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As Senior Vice President for Global Spectrum, Mr. Russo’s responsibilities include worldwide development of private management contracts for civic and convention centers, arenas, stadiums and other public assembly facilities. Mr. Russo brings to Global Spectrum over thirty years experience in the fields of municipal and facility management. Prior to joining Global Spectrum he held the position of Vice President of Sales and Client Services for Ogden Entertainment. During his tenure Ogden Entertainment increased its client list from 12 to 70 managed venues worldwide. Russo also served simultaneously as Ogden’s Vice President of International Operations with oversight responsibilities for the following venues; Manchester Evening News Arena Manchester, England, Newcastle Arena, Newcastle, England, Millwall Stadium, London, England, Arena Oberhausen, Oberhausen, Germany, Music City, Brussels, Belgium, Stadium Australia (now Telstra Stadium), Sydney, Brisbane Entertainment Center, Brisbane Convention & Exposition Centre, Cairns Arena & Convention Centre and the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Australia.In 1990 and 1991, respectively, he assumed the added responsibilities for Ogden Entertainment serving as Executive Director of Minneapolis’ 20,000 seat Target Center and Executive Director of New York City’s one million square foot Jacob Javits Convention Center. As the former President of Monitor Productions, Inc., he led this Hartford, Connecticut based company in providing consulting services to public assembly facilities as well as promoting and managing sports and entertainment events, public trade shows, corporately sponsored events, and professional boxing. Mr. Russo spent nine years from 1974-83 as the Executive Director of the Hartford Civic Center with the responsibility for its 16,500-seat coliseum and 95,000 square feet of convention, tradeshow, and meeting space. He scheduled over 600 event days per year, and in his last year with the Center, achieved a $1.2 million operating surplus. During the 1979-1980 periods, Mr. Russo also served as Acting President of the Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau and was named Civil Employee of the Year in 1979 by the Greater Hartford Jaycees. His six years experience in municipal management includes positions as Assistant to the City Manager of Hartford and as a Municipal Services Specialist providing management and financial consulting to various Connecticut cities and towns on behalf of the State of Connecticut Department of Community Affairs. Mr. Russo was designated by the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM) as a Certified Facility Executive (CFE) in 1979. Mr. Russo has been actively involved in several leadership positions with the IAAM including serving as its 1990 Chairman for the Board of Regents, Past Chair of the IAAM Foundation and as an instructor for the IAAM’s School for Public Assembly/Facility Management at Oglebay. Currently, Mr. Russo serves as Chairman of the Body of Knowledge Task Force which was responsible for writing the first official industry text book; Public Assembly Facility Management: Principles and Practices. Mr. Russo is a member of the IAAM’s Board of Education and was the recipient of the IAAM’s prestigious Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Member Award. An educator, author and public speaker, Mr. Russo has shared his considerable knowledge and experience with diverse audiences. He taught a course in Public Assembly Facility Management as an adjunct professor for the Departments of Sports Studies at the University of Massachusetts and University of Connecticut. He has also provided consulting services to several cities and civic centers on Downtown Economic Development, Market Studies and Surveys, Construction and Renovation, and the overall operation, management and organization of public assembly facilities. Mr. Russo received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from St. Michael’s College, Vermont in 1968 and his Master of Arts Degree in Public Administration from the University of Connecticut in 1969. He and his wife, Andrea, reside in Glastonbury, CT and have two daughters, Gina and Kara and two grandchildren, Steven and Nicholas. |
