Overland Park, Kan. (Sept 21, 2026) — Brett C. Mitchell, CVE, General Manager of the Overland Park Convention Center (OPCC), has been installed as Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), the leading global association representing public assembly venue professionals. Mitchell received the gavel from outgoing Chair Stacey Church, CVE, COO of the Georgia World Congress Center, during IAVM’s VenueConnect Annual Conference, held August 9–12 in Indianapolis.
Mitchell first joined OPCC in 2001. From 2004 to 2010, he served as Vice President of Convention Center Operations for Global Spectrum (now Oak View Group), overseeing 26 convention centers nationwide, before returning to Overland Park in 2010 as General Manager. Under his leadership, OPCC has repeatedly been named one of the Best Small Convention Centers in North America by Exhibitor Magazine.
Mitchell’s path to the IAVM chairmanship included service as Chair of IAVM’s Convention Center Committee prior to being elected to the Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Exhibition Services and Contractors Association (ESCA), which named him its 2021 Volunteer of the Year. Mitchell previously served on the Board of Directors for the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). He is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where he earned a degree in Sports Business Management…