AEG Global Partnerships announced the promotion of longtime AEG team member Kate Sheets to the newly created post of Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Affairs.

In her new role at AGP, Sheets will identify and maintain relationships with key partners and will provide input on strategy for the branding and sponsorship division. She will also help AGP’s partners develop strategies for campaigns and content, the company said.

“Kate has been an invaluable asset to our company having provided strategic insight and legal counsel across virtually every facet of AEG’s global business, including having led legal negotiations on behalf of our Global Partnerships division for some of the largest revenue-generating assets within our company’s portfolio,” said Nick Baker, Chief Operating Officer of AEG Global Partnerships. “A gifted dealmaker and business strategist, she has been instrumental in helping us bring our strategic vision for key partnerships to life and we know that her leadership, integrity, and work ethic combined with her ability to successfully navigate our multi-faceted global business landscape will make her a priceless addition to our Global Partnerships team.”

“AEG Global Partnerships has continually proven itself as an industry leader. I look forward to working with the rest of our team to drive growth through innovative and purposeful partnerships that both deliver value to our clients and meet their strategic goals,” added Sheets.

Sheets joined AEG in 2016 as a member of the company’s Legal Department, starting as Legal Counsel and later moving up to the position of Vice President, Legal Counsel.

During her tenure at AEG, she was responsible for advising management on business and legal affairs and played a key role in securing deals for AEG owned franchises (Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Galaxy), events (Nike 3on3 Basketball Tournament, All-Star Chef Classic) and arenas (Crypto.com Arena, L.A. LIVE, Dignity Health Sports Park), including multi-million-dollar founding partnerships and naming rights arrangements with major brands.

Those deals included the record-breaking $700 million 20-year naming rights deal that saw Staples Center renamed as Crypto.com Arena, which AEG Global Partnerships brokered on behalf of AEG, the largest such deal in the history of the sports industry.

Before she joined AEG, Sheets worked for three years as an associate at Proskauer Rose LLP in Los Angeles, where she focused on M&A and other securities matters for the corporate world. She began her career at Foley & Lardner LLP in Los Angeles.

“Kate has demonstrated excellence and leadership in every project and initiative she’s overseen since joining AEG six years ago,” said Russell Silvers, Chief Operating Officer, AEG Global Partnerships. “She has consistently applied her legal expertise and strategic insight to drive innovation as well as new business opportunities for the company and we are thrilled to have her expand both her role and impact on Global Partnerships with this new position.”

By R.V. Baugus

VenueConnect is officially underway in Phoenix, and we are here all week to provide you with many of the highlights.

Mark Mettes, leader at the Herberger Theater Center, played host to the Leadership Dinner on Sunday night. Attendees actually dined on the theater stage, creating a mood of well, just waiting for someone to bust out in operatic tone. Alas, there was no IAVM symphony, but attendees enjoyed a savory meal and opportunity for many past IAVM Chairs to reacquaint.

Chair Eric Hart bestowed Chair Citations to four individuals who played major roles in IAVM and the industry over the year of his leadership. The honorees included Bobby Goldwater, Steve Mackenzie, Kim Mahoney, and Brett Mitchell. Hart bestowed a fifth citation to his outstanding team with Tampa Sports Authority who beautifully managed business while Hart took care of IAVM business,

The comedic highlight came as Adina Erwin took the mic to ask the past chairs to stand to be recognized. When she came Simmons Bank Arena’s own Michal Marion, Erwin announced, “S**t! Michael Marion!” paying homage to the salty tongued one’s penchant for dropping enough F bombs to fill up his personal cuss jar.

Tuesday began early with more than 200 in attendance for the First Timers/New Member Orientation. Speakers included Barb Burns, Beth Wade, Julia Slocombe, Jenny Stephens, Donna Miller-Brown, along with IAVM CEO Brad Mayne and Chair Eric Hart.

Attendees were encouraged to make their IAVM investment meaningful from the beginning by finding ways to get involved. Panelists discussed Venue Management School, Mentor Connector Program, 30 Under 30, and making their time in Phoenix valuable by beginning to form friendships and visiting the trade show floor.

By Mark Herrera

Epistemix, data science platform company that builds location specific simulations to test health and safety measures for events and venues, released updated data that projects the risk of COVID transmission next week during IAVM’s 97th VenueConnect Annual Conference and Trade Show in Phoenix to be reduced by 40% given the safety protocols.

“IAVM’s use of data to inform decisions on what health and safety measures to put in place shows strong leadership for the industry,” says Dr. Lindsey Reiser, Chief of Staff, Epistemix. “When seasonal changes and new variants arise, enacting protocols like what IAVM is doing enables venues and organizers to keep business going as usual.”

“This is what the ‘new normal’ everyone has been talking about for the last year looks like,” says John Cordier, CEO of Epistemix. “Under certain scenarios, you put in protocols to keep things moving forward. You keep business moving and ensure safety for all people in attendance.”

Partnering in 2022, Epistemix and IAVM are working together to develop appropriate mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of events at venues using a data-informed approach.

