NATO Hands Chairman Gavel To Celebration! Cinemas’ John Loeks

The National Association of Theatre Owners just announced that its 17-member executive board of directors last week elected new officers from among its ranks to two-year terms overseeing the exhibition industry trade group.

The head of Grand Rapids, MI-based Celebration! Cinemas, John Loeks, is the new Chairman — taking over from Carmike Cinemas’ David Passman. And Jeff Logan, President of South Dakota’s Foothills Entertainment, was elected Secretary, the position previously held by Southern Theatres’ George Solomon.

There’ll be some continuity, though: Regal Entertainment CEO Amy Miles was re-elected as Vice-Chairwoman, and Byron Berkley of Texas’ Foothills Entertainment returns as Treasurer.

“NATO’s strength comes from its volunteer leaders, and we are fortunate to have the dedicated service of the most talented people from across our industry,” says NATO CEO John Fithian. (He made an almost identical comment after the previous vote in 2013.)

Directors made their choices at NATO’s annual meeting at the Park Hyatt hotel in Washington, D.C.