Gathering Place new executive director to start this month
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Gathering Place announced its new executive director on Sunday.
Officials say Julio Badin will start his new position at the award-winning park on Aug. 23.
He has 22 years in the hospitality and entertainment industries.
“My entire professional career has been in the hospitality and entertainment industry, and I’ve loved every minute of it,” Badin said. “However, after coming to understand Gathering Place’s mission and meeting the Park’s outstanding team, this presented such a compelling opportunity. I’m excited to fully engage with and serve an entire community in a way that I haven’t been able to do in the past.”
Before joining the Gathering Place team, he was the senior vice president of customer experience at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. In addition to that, Badin worked with The Walt Disney Company for 18 years, holding key leadership roles managing customer experience, attractions, retail, culinary, and financial performance.
“Julio clearly possesses the skills to continue to deliver and improve upon the high-quality experience that all Tulsans have come to expect from Gathering Place,” said Jeff Stava, construction director and trustee of Tulsa’s Gathering Place, LLC. “Julio’s previous work at Disney and DFW demonstrated over and over again his ability and dedication to creating and implementing family-friendly, inclusive and engaging experiences for all visitors. We look forward to him continuing that great work here.”
Badin will also oversee the operations and programming for Guthrie Green and Duet Jazz Club.
The previous and founding executive director of Gathering Place, Tony Moore, announced his departure in February. He has taken a new position as president and CEO of The Trinity Park Conservancy in Dallas.
