POSITION OVERVIEW

GREATER NEWARK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU PRESIDENT & CEO (NEWARK, )

THE CITY ATHE CITY AND DESTINATION

Newark, America’s third oldest city, has a great history, a dynamic present, and an exciting future. The city is increasingly a corporate center, with Panasonic USA joining the ranks of Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, PSE&G, NJ Transit, Panasonic, Audible and Prudential as major business organizations with headquarters here. And with six college campuses, Newark is proud to host more students than Cambridge, Massachusetts, in some of the most diverse and respected universities in the nation.

Located just 8 short miles from New York City, Newark offers quick and easy access with dozens of transportation options to choose from. Newark Liberty International Airport, welcoming over 35 million travelers per year, is just a ten-minute drive from downtown and can be reached via AirTrain, Amtrak, NJ Transit bus or taxi.

Being a transportation hub, you can get you anywhere you need to go. New York City can be easily reached in 20 minutes or less by subway(PATH), train (NJ Transit or Amtrak) or one of the many buses (NJ Transit, Bolt, Greyhound) servicing the area. Take the light rail to explore around town, or set off on foot and mess around in Newark's urban playground.

REVITALIZATION

As one of the country’s most accessible cities, Newark is capitalizing on the suburban to urban trend by touting its metropolitan area location, expansive transportation network, outstanding telecom infrastructure, proximity to talented workforce and its own wealth of cultural and entertainment offerings. In 2016, Newark marks its 350th anniversary with events and activities that look back upon its historic past while celebrating the City’s current transformation as a live- work-play destination.

Recently, the first two new downtown hotels in 40 years were opened and five more are in the pipeline. Prudential Financial cut the ribbon on its new 400,000 sf office tower last year and Audible has grown from 150 to nearly 800 employees since its 2007 move to Newark. A $50 million venture fund and accelerator, Newark Venture Partners, has been established in downtown to take advantage of the extensive, lightning fast fiber network.

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS | SearchWide Position Overview

www.searchwide.com Page 1 of 8

Hundreds of residential units have been added downtown with the building of Teachers Village and additional rehabilitation of historic buildings into luxury apartments and retail space. One of the most ambitious of these projects, opening in 2017, is the conversion of the massive Hahne & Co. department store into 160 apartments and more than 200,000 sf of commercial space that includes Whole Foods. The City’s higher education community is expanding with Rutgers-Newark’s recent opening of graduate student housing at 15 Washington Street and its Express Newark project in the Hahne’s project that will include an arts incubator, communications media center, print shop, portrait studio, lecture hall and gallery space as well as the university’s Institute of Jazz Studies. New Jersey Institute of Technology is building a new 200,000 sf multi-purpose events center and has a comprehensive plan to redevelop the Martin Luther King Boulevard corridor with its Gateway project.

With proud residents, enthusiastic civic leadership and a strong business community, Newark’s revitalization is no longer just a dream, it is happening in a big way.

NEWARK ATTRACTIONS

The Ironbound A culinary adventure waits just steps from Newark Penn Station. The Ironbound exudes old world style, a picturesque place on the banks of the Passaic River. It is a district renowned for its Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian fare and the place to be seen once the sun sets.

Bounded by railroad tracks, the Ironbound earned its name for its proximity to foundries, it was a mecca for manufacturing in the 19th and 20th centuries, bringing an influx of immigration, saloons, breweries and gathering spots. Today the Ironbound District is home to over 170 restaurants, unique markets, European stores, sports memorabilia shops, and small cafes all contained within a four square mile radius. It is a stone’s throw from several major sports and entertainment venues, NJPAC, Red Bull Arena and Prudential Center making it an ideal location pre or post event time.

Rev your engines at Teixeira’s Bakery with a steaming hot cup of galão, a revitalizing espresso and foamed milk beverage. Need to dunk? A pasteis de nata, egg custard tart, or broa, a Portuguese corn bread always make a splash.

Outdoor adventurers can take a stroll along Newark’s Riverfront Park; the vibrant orange walkway offers fantastic views of the Passaic River. Summertime, stretch for outdoor yoga, see a movie under the stars, catch a boat tour or rent a kayak and explore more.

