Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the world’s leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body, announced that State Farm Arena, home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, and an award-winning sports and live entertainment venue, earned TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum certification. With this achievement, State Farm Arena is now the only and world’s first sports and live entertainment venue in the world to receive TRUE certification. When beginning this journey in 2019, State Farm Arena diverted only an average of 10 percent of total waste. Since May 2021, the venue has consistently diverted a minimum of 90 percent of fan-generated waste from landfills.

According to the GBCI, buildings can earn four levels of TRUE certification: Certified (31-37 points), Silver (38-45 points), Gold (46-63 points) and Platinum (64-81 points). State Farm Arena received the Platinum designation, the highest of four classifications of green buildings. In achieving TRUE Platinum, the venue earned near the maximum number of points from a variety of categories including redesign, reduce, reuse, compost (re-earth), recycle, zero waste reporting, diversion (min. 90%), zero waste purchasing, leadership, training, zero waste analysis, upstream management, hazardous waste prevention, closed loop system, and innovation.

“We are honored to receive TRUE Platinum certification from GBCI as we continue to set the standard as a global leader in the sports and entertainment industry,” said Brett Stefansson, Hawks’ EVP and General Manager of State Farm Arena.

A few of the highlights that led to State Farm Arena’s TRUE Platinum certification was diverting a minimum of 90% of all waste from landfills and incineration during basketball games, concerts, and events. The venue diverted more than 500,000 lbs. of waste during Hawks’ home games throughout the 2021-22 NBA Season. Lastly, the Hawks and venue worked closely with one of their proud sustainability partners, Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, who provided guidance and operational knowledge to organize, sort, and recycle aluminum and other materials.

“By pursuing zero waste, State Farm Arena and the Atlanta Hawks recognize the positive impacts of reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfills helping us build a sustainable future,” said Peter Templeton, President and CEO of U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. “Waste impacts all facets of business and changing the way that we use resources will deliver public health benefits, reduce our environmental impact, and advance a greener economy. Sports leagues and teams reach large audiences and have the power to expose everyday audiences to sustainability strategies like zero waste.”

Throughout this milestone accomplishment, the Hawks and State Farm Arena were assisted by local vendors such as CompostNow, who provides commercial composting solutions, and Haulin’ Glass Recycling, which provides glass recycling services. Venue partners such as Levy Restaurants, the official venue’s food and beverage partner, helped in the supply chain process, and Pritchard Sports & Entertainment, the venue’s official housekeeping partner, also assisted operationally with the collection and sorting of all materials. Other businesses who were integral in the effort include Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvation Army, WestRock, Waste Management, SA Recycling, Lighting Resources LLC, and Rubicon Global.

“Accomplishing this was only possible with an entire team effort,” said Geoffrey Stiles, Hawks’ Senior Vice President of Facilities and Events for State Farm Arena. “When we began our zero-waste journey, we knew that the vision would take buy-in from everybody – our fans, partners and staff – night after night and event after event to make this happen. We are incredibly grateful to share this monumental achievement with them.”

Local organizations such as the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) aided in creating various recycling solutions for State Farm Arena. In addition, the venue activated dozens of volunteers throughout the season, such as teachers from Atlanta Public Schools, employees from State Farm® and students from University of Georgia’s Department of Sustainability, who joined at various events as zero waste volunteers. In their roles, they aided guests at the venue in the process of properly sorting materials to reduce contamination.

“As a community asset, we know how important it is for us to practice what we preach when it comes to being a good corporate citizen,” said Sofi Armenakian, Director of Sustainability and Operations for the Hawks and State Farm Arena. “While this is a great accomplishment, we believe this is just the beginning of a forever journey. We know fans, artists, and staff want to come to a venue that’s making a difference in the world and practicing sustainability at a high level.”

