Keystone Centre Introduces New CEO & GM

The Keystone Agricultural and Recreational Centre Inc. (Keystone Centre) Board of Directors are pleased to announce the promotion of Connie Lawrence to the position of CEO & general manager.

Starting her journey with the Keystone Centre in 2015 as the assistant sales manager, Lawrence has exemplified strong leadership, and dedication to the continued success of the Keystone Centre. Her outstanding performance and tireless commitment saw her quickly rise to V.P. of sales, and assistant general manager, a position which she has held since 2019, overseeing all event operation at the Keystone Centre. Lawrence’s wealth of experience within the industry makes her the perfect candidate to guide the Keystone Centre to continued success.

As CEO & general manager, Connie Lawrence, who has been the acting general manager since October of 2023, will continue to strengthen the Keystone Centre’s reputation as a premier destination for sports, entertainment, and events, driving the Centre’s growth and helping foster the Centre’s relationship with Brandon and the entire community of Western Manitoba.

“I am excited to embark on this journey as the new CEO & GM of the Keystone Centre,” says Lawrence, Keystone Centre’s newly hired CEO and general manager. “This is an important organization that has been a cornerstone of this community, bringing people together and fostering economic growth for the region. I look forward to working closely with the talented team at the Keystone Centre, community partners, and stakeholders to build upon the Centre’s legacy to create a bright future for the facility.”

Prior to joining the Keystone Centre, Lawrence was a small business owner, and assisted in the operation of her family farm in Fleming, Saskatchewan. In addition to her role as Keystone Centre CEO & general manager, Lawrence is a mother, and grandmother.

“We feel very fortunate that we have somebody as qualified and well-experienced as Connie Lawrence elevated into the role of CEO/GM. She is well-qualified, has a wonderful resume, and has come up through our organization,” says Keystone Centre Board Chair Bruce Luebke. “Connie has shown great dedication to the Keystone Centre and its stakeholders during her tenure with us. She is a great fit to be our next CEO/GM and lead us through an important time as we navigate the financial stability of the Keystone Centre both short and long term.”

In addition to a growing events calendar, the Keystone Centre currently has a lot of projects on its plate, including the Dehumidification/Cooling and seat replacement projects to be completed in the summer of 2024, as well as a Master Site Plan that will give insight into the long-term plans for the Keystone Centre grounds.