Peggy Daidakis Werner, former Baltimore Convention Center director and industry pioneer, dies
Peggy Daidakis Werner, former director of the Baltimore Convention Center and the first woman to lead a national convention center, died of lymphoma on Dec. 12 at her home in Towson. He was 74 years old.
Born in Baltimore and raised in Alameda, she was the daughter of restaurant worker Apostolos “Paul” Daidakis and his wife, Donna, a seamstress. He was a graduate of East High School and earned a degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore County.
He joined former Mayor William Donald Schaefer’s administration and worked in his office, where he mastered the art of duplicating his signature with permission.
His family was well represented at City Hall. His older sister, Zoe, also worked for Schaefer and was private secretary to his successor, Clarence “Du” Burns. His brother-in-law, George Piendak, was budget director.
The two sisters, Zoe and Peggy, knew the workings of city government so well that insiders often said: “If you want something done, call Daidakis.”
He began working in venue management at the Pratt Street Convention Center in Baltimore before it opened. Mayor Schaefer hired him in 1978 to join the two-man staff booking the soon-to-open facility. The center opened with the East Building in 1979 and expanded with the West Building in 1997, where Werner served as director.
In 1986, he became general manager of the Baltimore Convention Center.
As executive director, he worked under nine mayors.
“Nine mayors. Think about that. Nine different administrations, nine different priorities, nine different political environments. Peggy not only survived those transitions; she thrived because of those transitions,” said her niece, Emily Vainieri.
“As the first female director of a national convention center, Peggy was instrumental in planning the expansion of the BCC, making it the largest public meeting and exhibition venue in the state of Maryland,” the Convention Center said in a statement.
“To know Peggy was to know a true force of nature—someone who cared deeply and unwaveringly about her people, her city, and her industry. Her impact on the staff of the Baltimore Convention Center will be remembered and cherished for years to come,” said Mac Campbell, Convention Center manager.
Visit Baltimore’s interim president, Kireem Swinton, called her a “champion of Baltimore” and described her as a “pioneer for equity and a leader in hospitality in her field.”
“He was a valued friend and ally in elevating this community and inviting visitors to experience Baltimore in new, exciting ways,” said Charles “Chuck” G. Tilghman III, the center’s president.
Werner retired in 2022 after 49 years of municipal service.
“I am truly grateful for his leadership in marketing and serving tourists and convention attendees over the past 44 years,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said at the time.
He was a patron of the arts, frequently visiting New York City for its galleries, theaters, and opera, and was also a devoted Baltimore sports fan.
He received lifetime achievement awards from the Event Industry Council Hall of Leaders and the International Association of Venue Managers Convention Centers.
Funeral service is noon Dec. 17 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 24 W. Preston St.
Survivors include a brother, Art Daidakis of Timonium; niece, Emily Vainieri of Ellicott City; and stepdaughter Tracy Rammacca of Towson. Her husband, Joseph Louis Werner Jr., was an excavator. He passed away in 2019.
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