Jim Rooney is the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) and oversees the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston’s Back Bay, the 1350-space Boston Common Parking Garage and the MassMutual Center in Springfield, which includes a 6,700-seat arena as well as convention and meetings space.  As Executive Director, Rooney is responsible for a $58 million annual operating budget.

Rooney has renewed the vision, culture and management of the MCCA.  Since Rooney took over the MCCA in 2003, bookings at the new BCEC have exceeded projections and conventions at Boston facilities now generate nearly $500 million in annual economic impact for the Greater Boston area.    

Rooney has been named to Tradeshow Week’s Power Pack as one of the top ten convention bureau or convention center leaders in North America for two consecutive rankings in 2006 and 2008.  The Massachusetts chapter of the American Society for Public Administration named Rooney the 2008 Distinguished Public Administrator.  Under Rooney’s leadership, the BCEC was named North American “Convention Center of the Year” in 2007 by a leading industry publication and was recognized as the 2008 “Best Event Facility” in Boston by Banker & Tradesmen readers.   

Prior to being named Executive Director, Rooney was Director of Development and Construction for the MCCA and oversaw the construction of the $850 million BCEC and the renovation and expansion of the $71 million MassMutual Center.  Under his leadership, the BCEC project was hailed as one of the best-run public works projects in the country and both the BCEC and MassMutual Center projects were completed on schedule and within budget.

Before moving to the MCCA in 2001, Rooney served for two years as Chief of Staff to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.  In that role, he was responsible for the operations of the Mayor’s Office, chaired the Mayor’s Cabinet and had an advisory role over all operations of city government.  Prior to that appointment, Rooney spent 23 years in the transportation industry starting an 18-year career at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority as a track laborer and ending as Deputy General Manager.  He also served in senior positions at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the Central Artery Project.

Rooney sits on several non-profit community boards in the Boston area, including Project Bread - the Walk for Hunger; The Partnership; The Children’s Trust Fund; Friends of the Fort Point Channel; Save the Harbor, Save the Bay; South Boston Neighborhood House and Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses, Inc.

Rooney attended the prestigious Boston Latin School and graduated as President of his class and winner of the National Honor Society Leadership Award.  He has a BA in Economics from Harvard College and attended the Boston University School of Management.  Jim and his wife Maryanne reside in Dorchester, MA and have three children.