City manager recommends new director for Columbus Civic Center. Here’s what we know

Over a year after the former Columbus Civic Center director was fired, City Manager Isaiah Hugley has recommended a new director for council’s approval.

Hugley has selected Rob Landers to fill the position. According to a press release, Landers has over 10 years experience in event operations and venue management, executing large events at Mercedes Benz Stadium and Phillips Arena.

The release says Landers is a trained crowd management instructor through the International Association of Venue Mangement; risk and incident certified through the National Center of Spectator Sports Safety and Security; and a ServSafe Manager certified through the National Restaurant Association.

He has a bachelor’s degree in sports management from the University of Kansas and is working on a master’s degree in business administration from the University of West Alabama.

“Rob’s knowledge, background, and experience in Venue Management provides for a good transition for the City of Columbus,” Hugley said in the release. “He comes highly recommended by my selection committee of Deputy City Managers Lisa Goodwin and Pam Hodge, Finance Director Angelica Alexander, and Human Resources Director Reather Hollowell. I believe he will be a good fit for our community.”

The position has been filled by Goodwin on an interim basis since former Director Jon Dorman was fired in May 2019.

In February, Goodwin said she had been working to get the civic center’s finances “back where they need to be.” There was also a turnover of management staff in the wake of Dorman’s departure.

“These individuals that left, left for bigger and better things and so that kind of created those opportunities so now we have an entirely new event staff, a new marketing manager, and things are going very well,” Goodwin said at the time.

Hugley said January 14 he put the search for a new director on pause because he “wanted to look further at the civic center and its operations.”

The civic center is home to the River Dragons hockey team and the indoor football league the Columbus Lions. Along with an ice rink, the center hosts large events throughout the year including concerts, ice shows, fairs, conferences, basketball games and conventions.

As of February the civic center had 21 full time employees and eight permanent part-time employees, with a roster of part time event staff that can go up to 300, from security to ushers to ticket-takers.

The center’s 2021 operating budget, which starts July 1, is $5,972,000.

Landers said his goal as the new director is to “work with community partners in creating world class events” for the civic center.

“I look forward to building new relationships and eager to share my passion for producing memorable experiences,” he said.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Landers currently lives in metro Atlanta.

He will be the center’s fourth director in 15 years. Dale Hester took over the role in 2004 and retired in 2011. Ross Horner replaced Hester in 2011 and served as director until September 2016, when he left to become president and CEO of Uptown Columbus. Inc. He was replaced by Jon Dorman in January 2017.

Columbus Council will be asked to approve the hire during its June 23 meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m.