Dallas Market Center has announced two promotions within its Apparel Leasing team. Jill Cunningham has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Apparel Leasing; and Bailey Watson has been promoted to Vice President of Apparel Leasing. Eva Walsh will continue to handle New Business Development as she spends more time with her family. These position changes will be effective May 1.
“We are thrilled to promote Jill and Bailey following their years of hard work and tremendous results,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “I also want to thank Eva Walsh for her decades of leadership and continuing support of our business. Today we stand as the center of fashion trends and commerce for independent retail because of this team. Buyers from coast to coast attend our markets in large part because of their hard work delivering and maintaining top brands.”
Jill Cunningham, who has been with the Dallas Market Center Apparel leasing team since 2018, will oversee all permanent and temporary leasing for softgoods, which includes womens, men’s, children’s, Western and English exhibitors as well as fine jewelry. She was recognized as one of the exceptional Women to Watch at the 2023 Trade Show Executive Gold 100 Awards & Summit for her remarkable leadership qualities, creative problem-solving skills, and excellence in trade show management of multiple shows each year.
“We have created tremendous momentum in Dallas over the last four years,” said Jill Cunningham. “I am inspired to serve a company dedicated to supporting brands large and small, to lead a team energized by our customers’ success, and to build upon what makes Dallas a growing marketplace of choice for thousands of companies.”
Bailey Watson, who has been with the Dallas Market Center Apparel leasing team since 2017, has been a driving force to grow Dallas’ permanent Western exhibitors on the 14th floor and lead the newest softgoods leasing initiative–the 10th floor Western expansion. She also grew the footwear category at Apparel & Accessories markets and led leasing for the launch of the AETA tradeshow in Dallas, which is the premier global event for the English industry.
Said Bailey Watson: “This is a special opportunity that I am grateful to embrace. I look forward to continuing to serve our industries, drive growth in our marketplace, and create unique value for our exhibitors.”
Eva Walsh, who has served as mentor to both Jill and Bailey, will continue to focus on new business development opportunities. Her career with Dallas Market Center has spanned more than 20 years, first as Director of Marketing in the 1990s, then rejoining the company in 2011 to lead business development, marketing, and leasing. Under her tenure, the marketplace has thrived including significant growth in women’s apparel brands inside permanent showrooms and temporary space, the tripling in size of The Men’s Show, the relocation of WESA shows from Denver to Dallas, and the re-launch of the AETA show serving the English community. Today, the apparel and accessories trade events held in Dallas attract buyers from more states from coast to coast and internationally.
“It has been an honor to spend my professional years with such a supportive team, company, and industry community,” said Walsh. “I’ve also been fortunate to work with Jill and Bailey every day for years and to see how smart, dedicated, and passionate they are for our business. It’s never easy to take a step back but after decades of a schedule driven by the market calendar I’m looking forward to more family time.”
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