Do you have a young professional working for you that has a bright future in the industry? Nominate your employee to be one of 30 venue industry professionals, 30 years of age and under, who will receive a travel stipend of US$850 and complimentary registration (value: $1,1185) to attend VenueConnect, IAVM’s Annual Conference & Trade Show, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 23-26, 2016. Recipients will be recognized throughout the annual meeting and formally at the Venue Industry Awards luncheon on Monday, July 25, 2016.
Launched at VenueConnect in Baltimore, the inaugural IAVM Foundation 30|UNDER|30 class of 2015 kicked off the program by participating in the IAVM Foundation’s Legacy Project and UpStart: Emerging Leaders Experience, in addition to exclusive 30|UNDER|30 and Young Professional networking events before being honored at the Venue Industry Awards luncheon. By participating in education and professional development sessions geared toward young professionals throughout the conference, many 30|UNDER|30 recipients returned to their venues with renewed enthusiasm for their jobs as well as industry.
“They talked about how amazing it was to have the chance to converse with other people from every size and type of facility and to hear the panels or classes they previously would not have had the ability to be exposed to,” said Kerry Painter, CFE, CEM, CMP, assistant general manager at the Cox Business Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “It was an inspiration for them and in some ways permission in the future to continue to reach out to industry colleagues who they now know. ‘Knowing what other buildings do makes you start to think what you’re doing and that it can always be better. It helps you learn, grow, and think more than you did before’ was the quote from one of our winners.”
Supporting young professionals in the industry through a program like 30|UNDER|30 is key to the profession’s growth.
“If we want to keep young professionals engaged and desiring a career in venue management, then we need to get them involved in the industry outside our buildings as soon as possible,” said Robyn Williams, CFE, executive director of Portland’5 Centers for the Arts.
Brad Mayne, CFE, president and CEO of MetLife Stadium, agrees with Williams.
“It is important to get our young professionals networking and professional development opportunities so they are exposed to multiple and diverse experiences in our industry,” Mayne said. “The impressive programs, custom made for millennials, at VenueConnect will help propel their knowledge and experience, making them a greater asset for our organization.”
Painter said the impact of not only being nominated but having to work for the achievement is powerful.
“The educational and social experience was of a quality I have not often seen in a conference and the recipients left with renewed enthusiasm, relationships in both peers and mentors, and a better idea of the professional world they are setting out to conquer,” Painter said. “They will become valuable to our industry in the future because of programs such as this. You absolutely should not hesitate to nominate your young rock stars. They will be fired up upon returning to your venue and the organization as a whole will be stronger for it!”
To learn more about the 30|UNDER|30 program or to nominate someone from your team, click here.
