Katy Zamesnik Named Interim Director of Austin Convention Center

Trisha Tatro announces retirement, Rolando Fernandez rejoins leadership team

AUSTIN, Texas – Katy Zamesnik, previously Deputy Director of the Austin Convention Center, has been named Interim Director by Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax, following the retirement of Director Trisha Tatro.

Over the last six years, Zamesnik has served in executive roles at the Austin Convention Center, advancing from Chief Administrative Officer to Assistant Director, then Deputy Director, before assuming the Interim Director role. During the pandemic, she developed financial models for the Convention Center’s expansion and oversaw consultant contracts for real estate and development. Since joining the department in 2020, she has been deeply committed to the Austin Convention Center’s success and its expansion project.

“I am honored and proud to serve as Interim Director and look forward to working with our talented team and partners through this exciting chapter in the Austin Convention Center’s history,” said Katy Zamesnik, Interim Director of the Austin Convention Center. “This is a pivotal moment for our department, and I am confident we will continue delivering exceptional service and creating meaningful experiences that satisfy our visitors, support the convention and hospitality industry, and serve the Austin community.”

Since joining the City of Austin in 2011, Zamesnik has held other key leadership roles, including oversight of the management of the City’s 2018 General Obligation Bond program. She was an integral part of the executive staff in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, where she supported the Austin Convention Center expansion proposal and guided major financial planning efforts.

Zamesnik holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and International Affairs from Florida State University and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.

ROLANDO FERNANDEZ RETURNS AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR

The Austin Convention Center welcomes back Rolando Fernandez, Jr., as Deputy Director. Fernandez will oversee contracts and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects within the department.

Fernandez has over 26 years of experience in the public sector, including 19 years with the City of Austin. Most recently, he served as Interim Director of the City’s Animal Services Department. Previously, he worked in the Financial Services Department as a Capital Contracting Officer, overseeing procurement and contracts for professional and construction services that support citywide CIP initiatives.

A United States Air Force veteran, Fernandez served as an Aerospace Physiologist and non-commissioned officer, leading operational and logistics functions and deploying to the Middle East and South Korea. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Wayland Baptist University and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from St. Mary’s University. He is a past president of the Local Government Hispanic Network.

TATRO FROM INTERN TO DIRECTOR

Tatro retired after a 24-year career with the Austin Convention Center, where she advanced from intern to Director. Throughout her tenure, she held key roles, including Event Coordinator, Event Services Manager, Convention Facility Manager, and Assistant Director, overseeing facility operations, sustainability, capital projects, and major improvements at both the Austin Convention Center and the Palmer Events Center.

As Director, Tatro guided the department through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheaded Capital Improvement Programs, and led the Convention Center’s ambitious expansion, positioning Austin as a premier destination for decades. Her leadership and vision have left an enduring impact on the city’s hospitality and convention industries.

ABOUT THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER

Located in the heart of downtown, the Austin Convention Center operates the Austin Convention Center, Palmer Events Center, three parking garages, and the Warehouse and Marshalling Yard. As an enterprise department for the City of Austin, ACCD is not funded by property taxes, sales taxes, or transfers from the electric and water utilities.

The Austin Convention Center is undergoing a $1.6 billion, nearly four-year redevelopment project called UnconventionalATX. Groundbreaking was held in April 2025, and the building is projected to reopen in spring 2029. The redevelopment will nearly double the facility’s size, expanding rentable space to 620,000 square feet, adding public plazas, and improving pedestrian access. It also aims to set a new benchmark in eco-friendly design as the world’s first zero-carbon-certified convention center, as recognized by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI).