center.

About Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com): Global Spectrum manages the Owensboro Convention Center, as well as more than 120 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 24-million people attended more than 15,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor, which operates in 48 of the 50 United States, also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.