Wayland High School graduate Elmer Straub has been named the new senior vice president of venue management for the Detroit Pistons.

Straub, who started in his new post  in New York at the Billboard Touring Conference with a new boss, will be in charge of the Palace of Auburn Hills, DTE Energy Music Theatre and Meadowbrook Music Festival. He had been VP of entertainment booking for 15 years at Amalie Arena, Tampa, Fla.

Straub started in thevenue management business at Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids.

After working for three seasons in Van Andel Arena, Straub joined the staff in Tampa as event coordinator in 2000. In that role, he served as the building’s lead liaison for events, concerts and family shows, ensuring smooth conversion and event production. Three years later, Straub was elevated to director of event booking.

Straub, son of the late Jackie Straub, State Police dispatcher and president of the Wayland Athletic Boosters, played hoops for Wayland in the late 1980s under coach Clif Sage, earning all-conference honors.

PHOTO: Elmer Straub with wife, Amanda, and one-year-old son, Max.