Lionel J. Dubay, Assistant Vice President for the Business Services Division at the University of Florida, announced that he will retire from the University on July 6, 2017.
Dubay came to UF in 1985 as the director of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, a position he held until 2007 when he became the director of UF’s Business Services Division. He took on his current title of Assistant Vice President of Business Services in 2012.
When Dubay moved over to the Business Services Division in 2007, his new responsibilities included overseeing the operational, fiscal, programmatic, and administrative activities of several auxiliary enterprises and private management services.
“Throughout my 47-year professional career I have been blessed to have worked with so many hard working, dedicated and talented staff members and business partners as well as people I have 
reported to,” Dubay said. “I am very grateful to them for all of the support they have extended to me.”
As the head of UF’s Business Services Division, Dubay has worked closely with the University’s food service business partner Aramark to increase the number of national brands on campus from nine to 18 such as: the new Au Bon Pain, Panda Express, Wing Zone, Pollo Tropical, Moe’s, Salad Creations & Rising Roll. Through the BSD and Aramark partnership they have spent over $20 million in building new and refreshing food service units on campus. The number of Starbucks on campus was expanded from two to five with the most recent being at Marston Library. Currently the Chick–fil-A located at the Hub is under expansion and renovation, the Starbucks at Library West is under renovation and a Chomp it and Starbucks is being installed at the Law School. These projects are slated for completion before the start of the fall semester. UF was one of the first campuses within the State to go Styrofoam free at all of their food service locations. The student meal plan program was completely revamped from a number of meals a student could purchase per plan to five and seven-day open access meal plans which now have up to 12 additional meal plan equivalency food service locations a student can go to.
With the extension of the Bookstore contract two years ago with Follett Higher Education Group, the main bookstore underwent a $1.2 million renovation and the auxiliary bookstores at the Law School and Health Science Center went through a re-fresh. And, Follett helped with the financial support to expand the seating in the Reitz Union food court across from the Pollo Tropical. In an effort to save students money on course materials Follett implemented a Rent–a–Text Program, Price Match Program, and a Digital All Access Opt in Program.
The process time to obtain a Gator 1 Card has been shortened for students because they now can submit their photos online to the Gator 1 central office.
Upon graduation from the University of Maine-Orono in 1970, Dubay was hired as the first full-time Recreation Director for the City of Augusta, Maine. In 1972 he became actively involved in the construction process of the Augusta Civic Center and shortly after the Center opened in 1973 he was appointed Director, a position he held until 1985 when he became the O’Connell Center director. He joined IAAM in 1973.
Dubay was one of the founding members of the Florida Facility Managers Association which consists of arenas, stadiums, convention centers, and performing arts centers within the state of Florida. He served as the association’s president from 1991 to 1993 and again from 2005 to 2007.
Dubay was responsible for bringing many acts to the Augusta Civic Center and UF campus over the years, including Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, John Denver, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Cher, Loretta Lynn, Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, Billy Joel, Elton John, Rod Stewart, M.C. Hammer, the Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Dave Mathews Band, the Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley. The May 24, 1977 Elvis Presley concert Dubay hosted in Maine was one of Elvis’s last concerts before his death on August 16 of that year.
He served as the 75th president of the International Association of Assembly Managers (as it was known at the time), which he said was a great honor and privilege. Dubay also served in numerous leadership positions within IAAM including Vice President of Region V (1995-1997), chair of the Board of Governors, Universities Committee, and Diversification Committee, and was on the IAMM Board of Directors for seven years.
“I truly loved my time in the arena business. I have many fond memories of the many wonderful artists I booked over the years,” Dubay said. “And more importantly, I have made so many life-long friends within the entertainment industry and my professional associations. Having the opportunity to serve as President of the International Association of Assembly Managers was such an honor and privilege.”
Shortly after Dubay became President of IAAM the tragic events of 9/11 took place. In response to the terrorist attacks on the United States, Dubay appointed the IAAM Safety and Security Task Force (SSTF) which brought together the largest number of likeminded organizations in the history of IAAM to develop a set of safety and security best practices and protocols for the industry’s various venue types. Out of the tireless efforts and great work of the IAAM SSTF, the IAAM Academy for Venue Safety & Security was later formed.
A champion of diversity, professional development and growing students within the venue management profession, Dubay was the architect in setting up a student scholarship program within IAAM at the International and Regional V level, and within the Florida Facilities Managers Association.
Dubay received the prestigious Charles A. McElravy Award in 2007 and in 2013 he was the first to receive the IAVM Region V Distinguished Service Award.
“I have a strong passion and love for IAVM and FFMA because they have done so much for me in the way of my personal and professional growth,” Dubay said. “Further, I would encourage everyone to get involved within their professional associations as you will definitely receive more in return than you put in.”
As for retirement, Dubay says he has no major plans other than “playing a little more golf and spending time with my grandkids. I do know I will miss coming to work at UF every day. It was a very energizing and special place to work.”
