Burgess to Leave Cal Mart
Longtime California Mart executive Mary Burgess has resigned from her position as director of sales and special events after 14 years with the center.
Burgess, whose last day will be July 26, is moving to Riverside County, Calif., where she plans to be semi-retired and “kick back for a while.”
The executive’s tenure with the building spanned three owners. She was hired by the Morse family, saw ownership by Equitable Life Assurance Corp. come and go, and has watched the Hertz Corp. take hold.
She said she is staying in her position through the transition of management to Market Center Management Co., the group that oversees management of the California Market Center (CMC), which houses the Cal Mart, and the Dallas Market Center. The CMC recently hired Paul Lentz to serve as general manager of the building and Lorelyn Eaves as vice president of marketing for apparel, gift and home.
Burgess got her start at the Cal Mart as a sales coordinator for the SIMM show, a menswear show hosted by the Cal Mart and held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
“She’s the glue that held her department together through all the changes and different ownerships,” said Karen Mamont, marketing and public relations director of the Cal Mart. “We adore her and we’ll miss her terribly.” —Alison A. Nieder
