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After nearly 21 years as director of the city's Convention
& Entertainment Facilities Department, Gerard J.
"Jordy" Tollett has retired from his municipal
post to focus on his other position as president and
chief executive officer of the Greater Houston Convention
and Visitors Bureau.
Dawn R. Ullrich, deputy director under
Tollett for 11 years, has been promoted to succeed him
in directing operations of the George R. Brown Convention
Center, Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall and a host
of other public properties.
Tollett, 49, had been the unpaid chief
executive of the GHCVB since 1997 and the acting chief
of staff for Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown for the past
11 months.
"The time is right for me to make
this move," Tollett said. "I will be working
in a slightly different capacity, but I will remain
an active agent in making Houston the next great destination
city in the United States.
"I leave knowing a sound infrastructure
is in place. Dawn Ullrich is an outstanding administrator
and capable of picking up where I left off. Houston
won't miss a beat with her at the helm."
Tollett will retain his position as president
of the Houston Convention Center Hotel Corporation,
which is building the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston
hotel. The Hilton is being built in conjunction with
expansion of the adjacent George R. Brown Convention
Center. Both projects are expected to be completed in
late 2003 - in time for the 2004 Super Bowl.
"Jordy has carried the ball to the
1-yard line and I'm going to help carry it into the
end zone," Ullrich said. "Jordy's passion,
skill and leadership have made him a legend in Houston
and a respected national figure in the convention industry.
He leaves some rather large footsteps."
Ullrich, 46, is a graduate of the University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Houston
Law Center. A 23-year City employee, she previously
worked in the Legal Department until 1991, departing
as a senior assistant city attorney.
NOTE:
Send requests for photos of Mr. Tollett and
Ms. Ullrich to judy.ferrara@cityofhouston.net.
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