By Ike Richman

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded Prevent Advisors, a highly regarded security specialist in sports, live entertainment, and meeting facilities, with a SAFETY Act Designation for the company’s industry-leading Red Team Assessment Services.

Prevent Advisors’ Red Team Assessment Services is a proprietary systematic assessment program specifically designed to fully evaluate all components of a venue’s physical security measures. Prevent Advisors assists its clients – stadiums, arenas, and convention centers – to further enhance their overall security apparatus by addressing security needs, creating ongoing security policies and procedures, implementing these procedures, and continuously adjusting as needed.

Prevent Advisors is a flagship service company of OVG360, which is the third-party venue management, venue services and hospitality division of Oak View Group, a global sports and entertainment company focused on being a positive disruption to business as usual in the sports, live entertainment, and hospitality industries.

It is the first time the DHS awarded a SAFETY Act Designation to a Red Team Assessment Service.

“Safety and Security will always be a foundational principle in the live sports and entertainment industry, and we have built a world class security division that supports professional sports leagues and entertainment venues security programs,” said Michael Downing, Chief Security Advisor, Oak View Group’s Prevent Advisors, and former Deputy Chief, Counter Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, Los Angeles Police Department. “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s recent Safety Act Designation Award to Prevent Advisors speaks volumes to our commitment in this space.”

“This first of its kind SAFETY Act award is a recognition by DHS that the methodology created by Prevent Advisors is an effective tool that all venue operators should be leveraging as part of their own venue security program,” said Akmal Ali, CEO of Aluma and former Deputy Director of the SAFETY Act program within U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The award comes after Prevent Advisors demonstrated its expertise in the security world to DHS, validating the company’s extensive training and continuing education process its auditors undergo to ensure the company can provide maximum benefit to its clients.

Prevent Advisors’ current partners include professional sports leagues and teams, sport and live music entertainment venues and festivals, and corporate campuses.

Prevent Advisors develop and implement full security solutions tailored to meet the 21st century demands of the sports, entertainment, and meetings facility industry. Core Services include Prevention & Risk Analysis, Security Consulting & Solutions, Intelligence Service, and Training & Crisis Response.

Prevent Advisors’ services can also be an add-on for OVG360 clients where the company manages and operates public assembly facilities, OVG Hospitality where the company provides food and beverage services, or the OVG Arena Alliance.

“The safety of our guests, performers, athletes, and staff is our top priority,” said Tim Leiweke, Chairman & CEO, Oak View Group. “We are proud of our Prevent Advisors’ work at all our facilities and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s recognition.”

Ike Richman is president of Ike Richman Communications.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in August 2022. Thank you for being a part of the association! Also, let us get to know you better by participating in the I Am Venue Management series. Please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story to share your story and photo.

 

Kailee Ayers, First National Bank Arena, State University, AR

Noelle Baddeley, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Andre Bennington, Dayton Live, Dayton, OH

Rebecca Beyer, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Alexandra Black, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Mike Bober, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Christina Brown, Rogers Arena | Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Kelly Bryl, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Megan Caldwell, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Steve Carl, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

William Code, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Joe Collins, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Isabella Correa, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Austin Crawford, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Brian Cummings, Gordon Field House & Activities Center, Rochester, NY

Matt Cunningham, Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City, MO

Jaron Davis, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Ryan Dunne, Barclays Center, Commack, NY

Marc Feldman, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Tijuan Fletcher, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Jose Flores, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO

Stacey Flores, City of Dallas, Dallas, TX

Davin Gaddy, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Tasha Gandy, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

Michelle Gebhart, American Tower Corporation, Cary, NC

John Gilbert, AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas, TX

Sam Giordano, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO

Michelle Gustafson, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Emily Hamm, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Darrin Harrje, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Jeremiah Hayward, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Sydney Heidegger, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Madeline Hollyfield, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Jackie Horvath, Horvath Communications, South Bend, IN

Kevin Kahn, Joffe Emergency Services, Santa Monica, CA

Sean Kenny, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Ron Larson, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Leslie Lee, Rogers Arena | Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Julian Matos, Ping Communications, Piscataway, NJ

Tabitha Mayers, Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island, GA

Michael Mell, Theater Design, Cold Spring, NY

Santonio Moore, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Julio Moreno, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID

Kendra Moyars, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC

Steve Nebehay, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Jonathan Newell, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Emily O’Neill, Rogers Arena | Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Vancouver, BC

Jason Olsen, Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham, NC

Justin Peckham, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Liz Peralta, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Jocelyn Perez, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Joseph Ralston, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Baylee Richter, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC

Steve Roberts, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Stephen Rorai, Performing Arts Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX

Johnny Sanchez, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Lindsey Sanchez, H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Cedar Park, TX

Doug Schaub, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Brayden Sherman, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Vikram Singh, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Ronnie Sparks, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Danyhl Stanley, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Audrix Tamarez, Barclays Center, Yonkers, NY

Elena Thornton, L-Acoustics, Westlake Village, CA

Lisa Trainor, Sodexo/Centerplate, New Orleans, LA

David Treber, Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, Salisbury, MD

