Atlanta – Mark Zimmerman will become the General Manager of the Georgia World Congress Center effective November 1st, filling the shoes of John Smith who is retiring after working 30 years for the State of Georgia. The announcement was made by Dan Graveline, GWCC’s Executive Director. Smith will be trading meeting rooms and exhibit halls for a classroom. “Professor Smith,” as he will now be called, will continue his career as adjunct professor at Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration.
Zimmerman will manage over 400 employees at the GWCC and oversee marketing and operations. He has been GWCC’s Assistant General Manager since 1995, and began his career there in 1984 as a concessions supervisor. He was promoted to Senior Event Coordinator and later Director of Event Services. Over the years, he had key roles in numerous high-profile events, including the 1988 Democratic National Convention, the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. He also served as Assistant General Manager of the Cobb Galleria from 1992 to 1995.
Zimmerman identified sales as a priority, telling Trade Show Executive magazine, “Increasing our share of customers is our number one opportunity and goal.” With 1.4 million square feet of prime exhibit space, the GWCC is the fourth largest convention center in Trade Show Executive magazine’s 2004 Millionaire’s Club, a ranking of convention centers with over one million square feet of exhibit space. Reach Mark Zimmerman at (404) 223-4000 or mzimmerman@gwcc.com; John Smith at (404) 223-4000 or jsmith@gwcc.com.
