In accordance with IAVM policies and bylaws, the slate for the 2022-2023 Board of Directors is now available online. As in previous years, members will have an opportunity to cast their votes electronically.

Members can read about the candidates online during their leisure in preparation of casting their votes.

The ballot box will open June 17, 2022 and will close on July 8, 2022.  In the interim take advantage of the opportunity to read all about those individuals slated to lead the Association during the next year.

By Ruth Morrison

Theatre Projects is delighted to announce Evelyn Zilberman has joined the firm as their new client services manager. She brings a strong background in theatre, particularly touring productions, and will lead the company’s sales and business development work.

Evelyn’s career highlights to date include working with Emmy and Tony award-winning talent, productions, and other major brands. She brings her experience of managing teams, strategies, schedules, and budgets to her new role, where she’ll be working closely with clients and collaborators to understand project goals and deliver the right team and services to meet those needs.

Before joining the company, Evelyn worked in a number of roles in the theatrical touring and production industry. She was founder and principal of EZ Entertainment with a portfolio of artists and productions ranging from Broadway and Off-Broadway to circus, corporate, concert, immersive, dance, and 3D visual productions. She also spent over a decade with Columbia Artists Theatricals as vice president of booking and administration and worked at Troika Entertainment, where she assisted the director of booking for their touring musical theatre productions.

She describes joining Theatre Projects as “a full circle moment,” having opened and studied theatre at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland. Then, as a booking agent she was involved in the premiere of the Blue Man Group’s national tour — which was the debut show at the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas. She says, “I’m incredibly awed by the Theatre Projects team that brings these conceptual designs and ideas to life. What excites me most is having a hand in what these amazing entertainment complexes will look like in the future — how they’ll usher in the audience of tomorrow and be the spark of inspiration for culture and communities across North America.”

“I’m just incredibly excited to have Evelyn join the team,” says Theatre Projects’ general manager, Daniel Ordower. “As we continue to expand our services and grow the business, Evelyn’s knowledge of the national performing arts community and her deep understanding of all facets of entertainment industry will be a huge asset to Theatre Projects, our clients, and our partners. Plus, her thoughtfulness and sense of humor make every conversation with her a joy.”

Ruth Morrison is Creative Content Manager for Theatre Projects.

By Cara Vanderhook

The Event & Arena Marketing Conference (EAMC) announced that Vanessa Kromer will be honored with the 2022 Gigi Award of Excellence, Kosha Irby and Rosanne Kozerski Brown will be inducted into the EAMC Hall of Fame, and Kelly Lovell-Taylor has been named the 2022 Impact honoree. The honors will be presented at the annual EAMC Awards Luncheon taking place during the conference, June 15-18, 2022, in the Twin Cities, where EAMC will also recognize the most innovative and strategic professionals in the live entertainment industry.

Each year EAMC recognizes professionals for their contributions to the live entertainment industry. The top honor is the Gigi Award of Excellence, named after the late Gigi Pilhofer, one of the founders of EAMC. This year’s honoree is former EAMC President and Hall of Famer, Vanessa Kromer. Kromer is Senior Director of Publicity at SoFi Stadium, YouTube Theater, and Hollywood Park and has actively contributed to the conference for over 20 years. During her tenure she has hosted conferences in Anaheim (1999) and Los Angeles (2015), served as the President, Vice President of Agenda, a Board Member, and created the EAMC Awards.

Kosha Irby is EAMC’s 2022 Hall of Fame inductee being recognized for his impact on the live entertainment industry, support for the conference, and influence in marketing trends. Irby currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer for Professional Bull Riders (PBR), where he is responsible for all aspects of PBR’s consumer and live event marketing. A longtime supporter of the annual conference, Irby has participated in several panel discussions and sponsored events through his current and previous companies including WWE, a publicly traded (NYSE: WWE) global media company.

Rosanne Kozerski Brown, a participant in the earliest years of the conference, is the 2020 EAMC Hall of Fame recipient. Beginning in the mid-1970s, Kozerski Brown was a rising star in a relatively new profession, event and sports marketing, serving as Director of Public Relations and Marketing at the legendary Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. Her career took her on a year-long tour with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Australia and Japan, before ultimately becoming Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for the Detroit Red Wings. She continually supported EAMC and assisted on the planning committee.

