Donna Genesky

VP, Retail, Parks & Resorts Delaware North

As vice president of merchandise for Delaware North’s Parks & Resorts and Travel divisions, Donna Genesky is responsible for all aspects of merchandise operations, including total profit-loss accountability and the opportunity to create and implement new strategies.

Donna, who is based at the company’s global headquarters in Buffalo, New York, developed a merchandising strategy for the company that is rooted in four product tiers: Value, Good, Better, Branded. Delaware North’s brand relationships foster a sense of place by co-branding globally recognized products with our clients’ brands. Exclusivity is also a part of our strategy, with Delaware North’s in-house Creative Studio and buying team collaborating to develop exclusively available products for our locations.

Among recent major projects, Donna led the on-budget, on-schedule redesign and merchandising strategy of the 15,000-square-foot merchandise store at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The store — the largest space-themed merchandise space in the world — features interactive shopping experiences and a large collection of souvenirs, memorabilia and apparel. Other features include two popular, space-themed Selfie Stations that support the location’s social media strategy.

Donna joined Delaware North in 2007 as director of retail for Delaware North’s Sportservice division. In 2010, she transitioned to the role of regional director of retail, focusing on the retail operation at TD Garden while also overseeing NHL, NFL, NBA and MLS retail properties. Among her many accomplishments, Donna played a lead role in opening the award-winning store at MetLife Stadium, a near-10,000- square-foot location that comes with the unique requirement to change its look depending on which NFL team is playing (i.e., the Jets or the Giants).

Prior to joining Delaware North, Donna’s career included more than 25 years of merchandise management, marketing and branding experience with companies including Federated Department Stores, Hickey-Freeman Company and PetSmart Direct. Donna earned a bachelor’s degree in retail management at Purdue University.