Atlantic City Convention Center General Manager Karen Totaro, CFE is the recipient of the Facilities & Destinations 2015 Elite Award by Facilities & Destinations publication.
The award recognizes professionals that make a difference in the meetings and events industry. . Totaro is an employee of Spectra by Comcast Spectacor, which provides Venue Management and Food Services & Hospitality for the Atlantic City Convention Center.
“It is an unexpected thrill to receive this recognition,” Totaro said in a press release. “My passion for this business continually grows and I am so grateful for the strong Spectra team I get to work with every day that allows me the opportunities to contribute and succeed in this industry”
Totaro took her post at the convention center in January of 2014, and has focused her efforts on securing new clients, improving customer service and training employees. She introduced a client post-event satisfaction survey and has seen a 9 percent increase in scores since year one of operation. Furthermore, Totaro has been instrumental in making sure all employees receive proper training and has helped grow them in their positions, the release said.
Totaro relocated from Cincinnati where she held the position of Assistant General Manager of the Duke Energy Convention Center, also managed by Spectra. Prior to Cincinnati Totaro served as the Assistant Executive Director of the Oregon Convention Center in Portland for nine years and the Associate Director of the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio for five years. She started in the business at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana as the Marketing Manager for the Assembly Hall Arena, the release said. .
Totaro currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the 5,000 member International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). She is a graduate of the University of Illinois. In addition to being a 1995 graduate of the Public Assembly Facility Management School, she completed the three-year IAVM Senior Executive Symposium curriculum in 2007 and received her Certified Facilities Executive distinction in 2009.
Most recently, Venues Today Magazine recognized Totaro as a “Woman of Influence”. The publication, which covers the live event industry, presented her with the award at the IAVM VenueConnect in Baltimore Md., on Aug. 2, 2015.
In another acknowledgement, Rick Powell, Operations Manager at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall—also managed by Spectra—was named one of the International Association of Venue Managers Foundation’s 30 Under 30.
In its second year, the IAVM 30 Under 30 program focuses on identifying and developing the top talent in the venue management industry, 30 years of age and under, through increased access and exposure to industry networking and thought leadership, the company said in another release.
“Rick’s hard work, personality and job-related experiences at other venues, including Boardwalk Hall, has helped him become well-rounded in his role as Operations Manager,” said Spectra’s Fran Rodowicz, General Manager of Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. “He is a great example of one of the many Spectra employees that continues to do great things to make our venue successful and has a very bright future in this industry.”
Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center are owned and funded by the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
