The Management of the Downtown Conference Center
Mr. Tom Murray
Conference Center Manager
212-618-6992
Tom began his career with Benchmark Hospitality International in 1996 as the Director of Restaurants at the Forrestal Conference Center in Princeton, NJ. In April 2000 he was promoted to Director of Operations at the World Trade Institute Conference Center and served in that capacity until the events of September 11, 2001. Following a brief hiatus from Benchmark serving in a sales and marketing role, Tom rejoined the company in October 2003 as the Conference Center Manager at a private conference center in New York, NY. Tom joined the Downtown Conference Center team in September 2005. Tom and his wife have two children and reside in NJ.
The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become.
- Harold Taylor
Mr. Steve Weber
Director of Sales
Originally from the St. Louis, Missouri area, Steve is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University. After working a few years in the hotel industry in Texas, Steve relocated to the metropolitan New York City area in 1988. Since then Steve has held sales and marketing management positions at various executive conference and training centers in New York and New Jersey, and also spent five years as Director of Sales at a small luxury hotel in Greenwich, Connecticut. Steve joined the Downtown Conference Center team in July 2009. He and his wife reside in Newburgh, New York.
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
-Charles Dickens
Ms. Patricia Long
Sales Manager
212-618-6997
Patricia is originally from the Caribbean Island of Antigua and is a graduate of Fordham University. After a brief period in the Financial sector, she began her career in the Hospitality Industry in the late 90’s. She gained her sales experience while working with such luxury properties as The InterContinental Hotel NY, Dolce General Electric Conference Center and the Kitano New York Hotel. Patricia brings over eight years of Sales experience to the Downtown Conference Center. She resides in Westchester County.
If you don't know where you are going any road will get you there.
Ms. Carolina Salazar
Conference Planning Manager
Carolina was born in Chile and has since lived in Astoria, Queens since the age of two. While Carolina has a degree in Graphic Design from The School for The Media Arts, she also has six years experience in the Hospitality Industry. Most of those six years consists of her position as Senior Conference Planning Manager for Benchmark Hospitality International at Glen Cove Mansion in Glen Cove, Long Island. Additionally Carolina boasts well rounded experience in Catering, Front Desk, Reservations, and Food & Beverage. In 2007, Carolina joined her second Benchmark property at the Downtown Conference Center. Carolina has 2 children, Camila and Nelson and travels to visit her family as often as possible.
To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to go there.
-Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations
Ms. Roxan Joseph
Office Manager
212-618-6993
Roxan Joseph oversees Human Resources and the Accounting department here at the Downtown Conference Center. Roxan began her career with Benchmark Hospitality International in 1996 working for Lansdowne Resort in Virginia, and worked her way up the ranks from a desk agent to the position as Accounts Receivable Manager. With a strong desire to continue working with Benchmark and move to New York City, Roxan transferred to the Downtown Conference Center and was promoted as the Office Manager in June 2005.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at time of challenge and controversy.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
