NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TN Tribune)– The Convention Center Authority appointed two new officers at its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday. Norah Buikstra will serve as Chair, and Alfred Degrafinreid II will serve as Secretary/Treasurer. The newly elected officers join Vonda McDaniel, who currently serves as Vice-Chair.
Buikstra is the General Manager for The Mall at Green Hills, a property of The Taubman Company. She has served on the CCA board since October 2020.
Degrafinreid II is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Local Government Relations and Community Partnerships at Vanderbilt University. He has served on the CCA board since February 2021.
“We are so fortunate to have these two individuals lead the Convention Center Authority,” said Music City Center President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Starks. “In their short time on the board, they have shown a tremendous interest and commitment to the success of our facility, and we look forward to having them serve in these leadership roles.”
Buikstra and Degrafinreid II will fulfill the remainder of the terms left vacant by former board members Marty Dickens and Irwin Fisher, who previously served as Chair and Secretary/Treasurer respectively. The Convention Center Authority was created to oversee the development and operation of Music City Center, as well as any investments or projects connected to the convention center. The Authority consists of nine members, appointed by the mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County to serve a four-year term. Officers are electd by the board annually.
Buikstra and Degrafinreid II will assume their officer roles immediately.
About the Music City Center
Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, Music City Center (MCC) is a 2.1 million square foot convention center with more than 353,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, two ballrooms, 55 meeting rooms, and a covered parking garage with 1,800 spaces. The mission of MCC is to create significant economic benefit for the greater Nashville area, while focusing on community inclusion, sustainability, and exceptional customer service, through conventions, trade shows, and community events.
