(Charleston, SC) – April 2012 – Fred Julius, Vice President of Operations for The Wilderman Group announced the promotion of Lauren Braxton to Sales Manager at the multi-use 30,000-square-foot Gastonia Conference Center in Gastonia, NC.
 
According to Julius, “Lauren has been an integral part of the Pre-Opening Team at Gastonia Conference Center starting back in September 2011 when she joined the team as a Sales Coordinator and has displayed a consistently positive influence on the conference center and within the community.”
 
Born and raised in Gastonia, Lauren holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and gained solid experience as an intern at the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) which provided her with an enthusiastic pursuit of a career in meeting and event planning.
 
Before joining Gastonia Conference Center, Lauren worked closely with local and regional real estate agencies to negotiate appropriate acreage for the five-acre, 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte and assisted the Charlotte Sports Commission in comprehensive research on a proposal for the ACC Football Championship in Charlotte.  Lauren was instrumental in gaining “green company” status from Green Air Works for the CRVA and also worked as an event coordinator at Southern Party and Events in Charlotte.
 
“We are thrilled”, said Julius, “that Lauren is part of our team of dedicated professionals at Gastonia Conference Center, and that her enthusiasm and commitment will continue to serve the community she loves.”  Julius continued, “Lauren is an independent and creative professional who has shown great potential since she joined us.  She is dedicated to making every event productive and successful.”
 
As Sales Manager, Lauren will assume the responsibility for prospecting and solicitation of new business by working closely with metro-Charlotte area and well as in the broader North Carolina and South Carolina markets.  She will also focus on the city of Gastonia and Gaston County markets.  Lauren will be the primary contact for attracting and booking civic, not-for-profit, local corporate, association and education-based business into the Conference Center.
 
An active member of the Gastonia community, Lauren serves on the Board of Directors for PWA Professional Women's Association (PWA), received Provisional of the Year award (2011) from the Junior League, is an active member of the Community Research Committee, and volunteers at The Battered Women's Shelter of Gaston County.   Lauren is also a member of Girls on the Run of Gaston County, a character-development program for 3rd-8th grade girls. 
 
Lauren and husband are both long-time residents of Gastonia along with their extended families.  They are active in the community and committed to local high school sports and share an enthusiasm for hiking and running with their two dogs.
 
Gastonia Conference Center
As the cornerstone of the downtown revitalization project, Gastonia Conference Center complements the existing local architecture and includes extensive environmental and sustainability programs.   With 5,000 square feet of flexible space, the ballroom accommodates over 300 people for banquet seating, or over 400 people for auditorium-style seating.  The facility features state-of-the-art conference technology and traditional furnishings.  All space is designed to maximize comfort and efficiency. For additional information, visit www.GastoniaConferenceCenter.com

About The Wilderman Group
The Wilderman Group is a woman-owned hospitality management company that provides focused services both customized and cutting edge with a concentration in the Carolinas and the Southeast. They specialize in civic and community developments and creating effective and productive environments for meetings and conferences. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, TWG is a full-service hospitality management firm with a team of industry experts in all areas of hospitality including operations, sales and marketing management, food and beverage, and environmental programs. They are steadfast in their commitment to environmental stewardship and are proud and active members of the US Green Building Council’s Charlotte Chapter, the South Carolina Chapter, the Georgia Chapter, and the International Association of Conference Centers. Visit The Wilderman Group at http://thewildermangroup.com.