Lori Shumpert
The Raleigh Convention Center in North Carolina, part of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, promoted Lori Shumpert to Director of Events effective April 4.
Shumpert joined the Raleigh Convention Center as an Event Manager in 2022 and was promoted to Sr. Event Manager in 2025. Shumpert worked venues and organizations around the country before joining the Raleigh Convention Center in 2022.
“Lori’s collaborative leadership and expertise are a major asset to this team. Her ability to think strategically paired with her meticulous attention to detail are invaluable for our mission to provide planners, attendees, and partners with a great experience” said Kerry Painter, Executive Director of The Complex.
Shumpert is an active member of IAVM, having most recently served as Co-Chair of the 2025 IAVM Super Regional in Raleigh. She’ll be attending and speaking at IAVM’s 2026 Super Regional conference this April.
“I’m excited to lead this great team of event professionals and to continue providing our clients with exceptional moments,” said Shumpert.
“We’re constantly striving to reach new heights in customer satisfaction and operational excellence. I’m eager to keep this great momentum we have as our venue grows and we continue to offer more, bigger, and better space and moments for event planners.”
The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center (LBCEC) in California on April 8 announced the completion of a three-phase infrastructure and sustainability initiative totaling $33 million.
The final phase, the installation of 5,355 solar panels across the venue’s roof, is now live. At full output, the solar installation, which feeds directly into the municipal grid, is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 700 homes annually.
The first stage of the project last year saw more than 566,000 square feet of roofing replaced under a new Cool Roof System, improving the campus’s insulation, preventing leaks, and reducing the load-bearing weight of the structure. The second stage saw 32 Air Handling Units (AHUs)—the venue’s first HVAC replacement in 35 years—delivered and installed by helicopter due to the scale and rooftop location of the equipment.
“By replacing critical infrastructure that has served us for decades and adding a substantial solar installation, we’re not just modernizing the facility, we’re establishing a new operational standard for convention centers nationwide,” said Robert Smit, General Manager of the LBCEC. “Guests will benefit from improved climate control and reliability, while the City of Long Beach gains a venue that actively contributes clean energy back to the community. It’s an investment that will pay dividends for generations.”