Dallas – Frank Poe will return to the Dallas Convention Center in early December as Director of Convention & Event Services. Poe directed the center’s convention and event services from 1991 to 1997, then headed to Alabama to become Executive Director/CEO of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) in Alabama. He replaces Daniel Huerta, Interim Director.
Poe had been courted for the Dallas position for more than six months. Dallas Mayor Laura Miller said, “I’ve known for a long time that there are two words that will send a national message from Dallas that we are serious about bringing convention business here – those two words are ‘Frank Poe.’” Phillip Jones, President/CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau says, “Frank is a strong manager – both of people and facilities. He’s fair. He’s strategic. And he knows the industry backwards and forwards.”
“I am excited to return to Dallas — to the complex that has been a major part of my career and professional development,” says Poe. He was Manager of the center from 1980 to 1991. Prior to that, he served as Manager of the Orange County Convention Center/Civic Center.
While heading the BJCC, Poe was responsible for managing a complex that included a 220,000 sq. ft. exhibition hall; 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; and a 770-room hotel managed by Starwood Sheraton. He also spearheaded marketing efforts directed to the local, state, national and international markets.
Poe was the 2000 – 2001 President of the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM) and served as Chairman of the Safety & Security Task Force (2001-2004) and Academy for Venue Safety/Security (2003 -2005). He is a member of the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the International Association for Exhibition Management (IAEM).
Reach Frank Poe at (205) 458-8400 or frank.poe@bjcc.org.
