SMG, the operator of the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, recently welcomed Renee Browning as Assistant General Manager and promoted Ashley York to Director of Event Services at the 600,000-square-foot multipurpose facility.

Assistant General Manager Renee Browning

With more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Browning joins the Convention Center from Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Ala., where she served as Assistant Director of Sales. In her new position, she will oversee sales initiatives between the Convention Center and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Conventions & Visitors Bureau.

Browning is a returning team member of SMG, having previously overseen the sales and marketing initiatives for 17 facilities in SMG’s Convention Center Division as Regional Director of Sales and Marketing.

“Renee’s extensive experience in the meetings and conventions industry is an undeniable asset for our team,” said Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center General Manager Mark Gatley. “We are excited to welcome Renee to Fort Lauderdale and look forward to sharing many successes.”

Browning is a graduate of Northwestern State University. She served on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Travel Council and Southeast International Association of Exhibitions and Events. She resides in Fort Lauderdale with her golden retrievers, Thor and Max.

Director of Event Services Ashley York

Ashley York joined the SMG team as an event manager in 2012, working her way up the ranks to Senior Event Manager in 2017. In her new position as Director of Event Services, she will lead a team of four event managers, oversee event planning processes and logistics for a variety of large-scale clients, and ensure the success of meetings and conventions hosted at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.

“Ashley navigates her leadership role with skillfulness and poise beyond her years. Her colleagues continue to be inspired by her enthusiasm and commitment to making our facility one of the most sought-after destinations for meeting planners around the world. We’re truly lucky to have her,” Gatley said.

With more than 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, York has managed event services at the Littlejohn Coliseum at Clemson University, Clemson University Conference Center & Inn, the Palm Beach County Convention Center and the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM).

She is currently enrolled in IAVM’s Venue Management School (VMS), one of the best professional education programs available for venue managers. The VMS program spans two years and the curriculum covers event management, marketing and advertising, crowd management, the guest experience, leadership and image, cost control, risk management and insurance and strategic business planning. She will graduate from the VMS program this year.

York earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Clemson University and resides in Fort Lauderdale.

For more information about the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, visit www.ftlauderdalecc.com.

About SMG

Celebrating its 40th anniversary and founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to 233 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theaters, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, 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 in New Orleans. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering companies, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com.