Projections show:
● The VenueConnect mask and testing protocols ensure a controlled environment that provides a high level of protection from COVID-19.
● Risk of transmission is reduced by 40% given the protocols.
● With its masks and testing, attendees are six (6) times less likely to be exposed to COVID at the event than a similar sized event in Phoenix without protocols.
● Epistemix will continue to monitor variants to provide the most up to date projections to IAVM and recommendations to health and safety protocols.
● Epistemix data has proven to be 95% accurate when forecasting for past events.

IAVM will continue to work with Epistemix to provide regular updates and forecasts for attendees and exhibitors for future events.

Mark Herrera is Director of Life Safety & Security for IAVM.

Theatre Projects is pleased to announce the addition of two new full-time staff members to their team. Chris Smith joins the firm as the marketing and content manager and Ashley Keen, CVP, joins their strategic planning team as a senior consultant. Both bring significant expertise in their respective fields, have backgrounds in the performing arts, and offer new and exciting perspectives to their clients and collaborative partners.

Chris joins the company’s New York office to lead marketing and PR efforts. Over the past decade and a half, Chris has worked with a wide array of non-profit organizations in Chicago, Texas, and Oregon. His experience includes content creation, digital communication, writing, brand and marketing strategy, and data analysis. He brings a creative approach to the firm’s marketing efforts, a precise eye for detail, and a great sense of humor to the team. Prior to Theatre Projects, Chris worked with Oregon State University, The Black Sheep Agency, 4th Wall Theatre in Houston, Echelon Design, Chicago Art Department, and the Chicago High School for the Arts.

“It’s thrilling, professionally, to join such an illustrious and creative community,” Chris notes. “But personally as well, it’s wonderful to find a role that wraps together my love for theatre, writing, digital content, and storytelling.”

Ashley specializes in helping performing arts organizations and venue managers plan for the future. She combines experience working in flexible spaces and multi-venue arts centers with a love of creative problem-solving to find solutions that support an organization’s strategic goals. Her new role will include working on feasibility studies, needs assessments, business planning, community engagement efforts, and more. Ashley is a Certified Venue Professional (CVP) who joined the Theatre Projects team from Mesa Arts Center in Arizona, where she served as event services coordinator, production supervisor, and theatre technical coordinator. She also previously worked at Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, at Orlando Shakespeare Theater, and at Arizona State University.

“I’m excited to welcome Ashley to our team,” says Gena Buhler, Theatre Projects’ head of strategic planning. “Our strategic planning efforts help to support many types and sizes of organizations and venues across North America, and Ashley’s past production and event management experience will help to guide our clients with the insight of a former venue leader. She brings energy, enthusiasm, and years of hands-on experience to our team, as we support the growth and improvement of venues and the performing arts industry.”

Photos courtesy of Theatre Projects

By R.V. Baugus

It was with a mix of joy (happy for your retirement!) and sadness (dang, this industry is going to miss you) that news came of the upcoming September 1 retirement of Peggy Daidakis from leading the Baltimore Convention Center after a brilliant career of almost 50 years.

But it was one day years ago at VenueConnect that will always stay in my mind when thinking about my dear friend Peggy.

We scheduled a time to meet at the annual conference away from the hubbub of chatter on the trade show floor and around the concourse for an interview to feature Peggy on the cover of then Facility Manager magazine. I was very much looking forward to sitting down and talking with Peggy as I knew of her years of giving to the association, the industry, and her beloved Baltimore.

We found an out-of-the-way place in the convention center, shared some personal time about life and family, and it was off to the races to conduct the interview. I must say it was one of the more exciting and revealing interviews I have done just for the sheer magnitude of Peggy’s accomplishments at the BCC and being instrumental in bringing tourists to Baltimore’s many offerings.

As I recall, the interview was just shy of one hour according to the cassette before I hit stop. In all candor, I could have listened to Peggy for another hour, but I knew she was not at the annual conference to spend her time chatting with yours truly.

There were — as they say — places to go and people to see, and with that Peggy and I parted. It was a wrap and I was excited to get back home, transcribe the interview, and write the cover feature story.

The day came and I grabbed my cassette, had a blank page on the computer screen ready to type out the interview, hit play … and then a strange thing happened. Nothing. I mean, nothing. I fast forwarded. Nothing. I started over from the beginning. Nothing.

Yes, it was an editor’s cardinal sin, I had not checked the batteries in the cassette before going into the interview. I had basically wasted an hour of Peggy’s time with NOTHING on the cassette. I panicked. What do I do? How do I explain this to Peggy without getting deservedly berated?

I mustered up the strength to make the call, stuttered and stammered myself away, and was beyond relieved when this gentle person said she understood and that we could do the interview again.

Whew.

From that day forward, every time I saw Peggy at VenueConnect I could not help but think of that day of infamy. To her credit, she never again brought it up, sparing me undue embarrassment.

So, Peggy, if you ever want me to collaborate on a book project or anything similar in your retirement future, I am only too happy. I will even bring extra batteries.