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DTO: SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Jennifer Lastik joined the Sports Commission in February of 2007 as the Orange County Sports Marketing Manager and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Events.

In this role, Lastik oversees event logistics for a four-county region and plays an essential role in executing events to enhance Orlando as a sports destination. She has managed local organizing committees for the NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Championship, Copa America Centenario, WrestleMania 33 and MLS All-Star Game. In addition, Lastik manages the state grant program, technology services and the intern program for the company.

Prior to joining GO Sports, Lastik served as an Event Manager for Global Spectrum at the UCF Arena. She managed events including concerts, varsity athletes, family shows and university graduations. Before Global Spectrum, she spent a year with Disney Sports on the 3rd Party Sales and Events team. In this role, Lastik assisted programing and executing events at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex.

Lastik is from Pittsburgh and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management at Slippery Rock University and a Master’s degree in Sport Management from West Virginia University. She currently serves on the Partnership Board of Directors and is a member of Leadership Orlando Class of ’96 and ATHENA NextGen Class of 2016. In addition, she was named to Orlando Business Journal’s Forty under 40 class in 2014 and 2018.

DTO: SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Dr. Eugene Jones, a veteran college administrator with broad experience in workforce learning and outreach to disadvantaged communities, has been named the new executive dean for Valencia College’s downtown campus. Prior to joining Valencia, Jones served as associate vice president for baccalaureate and workforce programs at Lake-Sumter State College. He has also served as dean of the engineering and information technology programs at Broward College in south , and as director of information technology education at Santa Fe College in Gainesville. While in Gainesville, Jones also served as executive director of My Brother’s Keeper, a mentoring program for young African-American men at Santa Fe College. He also served as chairman of the East Gainesville Initiative, where he worked with government officials and business partners to provide computer access and education programs to the residents of East Gainesville. Jones, a Florida native, earned an associate in science degree in computer technology from Santa Fe College. He then went on to the University of Florida, where he completed his bachelor‘s degree in computer science, a master’s degree in workforce education and a doctorate in higher education administration and policy. He will serve as the lead administrator for Valencia operations at the downtown campus that Valencia will share with the University of . The UCF-Valencia downtown campus is scheduled to open for classes in 2019. College officials expect the campus to serve 7,700 students from both institutions. Valencia expects 2,300 students to enroll in its courses downtown. In addition to freshman- and sophomore-level general studies courses, Valencia will offer programs in digital media, health information technology and culinary and hospitality, including workforce training and other certificates to increase access to education in the immediate area. One of the foremost goals for Valencia is to improve the lives of the citizens of Parramore by offering programs and services that will provide significant benefit, including helping people become quickly employable and raising the level of entrepreneurship. Valencia plans to bring accelerated skills training downtown, providing short-term courses in advanced manufacturing, construction, IT coding, healthcare and public service.

DTO: SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Kirk Wingerson is a creative marketing and communications strategist with extensive experience in live entertainment. As the Marketing Division Manager for Orlando Venues, he oversees all branding & communications for the Center and along with the marketing of numerous events presented in those venues. Prior to joining the City of Orlando, he spent five years as Director of National Marketing for Broadway Across America where his diverse responsibilities included overseeing season subscription materials across 40+ markets, establishing branding campaigns and editing the national monthly e-newsletter.

Before joining BAA, Kirk was Senior Director of Marketing at Florida Theatrical Association where he worked for nine years planning, budgeting and implementing marketing and promotional campaigns for season subscriptions and national touring productions.

Kirk is on the Board of Directors for the Church Street District, the Board of Directors for the Event & Arena Marketing Conference where he also serves as vice president of agenda and he is involved with 's Entertainment & Music Business Program Advisory Committee.

Wendy Connor is the fearless leader at Team TRUE - a family of businesses based in downtown Orlando that includes TRUE Marketing, The MEZZ, The Abbey and Shaker’s Bar Catering. The MEZZ and The Abbey are two of the area’s most coveted event spaces. TRUE Marketing houses a comprehensive marketing and public relations consulting team, graphic design department, social marketing strategy team and full service, in-house video production.

In addition, Connor is the Chairman of the Downtown Development board, president of the Thornton Park Main Street District Board of Directors, executive board member for New Hope For Kids, board member for See Art Orlando, and served on local organizing committees for NCAA March Madness, WrestleMania 33 and the Social Engagement Committee for the EDC.

Kevin Brown is the Booking & Revenue Development Division Manager which includes Amway Center, Camping World Stadium and . Brown will focus on developing and executing booking and sales strategies to secure a variety of sporting events, concerts, music festivals, family shows and community events for these three venues. Not only will Brown be responsible for maintaining current relationships with various promoters, he will be charged with cultivating new opportunities which play a vital role in generating revenue for Orlando Venues while also negotiating venue contractual terms with promoters.

Prior to joining Orlando Venues, Brown was the senior talent buyer for House of Blues New Orleans and, before that, a booker with Live Nation Worldwide. Earlier in his career, he was a talent booker and social media manager for the Orlando Calling Music Festival, a partnership between Festival Republic, LTD. and Live Nation. Upon graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing, Brown began his career with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment in Los Angeles as a music agent assistant.

George Maltezos, Beacham / Social Entrepreneur has 30 plus years’ experience in the hospitality entertainment business. Concepts including a variety of Nightclubs, Bars, Comedy Clubs, Live music venues, and Restaurants. Past concepts of Maltezos include Park Avenue Nightclub, Bonkerz Comedy Clubs, JJ Whispers, Zuma Beach Club, Tabu, Mojo Bar and Grill. His most recently projects include The Beacham, The Social, Aero, 64 North, The Patio, Jungle Room, Harry Buffalo. Maltezos is proudly a Co-Founder and board member of Church Street District Mainstreet as well as a board member for City of Orlando Nighttime Economy Committee.

Craig Borkon is the Assistant Director of Orlando Venues, the City of Orlando department that owns and operates the Amway Center, Camping World Stadium, Leu Gardens and Mennello Museum. In this role, Borkon acts as the liaison to Venues partners including the , Florida Citrus Sports, Central Florida Sports Commission and Orlando City Soccer while also working on special projects including the stadium reconstruction, bid submissions and contract negotiation. Borkon serves as the City of Orlando’s point person on major sporting events such as the NFL Pro Bowl, NCAA Basketball, WrestleMania and the 2026 World Cup Bid.

Prior to joining the Orlando Venues staff, Borkon was president of CB Consulting, a political and public relations consulting firm where he worked on a variety of campaigns throughout the state of Florida for corporations, nonprofit organization and politicians. Before starting his consulting business in 2010, Borkon worked in politics, the business sector and ran a non- profit conflict resolution program in the Palm Beach County school system.

Borkon currently serves on several boards including Florida Citrus Sports and Central Florida Sports Commission. Borkon was recognized as the City of Orlando Employee of the year in 2014, and in 2016 was named one of Orlando Business Journal’s ―40 under 40‖ class. A native of New Jersey, Borkon attended the University of Central Florida