Who’s News in Special Events for March 5, 2020

Chicago-based One Smooth Stone, a PRA events and communication agency, has named Florence Nalepka vice president of business development, with responsibility for new business opportunities for the company as well as its event and content strategy, creative communications, and event production services.

San Diego-based ACCESS, included on the latest Special Events “25 Top DMCs” list, has announced its acquisition of CLI Groups, a Las Vegas-based DMC. The CLI team will become part of the existing ACCESS Las Vegas team, which has been in operation since 2006. CLI Groups founder and president Renee Kim, CMP, will take on the role of managing director for ACCESS Las Vegas.

Big foodservice contractor Centerplate has named Gregory Pittman executive chef at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Nashville, Tenn.-based Groups360, an online marketplace for meetings, has expanded its leadership team with the addition of Chris Cigna—former MGM Resorts executive director of sales—as its newest vice president of sales, leading the company’s sales efforts in the West and Midwest regions of the U.S.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, located in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., has announced Kathleen Bernesby as director of sales for the entire complex. She will lead the sales team in conjunction with the director of sales and marketing for the 2,270-room resort with 333,000 square feet of meeting space, including the resort’s upcoming expansion--The Cove at the Walt Disney World Swan--a 349-room, 14-story tower scheduled to open in 2021.

Los Angeles-based OLS Hotels and Resorts, a hotel management company comprising custom independent and branded properties, has named Jade Hammond as its Hawaii director of sales and marketing. In her role, Hammond will plan and implement sales and marketing strategy for OLS Hotels and Resorts’ nine properties throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

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