The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) Board of Directors voted unanimously yesterday to offer Marcel Vernon, Sr., the position of Executive Director.
“Marcel Vernon is a highly qualified leader who has experience running large casinos and an extensive background in hospitality, finance, business, social services and state government,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. “He is an excellent choice to run the convention center authority. I'm grateful for the hard work of the MCCA Board and the search committee throughout this process and look forward to our continued partnership to support the convention industry in Massachusetts and grow our economy.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am excited for the selection of Marcel Vernon as the MCCA’s next Executive Director,” said MCCA Board Chair Emme Handy. “We are confident that Marcel is the right choice to lead this important economic development engine, and we look forward to working with him to ensure the success of the MCCA as we begin this next chapter. As we welcome Marcel to the MCCA, we extend our deep gratitude to Interim Executive Director, Gloria Cordes Larson, for her incredible leadership and tireless work over the past eleven months.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority into the future,” said Marcel Vernon. “Our goal is to be a catalyst for economic growth, community development, and positive change. I am committed to working with our dedicated team and valued partners to achieve this vision.”
Marcel Vernon brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across hospitality, government, corporate finance, non-profits, and higher education to the role of Executive Director. He has both domestic and international experience, a proven ability to manage complex operations in dynamic environments, and a deep background in fiscal management and planning. Vernon is currently Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance at Bay Cove Human Services, an 1800-person organization that serves more than 25,000 people annually, where he manages a $182 million budget across 174 Massachusetts facilities. He is responsible for budgeting, financial planning and analysis, revenue management, procurement, and facilities management.
Vernon has led teams at casinos and hotels, spending over 10 years in the hospitality sector, starting his career with Marriott in a sales and marketing role before moving into senior leadership positions with Harrah’s Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, and Tropicana Entertainment. In addition to career stops in Louisiana, Nevada, Florida and Connecticut, Marcel has also worked internationally in the United Kingdom, China, Mexico, Poland and Ukraine. Due to his leadership at the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino, he received the key to the city in Baton Rouge.
“It’s been an honor to chair this important process,” said Sheena Collier, Chair of the MCCA Board Search Committee. “I am grateful to Koya Partners for guiding us in a thorough search that incorporated the voices of our board, MCCA staff, and regional leadership. It was rewarding to see such a robust response that resulted in a highly impressive slate of candidates. Throughout this process, Marcel has shown himself not just to have the competencies but also the lived experience and people-centric leadership that the MCCA needs at this moment. His 16 years of global experience in hospitality and casinos, proven ability to profitably manage multi-million dollar budgets, and public sector leadership and familiarity with the Commonwealth have prepared him for this role. I look forward to continuing to serve the Authority and work in partnership with Marcel.”
Vernon holds a master’s degree in business administration from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University. He serves on the Syracuse University Whitman School of Business Advisory Council, The CFO Leadership Council’s Diversity Advisory Council, and the Hope and Comfort Board of Directors.
The MCCA was established as an independent public authority of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1982 and is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors. In 2024, the MCCA hosted 232 events at the BCEC, Hynes and MassMutual Center with 531,000 attendees, generating 683,000 hotel room nights, and $959 million in economic impact.
The MCCA has over 424 employees with an annual operating budget of approximately $95 million and its state-of-the-art facilities manage and promote a wide range of events from high school graduations to exhibitions to athletic events. Its facilities are widely acclaimed for offering large scale accommodations, and facility bookings currently extend to the year 2040.
About the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA)
The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority owns and oversees the operations of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA, the Boston Common Parking Garage, The Lawn On D and The Lot On D. The MCCA's mission is to generate significant regional economic activity by attracting conventions, tradeshows, and other events to its world-class facilities while maximizing the investment return for the residents and businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.