Melanie Granado Named General Manager of Caney Pines Convention Center as New Caney Venue Nears Opening
A major piece of East Montgomery County’s growing entertainment and business district now has the person who will guide its day-to-day operations.
The East Montgomery County Improvement District, or EMCID, and Oak View Group have named Melanie Granado general manager of Caney Pines Convention Center, the 210,070-square-foot venue scheduled to open in December 2026 in New Caney.
For residents and businesses across East Montgomery County, the appointment is another sign that the long-planned convention center is moving closer to opening its doors. Granado will oversee scheduling, operations, finance, advertising, sponsorship and hospitality as the facility prepares to welcome meetings, conventions, trade shows, youth sports tournaments, weddings, graduations and other gatherings.
“Melanie is an outstanding, results-driven professional with tremendous experience in convention sales, hospitality and strategic planning,” said Greg O’Dell, President of Venue Management, Oak View Group. “She continues to demonstrate her ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive revenue growth and create meaningful opportunities for the communities she serves. We’re confident her experience and leadership will help create exciting opportunities here in New Caney and the surrounding East Montgomery County region.”
A Leader With Texas Convention and Hospitality Experience
Granado is relocating to New Caney from Corpus Christi, where she most recently served as assistant general manager of the Oak View Group-managed Hilliard Center.
Her previous positions there included OVG Hospitality general manager and vice president of convention center sales and operations. Before joining Oak View Group, Granado worked as sales manager for Visit Corpus Christi and director of sales at the Ortiz Center.
Her background also includes an initiative with a particularly local focus. While at the Hilliard Center, Granado led the hospitality team in creating its Community Incubator Program, designed to provide opportunities and support for local businesses and entrepreneurs.
That experience could be especially relevant in New Caney, where the convention center is being developed not only as a regional event destination, but as part of a broader effort to attract visitors, business activity and new opportunities to East Montgomery County.
“We look forward to working closely with Melanie and leaning on her incredible insight, and expertise as we prepare to open Caney Pines Convention Center,” said Frank McCrady, President and CEO of EMCID. “This project is about building lasting opportunity for the community, and we’re grateful to partner with Oak View Group as we prepare to welcome the world to New Caney and East Montgomery County.”
What Caney Pines Convention Center Will Bring to New Caney
Caney Pines Convention Center is being built in the Valley Ranch Entertainment District, part of the larger Valley Ranch retail, office, restaurant, entertainment and mixed-use development in New Caney.
The facility sits in Valley Ranch Town Center near the intersection of Interstate 69 and the Grand Parkway, giving event organizers access to one of the region’s major transportation corridors.
According to EMCID, the convention center will include a nearly 55,000-square-foot ballroom and exhibition hall, nearly 20,000 square feet of meeting space and more than 40,000 square feet devoted to pre-function areas, lobby space and outdoor courtyards.
The main exhibition space is designed to accommodate more than 6,000 attendees and can be divided into as many as seven smaller rooms. Two signature meeting rooms will offer views across Valley Ranch, along with access to a terrace.
That flexibility is intended to allow Caney Pines Convention Center to host everything from community celebrations and school graduations to corporate meetings, large conventions, trade shows and youth sports events.
EMCID has described Caney Pines as the third-largest convention center in the Houston area and the seventh-largest in Texas.
Part of a Larger Valley Ranch Destination
The convention center is emerging at a time of continued growth around Valley Ranch and the New Caney area.
Rather than functioning as a stand-alone meeting facility, Caney Pines will become part of an entertainment and commercial district where visitors can also access restaurants, retail and other attractions. EMCID has also pursued development of a hotel adjacent to the convention center and Valley Ranch Entertainment District, further supporting plans to attract overnight meetings, conventions and regional events.
The Caney Pines name itself was announced by EMCID earlier in September. The name was selected to reflect the area’s wooded landscape and history, including New Caney’s early ties to the logging industry and the community’s original settlement.
For Granado, the opportunity is as much about building relationships within the community as it is about filling an event calendar.
“It’s truly an exciting time in New Caney, and I’m excited to step into the role of General Manager at Caney Pines Convention Center,” said Granado. “The convention center will be a true catalyst for connection and growth throughout the region; a place where businesses, organizations and community members can come together to share ideas and build partnerships. We want to attract new meetings and conventions while creating experiences that strengthen our community and make the Caney Pines Convention Center a premier meeting destination.”
What Happens Next
Construction of Caney Pines Convention Center is in its final stretch, with EMCID planning a December 2026 grand opening.
Even before the first guests walk through the doors, planning for the venue’s first full year is already underway. Event bookings for 2027 are now being accepted, giving businesses, associations, sports organizations, families and community groups an opportunity to begin reserving space.
For East Montgomery County, the coming months will mark the transition from construction project to operating venue. Granado will be at the center of that transition, helping determine how Caney Pines Convention Center introduces itself to meeting planners and visitors while also building its place within the New Caney community.
As December approaches, My Neighborhood News will continue following the Caney Pines Convention Center opening, upcoming events and other developments shaping New Caney and East Montgomery County.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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