Jim Brown is Appointed Director of Convocation Center
JONESBORO – With more than 20 years of experience in public facility management, James W. (Jim) Brown II of Dayton, Ohio, will serve as the new director of the Convocation Center at Arkansas State University.
Dr. Len Frey, vice chancellor in the Division of Finance and Administration, announced Brown's appointment today. Finance and Administration has oversight responsibility for the Convocation Center.
For the past 18 years he has been associated with the Ervin J. Nutter Center at Wright State University, serving since 2010 as executive director of the facility, which is one of the top-ranked university venues in the country.
He achieved the Certified Facility Executive (CFE) designation from the International Association of Venue Managers, the highest level of certification obtainable from the professional organization. He also has filled numerous IAVM leadership roles.
“We are pleased that Jim has accepted our offer to serve as the next director of the Convocation Center. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the management of a multipurpose facility similar to ours," Frey said. "His service in a leadership capacity for one of the leading professional associations in the industry has further developed his contact base and will facilitate his efforts to expand the quality and quantity of events hosted by the Convocation Center. We have been deliberate in our national search and we believe our persistence and patience have resulted in hiring an extremely qualified individual who is capable of leading the Convo to new heights.”
Brown held progressively responsible positions with the Nutter Center after joining the staff in 1999, following six years in administrative capacities at the Cumberland County Coliseum Complex in Fayetteville, N.C. He earned his BSE degree in sports management at Bowling Green State University.
"I am excited to become a part of Arkansas State University and the Jonesboro community," Brown commented. "I have been extremely impressed with the quality of the people I have met at Arkansas State, and I am honored to be selected as the director of the Convocation Center.”
Completed in 1987, the Convocation Center is the largest indoor event center in Northeast Arkansas. It hosts athletic events such as basketball, volleyball and indoor track, and a variety of concerts and other entertainment.
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