Kelly Lovell-Taylor is the Marketing and PR Officer for the Tempe Center for the Arts and will receive the 2022 Impact Award for her positive influence and contributions within the community. She is currently Vice President and a founding member of the City of Tempe’s Black Employee Alliance (TBEA). TBEA helps connect, influence, empower, and strengthen the relationships of Black employees with each other and city staff at-large, with the goal of fostering inclusion. She has also been involved with EAMC for over 25 years as an attendee, a panelist, and as a sponsor representative.

These honorees, along with the winners for “Marketing and Publicity Campaigns of the Year,” “Best Artist Gift” and “Artist Welcome of the Year” will be recognized at the annual EAMC Awards Luncheon in Minneapolis held on Thursday, June 16, 2022. Register HERE.

Cara Vanderhook is Vice President Marketing & Communications for Crypto.com Area, Microsoft Theater & L.A. LIVE.

By Martin Gammeltoft

With venues reopening following the pandemic, we at Activity Stream are thrilled to expand our team in the US once again. Evelyn Ingram, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, will be joining the team as VP of Commercial Sales for the North American live entertainment industry.

With her many years in the live event industry, Evelyn comes with a passion and drive for pushing the boundaries of digital marketing and ticket sales by working with tools that support venues in making data-driven decisions and delivering fan-based intelligence to customers.

“I am thrilled to join Activity Stream and work with an exceptionally forward-thinking and inventive team, coupled with an innovative marketing intelligence product,” Ingram said. “Tools that help venues make data-driven decisions are crucial, even more so since COVID. Activity Stream goes even beyond that and delivers fan-based intelligence that is usable, actionable, and impactful. The platform is unique and ground-breaking. I’m very thankful to be a part of it!”

Evelyn’s strong professional background consists of long-term work in the venue software industry at EventBooking and Ungerboeck. Her 20 years with venue management software has garnered over 1,000 client venues from around the world. Evelyn’s deep industry commitment is shown through her past service on the IAVM Membership Committee, IAVM Allied Committee, and IAVM Executive Leadership Committee, while today serving on the IAVM Diversity and Inclusive Leadership Committee.

Evelyn’s professional capabilities landed her a prestigious title within the event and venue industry, with VenuesNow Magazine naming her a “Woman of Influence,” in 2018.

Martin Gammeltoft is Chief Business Officer for Activity Stream.

By Colum Coomey

Global leader in venue and event management, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust, has been confirmed as the operator for the new Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCEC) that will open in 2026.

As the existing Government operator of convention and exhibition services in the state of Victoria, the Trust already manages the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and will manage both GCEC and MCEC to leverage expertise and opportunities to collaborate.

GCEC will be developed on the Geelong Waterfront precinct as part of the Geelong City Deal – a partnership between the Australian and Victorian Governments, together with the City of Greater Geelong.

The $294 million project includes the construction of a purpose-built Convention and Exhibition Centre, incorporating a 1,000-seat plenary venue and at least 3,700 square metres of flexible event space to allow large and small events to run concurrently.

The centre will be a major driver of jobs and economic growth for the City of Greater Geelong and surrounding areas, supporting 600 jobs during construction and an additional 270 ongoing jobs through operation.

Every event at GCEC will benefit a local ecosystem of hoteliers, event organisers, food providers, chefs and casual wait staff, cleaners, technicians, logistics, transport operators, and more.

The Trust will work closely with the local community, businesses, and key stakeholders in Geelong and the wider Bellarine region to secure as many local jobs, produce, and supply chains as possible in the centre’s ongoing operation.

“We have more than 25 years’ experience hosting and delivering world class business events and we’re excited to start operating in Geelong and the Bellarine,” said Peter King, Chief Executive of MCEC. “We look forward to engaging the local community, businesses, and event organisers as the Centre is developed.

“The new facility will expand Geelong’s annual events offering and provide extraordinary experiences to the community and wider region.”

Colum Coomey is Corporate Communications Manager for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
M: 0435 659 082