ATLANTA - (February 23, 2010) The Georgia World Congress Center Authority announced today that Frank Poe, a 38-year convention center veteran from Dallas, was appointed GWCCA executive director. Poe will assume the reins at one of the world's largest convention, sports and entertainment complexes which includes the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park on April 1, 2010.

Prior to accepting the GWCCA position, Poe was director of the Dallas Convention Center where he started his career in 1972 as a part-time laborer. He was appointed General Manager of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from 1979 to 1980 and found his way back to Dallas for the next 17 years holding several leadership positions in the center’s Event Services and Cultural Affairs departments. The convention center veteran was appointed to the position of executive director of Alabama’s Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in 1997, which he held for seven years until moving back to Dallas in 2004 to assume the director position for the next six years.

In his previous director position Poe had fiscal control of an annual budget in excess of $60 million and was responsible for the management of the Dallas Convention Center, Reunion Arena, Dallas Farmer's Market, Union Station and the Office of Special Events.

"We are extremely pleased to have someone with the credentials, leadership and experience that Frank brings to the Georgia World Congress Authority," said Bob Prather, GWCCA board chairman. "He is a welcome addition to our strong leadership team," Prather added.

Poe will take over the executive director position that Dan Graveline held for 33 years. Graveline announced his retirement in late July and retired at the end of 2009.

Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park welcomed more than 6.4 million visitors in FY 2009. Those visitors directly injected over $1.4 billion new dollars into Georgia's economy and generated $2.2 billion total economic impact as well as $171 million in new tax revenue.

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Contact:
Christy Petterson
Public Relations Specialist
Georgia World Congress Center
404.223.4019 (phone) / 404.223.4211 (fax)

www.gwcc.com

A lasting legacy of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Centennial Olympic Park has become a performing-arts venue, community gathering-space and an anchor for downtown development. The Georgia World Congress Center Authority operates the 21-acre Park, as well as the Georgia Dome and Georgia World Congress Center. The three state-owned facilities are one of the largest combined sports, entertainment and convention center facilities in the world.