VenuesNow 2026 All-Stars: Celebrating Top Live Industry Building Executives

The annual VenuesNow All-Stars list honors the top executives transforming the venue business showcasing leadership, success and innovation. The honorees are chosen by Pollstar ’s editorial team with input from the industry while taking into account Pollstar’s industry-leading box office, along with recognizing best-in-class venue operations, programming, development, hospitality and design.

This year’s VenuesNow All-Stars will be celebrated at a reception taking place Sept. 28, the evening before the 2026 VenuesNow Conference launches at the Sheraton Grand Seattle. In celebration of VNC’s return to the Emerald City, the 2026 All-Stars list also includes executives based in Seattle. This month’s print issue of Pollstar also features a venue-specific market focus devoted to Seattle and its live entertainment scene, which means everything from the Crocodile club to Climate Pledge Arena to Lumen Field.

Josephine “Jojo” Vaccarello, the newly-named President of MSG Entertainment, graces the cover of the 2026 All-Stars issue. Her 28-year journey through almost every part of MSG’s live division now includes the dazzling, game-changing Sphere in Las Vegas, an example of the continuing tech-driven evolution of the live entertainment landscape.

2026 VenuesNow All-Stars Cover Honoree Josephine Vaccarello President of MSG Entertainment

2026 VenuesNow All-Star Honorees

KARL ADAMS Head Of Venue Operations Live Nation Entertainment

SUE BIRD Co-Owner Seattle Storm

ALISON BIRDWELL President & CEO Aramark Sports + Entertainment

MASSIMO BIZZARRO General Manager T-Mobile Arena

ALEX “AC” CRAIG General Manager & Production Manager The Orion Amphitheater / tvg Hospitality

CHELSEA CUNNINGHAM Vice President, North American Venues AEG Presents

GARY DESJARDINS Senior Vice President & General Manager PPG Paints Arena / Oak View Group

MICHAEL DORF Founder & CEO City Winery

AUDREY FIX SCHAEFER President of the Board, NIVA Communications Director , I.M.P.

TREVOR GOOBY Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Seattle Mariners

ANDY GORCHOV General Manager Allegiant Stadium/Legends Global

AMY GRACA SVP, Head of Entertainment Caesars Entertainment

JOSH HARRIS Founder/Managing Partner Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment/Washington Commanders

SEAN HENRY CEO Nashville Predators, Bridgestone Arena, Ford Ice Centers, F&M Bank Arena and Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment Enterprises

ZACH HENSLEY Vice President of Operations General Manager Lumen Field & Event Center Seattle Seahawks/First & Goal Inc.

ALEX HODGES CEO Nederlander Concerts

MATT HOMAN President Trail Drive Management Corp.

LAURIE JACOBY EVP & Chief Entertainment Officer Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment

ALLEN JOHNSON Chief Venues Officer Orlando Venues

DONNA JULIAN Executive Vice President & Chief Venue Officer Hornets Sports & Entertainment

BETH KNOX President & Chief Executive Officer Seattle Sports Commission

JOSH LABELLE Chief Executive Officer Seattle Theatre Group

TOD LEIWEKE CEO Seattle Kraken / One Roof Sports & Entertainment

JONATHAN MALLIE Global Director, Managing Director of the Americas Populous

STEVE MATTSON President, OVG Hospitality Oak View Group

KELLY MCCORMICK Senior VP of Programming, OVG West Oak View Group

JUSTIN MILLER Vice President, North American Venues AEG Presents

JOSE MOLA Vice President, Stadium & Campus Operations Hard Rock Stadium / ​​Miami Dolphins

PATRICK NAGLE Executive Director Allstate Arena & Rosemont Theatre

BELINDA OAKLEY CEO Sodexo Live! North America

KERRY PAINTER Executive Director Raleigh Convention & Performing Arts Complex

KATIE PANDOLFO General Manager Crypto.com Arena

TAMEKA RISH Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer AMB Sports & Entertainment

KEITH ROBINSON Principal & Creative Director MANICA

JW ROTH Founder, Chairman, and CEO VENU Holding Corporation

JORGE SANTANA General Manager, Hospitality SoFi Stadium / Legends Global

JORDAN SILBERMAN President Of Venues Monumental Sports & Entertainment

ASHLEE STOKELY Head of Stadium, Operations & Experience Nissan Stadium / Tennessee Titans

ELMER STRAUB SVP, Entertainment Production & Operations 313 Presents

TINA SUCA Senior Vice President, Venue Operations OCVIBE

ROBERT THOMAS Executive Director VenuWorks

EMMANUEL “MANNY” THOMAS General Manager Hard Rock Live Hollywood (Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)

RON VANDEVEEN Chief Programming Officer MetLife Stadium

JOSEPHINE VACCARELLO Executive Vice President, Live MSG Entertainment Corp. & Sphere Entertainment Co.

ALLAN VELLA President & CEO Fox Theatre – Atlanta

CRAIG WAIBEL General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Seattle Sounders

KELLI YELOUSHAN Vice President of Event Management Vinik Sports Group / Tampa Bay Lightning

_Originally reported by [Pollstar](https://news.pollstar.com/2026/09/21/venuesnow-2026-all-stars/)._