Kermit Griffin, executive director and chef at Richmond Hill City Center, recently announced the appointment of Andrea M. Powers as director of sales at the multi-use meeting and event facility. 
“Andrea has the ideal background for Richmond Hill City Center, and her commitment to the local community will be mutually advantageous to all,” Griffin said. “We are delighted that Andrea’s experience in food and beverage will also be instrumental to the overall success of the property.”
In her role as director of sales, Powers will be responsible for developing sales strategies, forecasting and budgets for the 22,800-square-foot, LEED-registered facility in J.F. Gregory Park. 
She will assume responsibility for the overall direction of the sales team, assist the executive director and analyze current market trends in the execution of sales initiatives in the area. She will be a liaison between the municipally owned facility and the local community. 
Powers, a resident of Richmond Hill, has 10 years of experience in hospitality. She has worked in a variety of segments of hotel management, including guest services, catering, conference services and director of sales. Her experience includes positions in Alabama, Texas, Kentucky, Indiana and Missouri with Wyndham, Holiday Inn, LaQuinta and several boutique hotels. 
She also served as hotel manager for Clipper Cruise Lines, where she was responsible for all hotel operations, including galley, dining room, lounge and housekeeping. She has traveled to Alaska, Canada, the East and West coasts of the United States, Central America and South America.
Most recently, Powers was the catering sales manager at the Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality and tourism management from Purdue University. 
From 2007-08, Powers served as program manager and catering manager for food operations at Fort Rucker, Ala.
Powers’ husband of eight years is career military and stationed at Fort Stewart with the military police. He has served for six years and has deployed to Iraq and Korea. He has received the Purple Heart, awarded in the name of the president to those who have been wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. military. Their 3-year-old daughter is preparing to attend pre-kindergarten class in the fall.