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New general manager named for Event Center
By Conner Hammett, chammett@starlocalnews.com
A public servant with more than 30 years of experience managing public convention halls and venues will take over as general manager of the Allen Event Center Monday.
Richard Karamatic, former assistant director of the city of San Antonio's convention, sports and entertainment facilities department, replaces Dough Waugh, who left the position in June. The position had been filled in the meantime by interim manager Mark Andrew Zwartynski.
Before working in San Antonio, Karamatic was director of the McAllen Convention Center and Auditorium. He has also worked for the city-owned Waxahachie Civic Center and Fair Park in Dallas. His career has seen him manage events such as FIFA World Cup Soccer, the Cotton Bowl, rodeos, circuses and boxing.
Vargas also said Karamatic's experience running a building with tenants such as sports teams is a plus, as is his familiarity working on event operations within the public sector's unique accounting system.
"There's a transparency in a publicly run organization that's basically not there with a third-party private sector [company], so I think the accounting is a little different," he said. "He has that experience that he has worked in a publicly owned and managed facility, and we think that will be very helpful to us."
As general manager, Karamatic will direct staff members as they handle already scheduled events and support the efforts of staff members charged with finding new events to bring to the facility, said Tim Dentler, director of parks and recreation. He will also play a key part in the long-term planning for the facility.
Dentler said one of the most commonly cited traits of Karamatic's, heard from his prior employers and co-workers, regarded his ability to communicate.
"I've heard he's a great communicator, he's great at motivating staff and he's great at leading a team," Dentler said.
Karamatic has a bachelor's of science in recreation administration from Northwestern State University. He is a graduate of the Oglebay facility managers program, a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and past president of the Texas Association for Convention Operation Managers.
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