Carnivores, stock up on sausages with a Presidential pedigree. Lopes Sausage Co. purveyors of chorizo and linguiça (chorizo's less spicy cousin), have supp ied the White House with delicious smoked meats...and yes, they'll ship it to your house too. Need immediate gratification? Satiate your craving for grilled meats at Fernandes Steak House, known for their Rodizio. Looking for a quick and easy meal, try on Ferry Street Barbecue for smoky succulent Portuguese style BBQ. Count the stars, D'Artagnan supplies all of NYC's 4 star restaurants with gastronomic delights. From foie gras, game meat, organic poultry, pâtés, truffles and sausages, it's Newark's finest meat market offering a farm to table experience.

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS | SearchWide Position Overview

www.searchwide.com Page 2 of 8

Find frozen bliss at Nasto’s Ice Cream has been serving up homemade premium ice cream and old world desserts since 1939. Their tartufo is not to be missed.

Looking for the perfect gem? Stop in at one of the two Vinhas Jewelry stores and pick up beautiful filigree pendants, watches, precious metals and sparkling stones. Prefer a taste of the Old World? Head to Lisbon Wines & Liquors for the areas largest selection of Port; with rare bottles dating back to the early 1900’s. They specialize in wines from Portugal and offer periodic seminars and tastings.

To truly savor the Ironbound, one must embark on a seafood exploration. At Seabra Marisquieria find contentment in Frutos Do Mar, a gigantic platter festooned lobster, crab, shrimp, clams and oysters…you’ll need a lot of friends to finish. Try a fresh fish dish at Fornos of Spain, or tackle classic Basque dishes like Bacalao at Casa Vasca. Looking for something on the lighter side? Mompou and Catas offer tempting tapas, served in stylish surrounds.

If its sizzling nightlife you’re after, the Ironbound is the place to be. Take on the retro style illuminated floors at Adega Lounge where DJ’s spin an eclectic mix of Latin rhythms. You’ll feel like a real VIP at Vivo where you can enjoy bottle service and huge dance floor. Looking for a unique experience? Every Thursday night the über artsy Hell’s Kitchen Lounge unleashes Brick City Burlesque, an ode to a bygone era with barebacked babes, glitz and glamour. Out late? Find refreshments at Andros Diner serving up comfort food 24 hours a day.

Shopping Stock up in Newark and save. From quirky shops, vintage couture, to markets with a European flair, Newark’s got what you are looking for. Hit the Nike or Gap Factory outlets downtown, explore Eastern curiosities; Luxe Boutiques, skate shop culture, haberdasheries, purveyors of fine menswear and even a historic general store. TM Ward has been serving up fresh roast coffee beans since 1869; the store is filled with candy-coated goodness, gadgets, nuts and dried fruits. The Mills at Jersey Gardens, located just minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport happens to be NJ's largest premium outlet mall with over 200 stores under one roof. There is no sales tax on clothing or shoes, so let the savings begin And only 3.5 % state sales tax (50% off) on everything else at The Mills.

Sports and Recreation Get in the game. Goals will be scored, risks will be taken, cheers rise as the outcome teeters. We're on the edge of victory. A palpable energy runs deep, propelling all to achieve the impossible. Root for our home teams, the New Jersey Devils NHL hockey, New York Red Bulls MLS soccer and Seton Hall NCAA basketball will battle for glory. You're invited to attend our happenings, our showdowns, bouts, and expositions. Great events happen daily.

Action adventurers will find endless thrills in this urban playground. Strategies will be tested at our paintball and laser tag facility. Play with fire and molten matter as you delve into the ancient art of glassblowing. Hit the ice for a Devilishly good time at the Barnabas Health Hockey House. Roll back in time to the last urban roller rink located in Branch Brook Park. Strike a yogic pose, try on outdoor Zumba, or super-size your cinematic experience in Shaq DX. Perfect your patterns;

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS | SearchWide Position Overview

www.searchwide.com Page 3 of 8

dance moves the Ironbound all night long. Take to our courts, our fields, our boardwalks, or slow it down with a stroll through our rich verdant gardens. Every day, in every corner of Newark, something is going on.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) One of the largest and most glamorous performing arts centers in the nation, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center hosts world-class dance, theater, music, poetry and comedic performances. Enjoy the innovative stylings of the Grammy Award-winning New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, proud to call NJPAC it home. Get in the groove with NJPAC's free summertime concert series, Horizon Sounds of the City, don't miss a beat at Dorthaan's Place a Jazz brunch series, be amazed by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, mix it up at the TD Democracy of Jazz Festival or the Dodge Poetry Festival.

