June 30, 2016
Kate Jackson
The Knoxville Convention Center today announced the promotion of Kate Jackson to the leadership team as the director of event services, making her responsible for overseeing event managers and coordinating scheduling and training of event staff.
“Because of Kate’s hard work and true dedication to meeting our clients’ needs, this promotion to our leadership team is well-deserved,” General Manager Mary Bogert said. “Kate is recognized by her industry peers and coworkers as a proactive go-getter who will go the extra mile every time to ensure guests and meeting planners have a flawless experience at our facility.”
Jackson joined the center’s staff in 2009 as an event manager overseeing international, regional and citywide conferences and conventions; trade and consumer shows; corporate meetings; concerts; sporting events; holiday parties; weddings; and nonprofit galas. She managed some of the center’s largest annual events, including Fantasy of Trees, Destination Imagination, Downtown Knoxville Boat Show and the Knoxville News Sentinel Auto Show. In December 2015, Jackson was promoted to senior event manager.
In 2009, she was awarded the “Friendliest Face” Stars of the Industry Pauly Award from the Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association. In 2011, she was recognized by her Convention Center coworkers as “Leader of the Year.”
Prior to joining the Convention Center team, Jackson spent 10 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry in Charleston, South Carolina, and Knoxville, including roles as bar and sales manager, assistant general manager, server and bartender.
Jackson earned an associate of applied science degree, summa cum laude, in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University in Charleston in 2004. She also earned an associate of applied science degree in hospitality from Pellissippi State Community College in 2004.
She is active in the community, having served as a member of the leadership committee for Young Professionals of Knoxville and as chair for the Martinis & Movies Gala, which benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, for several years. She serves as a mentor through the tnAchieves program and participates annually in the Convention Center’s United Way of Greater Knoxville campaign and was employee campaign coordinator for the center’s 2013 United Way campaign, helping to raise more than $7,100.
Originally born in New York, Jackson has also called home the states of Oregon, Iowa, Illinois and Colorado before settling in Tennessee. She currently resides in West Knoxville with her husband, Chris, and young daughter, Ella.
About the Knoxville Convention Center
The Knoxville Convention Center, managed by SMG, is located in downtown Knoxville adjacent to the Sunsphere. It boasts a 120,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 27,000 square-foot divisible ballroom and up to 25 meeting rooms. For more information, visit http://www.knoxvilleconventioncenter.com.
About SMG
Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theatres, performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, science centers, and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions, catering and special events division, SAVOR, currently servicing 130 accounts worldwide. For more information, visit www.smgworld.com
