The Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), the second-largest convention center in the state, today announced the appointment of Don E. Simon as sales managerSimon brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry to his new role at the GICC. Simon will focus on the group market and attracting events such as pageants, cheer and dance competitions, ethnic and minority-based gatherings, fashion shows, consumer expos, graduations and more to the thriving convention center. 

“We are thrilled to welcome such an enthusiastic, experienced and personable leader to our GICC family,” said Mercedes Miller, executive director of the Gateway Center Campus, which includes the GICC, Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course. “With a long history in hospitality and years of building connections, we are confident in Don’s ability to showcase our innovative offerings and attract high-quality events of all sizes to the convention center.”

 A graduate of DeVry University with a bachelor’s degree in business operations, Simon gained hospitality and convention experience working as a market research analyst for the GICC in the late 1990s. He later went on to serve in IT and sales positions at a variety of hotels, expanding his convention experience in his role as IT manager for the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Additionally, Simon spent nearly a decade of his career teaching Delphi, a software programming product.

The GICC is an award-winning convention center set on the Gateway Center Campus, which is also home to the Gateway Center Arena, the Historic College Park Golf Course and six hotels, all connected to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by the complimentary ATL SkyTrain. The surrounding amenities and resources of the GICC further elevate the overall experience for attendees.