De Iaco handed over the reins of downtown business group
B.C. native spent 15 years promoting city as visitor destination with Tourism Calgary
The Calgary Downtown Association has a vision of “spearheading prosperity for downtown businesses by intentionally shaping the character of Calgary.”
Helping to guide this vision and lead the association, a new executive director — Marco De Iaco — will be at the helm as of Oct. 9.
Although he grew up in Peachland, B.C., De Iaco moved to Calgary in 1998 to attend the University of Calgary for a business degree. He was soon absorbed in tourism and hotel management, believing there was a role to play in encouraging sport and entertainment to come to the city.
He knocked on the door of Tourism Calgary, and for the next 15 years worked there to create a competitive and responsible approach to sport event tourism. In 2008, he was appointed vicepresident of sport, culture and major events. De Iaco and his team were successful in attracting and supporting a number of significant events including the CN Canadian Women’s Open, the Shaw Charity Classic, World Water Ski Championship and Cavalia. He also played a key role in uniting Edmonton and Calgary to host the IIHF World Junior Championship that broke 30-year records for ticket sales, attendance and economic activity. De Iaco twice chaired the Juno Awards and Juno Week Celebrations.
Accepting a new challenge last year, De Iaco led and presented a pitch to city council that resulted in the establishment of the Calgary Olympic bid exploration committee. And, earlier this year, he set up his own boutique consulting firm specializing in navigating competitive, political and stakeholder landscapes to bring major events, cities and brands together, leveraging the power of sport and entertainment.
De Iaco is now excited to take on a new role to further promote the great city he is so proud of. He believes a healthy downtown is key to the future of the whole city and one of his first tasks will be to renew the relevancy of the Downtown Business Association by listening to and being a voice for the more than 3,000 ratepayers within his 120-block jurisdiction.
A man who understands co-operation, he says he will endeavour to better align the association with other organizations, working together to help achieve each of their own visions.
He begins his new adventure right after Thanksgiving, but is already spending time meeting with association board chair Suzanne Baden, vice-chair Eileen Stan and other community leaders to better understand what he believes must be a collaborative role to gain investment into the core and to grow confidence of Calgarians in their downtown as a destination for shopping and for fun, and to make it more vibrantly attractive for visitors.
In his years with Tourism Calgary, De Iaco worked hard at promoting this city. Now, he will be concentrating his enthusiasm on the downtown and Beltline districts where he already has a good relationship with many leaders in the business community.
NEWS AND NOTES
Patti Stebbe has moved over from EllisDon to join Cana Construction as vice-president of the 76-year-old Calgary company’s new division, Cana ReNew. Stebbe will focus on establishing a relationship-based approach to tenant improvements, health care and institutional renovations, as well as building envelope rehabilitations. Congratulations to Formans Menswear celebrating its 70th anniversary of business in Calgary. Opened as a men’s hat shop on 8th Avenue S.W. in 1948, it is still locally owned and operating out of the former character bank building on the corner of 12th Avenue and 1st Street S.W.