Landing DC a new three-day comedy festival, hosting several major events and being featured in many articles have filled the first 100 days of Events DC President and CEO Angie M. Gates’ tenure at the organization.
“I have been focused on securing conventions, meetings and live events in DC in an effort to create jobs and elevate our creative economy. Together, we will keep moving across the facets of our business, working to create connections locally, nationally and internationally,” Gates said. “The District is reenergized and during my time as president and CEO, we will welcome a record number of visitors from around the world with dining and nightlife, signature events, free things to enjoy, arts, culture, shopping, sports and much more. It is Women’s History Month and I intend on making HER-story!”
Gates secured Events DC as a presenting partner to American Black Film Festival’s Because They’re Funny Comedy Festival. The inaugural three-day event will showcase comedic talent within BIPOC communities and propel a new generation of stand-up comedians to stardom. The festival will take place October 6-8, 2023, at The Wharf on the Southwest Waterfront in Washington, DC.
“Angie is using her decades of experience and her extensive industry contacts to help Events DC to continue attracting events that are driving entertainment and visitors to the District of Columbia,” said Events DC Board Chairman Max Brown. “Angie has hit the ground running hard, building a team that supports our shared goals to make DC’s comeback complete.”
Under Gates’ leadership, Events DC had more than 300,000 visitors to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for conventions, meetings and events that included the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, Passport DC’s Embassy Breakfast, Washington DC Auto Show and the grand reopening of a 17,000-square-foot retail, food and beverage space called the Downtown Dining District.
In addition, Events DC debuted a new original documentary film, “Outside Line,” by GATHER at Events DC, celebrated the removal of the last iconic orange seats from the lower bowl of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium as part of Events DC’s Farewell RFK Stadium Campaign and hosted two large-scale FIFA World Cup 2023 watch parties,.
Since Gates took the helm on November 14, 2022, Events DC announced the start of esports’ NBA 2K’s seventh season, the arrival of esports BLAST Premier spring finals in June, the opportunity for naming rights at Entertainment & Sports Arena and the 50th Annual Hoop Culture Classic in April.
She kicked off 2023 by participating in her first PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) Convening Leaders Conference. Also among her highlights have been features in a wide variety of publications, including The Washington Business Journal, District Fray and Executive Insights, to name a few.
In addition to industry events, Gates participated in community engagement annual signature events throughout her first 100 days including Safeway Feast of Sharing, which provided Thanksgiving meals to 5,000 District residents, as well as Jolly Jamboree and Winter Wonderland, two holiday-themed events for children in neighborhoods surrounding Events DC venues.
