CENTERS Selected to Lead Conference and Event Services
Cleveland, Ohio – October 30, 2024 – Today, Cleveland State University (CSU) announced the expansion of its longstanding partnership with CENTERS, which began in 2006 with the management of the University Recreation and Wellbeing Center and in 2010 expanded to management of the Student Center. As a continuation of this relationship, CENTERS will now oversee Conference and Event Services (CES) operations.
This strategic partnership between CENTERS and CSU will bring an enhanced level of expertise and innovation to the management of 500,000 square feet of diverse venue space. CSU offers new and historically renovated campus facilities combined with a comprehensive suite of event services and hosts more than 10,000 annual internal and external meetings, workshops, conferences and large-scale events. CENTERS has a proven track record of delivering high-quality services with an emphasis on business development, brand awareness, cutting-edge technologies, operational optimization, and customer service. With CENTERS’ guidance, CES will continue to provide exceptional service for both campus and external events, while also positioning the university venues for future growth and expansion to meet evolving needs.
“We are excited to partner with CENTERS in the management of our conference and event services program. The proven professionalism and commitment to excellence of the CENTERS team greatly aligns with our CSU hospitality standards, and this partnership will undoubtedly support the continued success of our program,” said Nicholas Vande Velde, Associate Vice President – Hospitality and Facility Services at CSU. “With the experience and expertise seen nationwide, CENTERS possesses the resources to help us continue to host top-tier conferences and events while leveraging their vast experience to build new opportunities for our guests and community.”
“We are honored to take on this important role at Cleveland State University,” said Greg Ross, Vice President of Operations at CENTERS. “Our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality service and operational excellence, ensuring that every event at CSU meets and exceeds expectations. We look forward to collaborating with the CSU community and building upon the university’s strong tradition of serving both the campus and the broader Cleveland area.”
For the last 18 academic years, CENTERS has managed campus life facilities, programs and services to maximize mission-related values, enhance educational outcomes, invigorate community building and exceed financial performance at CSU. With the addition of CES to the CENTERS@CSU portfolio, the university further streamlines these related services under one department taking advantage of bundling its facilities and optimizing desired outcomes. The CENTERS team at CSU brings a combined 120 years of institutional knowledge, with 52 of those years contributed by the senior leadership team. Many staff members are also proud CSU alumni, having earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the university, reflecting their deep personal investment in the ongoing success of CSU.