Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center Welcome Devon Shaughnessy as Director of Finance
The Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center are proud to announce Devon Shaughnessy as their new Director of Finance, stepping into this position following Josh Ambrose’s promotion to General Manager.
Devon joined the team as Finance Manager in February 2025, focusing on improving financial visibility, internal controls, and alignment across departments. In his previous position, Devon standardized financial reporting, processes, and tools, identified and resolved contract discrepancies, supported event financial projections, and strengthened cost tracking and accountability through improved record-keeping systems.
Education and Experience
Shaughnessy holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Purdue University and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, providing a foundation in economic analysis, financial modeling, and strategic thinking. His professional experience includes time at Goldman Sachs, where he developed analytical rigor and problem-solving skills, diagnosing complex financial issues, managing risk, and implementing structured solutions under high-performance expectations.
“My time at Goldman Sachs was foundational in developing disciplined financial analysis and troubleshooting skills,” Devon says. “Working in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment taught me how to break down complex problems, identify root causes, and implement practical solutions. At the Salt Palace, applying those skills while balancing operational realities with financial stewardship has prepared me to lead finance strategically.”
Leadership Approach
Devon describes his leadership style as collaborative, analytical, and solutions-oriented. He sets clear expectations, encourages ownership, and uses data to guide decisions. Shaughnessy understands that finance works best when it partners closely with operations, sales, and event teams through open communication. His goal is to create an environment where the finance team feels empowered, supported, and accountable.
"I'm committed to transparency, collaboration, and long-term thinking," says Devon. "My goal is to support our teams by providing clarity, structure, and strong financial guidance so they can focus on delivering world-class events."
Vision for the Venues
As Director of Finance, Devon will strengthen financial systems, improve forecasting and reporting, and support long-term sustainability for both venues. He plans to expand automation and system integration, enhance forecasting and financial modeling, and improve cross-department collaboration. These efforts will reduce manual processes, better support booking strategy and capital planning, and help teams understand how decisions impact overall performance.
“Finance plays a critical role beyond reporting numbers,” Devon explains. He and his team ensure both venues remain financially strong, competitive, and self-sustaining, which directly supports tourism, job creation, and local economic growth. Strong financial stewardship enables reinvestment in facilities, systems, and people, benefiting the entire community and supporting Salt Lake County’s broader economic objectives.
"Looking ahead, my vision is to use more automation in our daily operations, make more decisions based on data, and build better systems that help our teams work faster and smarter," Devon shares. "My goal is to continue modernizing how we operate while setting the organization up for long-term success."
Shaughnessy is excited for this opportunity to build on the strong foundation already in place and help guide the next phase of growth. As these two venues play a major role in Salt Lake County's economy, being part of the leadership team responsible for their financial strength and long-term success is both energizing and meaningful to Devon. He is particularly excited about using technology and improved processes to modernize how the venues manage finances and continue delivering exceptional operations.
"I believe our continued success depends on teamwork across departments and strong partnerships within the community. I look forward to working closely with staff, partners, and stakeholders as we continue building on the momentum already underway."