Job Description
Greenleaf Hospitality Group is building the future of sports, entertainment, and hospitality in Southwest Michigan. As the operator of the Kalamazoo Event Center, we're creating a premier destination that will bring people together through concerts, sporting events, community celebrations, and unforgettable experiences.
Opening in Fall 2027, the Kalamazoo Event Center will host concerts, family shows, comedy, community events, and serve as the home of Western Michigan University Hockey and Basketball and the Kalamazoo Wings.
We're looking for a Senior Marketing Manager to join the team well before opening, playing a critical role in developing the venue's brand, launching one of Michigan's most anticipated entertainment destinations, and driving long-term audience growth.
This role will lead the development and activation of the marketing strategy for concerts, comedy, family entertainment, community events, and other non-tenant programming at the Kalamazoo Event Center. Joining the team ahead of the venue's Fall 2027 opening, the Senior Marketing Manager will play a key role in bringing the Kalamazoo Event Center's entertainment vision to life. Along the way, this role will help lead marketing efforts for the final concert and entertainment season at Wings Event Center, honoring its legacy while introducing audiences to the future of live entertainment in downtown Kalamazoo.
Working alongside the broader Greenleaf Hospitality Group marketing team, this individual will collaborate with promoters, community organizations, agency partners, and media partners to develop and execute integrated marketing campaigns, maximize advertising opportunities through paid and trade partnerships, and drive audience growth through innovative promotional strategies. As the venue opens, this role will transition into leading the ongoing marketing of the Kalamazoo Event Center's entertainment programming while supporting enterprise initiatives that strengthen the Greenleaf Hospitality Group brand through cross-promotional opportunities and shared storytelling.
May include, but not be limited to:
Develop and execute integrated marketing campaigns for concerts, comedy, family entertainment, community events, and other non-tenant programming at the Kalamazoo Event Center.
Manage the media and promotional execution of those campaigns, including advertising placements, media buys, promotional partnerships, and paid and trade opportunities across digital and traditional channels to maximize reach, ticket sales, and return on investment.
Serve as a key member of the venue's opening team, activating pre-opening marketing plans, audience development initiatives, and launch campaigns leading up to the Fall 2027 opening.
Build and maintain strong relationships with building tenants, promoters, touring partners, artist representatives, media partners, community organizations, tourism stakeholders, and strategic business partners.
Assist in annual marketing planning, campaign strategy, event marketing calendars, budget management, and performance reporting for assigned entertainment and community programming.
Oversee the development of creative assets including advertising, digital content, video, signage, email campaigns, social media, and promotional materials while ensuring brand consistency.
Collaborate closely with booking, ticketing, sponsorship, premium sales, guest experience, operations, and leadership to ensure seamless execution of event marketing plans.
Collaborate with members of the Greenleaf Hospitality Group marketing team on enterprise campaigns and cross-promotional opportunities that support entertainment programming and elevate awareness of the Kalamazoo Event Center.
Identify opportunities to leverage concerts, special events, and entertainment programming to strengthen awareness of both the Kalamazoo Event Center and Greenleaf Hospitality Group.
Identify new audience development opportunities through community partnerships, grassroots initiatives, influencer collaborations, tourism partnerships, and regional outreach.
Analyze campaign performance, ticket sales trends, customer insights, and market data to optimize marketing investments, drive attendance, and support revenue growth.
Opportunity to supervise interns and future marketing team members as Greenleaf Hospitality Group and the Kalamazoo Event Center continues to grow.
Represent the Kalamazoo Event Center and Greenleaf Hospitality Group at community events, promoter meetings, and business development opportunities as needed.
Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
6–8+ years of progressive marketing experience within live entertainment, sports, hospitality, tourism, destination marketing, or venue marketing.
Demonstrated success leading integrated marketing campaigns from strategy through execution with measurable business results.
Experience managing advertising budgets, media planning, agency relationships, and paid media campaigns.
Strong strategic thinking with the ability to balance long-term planning with day-to-day execution.
Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to lead multiple high-profile initiatives simultaneously.
Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Proven ability to build trusted relationships with executive leadership, promoters, media partners, agencies, sponsors, community organizations, and other key stakeholders.
Strong understanding of digital marketing, CRM, social media, email marketing, paid media, website management, marketing analytics, and audience development strategies.
Self-motivated, collaborative, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.
Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays in support of events and venue activities.
Experience marketing concerts, festivals, performing arts, sports, or other live entertainment properties.
Experience working directly with promoters, touring productions, artist management, or ticketing platforms.
Experience launching a new venue, destination, entertainment property, or major brand initiative.
Experience negotiating advertising partnerships, media trade agreements, and promotional collaborations.
Familiarity with venue operations and the live entertainment industry.
Experience working with agencies, creative partners, or cross-functional marketing teams.
Few marketers have the opportunity to launch an entertainment venue from the ground up. As part of the opening team, you'll help define how the Kalamazoo Event Center is introduced to the community, shape its brand, and create the campaigns that establish it as one of the Midwest's premier destinations for sports, entertainment, and community events.
You'll also have the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of Greenleaf Hospitality Group, helping connect one of the region's most transformative developments with a portfolio of hospitality, dining, sports, and entertainment brands that have been creating memorable experiences in Southwest Michigan for decades.
Greenleaf Hospitality Group (GHG) is a locally owned company committed to creating exceptional experiences in dining, lodging, sports, and entertainment in Kalamazoo, Michigan. For more than 25 years, GHG has welcomed over 33 million guests and grown to include 12 unique brands, including the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites, Burdick's Bar & Grill, Brick + Brine, Wings Event Center, Kalamazoo Country Club, and the upcoming Kalamazoo Event Center.
With a team of more than 900 hospitality professionals, GHG continues to foster community connections through innovative, guest-obsessed hospitality. As the operator of the Kalamazoo Event Center, Greenleaf Hospitality Group is helping shape the future of live entertainment and community experiences in Southwest Michigan.
