2026 Women of Live: Marissa Dionne

Marissa Dionne
Oak View Group | Vice President of Marketing

STAND-OUT SHOW | “The first concert I ever worked was Elton John and Billy Joel’s ‘Dueling Pianos.’ I’ve been a huge Billy Joel fan for most of my life, so it truly felt like the perfect welcome into the industry.”

Marissa Dionne joined Oak View Group (Pollstar parent company) in 2015 and has risen through the ranks to her current post, where she oversees marketing for venue management, hospitality and parking along with facilitating arena and theatre alliances. The Illinois State University alum, who has spent more than two decades in live events, got her first internship at Hartford Civic Center “and instantly fell in love with the industry.”

Her highlights over the past year featured a pair of sold-out reopenings, most notably a Paul McCartney concert at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, and Stevie Nicks inaugurating the refurbished Peoples Bank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut.

Dionne sees plenty of progress for women in the live entertainment space. “More of us are running venues, leading teams, producing shows and sitting at decision-making tables, which wasn’t always the case,” she told Pollstar. “At the same time, we still have a long way to go. There are still notable gaps in executive roles, ownership and in some of the more technical or operational parts of the business. The opportunity is here right now to turn the momentum into lasting change, investing in development, mentorship and clear pathways to leadership.”

Asked for advice she’d give up and comers in the biz, Dionee says, “Speak up about what you want. Ask for bigger assignments, more money. No one can champion you if they don’t know your goals.”

In forging her successful career, Dionne credits “staying open to the possibilities … I rarely turned down new projects, unfamiliar programs or new initiatives. Saying yes to opportunities outside my comfort zone has been a major driver of my growth in this industry.”

Looking ahead, Dionne is excited about the launch of several partner venues, including Mobile Arena in Alabama; Port Wentworth Amphitheater and Augusta Arena in Georgia; and Ryan Field, a football stadium at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She says, “My team and I are committed to staying ahead of industry trends to ensure we’re equipping OVG marketers with the best practices and tools needed to drive revenue and deliver exceptional guest experiences,” with an eye toward improving the F&B experience across the OVG portfolio.