NATIONAL: Clarion Events North America has announced its first-ever chief marketing officer to further support all customer-centricity initiatives. The company is elevating former executive vice president Liz Irving, who has been with the company since 2016, to this newly created position, where she will focus on further driving customer initiatives, product innovation and technology enablement.

LAS VEGAS: The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod announced its first-ever “SkyJump for a Cure” charitable event, partnering with Students of the Year in order to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society from 2-10 p.m. on March 12. Through Students of the Year, high school students take on innovative campaigns during a seven-week competition to raise money for cures and access to treatment for blood cancer. The “SkyJump for a Cure” campaign is led by a 17-year-old student Kailee Olliges.

LOS ANGELES: The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) will hold the 13th Annual AAFCA Film Awards ceremony on March 2, celebrating outstanding achievement in film. Winners and honorees include Jennifer Hudson, Jeymes Samuel, Corey Hawkins, Aunjanue Ellis, Adam McKay, Saniyya Sidney, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Jeffery Robinson, Stanley Nelson and more.

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival has announced that Penelope Cruz will be virtually honored with the Precious Gem Award at its 39th edition. The festival will take place March 4-13. The 2022 Best Actress Academy Award nominee will participate in a virtual award tribute and conversation moderated by Variety’s Film Awards editor Clayton Davis.

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: Chef Eric Petrie, formerly of Primo restaurant in Rockland, Maine, was recently appointed chef de cuisine at the newly redesigned and reopened Primo Orlando located in JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. Petrie will also run catering and private events, using produce, honey and eggs from the on-site Whisper Creek Farm, a 7,000-square-foot fruit and vegetable garden.