By Celebrity Access

AEG Presents has named New Orleans-based Reeves Price as the new Vice President (VP) Festivals.

Before AEG, Price was a founding partner at Winter Circle Productions, an indie promotion and production house in New Orleans. Price will continue to be based out of that office. With Winter Circle, he co-founded the BUKU Music + Art Project, a boutique event held at Mardi Gras World each year.

In 2015, when AEG Presents acquired Winter Circle Productions, Price was appointed VP of operations for both Winter Circle Productions and AEG Presents’ Gulf Coast Region, positions he will continue to hold alongside his new role. Price will also act as producer for Hangout Music Festival in Alabama.

Price will oversee the company’s portfolio of festivals and will report to Goldenvoice COO and COO Festivals, AEG Presents Melissa Ormond.

Price said, “I’ve really enjoyed working with Melissa on BUKU and Hangout and am looking forward to working closely with her and the company into the future.”

Ormond said, “I’m thrilled that Reeves is expanding his role with the AEG Presents Festivals team. His operational expertise will be of tremendous benefit to the shows in our portfolio.”

Reeves Price (Image: AEG)

The Lynnwood (WA) Public Facilities District, owners of the Lynnwood Convention Center (LCC) and OVG360, the contracted operators for the LCC, announced the appointment of Erin Jepson, CVP, CMP as the LCC’s new General Manager as of July 11, 2022.

Prior to joining the team at the LCC, Jepson was Director of Events and Guest Services at the Oregon Convention Center, and Director of Events and Patron Services at the Walton Arts Center in Arkansas. She was also the Customer Success Manager with Ungerboeck, an event management software company. With over 16 years’ experience in event production/management and venue operations, Jepson brings extensive skills in team leadership to the table.

Originally from Houston, Jepson studied at the University of Texas – Austin and quickly moved into a professional career in event management. She graduated from IAVM’s (International Association of Venue Managers) Venue Management School in 2013, attended the Venue Management School Graduate Institute in 2016, and received her Certified Meetings Professional (CMP) certification in 2015 from the Convention Industry Council (CIC). Recently, she earned IAVM’s Certified Venue Professionals (CVP) certification, another major designation for industry professionals in venue management. Jepson is also a member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).

“The puzzle behind building great events and experiences for our audiences drives me to put out the very best product I can,” Jepson said. “I am excited to bring my broad-based industry experience to the LCC and the Lynnwood Community. Every detail of venue management excites me, all the way from designing security plans for events to opening the doors for a comic con boasting an attendance of over 25,000 people.”

“Recently we developed an expanded approach to our key performance indicators to better fulfill our mission of driving economic impact and increasing public benefits for the community,” said Janet Pope, Executive Director of the Lynnwood Public Facilities District. “We are focusing intently on increasing sustainable practices and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our work. Erin is just the right person to help in implementing these plans. She will be an integral part of our team and a big part of our property’s bright future.”

Dave Anderson, Regional Vice President of OVG360 added, “We could not be more excited to welcome Erin to the team as our new General Manager of the Lynnwood Convention Center. Her leadership experience and entrepreneurial spirit will play a key role in bringing high impact business to the convention center and local community.”

By R.V. Baugus

Robert A. Lorelli, founder and president of the theater consulting firm, Robert Lorelli Associates which merged into Theater Design in 2019, passed away on July 23 in Westhampton Beach, New York, surrounded by family and friends after a brief battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. A graduate of New York Institute of Technology, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering and specialized in lighting and rigging designs.

“In many ways Bob is responsible for the theater consultant that I’ve become and the career I continue to have,” said Michael Mell, president of Theater Design in Cold Spring, NY. “I was honored when he asked me to take over his clients when he retired. I will miss his friendship, his generous support and counsel.”

During his more than four decades in business, he worked on more than 300 theater projects worldwide. Among his projects were Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, City Center 55th Street Dance Theater, Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, the Onondaga Civic Center, the Cleveland Playhouse, the Warner Theatre in Erie, Pennsylvania, the Shubert Theater in New Haven, the Palace Theater in Chicago, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Wolf Trap Farm Park in Vienna, Virginia, the American University in Cairo, Place des Artes, Montreal, Teatro de la Cuidad y Centro de Convenciones, Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico, and Expo ’98 Centennial on the Clark Base in the Philippines.

