Team San Jose names Bill Sherry as new CEO in Partnership with the City of San José
Airport Director will retain duties at Mineta-San Jose International; will oversee proposed convention center expansion
Mayor Reed says Sherry’s city experience “invaluable’’ for Team San Jose
SAN JOSE, Ca. – (March 2, 2011) – Team San Jose, in partnership with the City of San Jose, on Wednesday announced that it will name Bill Sherry, San Jose’s airport director, as its CEO.
The board of directors of San Jose’s convention center and theater operator said it unanimously approved Sherry for the job.
Sherry, who has served as aviation director at Mineta-San Jose International Airport for the past six years, will continue to oversee the airport in addition to the new duties. Sherry also will have oversight of the city’s proposed expansion and renovation of the McEnery Convention Center.
“Bill Sherry is ideally suited to lead Team San Jose at this time,’’ said Chuck Toeniskoetter, Chairman of Team San Jose. “Our organization and the city of San Jose believe that Bill’s combination of leadership, integrity, strategic thinking and project-management skills are exactly what is needed as we move forward. This is a win-win situation for the city and Team San Jose.’’
Toeniskoetter and San Jose City Manager Debra Figone will be finalizing details of this innovative partnership over the next few weeks. When Sherry takes on the CEO role, he will lead sales, marketing, communications management for Team San Jose, helping drive economic growth by attracting conventions, meetings, cultural events and tourism to the city. He will work closely with Team San Jose’s recently named Chief Operating Officer Dave Costain, a 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Team San Jose’s Board of Directors and Executive Team to focus on company goals and continue progress in increased communication, fiscal performance and economic results.
“I have no doubt that by working together, we will achieve our mutual goals of economic performance for the overall betterment of our downtown and businesses,” Sherry said. “I have great confidence in our City leadership, the newly reorganized Team San Jose Board of Directors, and the employees at both the airport and Team San Jose. This is a new day and we will be successful.”
Sherry said he is prepared for another challenge in the wake of the airport’s successful $1.4 billion renovation, which was delivered on time and under budget.
Debra Figone, City Manager of San Jose, said Sherry’s experience with the airport and its expansion should be invaluable as the city prepares for a convention center upgrade. The City of San Jose is in the final stages of evaluating a $120 million convention center upgrade that, if approved, will be delivered through a public works-led, design-build approach, similar to the airport’s successful $1.4 billion terminal modernization program. Sherry’s fiscal management experience will also assist Team San Jose and the City in their continued effort to generate economic and fiscal results for San Jose’s convention center and theater operations.
“Bill is a great leader who knows how to lead with vision and produce results,” said Figone. “Working with the experienced teams in place at our airport and the convention center, Bill will ensure our Convention Center project results in a modern new facility to serve convention planners and the travel industry for decades to come. This also allows San Jose to offer visitors a seamless experience, from their arrival at the airport to their meetings, entertainment and hotel stays throughout the city. ”
Sherry said he will continue to focus energy on the airport, and the synergy with Team San Jose and the Convention Center operation should be helpful in luring more travelers and air carriers to San Jose. Over the last six years, Sherry has worked in partnership with Team San Jose to help sell San Jose as a destination. Sherry also expressed great confidence in Kim Aguirre, Assistant Director at the airport, who oversees the day-to-day operations at Mineta San Jose International Airport.
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed applauded city administrators and Team San Jose for finding an innovative solution to Team San Jose’s CEO search. Team San Jose recently submitted a five-year budget plan that included new projections for revenue that demonstrate a strong fiscal position, including new projections for Transient Occupancy Tax revenue of which the convention center and theater operations are funded.
“I’m optimistic that this creative public-private partnership will work for all parties ,” said San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. “Bill’s experience managing our world-class airport and familiarity with the travel industry will help Team San Jose attract new conventions, events and meetings to our city. His track record overseeing the on-time, under-budget airport renovation will also be invaluable during the upcoming proposed Convention Center expansion.”
About Bill Sherry
William Sherry is the director of aviation at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. He joined the airport in that role in 2005. He spent six years overseeing a significant expansion of the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport in Florida. An accountant by education, Sherry has worked in public accounting, public administration and as an aviation consultant for over six years. He serves on the Board of the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and has served on the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. Bill is married to Lee, a college professor at San Jose State University and has one son who is an attorney in Manhattan with the law firm of Cravath, Swaine, & Moore.
Team San Jose (TSJ)
This innovative partnership unifies the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau, hotels, arts, labor and venues to deliver an exceptional visitor experience and serve as the gateway to San Jose as a destination. We manage the San Jose Convention Center and Arts and Entertainment venues including the California Theatre, the Center for the Performing Arts, Montgomery Theater, Parkside Hall, San Jose Civic and South Hall. For more information about San Jose and Team San Jose, please visit the new www.sanjose.org.
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CONTACT:
Team San Jose
Meghan Horrigan
408-499-1345
City of San Jose
Tom Manheim
408-535-8170