John S. Gonzalez

John S. Gonzalez, CMP is Senior Vice President and General Manager for Houston First venues, which include the George R. Brown Convention Center, Wortham Theater Center, Jesse H. Jones Center for the Performing Arts and Miller Outdoor Theatre. He served as longtime Senior Event Manager and Director of Guest & Event Services with the convention center before being promoted to Senior Vice President.

Today, he has over 25 years of experience in the convention/hospitality industry and oversees a team of 250 focusing on the day-to-day operations of the facilities. He manages an extensive operations budget for convention and cultural facilities and 200 contractual service employees for Audio Visual Services, Facility Services, Electrical & Telecommunication Services, Engineering Services, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Operations and Maintenance, and Security. Mr. Gonzalez served 16 years in the U.S. Army Reserve which included multiple tours to Southwest Asia.

He has been key in the success of major events held in Houston including Super Bowl XXXVIII and LI NFL Experience, NCAA Final Four, NBA All-Star events; managing the GRB as a shelter for Hurricane Harvey and Nicholas and as a Warming Center during Winter Storm Uri; the GRB facility redesign in 2016 that added Avenida Houston; and during COVID in 2020, Houston’s theater district was the first in the country to reopen and host in person events.