Jordan Urban, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS

Andrew Vecere, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Celeste Villegas, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Dallas, TX

Diana Walcott, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Casey Warnick, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

Christina Wenger, The Juilliard School, New York, NY

Tosha White, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS

Emma Whitlock, Swiftel Center, Brookings, SD

Angel Wilson, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA

Travis Winters, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID

Theresa Yvonne, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View, CA

By Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip

Vivian Freymoyer, Michelle Linahan, and Daniella Sirleaf were announced as recipients of the inaugural ASM Global Stars Scholarship Program, along with 22 other students from across the United States. Freymoyer is an incoming freshman at Saint Joseph’s University, and Linahan and Sirleaf are both business majors at the Community College of Philadelphia.

The scholarships awarded to the Philadelphia students through the Program were matched by the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, allowing more students to benefit from the award and further supporting their education and career goals.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award and I truly appreciate the support from ASM Global and the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority,” said Freymoyer, a Food Marketing major. “I am looking forward to attending Saint Joseph’s University in the fall and am eager to begin my next chapter.”

“The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority is committed to investing in the future of the hospitality industry,” said John J. McNichol, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “Initiatives such as the ASM Global Stars Scholarship Program are closely aligned with the overall mission of the Authority and provide a wonderful opportunity to make education more accessible for all. We are proud to support the academic pursuits of these three scholars.”

The ASM Global Stars Scholarship program is a part of ASM Global Acts, a corporate social responsibility platform launched in 2021, and provides educational and career development opportunities through scholarship awards and prospective internships to diverse and under-resourced communities.

“One of the key pillars of the ASM Global ACTS initiative is investing in people, and at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, we are committed to creating opportunities for the youth in our communities to have access to the resources they need to build their skills for a meaningful career in the hospitality and tourism industry,” said Kelvin D. Moore, Regional Vice President, ASM Global and General Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “We also thank the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority for their continued partnership and the shared mission of making a difference in the communities in which we serve.”

Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip is Senior Communications Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

By Emily Eades

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) announced the promotion of Eric Blanc, Sr., CMP to Deputy Director. In his new role, Blanc will oversee the OCCC’s Sales, Marketing, Event Management, and Exhibitor Services divisions.

Blanc became a part of the OCCC family in 2019 when he was hired as the Assistant Director of Sales. In February 2020, he was promoted to Senior Director of Sales.

Prior to joining the OCCC’s Sales Division, Blanc was the Director of Sales, Marketing and Convention Services for the Tampa Convention Center, where he spent 15 years of his career. Blanc’s background spans across various top organizations in the industry, including The Freeman Companies and GES Expositions, where he was a National Sales Manager for both companies.

“I am honored to take on the role of Deputy Director would be an understatement,” Blanc said. “I am eager to lead our team forward, maintaining a highly visible presence in the convention industry and within Orange County to secure continued convention group bookings well into the future.”

Blanc graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business – Marketing and holds a certificate from the IAVM’s Venue Management School.

Emily Eades is Public Relations/Information Officer | Marketing & Communications for the Orange County Convention Center.

By Celebrity Access

Ticketmaster announced the launch of new technology that will provide event organizers with a new way to integrate collectible NFTs into the fan experience.

According to Ticketmaster, event organizers who sell tickets to live events through Ticketmaster will now have the ability to issue collectible NFTs before, during, and after live events.

The new system has already caught on and Ticketmaster reports ‘minting’ more than 5 million NFTs for event organizers on the Flow blockchain.

The NFTs can be shared online or activated to access loyalty rewards around an artist or event through digital keepsakes, including VIP engagement opportunities and more.

The technology is powered by the Flow Blockchain, which has been designed as a commercial product and has already delivered programs experiences like NFL ALL DAY, NBA Top Shot and UFC Strike.

As well, the Flow Blockchain consumes less energy than traditional blockchain technology and according to independent auditor Deloitte, NFTs minted through Flow consume less power than a post on a social media site.

Ticketmaster is no stranger to the Flow technology and has already used the platform to distribute more than 70,000 one-of-one virtual commemorative ticket NFTs at Super Bowl LVI with each attendee’s unique seat location on the NFT itself. For the 2022 season, the NFL will offer Flow-minted NFTs to every attendee at more than 100 games, including at least 3 home games for each team.

“Event organizers who choose to offer fans an NFT with their ticket have a real opportunity to make this new technology relevant and relatable at scale,” said Brendan Lynch, Ticketmaster EVP of Enterprise & Revenue. “This is why we are partnering with Flow, because their blockchain is custom-built for fan engagement and frictionless consumer experiences.”

“Our partnership with Ticketmaster will enable millions of live event fans to immortalize, share and enhance their IRL experiences through digital collectibles,” added Mickey Maher, SVP Partnerships of Dapper Labs. “Ticketmaster has quickly become a leader in this space, so we’re excited to support their work in empowering event organizers to deliver even greater value to fans through the benefits of blockchain.”