Director of Tacoma Venues & Events - Adam S. Cook
Appointed in January 2022, Adam S. Cook is the Director of the Tacoma Venues & Events (TVE) Department. Adam is responsible for leading the operations and management of the City’s public assembly facilities, including strategic partnerships to improve community access to diverse and creative citywide programming. The role includes generating positive economic impact, managing maintenance and investment into infrastructure to ensure continued viability, and nurturing arts and business sector partnerships.
TVE manages renowned venues which include the Tacoma Dome, one of the world’s largest wood domed structures with flexible seating configurations ranging from 5,000-23,000; the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, artful and modern with its trademark glass walls and 119,000 square feet of event space; Cheney Stadium, home of the Tacoma Rainiers; and the historic Pantages and Rialto Theaters, and Theatre on the Square.
Adam has more than 20 years’ experience operating sports and entertainment venues across North America. Joining the City in 2019 as Deputy Director for Tacoma Venues & Events, Adam helped lead the day-to-day operations of the department including managing department budgets, revenues, and contracts. His experience includes serving as Vice President and General Manager at the Rose Quarter (Portland, OR), Venue Director and General Manager at Edmonton Expo Centre and Rexall Place (Edmonton, AB, Canada), Acting General Manager for Global Spectrum at Comcast Arena (Everett, WA), and most recently as Vice President of Business Operations for Seafair (Seattle, WA). Prior to moving to the Northwest, Adam worked with Contemporary Services Corporation in Seattle, Miami, and Boston.
Adam currently serves on the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Venue Management School (VMS) Board of Regents and has served on the IAVM Governance, Arenas, and Membership committees, as a member of its Board of Directors, and as a part of IAVM Region 4’s leadership team. Cook was named a recipient of the Venues Today Generation Next Award in 2014, and has engaged in numerous speaking opportunities and published articles throughout the industry. He is a current member of Tacoma Rotary #8 and formerly volunteered in advisory committee roles with Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County and for Edmonds Center for the Arts.
Education
- B.A., Bowdoin College
- Certified Venues Executive (CVE), IAVM Venue Management School and VMS Graduate Institute