ASM GLOBAL APPOINTS CRAIG BARKDULL AS DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING FOR ALBUQUERQUE CONVENTION CENTER, NEW MEXICO

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – May 8, 2023) – ASM Global, the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences, venue management, and event strategy, has named Craig Barkdull as the director of sales and marketing for Albuquerque Convention Center, New Mexico’s largest publicly owned meeting and exhibit space, which includes the Kiva Auditorium, Civic Plaza and Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Regional Sports Complex. 

Barkdull brings more than 15 years of extensive sales and marketing expertise to his new role, with the past decade specifically focused on leading transient; corporate; and group hotel, catering and special event initiatives for a renowned golf resort in Central California. 

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to work alongside both an amazing internal team and a vast network of external partners to move Albuquerque, the city that my family and I are proud to call home, forward,” Barkdull said. “Albuquerque is truly a destination unlike any other. It’s small-town vibe within a vibrant, culturally rich metropolitan area steeped in natural beauty and diverse activity offerings, making it the perfect place to host events and live experiences large and small.” 

In making this announcement, ASM Global’s Ray Roa, general manager of Albuquerque Convention Center, said, “Craig’s vast knowledge of event and destination sales and marketing strategies makes him an ideal fit for this role. His focus will be on leading the sales and marketing team to enhance existing partnerships, secure new business ventures, and further establish our extraordinary facilities as the foremost meeting and event venues in both New Mexico and the Southwest United States.” 

Prior to his role at Albuquerque Convention Center, Barkdull served as the director of sales and marketing and a member of the executive committee for Quail Lodge and Golf Club in Carmel, California, owned and operated by The Peninsula Hotels. In this position he led the property sales, marketing, public relations and revenue management initiatives and participated as an active member of See Monterey’s sales committee. Additionally, Barkdull was the head of sponsorship sales and sponsor relations for The Peninsula Hotels’ Signature Motoring Events: The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, The Quail Rally, and The Quail Ride. He worked directly with top luxury automotive and lifestyle brands to coordinate annual live-event exhibitions, global product launches and major public announcements. 

Barkdull received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in advertising and electronic media and film from Northern Arizona University’s School of Communication followed by a Master of Business Administration from Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics in Orange, California. His prior background also includes agency experience working with city, state and community-based organizations throughout Southern California and Nevada as well as custom-compounded pharmaceutical sales and marketing. 

Barkdull and his family moved to Albuquerque in July 2022. Working remotely for his former employer for the past five years, the choice of home location was limited only to remaining in the Western United States. “We had visited Albuquerque many times over the years, and my family just fell in love with it,” said Barkdull. “We wanted our boys to grow up around diversity and culture, have opportunities to be outside and active, but also not feel overwhelmed and intimidated by somewhere too large and complex to navigate. Albuquerque is such an easy city and has everything we want in a destination to call home. I am excited to become more rooted in my community and help others witness all of Albuquerque’s splendor through unique, irreplicable experiences.”  

About Albuquerque Convention Center 

Albuquerque Convention Center is part of the ASM Global portfolio, the largest and most diverse network of premier convention and trade show venues for millions of exhibitors and attendees across an extensive worldwide footprint that spans five continents. Located between the Rio Grande River and the Sandia Mountains in the heart of downtown Albuquerque, the 600,000-square-foot multipurpose complex offers flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and exhibit space that can accommodate events of up to 20,000 people. Its elegant yet intimate Kiva Auditorium boasts a proscenium stage and half-round seating for up to 2,300 people perfect for concerts, comedy shows, lectures and more. Civic Plaza, the largest public outdoor space in the center of downtown with a purpose to enhance the city’s sense of community, has a capacity of 20,000 people with a sizeable performance stage and large-scale movie projection system. The Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Regional Sports Complex features five fully lit, 100% turf championship-level baseball fields with on-site batting cages, and grandstand seating perfect for collegiate and regional tournaments and events. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.  

About ASM Global 

ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management, delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, performing arts venues, and convention and exhibition centers, including McCormick Place, Chicago; Moscone Center, San Francisco; ICC Sydney, Australia; Olympia London; Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, China; and P&J Live, Aberdeen, U.K. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. asmglobal.com.  

Contact:
Ray Roa, CSEP 
General Manager 
ASM Global/Albuquerque Convention Center 
505-382-4624 
rayroa@albuquerquecc.com

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