By Mary Klida

Marlon Wilson joined the ASM Global operations team in Huntington Place as the new Director of Public Safety. Wilson assumes the senior leadership responsibilities of overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the Department of Public Safety and Security, taking on proactive initiatives with a focus on protection and service.

“Safety is one of the top concerns for meeting planners,” said Karen Totaro, CVE, general manager of Huntington Place/ASM Global. “Having the depth of Marlon Wilson’s experience along with his ability to articulate plans in a way that makes our clients feel safe and cared for will be instrumental to our future.”

Wilson comes to the venue with 26 years of law enforcement and critical management experience. Most recently, Wilson served as Deputy Chief of the Detroit Police Department (DPD) and as Executive Officer in both the Major Crimes and Organized Crime Divisions. He rose through the ranks throughout his career in the DPD since 1995 receiving numerous awards including Officer of the Year. He formed the agency’s Cyber Crimes and Arson Units. He also served as Commanding Officer of the Professional Standards Bureau.

“This is truly a monumental moment in my career, and I am extremely excited to have this role launch the next phase of my law enforcement and public safety journey,” Wilson said. “For over 27 years, I have been given the honor and privilege to help protect and serve the citizens of Detroit.”

Public Safety is increasingly becoming a top priority for convention centers and other venues. Wilson will be working to train Huntington Place staff on the latest safety and security protocols for venues in conjunction with the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) later this year. The IAVM is committed to provide innovative safety and security guidelines and training so as to assist venues and their executive teams in managing with the priority of protecting all aspects related to life-safety and physical assets. They also provide education, resources, advocacy and certification to event industry professionals and venue managers.

“I look forward to continuing my mission of the highest standard of safety and security for every team member, patron, and vendor who visits and interacts with Huntington Place,” Wilson added. “I plan to use my longstanding law enforcement background to implement protocols and procedures that create the safest and most conducive environment possible for all.”

Mark Herrera, director of safety and security for the IAVM, oversees the industry’s Academy for Venue Safety and Security and will work with Wilson to roll out the training in Huntington Place. Herrera has seen a growing demand for guidance related to security issues in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. He has conducted over 420 training sessions to leadership and frontline teams on Behavioral Indication and Risk Mitigation through Guest Service Interjection. The training emphasizes developing teams capable of providing exceptional focus, performance, and control in extreme situations.

“Facilities such as Huntington Place under the direction of GM Karen Totaro pride themselves with creating better experiences within the venue industry inclusive of all facilities which is more important now than ever before,” said Herrera. “The goal is to help others build elite teams within their organizations focusing on developing diverse cultures centering themselves around safety, security, and health awareness.”

Convention centers across the country are coming out of the COVID pandemic with changed sets of customer expectations for service delivery and environmental hygiene. Public safety departments have broadened their reach to not only include crisis communications, crowd control, and policing strategy, but also guest experience and customer service. Wilson’s Detroit focus and vast experience puts him at the right place (Huntington Place) at the right time in the venue’s history.

“We are thrilled to add this new role into Huntington Place’s Public Safety department,” Totaro said. “With Marlon having an extensive background in law enforcement and knowledge of our community, it makes sense that he is the right fit for our team. We are excited to bring Marlon onboard and know that he will take us to the next level.”

Mary Klida is Senior Marketing & Communications Manager at Huntington Place.

By Mychael Ramirez

Footprint Center in Phoenix has announced several internal promotions and the addition of a seasoned event executive following an incredible season of high-profile NBA and WNBA games and world-class concerts and events.

Tasked with leading arena operations through a high volume of business and the return of live entertainment following the pandemic, these promotions and new roles will further enhance the fan experience, promote higher levels of service, improve operational efficiencies and advance key strategic priorities. Promotions include:

Sarah Schock
Assistant General Manager & Vice President, Footprint Center

Alvan Adams
Vice President, Sustainability

Gary Gillespie
Vice President, Facility Management

Steven Kargol
Director of Arena Marketing

In addition, Vanessa Ward joins the team as Vice President of Event Services overseeing guest services, guest relations, security and traffic support. Ward comes to Footprint Center from the Chicago Cubs where she served as a project manager and Director of Guest and Associate Experience at Wrigley Field. Prior to the Cubs, Ward worked at Walt Disney World where she launched the Guest Experience Center.

The team’s efforts will maintain Footprint Center’s position as a preeminent sports and entertainment destination as the arena celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Since opening its doors in 1992, legendary musicians and basketball greats have drawn millions to the downtown Phoenix venue. The arena recently underwent a $245 million transformation and in 2021, partnered with Footprint, a material science company focused on reducing single-use plastics.

In addition to arena naming rights, the long-term partnership with Footprint includes the commitment to using Footprint’s plant-based fiber alternatives to plastic throughout the arena. Fans visiting Footprint Center will find food served in Footprint’s biodegradable, compostable or recyclable products and educational points about the positive impact of making a switch from single-use plastics in their everyday lives.

Mychael Ramirez is Manager, Brand Communications at Footprint Center.

By Blair Cardinal

Oak View Group, the global venue development, advisory, and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industry, announced the appointment of veteran hospitality executive Chandra Allison as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Growth for Meetings, Conventions & Exhibitions.

In the newly created role, Allison will oversee the strategy to grow the convention center business across the OVG360 portfolio and elevate the omnipresent OVG guest experience. She will also design and develop meeting spaces and programming for OVG’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino project, the $3 billion entertainment district that includes a 20,000-seat arena, 2,000-room hotel, meeting space, and casino. Using her industry and in-market experience, she will help the team fulfill the ambitious vision of the facility.

