The conference board will select a new executive director

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Board voted Monday to appoint Marcel Vernon Sr. to lead the quasi-public agency into its next chapter, choosing the Chief Financial Officer of a Boston-based social services organization with experience in state government over a leader from Washington DC. convention center authority.

The board voted 12-0 Monday afternoon to tap Vernon after conducting final interviews with the two finalists in a public meeting.

The search for a new leader to take over the agency has lasted nearly a year after former executive director David Gibbons resigned last November.

Vernon is the CFO and senior vice president of finance at Boston-based Bay Cove Human Services. During deliberations over who should lead the agency, a number of board members cited Vernon’s established connections in the Boston area and relationship with the local community as its strengths.

He also served as CFO at the state Department of Finance and led finance at the Trial Courts and the Office of Court Management beginning in 2018.

The board voted for Vernon over the other finalist, Hootan Kaboli. Kaboli is senior vice president of operations at Events DC, the authority that organizes conferences, entertainment, sports and cultural events in the nation’s capital. According to his LinkedIn, he has been with the organization for eight years and has held various positions.

“What strikes me most about Marcel is the local connection, right? He has experience here in Massachusetts and has connections to people and some experience working in the state in a number of different roles. So for me, I think this is particularly notable because we’re bringing someone into this, into this role who is so deeply entrenched in the community, and a kind of person who we know needs to rebuild trust in many ways. board member Ashley Groffenberger.

The quasi-public agency responsible for an $845 million economic impact in the Boston and Springfield areas has struggled with its public image in recent years as issues related to racial discrimination, a supposedly opaque process of dealing with state discrimination. owned land, and a new state audit that claims it was “the choice when it was convenient or not convenient” to follow state law and internal policies regarding public records, procurement and settlement agreements.

The search for a new Executive Director has been seen as an opportunity to deliver a new direction to the organization, with a greater emphasis on prioritizing inclusivity and equality within the 400+ employee organization.

Between 2010 and 2013, Vernon served as CFO of Elite Prototype Athletics, a sports and recreation complex in Brooklyn, NY. Vernon moved to Massachusetts with his wife and children in 2013, he said. In his interview, he highlighted his involvement with Men Organizing for Support and Strength in Dorchester, which he said helps create business opportunities in underrepresented communities.

“Transformation” was a recurring theme Vernon brought up during his final, in-person interview with the 12-member board on Monday afternoon in Boston.

After saying that he “brings results-oriented experiences and transformation… to the table,” he added: “I’m not saying there needs to be a transformation here. But you know, I definitely think I can be an agent of change to really help the authority get to the next level of success.”

Although he has no direct experience with congressional authorities, board members said they believed his work experience was transferable.

According to his LinkedIn, Vernon spent seven years as a casino finance and operations director for Harrah’s Entertainment, Isle of Capri and Mohegan Sun.

“In the beginning we had no idea how deep the experience Marcel had in the industry. And honestly, it was a big deal for me because I was in the industry,” said Cindy Brown, CEO of Boston’s Duck Tours. “But once we spoke to him in detail about the hands-on work he has done in casinos and hotels, which can essentially serve as conference centers, I was blown away by the experience he has.”

During his interview, Kaboli made a point to highlight his “direct” and “instantly transferable” skills, currently serving as senior vice president of operations at one of MCCA’s conference competitors.

He said he negotiates directly with unions, has built a workforce culture at Events DC, manages $30 million in internal sales and attracts external sales to the convention center, and works with local government for financing and approvals where necessary – noting that many of these responsibilities would be transferable to the Massachusetts job.

However, Sheena Collier, who led the board’s search efforts, said industry knowledge was “a plus… this is a broader role than that.”

“For me, Marcel is going to bring unity back to this Convention Center,” said Aisha Miller, who co-chaired the search committee with Collier.

The executive director position comes with a salary of $250,000 to $320,000, per job opening with contracted search firm Koya Partners.

— Sam Drysdale / State House News Service