March 16, 2010, (Charlottesville, VA) -- Jason Pedone has been named General Manager of John Paul Jones Arena, effective immediately. Pedone was hired as Assistant General Manager for John Paul Jones Arena in July 2007 and has been with SMG, the management company that operates the Arena on behalf of the University, since 2002. Prior to working at JPJ, Pedone was Director of Event Services for SMG at Reliant Park, in Houston, TX, one of the world's largest entertainment complexes and home to the Houston Texans NFL team. Pedone, his wife Kelly and daughter Jillian live in Crozet, VA.
"We are pleased that we had a perfect successor to Larry Wilson right here on our JPJ staff. In his three years here at John Paul Jones Arena, Jason has shown that he has all the knowledge and skills it takes to be a top manager for SMG, and I am certain he will do a fabulous job.” said Bob Cavalieri, Senior Vice President - Business Development for SMG.
Rich Kovatch, Associate Vice President for Business Operations for University of Virginia, said, “While the University is sorry to see Larry Wilson go, the opportunity for him to move up within SMG is a testament to the job he did here. We are delighted that the perfect successor to Larry was right here in our midst. We welcome Jason, with whom we have worked for the past three years, to the position of General Manager, certain that he will continue the tradition of excellence that has been established at JPJ.”
Pedone replaces Larry Wilson, who was been named General Manager for SMG in Jacksonville, FL. SMG, on behalf of the City of Jacksonville, manages the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, the Prime Osborn Convention Center and the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.