Prior to this he was Executive Director of City Center 55th Street Dance Theater, and he designed the innovative turntable in the Chrysler Pavilion of the 1964 World’s Fair. He also worked on the LINAC Accelerator Project at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He was avid sailor and a major support of the Peconic Bay Medical Center, Riverhead, New York, as well as the World Wildlife Fund and the African Wildlife Foundation.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in the near future. In lieu of flowers, it’s suggested that a contribution be made in Bob’s name to the Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation, 1300 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901, or to a charity of your choice.

Oak View Group (OVG), the global venue development, advisory, and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries, announced the addition of three seasoned professionals to Acrisure Arena, the newest world-class venue designed specifically for the Coachella Valley, and the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the 32nd AHL team debuting in Fall 2022 and the affiliate of the NHL Seattle Kraken. Joining the team is Leslie Deason as general manager and director of operations & programming of the Iceplex, Chef David Harvie as executive chef of Acrisure Arena, and Evan Pivnick as director of broadcast & communications of the Firebirds.

As general manager and director of operations & programming for the Iceplex, Deason will be responsible for the development of strategy, execution of programming, and supervising of all management at the Iceplex. Deason has managed and consulted multiple facilities across the country and internationally as well as directed and coached hockey and elite figure skaters. A certified IAim General Manager, Deason is also PSA Triple Master rated, a Level VI International figure skating coach, and a USFS technical specialist. She will report to John Bolton, senior vice president, entertainment – facilities & general manager, Acrisure Arena, and starts her new role effective immediately.

“As a Southern California native, I love and appreciate the beauty of the desert and diverse lifestyle that comes with it,” said Deason. “Joining the Oak View Group family in developing and programming a new facility in the beautiful Coachella Valley is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I take great pride in representing OVG in the community and delivering a world-class experience to all.”

Joining the team as executive chef of Acrisure Arena, Harvie will oversee all food and beverage operations at the venue for concerts and games as well as inside and out private event catering, public rink, all culinary staffing hiring and training, food safety and sanitation, food procurement, recipes, and menu development. The son of a classically trained French chef, Harvie most recently served as executive chef at Monterey Country Club in Palm Desert, CA. Previously he served as president of the American Culinary Federation First Coast Chapter in Jacksonville, FL. Harvie’s experience also includes serving as executive chef at Levy Restaurants for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins, and the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and the NFL team, where he supported multiple events including the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby, the USTA tennis tournament in Flushing, NY, and the Stanley Cup Finals in Chicago. Harvie will report to Chris Morgan, regional vice president, and Tom Hoch, division executive chef for Oak View Group.

“I am super excited to join the Oak View Group team at Acrisure,” said Harvie. “Sports and entertainment have always been a passion of mine. I so look forward to the great times we will all have at the new arena.”

“Both Leslie and David are such pros in their respective fields and bring a wealth of experience to Acrisure Arena,” Bolton said. “It’s my pleasure to welcome them to our growing team as we continue on track for a December opening.”

As director of broadcast & communications, Pivnick will oversee all home and away game play-by-play duties along with player and coaching content coordination and creation for the Coachella Valley Firebirds weekly broadcast, magazine, digital platforms, and radio programs. Additionally, Pivnick will serve as the liaison for hockey operations and the front office to create media opportunities and materials throughout the AHL season. Pivnick will report to Gina Rotolo, vice president of marketing and communications for Coachella Valley Firebirds.

“I’m ecstatic to be joining the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Oak View Group,” Pivnick said. “There are so many amazing things this organization has already accomplished without even stepping on the ice. Getting to be a part of an organization in a new hockey city is really something special and I can’t wait to get started.” Pivnick comes to the Firebirds after five years with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder, where he served as the team’s director of communications and broadcasting. Pivnick attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio and graduated in 2017 with a degree in media production and studies. While attending the university, he was the play-by-play voice of the school’s hockey team and had the privilege of calling a game with preeminent American hockey broadcaster Mike “Doc” Emrick during his senior year. Pivnick is a native of Oceanside, NY, and credits going to New York Islanders games during his youth at nearby Nassau Coliseum as the sparkplug for his love of hockey.

