SALT LAKE CITY, January 19, 2012 -- Following 13 years overseeing the management and operation of Salt Lake's Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center and South Towne Exposition Center, Allyson Jackson is going home, returning to Georgia's Jekyll Island and trading her Salt Lake SMG responsibilities for those of the Jekyll Island Convention Center, also managed by SMG. SMG, the world leader in venue management, is actively pursuing a replacement to fill Jackson's sizeable shoes, and is confident that no incoming meeting, convention or event will encounter any interruption in service at either the Salt Palace or South Towne.
"The success of our convention center has been impressive, especially when you consider how much construction the facility experienced during multiple expansions," said Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon. "Credit for managing such a successful facility belongs to Allyson and her wonderful southern charm. She will indeed be missed."
"The decision to move back to Georgia was difficult and is genuinely bittersweet," said Jackson. "I've made great friends and have a wonderful team here in Salt Lake, and I've truly enjoyed all we've accomplished. But the opportunity to return to my home town, close to my family, while also remaining with SMG, is just something I need to do at this time. I'm looking forward to being back in the south and reconnecting with the community in which I grew up."
During her tenure in Salt Lake, Jackson excelled in facility and construction management, community and client relations, strategic planning and employee relations. She oversaw community relations during the 1999 Salt Palace expansion; launched the sales and marketing efforts for the South Towne Exposition Center, completed in 2000; and acted as project liaison between Salt Lake County and the architectural design firm and general contractor for the second expansion of the Salt Palace, completed on time in 2006 and within budget.
"The Salt Lake hospitality industry, and the community as a whole, owes Allyson a large debt of gratitude," commented Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake. "From the exceptional team she built to her management and leadership skills, Allyson is leaving a legacy that will benefit meetings, conventions and events coming to Salt Lake for years to come."
Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. Visit Salt Lake's mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors while being a leader in environmental responsibility. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to http://www.visitsaltlake.com/.
SMG, the world leader in venue management, marketing and development, was founded in 1977 with the management of its first facility, the Louisiana Superdome. SMG soon grew to manage convention centers, exhibition halls and trade centers, arenas, stadiums, performing arts centers, theaters and specific-use venues such as equestrian centers. SMG's clients benefit from the company's depth of resources and its unparalleled expertise, leadership and creative problem-solving. Its successful growth has been built on the many partnerships, relationships and resources it has developed with clients - both municipal and private. This unique combination of resources, relationships and expertise has allowed SMG to define and refine the industry throughout its history. SMG's ownership and team of dedicated corporate support personnel make it unrivalled in the field of private facility management.