General manager of the Oklahoma City Convention Center, Barbara Beaton oversees all management, promotion and operations for the 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 45,000-square-foot meeting space and 30,000-square-foot ballroom. Beaton has worked within ASM Global, the facility’s management company, for nearly two decades. After graduating from the University of Tulsa, she began her career in convention sales for Tulsa’s Chamber of Commerce. She also worked for Houston’s NRG Park, the Fort Worth Convention Center and the Fort Worth Convention Bureau before taking on this position in 2022. We caught up with Beaton and got her thoughts on …
… what drew her to the position.
I have spent the majority of my over 30-year career in venue sales and management, most recently in Houston before returning to Oklahoma in 2019. When I was offered the opportunity by ASM Global, our management company, to be a part of the new OKC Convention
Center management, I jumped at it. I grew up in Tulsa and graduated from the University of Tulsa. So I have always been an Oklahoman, regardless of where I lived. I was familiar with the MAPS program and very impressed with the progressiveness of OKC. I knew managing the new OKCCC was destined to be my ultimate career move.
… how the OKCCC positively impacts the state.
We had 191,105 in attendance at OKCCC events in FY25 [fiscal year, ending 6/30] which contributed $27.6 million in direct spending/economic impact for the city. We also host a variety of local events including nonprofit galas for Allied Arts, Anna’s House, and more, which positively impacts the city. We are excited to host the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the first time this year.
… her day-to-day.
Every day is different in my position as general manager. I regularly meet with our executive team, as well as other staff, and attend our logistics meetings to plan for upcoming events. Making sure that our excellent OKCCC team has the building “show ready” for events is my primary focus on a day-to-day basis. I work closely with my primary contact with the City of OKC, owner of OKCCC, to make certain we are meeting their expectations.
… her favorite moments on the job.
When I seek out the clients hosting the events in our building and ask them how their event is going. It is very rewarding to hear wonderful compliments about our staff and the venue. But I always want to hear if there are improvements they recommend. My proudest accom-plishment is receiving positive post-event survey results from our clients with nice comments about our staff. We have an average of 9.3 out of 10 satisfactions consistently, which is a testament to our dedication to outstanding customer service. This is what drives repeat events, of which we have many.
… events she’s looking forward to hosting.
While it is very important to be a venue for local association, corporate and non- profit events, the future looks very bright in the coming years for nationally attended conventions and events, which provides a huge economic impact for OKC. Just to mention a couple, the USA Gymnastics return in 2026 and the American Farm Bureau Federation National Convention in 2028. There are many more of these events to come!
… any ‘dream events’ she’d like to host.
We’d love to host more national corporate events. We have a few prospects in the works and that is very exciting to me.
… her team.
Our fabulous team members here at OKCCC are second to none. They work hard, are dedicated to excellent customer service, and I’m so proud to work with them every day.