The Hawks and State Farm Arena continue to lead the way in sustainable practices for sports and live event venues. In Feb. 2022, State Farm Arena teamed up with Billie Eilish and Live Nation to produce the first zero-waste sold-out event on Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever, The World Tour”. In Jan. 2022, State Farm Arena announced that it diverted more than one million pounds of waste from landfills. In Nov. 2021, Novelis became the official aluminum recycling and proud sustainability partner on State Farm Arena. In June 2021, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the world’s leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body, announced that Game 4 of the Atlanta Hawks’ first-round playoff series last May against the New York Knicks earned TRUE Silver certification, marking the first time a sporting event has received the designation. The game was sold out with 16,458 fans in attendance. In June 2019, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced State Farm Arena, received the LEED Gold certification. At the time, then-USGBC and GBCI President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam presented Hawks and State Farm Arena CEO Steve Koonin with the designation plaque during the Greenbuild Atlanta Cultivation event at the venue.

To learn more about how the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena are leading the way in sustainability efforts across the sports and entertainment industry, visit StateFarmArena.com/sustainability.

By Mary Klida

As events return to convention centers after the pandemic, the Huntington Place, Detroit team regroups led by three strong industry leaders, all women. The venue’s three top executive positions are filled by Karen Totaro, CVE, general manager of Huntington Place/ASM Global; Becky Bixby, assistant general manager of Huntington Place/ASM Global and Lisa Canada, chair of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA, the five-person governing body of the center.)

“Huntington Place is coming out of COVID faster than many convention centers across the country due to our strategic mix of business and we see a strong return of business,” said Totaro. “Fall is looking good as we are already seeing a robust spring and as we continue to reach pre-COVID numbers for some shows.”

Currently, Huntington Place is the only convention center in the country where women serve in the top executive roles including Chair of the DRCFA and the two top leadership positions for venue operations, general manager, and assistant general manager. The convention center is the 16th largest in the country with over 723,000 square feet of exhibit space and more than one million square feet in overall event space.

“We are so proud of this strong leadership team in Huntington Place,” said Bob McClintock, executive vice president of convention centers of ASM Global. “They are paving the way to success as the venue rebuilds business while reinforcing the three pillars of ASM Global Acts: Invest in People; Protect the Environment; Strengthen Our Communities. They represent the best of the best at ASM Global.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2021, women held just 21% of all facility management positions in the country, but in Huntington Place women are leading the way.

Totaro was named general manager in April 2021 and is nationally recognized as an industry leader who held previous executive positions in convention centers in San Diego, Portland, Atlantic City, and Cincinnati. She took over the Detroit job in April 2021. Believing that inclusive and equitable teams are essential for success, as the venue began to rehire after being closed during the pandemic, gender equity quickly unfolded. Today, out of 35 managerial jobs (supervisors, managers, and directors) at Huntington Place, 17 are held by women.

“Diversity and inclusion make for a better world and hence better business. Our voices at the table bring a different perspective,” said Totaro. “I recently read an article talking about why women entrepreneurs are more successful in some respects than men. It showed how female-owned firms generate higher revenues, create more jobs, and showcase women as more effective leaders with a larger appetite for growth. We have been society’s secret superpower all along. No more secrets, we are right here.”

Additionally, women hold three of the five DRCFA posts with Canada as Chairperson for the first time since its inception. The authority was created in 2009 by the Michigan Legislature, along with City of Detroit and Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, as each appoints a person to the five-member board.

“It’s exciting and refreshing to see more women in a position of power,” said Lisa Canada, DRCFA Board Chairperson and Political and Legislative Director for the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights. “Women bring a wealth of leadership skills that represent more than 50% of the population. Understanding the perspective of our all our clients and customers is a win for everyone.”

All three Huntington Place women leaders agree that to create more gender parity in facility leadership, executives need to promote women with a diverse background and train facility leaders on what a diverse workforce brings to the culture and how to cultivate success.

According to Becky Bixby, assistant general manager Huntington Place/ASM Global, “Women create team environments that are inclusive and diverse. It’s within these types of environments that the best ideas organically transpire because they are encouraged and cultivated.”

