UPDATED: Webb leaves Sanford Center helm: Cronin named new Executive Director of Bemidji arena
BEMIDJI -- The next few weeks will be a time of transition for Curtis Webb and the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
On Monday, Webb announced that he’s resigning as executive director at the Sanford Center to take a new job at the US Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, Ill. Despite the move, though, Webb's new position will still be with VenuWorks, the firm the city of Bemidji contracts with to manage the Sanford Center.
"It's kind of a bittersweet move on my part," said Webb, who took over as executive director in January 2013. "It's mainly a personal move on my part, but this is such a phenomenal city."
Webb said his transfer to Bloomington has been in the works for a little more than a week. VenuWorks has tapped Mike Cronin, Sanford Center director of operations, to take over the executive director position on May 1.
Cronin, Webb said, has been affiliated with the Sanford Center since its construction and is one of the people working at the facility with the most experience and knowledge regarding the building.
"He's been kind of groomed to be in this role I think," Webb said. "Mike's one of the smartest guys I've met, so there's no doubt he can step in and do this job."
"Mike is a major reason why the Sanford Center in Bemidji is so successful," Bemidji City Manager Nate Mathews said in a press release. "Not only does he know how to pull off major events, Mike has also built solid relationships in the industry, in Bemidji and with the staff."
Before joining the Sanford Center, Cronin held leadership positions in the technical department at the Iowa State Center in Ames and the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.
While Cronin will be taking the executive director position, Webb added that he would still be involved with the Sanford Center in some capacity.
"I will be here, you're not going to see last of me," Webb said. "I will have corporate oversight of the building so I will be able to still get up here, work on bookings and make sure all the goals are met every year."
Meanwhile, Webb's new position is as executive director at the Bloomington facility, an arena with a seating capacity of 5,600. The job is the latest in Webb's history of leadership positions at various event centers, including the American Airline Center in Dallas, the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland, Colo., the Wolstein Center in Cleveland and Ralston Arena in Ralston, Neb.
"We are eager to make a positive impact at the Coliseum and to become part of the Bloomington community," said Steve Peters, president of VenuWorks in a release. "I firmly believe Curtis possesses the skills and experience to best position the Coliseum for growth and success in an ever-changing and competitive industry."
Regarding day-to-day operations at the Sanford Center, Webb said while the names will change, the work at the Sanford Center will remain the same as it has been. Webb added that the Sanford Center is in a good position for the future, too.
"The people who work for the city are great and the board is phenomenal," Webb said. "And the Sanford Center is an unbelievable building for its size. It's the nicest 5,000-seat arena I've ever been in."
Reported by: BemidjiPioneer.com
On Monday, Webb announced that he’s resigning as executive director at the Sanford Center to take a new job at the US Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, Ill. Despite the move, though, Webb's new position will still be with VenuWorks, the firm the city of Bemidji contracts with to manage the Sanford Center.
"It's kind of a bittersweet move on my part," said Webb, who took over as executive director in January 2013. "It's mainly a personal move on my part, but this is such a phenomenal city."
Webb said his transfer to Bloomington has been in the works for a little more than a week. VenuWorks has tapped Mike Cronin, Sanford Center director of operations, to take over the executive director position on May 1.
Cronin, Webb said, has been affiliated with the Sanford Center since its construction and is one of the people working at the facility with the most experience and knowledge regarding the building.
"He's been kind of groomed to be in this role I think," Webb said. "Mike's one of the smartest guys I've met, so there's no doubt he can step in and do this job."
"Mike is a major reason why the Sanford Center in Bemidji is so successful," Bemidji City Manager Nate Mathews said in a press release. "Not only does he know how to pull off major events, Mike has also built solid relationships in the industry, in Bemidji and with the staff."
Before joining the Sanford Center, Cronin held leadership positions in the technical department at the Iowa State Center in Ames and the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.
While Cronin will be taking the executive director position, Webb added that he would still be involved with the Sanford Center in some capacity.
"I will be here, you're not going to see last of me," Webb said. "I will have corporate oversight of the building so I will be able to still get up here, work on bookings and make sure all the goals are met every year."
Meanwhile, Webb's new position is as executive director at the Bloomington facility, an arena with a seating capacity of 5,600. The job is the latest in Webb's history of leadership positions at various event centers, including the American Airline Center in Dallas, the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland, Colo., the Wolstein Center in Cleveland and Ralston Arena in Ralston, Neb.
"We are eager to make a positive impact at the Coliseum and to become part of the Bloomington community," said Steve Peters, president of VenuWorks in a release. "I firmly believe Curtis possesses the skills and experience to best position the Coliseum for growth and success in an ever-changing and competitive industry."
Regarding day-to-day operations at the Sanford Center, Webb said while the names will change, the work at the Sanford Center will remain the same as it has been. Webb added that the Sanford Center is in a good position for the future, too.
"The people who work for the city are great and the board is phenomenal," Webb said. "And the Sanford Center is an unbelievable building for its size. It's the nicest 5,000-seat arena I've ever been in."
Reported by: BemidjiPioneer.com
