ShowBiz Cinemas has added five new members to its corporate office management team: Jeremy Devine as vice president of marketing and content, Aron Barr as vice president of information technology, Chris Younts as vice president of construction, Jalynn Crummel as director of purchasing, and Wesley Cribb as director of food and beverage.
ShowBiz CEO Kevin Mitchell said, “This is a uniquely difficult time for everyone. The gradual reopening of the theatre business is a challenging endeavor that must put the safety of our employees and patrons paramount. We intended to make these five great strategic hires prior to the COVID closings, to help guide Showbiz into a period of greater expansion. We now welcome their combined experience even more as we navigate the future.”
Devine started his career as a booker for Paramount and moved up through the ranks of distribution, handling blockbusters, art film and repertory at various times in his long tenure. He then joined Rave Cinemas, an innovative start up theater circuit that grew to the fourth highest grossing circuit in the U.S. For the past two years, he was vice president of global marketing for MediaMation, handling the international rollout of MX4D to exhibition.
Devine said, “What the whole world is going though now is truly unprecedented. I am excited to join the team at Showbiz and look forward to the industry reopening as soon as it is safely feasible.”
Barr is a technology executive with 25 years of success delivering strategic alignment and business solutions across the enterprise environment. He got his start as an IT leader in the pizza and video game segment with Peter Piper Pizza where he spent more than seven years introducing new technologies that would help the company grow, elevate their quality profile, and innovate. He joined Harkins Theatres in 2005. During his 14-year tenure there, he drove the development of an ecommerce platform, websites, mobile apps, online ticketing, POS systems, a new loyalty program, business intelligence and many other business systems. “I am tremendously excited to join the Showbiz team, especially at a time when technology will drive innovation to improve business delivery while reducing guest and employee health risks,” said Barr.
Younts, a graduate of the University of Arkansas, brings 20 years of experience in construction, facilities and property management to his role at ShowBiz Cinemas. After beginning his career at FoxCor, Chris shepherded huge building projects in the casino and hotel industry for such leaders as Harrah’s and Stations Casinos. He then honed his theater expertise with a 13-year tenure at Cinemark.
Crummel, joins ShowBiz with 16 years of experience with Cinemark, including 13 years in their purchasing department. Prior to her experience with Cinemark, she attended the University of North Texas, graduating with a BA in Computer Science.
Cribb comes from Marcus Theatres Corporation and via their previous acquisition of Movie Tavern, combining for eight years in corporate management of restaurant and theatre operations. Prior to that he honed his food and beverage management skills at Cracker Barrel corporation and Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
ShowBiz Cinemas www.showbizcinemas.com