And Bixby would know. In Huntington Place, she is responsible for all day-to-day operational aspects of the venue with a key role in ensuring that all clients’ needs are understood and met. She leads the effort for LEED certification and all sustainability initiatives that cross over multiple departments. She also maintains all emergency response plans and establishes safety and security measures to create organic and appropriate responses that secure public safety at all times. She works toward resolving any client or staffing concerns. She ensures all operational departments are on track with their budgets and financial goals for the year. No small job, and one that requires extensive collaboration with all concerned.

“Women thrive on multi-tasking,” said Bixby. “Motivating a team to achieve a goal, providing guidance to manage a project, figuring out the details of an event when hitting a roadblock, and stepping away to keep it all in perspective of the overall picture. It’s what we do as women.”

Huntington Place was built by the City of Detroit, opened in 1960 and originally named after the mayor, Cobo Hall. In 2019 the center was renamed TCF Center after the naming rights were sold to TCF Bank for $30 million over a 20-year contract, the largest financial deal for a convention center naming rights contract at the time. Dec. 9, 2021, the venue was again renamed Huntington Place, after Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (“Huntington”), the parent company of The Huntington National Bank, and TCF Financial Corporation the parent company of TCF National Bank, combined in an all-stock merger.

The venue completed a $279 million renovation in 2015 and is in the planning stages of another $350 to $500 million expansion that will include a new 60,000 square foot ballroom with a possible theater set and 2500 more parking spaces. Most importantly the plan includes a 750-room hotel connected to the center. Details to this plan are expected to be announced later this year.

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

Pictured from left: Lisa Canada, Karen Totaro, Becky Bixby

Kennesaw State University has named Joe Skopitz, CVE, as the general manager of Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. Skopitz will also serve as deputy executive director for KSU’s Department of Event and Venue Management. David Bennett, MBA, CVP, was promoted to director of event operations and assistant general manager for the stadium.

Skopitz has served at KSU for four years and Bennett for six years. Both will continue to report to the executive director of Event and Venue Management, Zach Kerns.

Before joining Kennesaw State, Skopitz spent 14 years with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority in Atlanta, Georgia in a variety of roles, including AGM of Centennial Olympic Park. Bennett, a former IAVM 30 Under 30 recipient, was previously with the Charlotte Bobcats/Time Warner Arena and began his career at Clemson University.

“Joe and David have now worked together for nearly five years and have formed a great relationship. They are team players, customer focused and student advocates,” Kerns said. “I’m looking forward to what they will do for the stadium, our Night Owl student employees, and our patrons in the future.”

Additionally at KSU, Kristin Evans has moved from director of business operations to director of resource planning and management, Ann Schroeder from compliance and support manager to director, youth programs compliance, and Brittany Bailey from senior business operations manager to director of business operations. All moves were strategically designed to best support the department, the University and the greater Kennesaw community, Kerns said.

(Joe Skopitz, pictured right; David Bennett, pictured left)

By Jeffrey Chabon

The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, welcomed Andrea Austin-Thomas to the team as a new Event Coordinator. Andrea’s first show with the Alamodome will be for Disney on Ice, starting April 28 through May 1, which is somewhat ironic because she used to be a skater for Disney on Ice.

“I loved traveling with Disney on Ice,” she said. “I got to go all over the world. I’ve been to Australia, New Zealand, and many parts of Southeast Asia and Europe.”

Andrea started skating when she was seven-years-old living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It’s when Andrea was in college skating as an amateur figure skater that she saw a sign at her ice rink offering auditions for Disney. She was offered a skating position with the show and toured with them for five and one-half years.

“This is definitely a full-circle moment in my life,” she said. “I loved performing with Disney on Ice, but I always wanted to know more about the planning of the show. Now as an event coordinator I get to go behind the scenes and help with event production in real time.”

