Philadelphia, PA – The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authoritynamed Ahmeenah Young as the new president and CEO, replacing Al Mezzaroba, who will stay with the authority until August to aid in the transition. Young will head up the authority as the Philadelphia Convention Center convention center undergoes a $700 million expansion that will double its size to 1,000,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Mezzaroba plans to return to private law practice. In a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday, Young said, “We are going to build this expansion. And then we’re going to treat customers better than their parents ever treated them.” Young said she was grateful for the opportunity and vote of confidence and added, “I’m doing cartwheels in my heart.”
Young began her career in the exposition industry in 1987 as director of affirmative action for the authority. She moved laterally to director of sales and marketing and was later promoted to vice president. She left the center in 2000 to join SearchWide and afterwards, the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia. She rejoined the convention center authority in 2004 as executive vice president of external affairs. She moved up to the number two position at the authority, becoming executive vice president and general manager.
Reach Ahmeenah at (215) 418-4700 ayoung@paconvention.com