“I’m passionate about meetings, conventions, and exhibitions as chief economic drivers in any prosperous city or community,” Allison said. “I’m excited to join the team because I believe in the foresight of OVG’s leadership for where the industry could and should be in five years, 10 years and beyond. The entrepreneurial spirit, the culture, and the growth opportunities are astounding, and I’m excited to get started.”

Allison joins OVG following a 24-year tenure at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, which began as part of the integrated resort’s pre-opening team and concluded most recently as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing – M.I.C.E and Leisure. She assumed her new role with OVG on September 19 and reports jointly to Greg O’Dell, OVG360’s president of venue management, and Randy Morton, president of OVG Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

“We’re thrilled to have Chandra on board,” O’Dell said. “She brings three decades of executive-level leadership and deep relationships with high-end, blue-chip clients to the table. She is an accomplished and recognized leader known for delivering powerful results through collaboration, creative negotiations, innovative sales deployment, people development, and group and leisure marketing strategies – all with the goal of providing a paramount guest experience.”

“Very few individuals possess Chandra’s degree of skill and wisdom – in Las Vegas and beyond – within the meetings and conventions, exhibitions, hotel, leisure and hospitality space,” Morton said. “As someone who started her career as a front desk agent at the Reno Hilton nearly thirty years ago and ascended to one of the top positions at a world-renowned property, she knows how to navigate a nuanced and competitive business. I’m excited to have Chandra on the team during this integral stage in development as we make our way toward our 2026 opening.”

Focused on education, fundraising, advocacy and research to advance the industry, Allison sat on the executive committee, board of directors and finance audit committee for the U.S. Travel Association and the global board of trustees, executive committee, and international board of directors for the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation. She also served as a board member of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International – Las Vegas (HSMAI) and Meetings Mean Business Coalition.

Blair Cardinal is Vice President for OVG 360 Communications.

Photo by Oak View Group

By ocvibe.com

The Anaheim City Council voted to unanimously approve ocV!BE, a $4 billion development project sponsored by the Samueli Family to surround Honda Center in Anaheim with new entertainment, dining, hospitality, and lifestyle amenities.

Henry and Susan Samueli are the longtime owners of the Anaheim Ducks and venue managers of Honda Center.

“We thank the Anaheim City Council and City staff for their strong support of our vision for ocV!BE and our continued partnership with the City of Anaheim,” said Henry and Susan Samueli. “We look forward to starting construction soon on this important community asset that will showcase Anaheim and Orange County while also providing world-class entertainment and offerings for local residents, visitors, and our Anaheim Ducks fans.”

Celebrating the diversity of Orange County, ocV!BE will be a one-of-a-kind, mixed-use, master-planned community and entertainment destination that allows residents and guests to curate their experience. Construction is expected to start by the end of this calendar year with the project’s first phase opening in 2025 to the public.

The approval by the Anaheim City Council comes after a multi-year effort to assemble property and master plan the 100-acre site to surround Honda Center and ARTIC in Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle area. The stage was set for ocV!BE with a 2018 agreement between the Samueli Family and the City of Anaheim which guaranteed the Anaheim Ducks playing at Honda Center for decades to come. 

Project features include multiple new entertainment venues, including a 5,700-capacity concert hall, 35-plus restaurant offerings, two hotels, 1,500 residential units inclusive of a commitment of 195 affordable housing units, more than one million square feet of creative office space, and twenty acres of public space including two parks. 

“Our ambition is for ocV!BE to be the social and entertainment center of Orange County and Southern California, providing a vibrant collection of experiences celebrating the diversity of our community,” said Bill Foltz, CEO of ocV!BE. 

The goal is for ocV!BE is to be built out by the 2028 Summer Olympics when the Honda Center hosts indoor Olympic volleyball competitions, providing a showcase of Anaheim and Orange County to a world audience. 

By Gail Sawyer

The Queensland Government through Stadiums Queensland has re-appointed ASM Global as manager of Brisbane’s iconic Suncorp Stadium for a five-year period from January 1, 2023.

ASM Global Asia Pacific, with venues across Australia, New Zealand, the Asia Pacific and Middle East, has managed Suncorp Stadium since its redevelopment in 2003.

The management rights were awarded to ASM Global following a formal tender process.

ASM Global Asia Pacific Chairman and Chief Executive Harvey Lister AM said the company was honoured and very pleased to be re-appointed as venue manager, which he said reflected the Queensland’s Government’s continuing faith and trust in the company’s ability to manage the stadium to a world class standard.

From relatively humble but somewhat legendary beginnings, Suncorp Stadium, under the management of ASM Global, has developed into an internationally acknowledged venue that now boasts four anchor tenants as well as hosting world class sporting events including Australia’s State of Origin Series and Rugby World Tests, along with a glittering line-up of concert and entertainment events.

Since 2003 the venue has held some 750 events with more than 19 million fans in attendance and been recognised as one of the world’s leading venues. Suncorp Stadium was the only Australian operator and one of seven of the world’s biggest stadiums to be chosen as a finalist in the international Stadium Business Awards in Manchester in the UK in 2021. The stadium was also named ‘Best of Queensland Experience 2022’ from an impressive line-up of 4,700 venues.

2023 will see the stadium play host to eight games of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – the third most matches of the tournament as well as headline entertainment events including Elton John, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Ed Sheeran.

Suncorp Stadium General Manager Alan Graham paid tribute to the outstanding work of the stadium management team who has been at the lead creating and delivering world class sporting and entertainment events for the people of Queensland.

“It is also fortunate that we are part of a world-wide network in ASM Global which has assisted us in continuing to take advantage of the latest innovations and cutting-edge technology ensuring the Suncorp Stadium team remains amongst the most elite in the world,” he said.

Gail Sawyer is Group Communications Manager – ASM Global (Asia Pacific).