Principal
Education:
- B.S. Business Administration, 1978
Affiliations:
- International Association of Venue Managers
David O’Neal is a co-Founder of Conventional Wisdom Corp., bringing over 30 years of convention facility expertise to every project. As a strategic advisor, he helps owners, designers, government entities, and developers align programming, operational criteria, and market analyses to deliver facilities that meet stakeholder goals. At the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), David served as Executive Director—overseeing two expansion phases and authoring the master plan that grew the venue to 1.1 million square feet. He led marketing initiatives that elevated OCCC to a top-10 national destination and implemented policies and procedures that improved operational efficiency and service standards. Today, he continues advising on the Center’s Phase 5a expansion, applying lessons learned to enhance phasing and revenue models.
David’s consulting portfolio includes programming and strategic planning for more than 300 venues, including convention centers in Bangkok, Chicago, Dubai, London, New York, San Diego, Seoul, and Vancouver. He partners with design teams and owners to develop phased development plans that balance budget constraints, cultural norms, and long-term adaptability. His academic background in honors chemistry from Indiana University instilled a rigorous analytical approach, which, combined with 13 years of hands-on facility management, informs his pragmatic solutions. Clients benefit from his expertise in event production, crowd management, asset stewardship, and governance—ensuring that each facility operates efficiently from day one and adapts to evolving industry trends. Through data-driven market insights and impartial guidance, David empowers project teams to navigate complex challenges and achieve optimal outcomes.
Recent Project Experience:
Austin Convention Center
Principal-in-Charge & Sr. Project Manager: David continues to serve as an executive and strategic advisor to the Austin Convention Center. Since 2015, he has participated in feasibility studies for facility expansion, master planning to study various expansion alternatives, implementation planning to deliver multi- and single-phased options for redevelopment of the facilities and aided in the procurement and administration of professional design and construction management services for the ongoing $1.6 billion redevelopment. He continues to assist facility management with operational and organizational issues as the facility prepares to close for the duration of the construction project and serves as advisor to the staff in review of design options, client and industry communications, and value-based decision making.
Colorado Convention Center Expansion
Strategic Advisor: David participated on the Rider Levett Bucknall team as an extension of staff for the City of Denver on the expansion of the Colorado Convention Center. Initial tasks included procurement of a design/build team, negotiation of contract with the selected team, design review and comment on plans and specifications. The project involved constructing an 80,00 SF ballroom, banquet kitchen, service and support space in the air rights above the existing exhibit hall, solving complex challenges to vertical movement (threading exit stairs, elevators and escalators through the existing structure) and constructability requiring placement of a 300-ton mobile crane over the existing roof structure. Starting in January 2022, he was tasked with assisting the City’s Arts & Venues Division with the solicitation, evaluation, selection, and negotiation of the facility’s private-sector management company.
Broward County Convention Center Expansion & HQ Hotel
Strategic Advisor: David participated on the Weitz Company team as strategic planning, technical programmatic, design review and operations consultant for Broward County on the phased expansion of its convention center and development of an attached headquarters hotel. He worked with the County, design/build team and project developer to help resolve functional conflicts, ensure operational efficiencies and provide for the best use of the County’s limited funds while maintaining operations in the original building.
The two-stage final design involved constructing a new loading dock, demolishing the back wall of the facility and creating deeper exhibit halls on a restricted site. This approach was simplified when the facility was closed during the COVID-19 outbreak and shutdown of public access. The second phase involves bridging across internal roadways and constructing a ballroom and meeting complex to address security issues related to the adjacent to the Port of Fort Lauderdale area serving cruise ships.
Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
Principal-in-Charge / Program Manager: David served initially as executive advisor to Cuyahoga County on the development and operation of its new convention center, attached medical trade mart and headquarters hotel. During change in facility management companies, he provided executive oversight throughout the transition period on behalf of the County. From 2018 through 2022, David also served as the asset manager on behalf of the Cuyahoga County Convention Facilities Development Corporation, the facility’s governance body, and reviewed regularly the operation, maintenance, capital planning and budgeting for the convention center and trade mart.
Pictured above: Colorado Convention Center