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Charles Starks
President and CEO at Music City Center
Charles Starks is the President and CEO of Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He has held this position since March 2005, overseeing the operations and financials of the 2.1 million square foot convention center.12 Starks is responsible for managing a staff of 225 people and overseeing facilities that include 353,143 square feet of exhibit halls, a 57,500 square foot Grand Ballroom, an 18,000 square foot Davidson Ballroom, and 60 meeting rooms.1
Prior to his current role, Starks worked as the Director of Rooms and General Manager at Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Radisson Hotel from November 1998 to January 2005.1 He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism, Food and Lodging Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, which he earned between 1978 and 1982.1
Starks has achieved several notable accomplishments in his career:
- He successfully led Music City Center since its inception, overseeing its construction and operation.2
- In 2022, he was named Chairman of the Board for the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), a global leader in business events.2
- He received the Nashville Public Education Foundation's 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing his leadership and contributions to the community.3
Under Starks' leadership, Music City Center has hosted 2,534 events and generated $4.1 billion in direct economic impact for the greater Nashville region since its opening in 2013.3 He is known for his commitment to community involvement, serving on various professional, civic, and community boards, including the Nashville Downtown Partnership, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, and Greater Nashville Hospitality Association.3
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