Management Team for Los Angeles Convention Center

AEG Facilities’ Regional Vice President of Convention Centers Brad Gessner has been appointed Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC).

Management of the city-owned, downtown Los Angeles venue was awarded to AEG Facilities by the City of Los Angeles on 24 October 2013.

The LACC Senior Leadership Team consists of Keith Hilsgen (Vice President, Finance), Ellen Schwartz (Vice President, Sales & Marketing), Greg Rosicky (Vice President, Operations), Carisa Malanum (Vice President, Event Services), Ruben Lechuga (Director, Security) and Angela Baker (Director, Human Resources).

“We’re excited for this next chapter at the Convention Center and hope this will bring more conventions and visitors to improve Los Angeles’ economy," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Gessner, who joined AEG Facilities more than a year ago and will continue to serve as the company’s Vice President of Convention Centers, will now additionally be responsible for the overall day-to-day management and oversight of the overall management, including booking and operations of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Gessner, who brings more than 35 years of experience to his new position, most recently served for six years as the General Manager of the San Diego Convention Center.

Hilsgen joins the LACC as Vice President of Finance after serving as the head of accounting and finance as part of the opening team of AEG Facilities’ Barclays Center in Brooklyn. As an employee of AEG for the past eight years, he has also worked as the lead in finance and accounting in Minneapolis at the Target Center. Hilsgen will be responsible for all finance and accounting items, policies and procedures and recommend measures to improve program operations.

With more than 30 years of experience in the trade show and event management industry, Ellen Schwartz steps into the role of Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Schwartz comes to the LACC from her prior role of Senior Director at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center and Director of Sales at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Schwartz will manage and supervise the LACC sales and marketing teams and work closely with the Los Angeles Tourism Authority sales staff to assist in their efforts of booking citywide conventions and tradeshows.

Serving as Vice President of Event Services, Carisa Malanum joins the LACC team from the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board where she served as Director of Client Services. Prior to her role with LA Tourism, Malanum worked in several capacities at both the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center and the Albuquerque Convention Center. Malanum will be responsible for overseeing and directing event services and managing all necessary staff to provide the best convention and guest experience for LACC clients and their attendees.

Ruben Lechuga, Director of Security & Guest Services, brings an outstanding background in public safety and security to the LACC team. For the last 17 years Lechuga was the Public Safety Manager for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians overseeing both the casino and the reservation.

Angela Baker now serves as Director of Human Resources for the LACC and is responsible for aligning human resource strategies with the business objectives of the LACC in addition to providing assistance to management and employees to develop integrated solutions. Baker has more than 17 years of experience in human resources in the luxury hotel industry.

“Combining Brad’s leadership and the experienced team now in place with the ongoing evolution and growth of downtown Los Angeles will truly have a positive effect in further establishing the Los Angeles Convention Center as the region’s premier convention destinations,” said Bob Newman, President, AEG Facilities. “The combination of location, amenities and services that the Los Angeles Convention Center now provides to conventions of all sizes truly makes it the industry’s finest.”