The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) has announced that they will be honoring Rolando B. Rodriguez, Chairman of NATO and Senior Advisor to The Marcus Corporation and Influx, with the 2023 NATO Marquee Award during this year's CinemaCon. Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon, made the announcement. Rodriguez is being recognized by NATO for his unequaled dedication, commitment, and service to the motion picture theatre industry.
"Rolando has served NATO and the entire industry through existential challenges over the past few years with strong and strategic leadership. He is tireless in his efforts, thoughtful in execution, and able to incorporate the advice of all exhibitor members, big and small. Rolando has guided me at the twilight of my career at NATO and I will always be grateful for that," said NATO's President & CEO, John Fithian.
Rodriguez currently serves as Chairman of the National Association of Theatre Owners and Senior Advisor to The Marcus Corporation and Influx. Most recently he was Chairman, President, and CEO of Marcus Theatres and Executive Vice President of The Marcus Corporation until October 2022. Since his tenure began in 2013, Rodriguez oversaw the Marcus Theatres division with 85 locations in 17 states while also leading the corporate-wide real estate and development strategy. Prior to his time at Marcus, Rodriguez worked as a Senior Leader with AMC Theatres for 30 years and as CEO of Rave Cinemas, where he facilitated its turnaround and sale. At NATO, Rodriguez served previously in many other key leadership roles such as Vice-Chairman, Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, co-founder of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Executive Board Member, and Advisory Board member.
Rodriguez has been instrumental in driving the forward, especially in recent years during which the industry faced many challenges. Under his leadership, NATO has successfully navigated through the pandemic and he continues to work tirelessly to ensure the future success of the industry. His commitment and dedication to the industry have not gone unnoticed and he has been recognized for his achievements with several awards in the past.
He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Cinema Federation, as well as the Children's Wisconsin Board of Directors. He leads multiple Hispanic initiatives, including serving as the Board Chairman for the Hispanic Collaborative. Rolando has been honored with multiple awards for his leadership including the ShowEast Dan Fellman Leadership Award and the NATO of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Excellence in Service Award in 2022.
CinemaCon, the official convention of NATO, will be held April 24-27, 2023, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He will receive the industry's highest tribute as part of CinemaCon's "State of the Industry" program on Tuesday, April 25.
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