“When you’re building out one of the most anticipated teams in the AHL, having strong talent on and off the ice in an absolute must. Evan demonstrates a passion for both the sport and media and his expertise in broadcasting will enhance the Firebirds brand,” said Steve Fraser, president of Acrisure Arena and Coachella Valley Firebirds.

By NBA.com

The Atlanta Hawks and State Farm gathered 5,000 volunteers at State Farm Arena to pack one million meals as part of the Million Meal Pack. Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, State Farm Senior Vice President Dan Krause, City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, NBA Hall of Famer and Hawks Legend Dikembe Mutombo as well as Congresswoman Nikema Williams welcomed and thanked the volunteers for donating their time in support of the team’s largest single-day community service initiative.

Individuals, families, community groups, schools, churches and businesses gathered on the floor of the award-winning State Farm Arena and packed alongside volunteers from U.S. Hunger and executives from the Hawks and State Farm, reaching a final count of 1,019,232 meals.
The six 90-minute shifts of the event yielded:
• 169,872 bags of food
• 130,943 pounds of food
• 3,539 boxes of food
• 288 meals per box
• 48 bags per box

“We are very grateful for all of today’s volunteers and extremely proud of the results from today’s Million Meal Pack in partnership with State Farm,” Koonin said. “We understand that it is a huge undertaking to tackle food insecurity throughout Atlanta, and we believe that this one-day community service initiative will make an incredible impact and also inspire our communities throughout metro Atlanta.”

The more-than-one million meals packed will be distributed throughout the metro Atlanta area with the operational support of U.S. Hunger, a hunger relief organization with innovative programs designed to help feed people struggling with food insecurity. Additionally, ten other local organizations will help distribute the meals: Atlanta Community Food Bank, CHRIS 180, City of Refuge, Fountain of Hope, Georgia State University Panther’s Pantry, Goodr, Meals On Wheels Atlanta, Mimi’s Pantry and Second Helpings Atlanta.

“The Million Meal Pack event makes a real difference in the lives of Atlanta residents facing food insecurity,” said Dan Krause, Southeastern Market Area Senior Vice President at State Farm. “Our local State Farm agents and employees were proud to be part of this effort as State Farm is dedicated to giving back and strengthening communities. We’re grateful to all the volunteers and thank State Farm Arena and the Atlanta Hawks for our partnership.”

Statistics provided by the Atlanta Community Food Bank show that nearly one in eight Georgians are living with food insecurity, including one in six children.

“There is nothing like the energy from 5,000 Atlantans coming together to take care of their community, taking a bold stand in the fight against hunger. After three years of being apart, we’re honored to be invited back by the Hawks and State Farm to help pack one million meals for families in need,” said Rick Whitted, CEO of U.S. Hunger.

As part of accomplishing various packing milestones throughout the day and after completing a lone volunteer shift, attendees celebrated on State Farm Drive with games, refreshments, music, and fun.

Continuing to operate as the world’s first TRUE Platinum certified sports and entertainment venue, this event is also marked as the first zero waste Million Meal Pack. As part of this event, State Farm Arena diverted more than 90 percent from landfills that includes all materials generated from load-in to load-out. In an intentional effort, the packaging also uses messaging to encourage recycling within the recipients’ communities.

The Hawks and State Farm hosted their first Million Meal Pack in 2019 where more than 5,000 volunteers filled State Farm Arena and prepared more than one million meals. The meals were then distributed to local Atlantans through seven community food bank organizations.

Additionally, both organizations have led efforts in multiple community-focused initiatives to better serve metro Atlanta. In addition to Million Meal Pack, the two organizations have collaborated on high-impact endeavors such as providing free pop-up grocery stores in partnership with Goodr Inc., for elderly and underserved citizens in metro Atlanta and enhancing the Snack Pack Program, which gave over 24,000 snack packs to youth throughout the school year and during summer break.

As part of the 2021-22 regular season, the Hawks Foundation and State Farm presented a check of $122,000 to the Atlanta Community Food Bank as an effort to help combat childhood hunger and fight against food insecurity throughout metro Atlanta.

The ‘Good Neighbor Giveback’ campaign raised $100 for every point the Hawks scored over 100 in each game during the 2021-22 regular season (originally up to $100,000) and was generously extended from State Farm.

Photo by Steve Schaefer