SearchWide Global Recruits Chief Sales Officer for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
October 21, 2026 – SearchWide Global has placed Cahal Mowery as chief sales officer of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC). Kellie Henderson, global head of destinations, led the assignment. “Cahal brings the experience, leadership and energy we need to continue Nashville’s success as a leading meetings, group and events destination,” said Deana Ivey, president and CEO. “His work in major markets like Chicago, Denver and Houston gives him valuable insight into what it takes to compete at the highest level. We’re excited to have him lead our convention and tourism sales efforts and help bring even more business to our destination.”
Mr. Mowery brings more than 15 years of convention sales and hotel leadership to Music City. He joins the NCVC from Choose Chicago, where he served as vice president of sales. In that role, he helped lead the team responsible for securing citywide conventions and meetings for McCormick Place and more than 150 hotel partners. Mr. Mowery played a key role in rebuilding and advancing Chicago’s citywide sales strategy, strengthening collaboration among the destination, convention center, hotel community and customers. Those efforts contributed to record-setting performance, including 65 citywide conventions and 2.8 million room nights booked in 2025.
Mr. Mowery began his hospitality career with Visit Houston after graduating from the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston, later serving as director of sales and catering at the JW Marriott Houston Downtown. He then returned to destination marketing as director of convention sales for Visit Denver, where he spent five years leading convention sales strategy, working with the Colorado Convention Center and hotel community, and supporting organizational planning, destination development, and post-pandemic recovery efforts.
“Nashville has built one of the world’s most compelling destination brands by pairing the energy and creativity of Music City with a hospitality community that knows how to deliver unforgettable experiences,” Mr. Mowery said. “I am honored to join the NCVC and excited to work alongside its talented team and partners to introduce even more customers to Nashville, grow the right business for the destination and contribute to the community’s continued success.”
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and Visit Music City is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination.
SearchWide Global, based in St. Paul, MN, is a full-service executive recruitment firm primarily for companies in the travel, tourism, hospitality, convention, trade association, venue management, and experiential marketing industries. The firm specializes in C-level and director-level executive searches for companies ranging in size from Fortune 500 corporations to mid-sized public and private companies and associations.
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Ms. Henderson works in all sectors of hospitality, travel and tourism. She has experience recognizing clients’ needs, identifying best-in-class talent. She also leads SearchWide Global’s industry-wide diversity initiative. She serves on the Destinations International Foundation board of trustees and is involved in several other industry organizations. Previously, Ms. Henderson worked in the destination marketing organization and hotel industry.
Past Search in Nashville
SearchWide Global also recently placed Anthony Lopez as president of Music City Center. “Anthony has an exceptional reputation, and we’re fortunate to have him join our team,” said Music City Center CEO Charles Starks. “His expertise and leadership will help build on our successes and guide our teams for the foreseeable future.”
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Mr. Lopez is a known leader in the industry. Most recently, he was general manager of Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. Prior to that, he was assistant general manager of operations for McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, the largest convention center in the country. Mr. Lopez is originally from Great Bend, Kansas. He served in the United States Navy Reserve and studied at Iowa State University before starting his hospitality career with Ogden Entertainment more than 35 years ago. As president, Mr. Lopez will oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility. He will also assist in the planning and implementation of all functions and resources of facility departments.
Music City Center is a 2.1 million square foot convention center with more than 353,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, two ballrooms, 60 meeting rooms, and a covered parking garage with 1,800 spaces. The mission of Music City Center is to create significant economic benefit for the citizens of the greater Nashville region by attracting local and national events while focusing on community inclusion, sustainability, and exceptional customer service.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
