NEW ORLEANS – Veteran facility operations professional Mark Kaufman, has been named head of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s Public Safety Department.
Kaufman comes to New Orleans from AEG Facilities in Oakland, California, where he served as vice president of operations.
As director of public safety, Kaufman oversees all departmental operations and manages a staff of 73 public safety officers and administrative personnel. He is also responsible for implementing security measures at the Center, which hosted more than 128 events last year and attracted nearly 800,000 visitors through its doors in 2016. In addition, Kaufman serves as the Convention Center’s liaison with the Federal Department of Homeland Security and the Anti-Terrorism Task Force, which are entrusted with keeping the city safe during major events.
Kaufman’s impressive career credentials span more than 30 years and reflect proficiency in all management of events, concerts, facilities and security, reps said. Prior to his tenure at AEG, Kaufman was general manager, and then CEO, of the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Authority (OACCA) and Oakland Coliseum Joint Venture (SMG). Kaufman also served as director of sales and event services with SMG at the New Orleans Superdome for 10 years.
With 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space, an award winning staff and first class amenities, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is the sixth largest convention center in the nation, a consistent Top 10 host of the largest number of conventions and tradeshows annually, and one of the city’s “Top Workplaces,” reps said. As “Louisiana’s Economic Engine,” Convention Center event activity has produced $53.7 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $3.4 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments.
