A New Boss at Convention Center

After his first day on the job, Anaheim’s new Convention Center manager said he found a spirit of cooperation among city staff that was “second to none.”

Lynn Thompson, 42, who was introduced to the City Council Tuesday, started his new job Monday as manager of a center that had 1,758,000 visitors and generated $7.1 million in revenue during the 1984-85 fiscal year.

Thompson, formerly an Orlando, Fla., municipal administrator, said he doesn’t foresee changes for the facility which, he said, “has obviously made a name for itself within the nation.”

“I have no preconceived notion about changes. My philosophy is to observe the operations and make refinements when necessary,” Thompson said. He will, he added, try to maintain “a tradition of excellence.”

Thompson replaces Thomas F. Liegler, who oversaw the convention center, Anaheim Stadium and two city-owned golf courses for 20 years. Liegler resigned in May of last year to become executive vice president and general manager of the planned San Diego convention center.

Following a report by Bob Simpson, deputy city manager, responsibilities for the different facilities were divided among various managers. Thompson will be responsible only for the convention center. His salary is $77,500 annually.

Thompson arrived this weekend from Orlando, where he oversaw five facilities known as “Centroplex”: the Orlando (football) Stadium, Expo Center, Tinker (baseball) Field, Ben White Raceway and the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center.

During his six-year stint in charge of Centroplex, Thompson played key roles in setting up the first Orlando-Orange County (Florida) Convention and Visitors Bureau, negotiating a development agreement to build a hotel next to the Expo Center and renovating the 2,500-seat Bob Carr auditorium, said William L. Becker, Centroplex acting director.

Becker, who worked for Thompson for 10 years, described his former boss as “very professional” and caring for his employees.

An Orlando employee since 1972, Thompson’s previous jobs include four years as assistant to the mayor and director of public facilities, in charge of parks, recreation and sanitation. He is married and has a daughter and son.