VenueConnect 2025

Jon Downey
Founder | Senior Director of Technology Services
Signal North | Walton Arts Center | Walmart AMP


Jon Downey Senior Director of Technology Services, Walton Arts Center & Walmart AMP Founder, Signal North Consulting Jon Downey is the Senior Director of Technology Services for the Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP, where he leads technology strategy across infrastructure, cybersecurity, data architecture, software development, and digital innovation. He is also the Founder of Signal North Consulting, a firm focused on helping entertainment venues and nonprofits build future-ready technology strategies through fractional CTO services, systems audits, and AI-driven automation. Jon spent 16 years at Walmart, where he held a variety of enterprise technology leadership roles, including launching the International Innovations Team. His experience leading global-scale operations and innovation initiatives now fuels his mission to bring enterprise-level strategy and systems thinking to the performing arts and venue sector. At Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP, Jon has led a major digital transformation — including a full network and Wi-Fi refresh, physical security upgrades, and the formation of a cross-functional Tech Council focused on organization-wide change powered by technology. He also leads the organization's cybersecurity modernization efforts. Jon serves on the Board of CIOarts, where he advocates for peer collaboration and strategic tech leadership across the arts and culture industry. Jon is passionate about developing agile, data-driven teams and believes the future of venue technology lies at the intersection of automation, storytelling, and operational intelligence.

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