Executive Team
The Executive Leadership Team of Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC) is comprised of the following professionals:
Patrick Kelly, President
Patrick Kelly is the President of the Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC). Patrick (Pat) brings a vast amount of experience to this role having worked in the hospitality industry for over 30 years. Pat first began his career with Skyline and Westin Hotel corporations holding several management positions. Pat’s career allowed him to work and live in several countries such as Korea and South Africa where he was the General Manager of Westin Hotels in Pusan and Johannesburg. Pat returned to Canada in 1988 and continued his relationship with Westin Hotels as General Manager in Ottawa and later as Managing Director in Toronto. In 1994, Pat joined Fairmont Hotels and Resorts as General Manager of The Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa, before moving to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1998 to become Fairmont Hotels and Resorts’ Regional Vice President of the Pacific Northwest Region. In 2004 Pat returned to Ottawa to open his own consulting organization under the title of Kelly Hospitality Consulting and to assume the position of Dean for the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Algonquin College. Pat welcomed the challenge of becoming President of the Ottawa Congress Centre in 2007 and was delighted to lead a team of dedicated and inspired colleagues in the design and construction of Canada’s Meeting Place, the new Ottawa Convention Centre, which opened in April 2011.
Andrew Beattie, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing
Andrew started his career with the Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC) in 1987, left in 1992 and joined the OCC again in December 2007. During his time away from the OCC, Andrew held various senior level sales and marketing positions in Toronto, Winnipeg and Houston Texas. An entrepreneur, Andrew also founded a successful sales and marketing support business that he operated for seven years and in 2003 was ranked among Profit Magazine’s Hot 50 Emerging Growth Companies. Andrew has a diploma in Hospitality Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Guelph.
Paul Keogh, Senior Vice-President, Client Services
As Senior Vice President of Client Services for the Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC), Paul was responsible for the day to day management of the Redevelopment project, as well as continuing to oversee the Client Service department. Paul has been with the Centre since 1999, holding varied department head and executive leadership positions. On an annual basis, Paul leads a highly skilled team in the planning and production of over 600 world class events for up to 5000 people. Prior to joining the Ottawa Convention Centre, as Director of Operations for a major Show Producer, Paul was responsible for the management and production of Canada’s largest and most successful business and high technology conventions, tradeshows and events. Paul is a graduate and an invited faculty member of the International Association of Assembly Manager’s Academy of Venue Safety and Security and is past-president of the Ottawa Association of Exposition Management with over 20 years of experience in facility management, event security, convention operations and production. Paul is an alumnus of the University of Ottawa, and formerly a Commissioned Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Jennifer McCrary, General Manager
Jennifer McCrary joins the Ottawa Convention Centre as General Manager of the food and facilities operation. Jennifer brings a vast amount of experience in leading world class operations. Most recently, Jennifer was the General Manager of the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida, where her team won several awards for innovation and culinary expertise. Jennifer was also selected as the Main Dining Director of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and in her expatriate assignment led a team of 7000 employees, serving over 55,000 meals per day to the athletes and support staff. Jennifer comes from a strong background in both sales and operations, having held General Manager, Director of Catering and various Sales positions at locations including Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and Los Angeles Convention Center. Jennifer looks forward to delivering extraordinary guest experiences for every guest of Canada’s Meeting Place.
Dan Young, Vice-President, Finance
Dan has been with the Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC) since 2002 and currently holds the position of Vice President of Finance. Dan was responsible for formulating the financial benefits of the new Ottawa Convention Centre. Prior to joining the OCC, Dan worked for several organizations in the Ottawa region. Dan acquired his CMA designation in 1995.
Feedback
Email