Prudential Hall: 2,800-seat hall arranged in four horseshoe-shaped tiers, with boxes and the orchestra seating. Victoria Theatre: 514-seat smaller theater. The Chase Room: Home to center's cabaret performance series, bi-annual hip hop festival, and spoken word series. Horizon Theater: 88-seat black box theater.

Prudential Center Rock the house with legendary artists like Jay Z, Radiohead, Bruno Mars, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift and . McDonald's Gospelfest, the nation's largest gospel music competition, happens yearly. Family friendly fun happens with great entertainment for kids of all ages. Enjoy performances from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live, and the Harlem Globetrotters. Prudential Center welcomes over 2 million visitors a year for both sports and entertainment! It's among the finest arenas in the country and has ranked among the highest grossing arenas worldwide by Billboard Prudential Center is located just two short blocks away from Newark Penn Station.

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS | SearchWide Position Overview

www.searchwide.com Page 4 of 8

Red Bull Arena Join the stampede to Red Bull Arena for an MLS Soccer showdown. The New York Red Bulls are one of 19 teams that comprise the top-flight professional soccer league in the - Major League Soccer. The NYRB went on to capture the 2015 Supporters' Shield earning the best record in the league. Red Bull Arena has quickly established itself as one of the finest soccer facilities in North America. In addition to New York Red Bulls matches, the Arena has hosts a number of international friendlies, NCAA, and high school soccer games.

Newark Symphony Hall Built in 1925, this majestic theater has dazzled audiences with symphonic performances, ballet, opera, theater groups, and popular music. Legendary artists like Gershwin, Patti LaBelle, The Rolling Stones, and the O'Jays have taken the stage. Acoustically, the concert hall is considered by many to be one of the finest on the East Coast. Today, Newark Symphony Hall continues to host a variety of performances, as well as game night and line dancing. Stop in to see the splendor.

Newark Museum The Newark Museum, established as the largest New Jersey museum, invites you to enjoy unforgettable experiences in the arts and natural sciences. Take an inspirational journey through 80 galleries of world-class collections including American, Asian, African and Classical. Experience another era in the Victorian Ballantine House—a National Historic Landmark. Enjoy our exciting science collections and space travel in our popular planetarium. Get hands on, with great kids workshops, interactive galleries and science labs. Stroll through our beautiful sculpture garden, visit our museum shops and enjoy a delicious lunch or snack at our café. For more than 40 years, the Newark Museum has presented all- star lineups of jazz greats during its annual Jazz in the Garden Summer Concert Series.

Branch Brook Park Branch Brook Park is an American treasure! With over 5,300 cherry trees...that's 1000 more than Washington DC, but who's counting. It was designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead in 1900 (NYC's Central Park). The cherry trees were the inspiration of Caroline Bamberger Fuld, the sister of department store magnate Louis Bamberger, who first brought cherry blossoms to Newark. Through her efforts, 2,050 trees that were planted in Branch Brook Park in 1926. There are 14 varieties of cherry blossoms...which have come to be known as Cherryblossomland. The park is a national landmark, distinguished by being the first county park to be opened for public use in the United States. It has earned the American Planning Association's top honor as their Great Places list in 2013.

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS | SearchWide Position Overview

www.searchwide.com Page 5 of 8

HOTELS

Newark has been welcoming visitors since the opening of its first hotel back in 1670. Today you can enjoy luxe boutique hotels, hotels with Presidential pedigrees, value stays, treasured name brands, along with modern stylish suites and rooftop bars. Newark offers New York City fun. The Hilton Newark Penn Station rises above downtown and helps to define the city skyline. The Courtyard by Marriott, located next to the Prudential Center, boasts 150-rooms and has 14,000 square feet of ground floor retail space, and 3,000 square feet of conference space. Nearby is Hotel Indigo, a 110-room boutique style hotel located just a block from the Prudential Center inside an historic bank building. Sleep soundly knowing you are a stone’s throw away from Newark Liberty International Airport – our hotels offer up an easy commute to wherever you need to be.

ABOUT THE GREATER NEWARK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU (GNCVB)

We are committed to promoting and marketing the assets of the region generating economic development and creating new jobs by increasing the length of stay at area hotels, increase per capita spending in the tourism sector, as well as attracting new events, meetings and conferences to the region.

Our Board of Directors is comprised of tourism professionals and key industry leaders.The GNCVB was the first Destination Marketing Organization in the state of New Jersey to establish a Tourism Improvement District, collecting a 1.5% per room night assessment on overnight stays, with funds going to GNCVB for marketing and promotion of the destination.