Andrea, who has lived in San Antonio for two years, says she hasn’t completely hung up her skates. She still occasionally gets to the ice rink, just not as often as she’d like to. She looks forward to working on her first show this April and many more in the future.

Jeffrey Chabon is Sales & Marketing Administrator at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

By Nadia Vanderhoof

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), in partnership with Orange County Government, hosted a week of sustainability-focused events for the community and employees honoring Earth Day during April 18-22.

The OCCC leads the way in the development of sustainable practices with its designation as one of the largest LEED Gold certified convention centers in North America. The OCCC has continuously demonstrated industry and community leadership through its pioneering stewardship that models how large venues can achieve sustainability goals.

Starting the week with mosquito abatement demonstrations hosted by the Orange County Mosquito Control Department, the event displayed the resources and equipment used for sustainable and environmentally friendly mitigation, including the control of mosquitoes and algae blooms.

On Earth Day, the OCCC hosted the inauguration of a new monarch butterfly garden on its campus and a commemorative tree planting pre-celebration for Arbor Day, observed this year on April 29. Orange County sustainability experts explained how milkweed plants in the garden support the growth of the monarch butterfly population, a vulnerable species. The Orange County Utilities Department demonstrated its rain barrel program, which teaches customers who are residents of unincorporated Orange County how they can repurpose rainwater.

“The Center believes in fully integrating environmental education, sustainable practices and donations through robust corporate social responsibility programs with our non-profit partners,” OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester said. “Earth Day reminds us that sustainability, conservation, and smart and environmental practices are important to the convention industry. Together with our clients, we are collectively taking positive action to support and conserve our precious resources in Orange County.”

Sustainability remains a top priority for clients as groups focus on expanding corporate social responsibility practices and green meetings. During the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the OCCC supported clients’ sustainability efforts by donating nearly $220,000 in merchandise and about 13,725 pounds of food to local organizations. Beneficiaries include United Way, Habitat for Humanity, A Gift for Teaching, Clean the World, Great Oaks Village, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, and
Orange County Public Schools. Since 2013, approximately $14.42 million has been donated to local charities through conventions at the OCCC.

Additionally, the Center’s innovative sustainability strategies stretch from growing and harvesting more than 44,000 fresh, non-GMO plants, directly from the OCCC’s Center-to-Table Gardens, to supporting sustainable energy by maintaining the largest municipal solar array in the Southeast United States. Covering an area equivalent to five football fields, the energy produced by the OCCC’s stunning solar setup has the ability to power more than 200 homes each year.

Learn more about the Center’s pioneering sustainability practices by visiting, https://www.occc.net/About-UsSustainability.

Fast Facts on OCCC Sustainability Practices

District Energy Program – The OCCC is part of an innovative chilled water production agreement with OUC Cooling which provides energy efficient and environmentally friendly air conditioning to Convention District hotel participants.

Renewable Energy – The OCCC campus provides five different solar energy programs used by clients and other stakeholders for demonstration, training and research.

Building Efficiency – The OCCC incorporates natural lighting, advanced technology, and employee ingenuity to achieve buildings which are 87% more energy efficient per square foot than similar buildings.

Waste Reduction – OCCC works with clients and contractors to reduce event waste by 53% since 2004.

Recycling Receptacles – Our recycling and waste bins on campus were made from used plastic milk jugs and 100% solar energy.

Water Efficiency – Bathrooms use 15% less water than building codes mandate and 100% reclaimed water is used to irrigate the OCCC’s 400-acre campus.

Nadia Vanderhoof is Chief Marketing Officer for the Orange County Convention Center.

(L-R) OCCC Sustainability Coordinator Katerina L. Chagoya; OCCC Capital Planning Manager Crystal Mudd; Orange County Chief Sustainability and Resilience Officer Jeff Benavides; OCCC Facility Operations Manager Hector Clemente; OCCC Facility Operations Assistant Manager Bob Foster; OCCC
Executive Director Mark Tester; Deputy Director Terry Devitt display a proclamation for Arbor Day observed on April 29.