Spectra Announces New Hires and Promotions for the Owensboro Convention Center and Owensboro Sportscenter

Spectra, the providers of Venue Management to the Owensboro Convention Center and the Owensboro Sportscenter is pleased to announce some promotions and welcome new members to their Owensboro team.

Jessica Wilson Beckmann has been promoted to Assistant General Manager of the Owensboro Sportscenter.  She was born and raised in Owensboro, Kentucky, a graduate of Daviess County High School (2005), and a KWC Lady Panther Basketball Alumni (2005-2007). Jessica graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a Bachelors in Business Administration, specializing in Sports Management and Marketing. She has attained the designation of Certified Event Management Expert (CEME), is a Graduate of Venue Management School (VMS), and achieved the Certified Venue Professional (CVP) designation from the International Association of Venue Managers. She joined the team in Owensboro as the Director of the Sportscenter in October of 2018. Over the past 10 years, Jessica worked in the St. Louis area managing events at a variety of venues including a casino, convention center, ballpark, and arena.

“I accepted the Director role almost a year and a half ago, to gain the opportunity to invest my passion and experience in an arena that was a second home to me growing up in Owensboro. The Owensboro Sportscenter is nostalgic for me.  My family history is tied to this building, the tenants, and this city.  Working back in Owensboro has allowed me to reconnect with family.  I enjoy seeing former coaches, teammates (and even rivals), teachers, and classmates from my school days regularly at the Sportscenter. I COULD NOT BE MORE grateful for the promotion to Assistant General Manager and being welcomed back to Owensboro.” Jessica stated.

Cody Thomas has been promoted to Senior Event Manager/Interim Director of Events. Cody has been with Spectra since November 2016.  He has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Management from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Western Kentucky University.  His primary responsibilities in his new role will be to oversee the Events department and the general oversight of all events in the convention center.

Brandi Stevens is a Sales Manager on the Spectra team.  With a background of over ten years of sales experience, she oversees booking consumer and trade shows. Also as the Event Producer of one of the largest signature self-promoted shows, the Kraftucky Arts & Crafts Expo, Brandi is currently accepting vendors for the mid-November event.

Mary Midkiff joins the Spectra team as an Event Manager.  She began in the events industry while she was attending college at Murray State University while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Music Business and minor in Business Administration.  She worked for both the CFSB Center as an event staff and for Lovett Auditorium as a house manager from January 2017 – August 2018.  After graduating in August of 2018, she spent a year serving as the intern Event and Conversions Coordinator at the CFSB Center.  Originally from McLean Co., she moved back to the Owensboro area in May of 2019 and became an Event Manager for ASM Global at Old National Events Plaza in Evansville, IN.  Mary says, “I feel very fortunate to be able to play a part in creating memorable experiences for the Owensboro community.”

Brett Shaw also joins the Spectra team as an Event Manager.  A graduate from UNC – Chapel Hill in May 2019 with a Bachelor’s in Sports Administration, he brings 15 years of event experience to his new role, having worked with athletic events, children’s, and ice shows.  He was previously with PNC Arena as the Assistant Operations Manager during the Carolina Hurricanes.  ​A native of Morgantown, WV, Brett has relocated from ​Cary, NC and is looking forward to exploring Owensboro and the surrounding areas.

Emma Fitzgerald is the team’s newest Event Coordinator. She is a recent graduate from the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana with a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Relations and Advertising.  As an Owensboro native, Emma says “I have loved watching our town grow and become a destination for so many different and exciting things.” She looks forward to expanding her events knowledge in this new position and continuing the Owensboro Convention Center’s reputation of excellence.