The GNCVB began as an incubator program under the leadership of Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NewarkCEDC) formerly known as Brick City Development Corporation (BCDC) in 2008. They recognized that Newark stood to generate significant economic revenue for the city through tourism, by promoting the destination, increasing hotel occupancy, attracting meeting and conventions, and ultimately changing the national perception of the destination. Newark CEDC engaged well-regarded Newark area organizations to help steer the tourism efforts, forming an advisory council, which undertook the mission of identifying and advocating for a self-sustaining funding source.

For more information about the Greater Newark CVB, please visit the official website: http://www.newarkhappening.com

For more information about the Newark community, events and economic development, please visit: http://www.newarkpulse.com/ http://newarkcedc.org/

POSITION SUMMARY

Job Title: President & CEO Reports To: Board Chair, Executive Committee and Board of Directors (BOD)

Directs and leads organization in pursuit of mission and objectives set forth by the Board of Directors (BOD). Works directly with/takes direction from the BOD on policy making, strategy and operations for organization in all areas of responsibility. Acts as primary spokesperson for organization.

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS | SearchWide Position Overview

www.searchwide.com Page 6 of 8

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

. Collaboratively develops and implements an annual operating and marketing plan to promote the greater Newark destination to local, state, regional, national and international visitor audiences. . Establishes and maintains ongoing effective communications, collaborative activities, partnerships and favorable relations with BOD, members, government leaders (in particular the Mayor and Municipal Council), business and cultural institution leaders, convention and event planners, and the local tourism industry. Works cohesively and collaboratively with the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Cultural Development and Tourism. . Attends selected local, state, regional and national conventions, meetings and trade shows to represent GNCVB and foster the advancement of the Bureau's mission. . Develops and maintains effective organizational policies and ensures all Bureau activities are implemented within these established policies, guidelines, laws and ethical standards. . Selects, trains, supervises and evaluates assigned personnel in compliance with organizational policies and procedures; oversees implementation of coaching, mentoring, discipline and termination procedures for staff members as appropriate. . Establishes goals for individual departments in consultation with the BOD/Executive Committee and assists staff in order to meet those goals. . Engages in advocacy activities at the local, state and national level in professional and political arenas. Ensures that the organization is represented on various industry stakeholder boards. . Coordinates and attends all meetings of the membership, the Board and other designated committees in an advisory, non-voting capacity. . Oversees and engages as appropriate in all administrative, operating, sales, fundraising and marketing functions of the Bureau. . Responsible for the development of budgets, financial reports, internal controls and annual audit reports in accordance with sound financial practices, appropriate bookkeeping, recordkeeping and accounting procedures.

President/CEO sought to lead convention and visitors’ bureau with $1,500,000+ budget and a five-person staff in resurgent, vibrant, culturally diverse urban destination proximate to the NYC market.

The organization is seeking a leader who:

1. Has an understanding of or experience in an inner city urban market like Newark. 2. Develops and builds on collaborative relationships. 3. Possesses strong interpersonal skills. 4. Has experience in leveraging strategic sponsorships and fundraising. 5. Has experience working with government, business and non-profit partners 6. Is well versed in state-of-the-art digital marketing technology, platforms and techniques. 7. Has successfully developed and implemented sustainable economic development strategies centered on the hospitality industry and tourism.

REQUIREMENTS

. Destination Marketing Organization leadership and marketing experience (3-year minimum). . 4-year college degree and/or commensurate experience in leadership roles within destination marketing. . Impeccable fiscal, marketing and sales management experience.

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS | SearchWide Position Overview

www.searchwide.com Page 7 of 8

PRIORITIES FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS

1. Establish communication with City and stakeholders on the potential of developing a Convention Center in Newark. 2. Communicate with city staff stakeholders about how they see the CVB being a driving force for tourism in the city. 3. Create a strategic plan for the CVB. 4. Work with staff to put a plan together for each area (sales, marketing, IT). 5. Develop sponsorship plans that will create partnership opportunities, enhance the destination and supplement revenue.

If you are interested in this position, please respond via e-mail with cover letter, resume, and compensation information to the following SearchWide Executive:

Jim Carra, Executive Vice President | SearchWide www.searchwide.com | [email protected] 231-995-0567 (direct) | 231-944-4445 (mobile)

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS | SearchWide Position Overview

www.searchwide.com Page 8 of 8