BEMIJIDI, MN (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — VenuWorks has appointed Roger Swanson to the position of Executive Director of The VenuWorks-managed Sanford Center. Swanson has already been serving as interim Director at the venue since mid-October and will officially assume the post on January 2nd, 2012.
The Sanford Center is a 6,500 capacity arena that services as the home for the Bemidji State University Beavers Hockey program. The facility also includes the attached George M. Neilson Convention Center and a grand ballroom space with 10,000 square feet.
A veteran facilities manager, Swanson started his career in in Alaska with Ogden Entertainment working box office, facility operations and food and beverage before becoming General Manager of the William Egan Civic and Convention Center. Swanson's role with Ogden expanded until he was regional Director of Sales and Marketing for five venues in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Swanson then took a turn with Tickets.com as their Alaskan statewide General Manager.
In 2005, Swanson was tapped to be Vice President, Operations for Encore Facility Management, a division of Global Entertainment, with offices in Phoenix AZ, overseeing the construction and opening of four hockey arenas around the US. Most recently he has worked for VenuWorks as the Director of Business Development, working in both Bemidji and Evansville, Indiana on sponsorship, signage, and naming rights sales projects. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
