GLOBAL SPECTRUM NAMES BEN WEISS ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF SOVEREIGN BANK ARENA IN TRENTON

August 23, 2006 | Newsroom, News, Press Releases

GLOBAL SPECTRUM NAMES BEN WEISS ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF SOVEREIGN BANK ARENA IN TRENTON

CHRIS BIRD PROMOTED TO EVENT MANAGER AND JESSICA KRUPINSKI PROMOTED TO EVENT STAFF AND SCHEDULE MANAGER

(TRENTON, NJ) - Global Spectrum, operator of the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ, promoted Ben Weiss to Assistant General Manager of the 10,000-seat arena, announced today by Sovereign Bank Arena General Manager Eric Cuthbertson. Weiss previously was the building’s Senior Event Manager since 2005. Weiss replaces Fran Rodowicz, who was named the General Manager at the Liacouras Center at Temple University, another Global Spectrum-managed facility.

Weiss started with Comcast-Spectacor in February of 2001, working with the Philadelphia Charge and Philadelphia KIXX before joining the Wachovia Complex Group Sales department in January 2002. Weiss worked his way up to Sports Manager where he was largely responsible for the sale of ice, court and turf time for the Sixers, Flyers, Phantoms and Wings. Weiss joined the Sovereign Bank Arena Event Production Department in February of 2004 working as an Event Manager. In 2005, he was promoted to Senior Event Manager, overseeing the day-to-day activities of the department as well as managing many of the major shows and events hosted by Sovereign Bank Arena.

The Allentown, PA, native received a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2000.

In his new role, Weiss will work closely with Cuthbertson in securing new events for Sovereign Bank Arena, as well as assisting in the day-to-day operations of the facility. “Ben has grown and developed into a knowledge professional over the course of his career. His wealth of experience in group sales, tenant relations and event production, are a huge asset to our team.”

In addition, Chris Bird was promoted to Event Manager and will be responsible for planning, setting up and facilitating events held at Sovereign Bank Arena in coordination with the shows production staff. Bird interned with the Operations Department at the Colonial Center in South Carolina in 2003, and was hired as the Operations Supervisor in 2004. He began at Sovereign Bank Arena in 2005 as Operations Coordinator. Bird graduated with honors from University of South Carolina with a degree in Sports Management.

Jessica Krupinski was promoted to Event Staff and Schedule Manager and will be increasing her responsibilities including serving as the Event Manager for selected events. In her new role, she will also meet with facility clients prior to events and assist in determining event needs and provide information and direction to operations and support staff. She joined Sovereign Bank Arena as a Corporate Sales intern and worked her way up to Event Schedule and Staff Coordinator in June 2005. Krupinski received a B.A. degree in Communications from Rider University in May 2005.

"Both Chris and Jessica discovered a passion for the event and entertainment industry while still in college, University of South Carolina and Rider University, respectively. Both worked part-time with Global Spectrum while they were finishing their course work," stated Cuthbertson.

"The Global Spectrum philosophy is to hire quality individuals and provide them with the tools and opportunities to develop professionally. Chris and Jessica are great examples of this philosophy in action," added Cuthbertson.

Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly facility management field with more than 45 facilities throughout the United States and Canada, manages the Sovereign Bank Arena. The Philadelphia-based company is part of one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, which also owns the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum, the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League, Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks, Comcast SportsNet, a regional sports programming network, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, and Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company. Comcast-Spectacor owns three minor league baseball teams - the Bowie Baysox, the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Frederick Keys - all affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles.