By Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip

On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, the Pennsylvania Convention Center hosted “Doing Business with the Pennsylvania Convention Center: Diverse Business Roundtable.” The roundtable was the first of two events being hosted by the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) in March to encourage greater participation by minority, women, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBE) in contract opportunities at the Center.

“The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and ASM Global are committed to fostering an environment in which all businesses are afforded equal access and an equal opportunity to compete for contracts with the Authority,” said David A. Nasatir, Esq., Chair of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “There are many diverse businesses in the Philadelphia region that are not aware of the opportunities that exist with the Convention Center and are not familiar with the process for becoming one of our suppliers. The purpose of the roundtable events is to ensure that these businesses are provided with the tools and information they need to be able to successfully compete and contract with the Center.”

Approximately 75 diverse business owners were registered for the event and had the opportunity to interact with key staff of the Pennsylvania Convention Center and other business owners. During the event, they gained insight into the Center’s procurement processes and learned about some upcoming capital projects. Some of the Center’s DEI community partners, such as the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Economic Opportunity, the US Minority Business Development Agency, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, and the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council, were also on hand to provide attendees with important information on registering their businesses as a MWDBE and successfully operating as a diverse business owner.

“Last year, the Pennsylvania Convention Center spent approximately $20 million in capital projects ranging from IT upgrades, facility renovations, professional services, and the purchasing of goods and services,” said Jeffrey N. Brown, PCCA Board Member, Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee, and Founder, Chairman and CEO of Brown’s Super Stores, Inc. “Our goal is to create meaningful and substantial opportunities for MWDBEs in the Pennsylvania Convention Center and in our region.”

One such success story comes from Donahue Bailey, Project Executive at Atrium International, Inc. Atrium International, Inc. started as a subcontractor and is now one of the Center’s prime contractors, providing architectural engineering services with a specialization in project management and construction management.

“Working with the Pennsylvania Convention Center has been very impactful for our business,” Bailey said. “I attended several of the Doing Business with the Pennsylvania Convention Center events and was able to connect with one of the Center’s prime contractors at the time. As a result of that opportunity, the Center saw the quality of our work and we were eventually signed on as a prime contractor.”

“Being listed as a contractor for the Pennsylvania Convention Center has helped us to gain other business and I would encourage persons to take the first step towards expanding your business by attending the Doing Business with the Pennsylvania Convention Center events,” Bailey continued.

The next event in this effort will be a Doing Business with the Pennsylvania Convention Center: Networking Breakfast on Monday, March 28 from 8:30 am to 11:00 am at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The event will include an insightful discussion with Jeffrey Brown and an opportunity to network with some of the Center’s prime contractors and community partners. Business owners can register for the event on Eventbrite.

Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip is Senior Communications Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

By Suzanne Freckmann

Upon entering the third year of the pandemic, Americans are not only more sensitive to germs in public restrooms, they now hold higher standards for the cleanliness, condition, and technology used in these shared spaces, according to the annual Healthy Handwashing Survey™ from Bradley Corporation conducted in January.

Despite ongoing COVID outbreaks, most Americans have not been deterred from using public bathrooms. In fact, 41% of Americans report using public restrooms as often as they did before COVID came on the scene. Interestingly, 27% say they use them more now than previously.

“Thanks to the pandemic, more people are paying closer attention to various elements in public restrooms – how clean they are, how easy they are to navigate without touching surfaces and how they can be improved,” said Jon Dommisse, vice president of marketing and corporate communication for Bradley Corp., a global manufacturer of commercial restroom equipment.

The survey, which has examined the state of U.S. public restrooms and handwashing habits for 13 years, identified key COVID impacts on how Americans view public restrooms – as well as the businesses and establishments that provide them.

#1 Restroom maintenance gets higher marks

A positive side effect of the virus is that half of the population believes public restrooms are now cleaner and in better condition than before COVID. More men (55%) give a thumbs up to the cleanliness of restrooms compared with women (47%).

“Prior to COVID, upwards of 70% of Americans reported having an unpleasant restroom experience,” Dommisse explained. “Evidently, increased cleaning protocols and stocking of supplies is being observed and appreciated by restroom users.”

Further, 79% think a posted and updated cleaning schedule in a restroom is important. “Signage goes a long way in helping to reassure visitors the facility is taking steps to ensure a clean environment and cares about keeping them safe,” he said.

#2 Unclean restrooms tarnish the overall business

Americans increasingly think poorly of a business when they encounter a messy restroom. In 2022, 51% of Americans say an unpleasant public restroom at a business shows poor management, up from 39% in 2021. Respondents also report that encountering neglected restrooms lowers their opinion of the establishment (43%) and shows the business doesn’t care about its customers (38%).

#3 Americans place high value on touchless restrooms

84% of Americans believe it’s important for public restrooms to be equipped with touchless fixtures and 63% say they are more likely to return to a business that offers no-touch capabilities in its restrooms.
“In fact, Americans view touch-free technology as the number one feature that makes them feel safer from germs in restrooms,” Dommisse said. “Touchless features are also Americans’ most requested improvement in restrooms. More cleaning/restocking takes second place.”

Which touchless restroom features are considered most important? Respondents cite faucets, soap dispensers, flushers, and restroom entrance doors as their top four.

#4 Consumers spend more money at a business with pleasant restrooms

Americans are willing to put their money behind restroom cleanliness. Almost 60% say they are likely to spend more cash at a business with clean, well-maintained restrooms. Another 58% say when out running errands they’ll take restroom breaks at a business they know has “good” restrooms.

#5 Coronavirus concerns persist, in general

The majority of Americans continue to be in an elevated state of germ consciousness, triggered by the coronavirus. While 89% of the general population felt more aware of germs in April 2020, that number has fallen to 78%. Northeasterners currently have the highest level of germ concerns (86%) while Midwesterners have the lowest level (72%).

“Certain types of facilities cause more trepidation about coming into contact with germs,” Dommisse added. “Specifically, Americans are most concerned about germs in stores (50%), medical facilities (39%), restaurants (34%) and gas stations (28%).”

The annual Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Corp. queried 1,035 American adults Jan. 10-21, 2022, about their handwashing habits, concerns about the coronavirus and flu and their use of public restrooms. Participants were from around the country and were fairly evenly split between men (46%) and women (54%). For more information, visit www.bradleycorp.com/handwashing.

Suzanne Freckmann is a PR Associate for Bradley Corporation.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in February 2022. Thank you for being a part of the association! Also, let us get to know you better by participating in the I Am Venue Management series. Please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story to share your story and photo.

Rosie Alcoser, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Charles Anderson, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison, WI

Emily Anderson, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

Brittany Bailey, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

J.O. Bailey, Walton Arts Center/Walmart AMP, Fayetteville, AR

Bethany Barngrover, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Mercedes Barr, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Michael Becker, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Sydney Bodden, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Katelyn Bogrand, Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

Danny Boyle, MassMutual Center, Springfield, MA

Kelly Brennan, Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA

Jen Bryan, MassMutual Center, Springfield, MA

Starr Butler, Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

Amanda Careyva, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS

Andres Ceja, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

Paul Christiansen, Spokane Public Facilities District, Spokane, WA

Jamie Clack, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Kansas City, MO

Colleen Coomes, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN

Justin Crisler, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL

Daniel Dusbabek, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Santos Farias, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Stu Faris, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Melanie Feltoon, Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL

Kaleb Fillenworth, Alliant Energy PowerHouse, Cedar Rapids, IA

Noelle Fowler, MassMutual Center, Springfield, MA

Tim Freeman, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS

Jose Garcia, Destination El Paso, El Paso, TX

Blake Gauthron, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL

Joshua Genzlinger, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Moses Gomez, Performing Arts Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX

Sarah Gonser, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Kansas City, MO

Ashley Gonzalez, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Kimberly Graham, MassMutual Center, Springfield, MA

Michael Guidice, Allied Universal Technology Services, Tampa, FL

Leticia Hagert, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Melissa Hephner, Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH

David Herrera, Resch Center, Green Bay, WI

Colleen Hook, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Casey Ianelli, Marathon Live, Nashville, TN

Colby Jones, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Kansas City, MO

Marilia Juarbe, Coliseo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR

Kylie Karoway, BC Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Celeste Kenneally, Seaside Civic and Convention Center, Seaside, OR

Jennifer Kletke, Spokane Public Facilities District, Spokane, WA

Shawn Krauel, Central Florida Fair, Orlando, FL

Christine Kuhny, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA

Corrie Larson, DraganFly, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Christine Lauer, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Alison Letsos, ASM Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

Jeremy Longinotti, ALO.ai, Mountain View, CA

Katarina Lugo, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA

David MacNeill, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota, FL

Ronnie Mayo, Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH

Brian McCollum, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS

Jonathan Moss, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Katy Oerding, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Michael Orvos, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Chris Pendleton, Smart City Networks, Cincinnati, OH

Rob Pileckis, Prairie Center for the Arts, Schaumburg, IL

Madisen Pool, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Kansas City, MO

Chad Richter, Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH

Ray Roa, Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, NM

Daniel Rodriguez, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA

Alfredo Romero, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

Tom Schrepferman, CSA360 Software, Carmel, IN

Géraldine Serreqi, BC Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Lindsey Shady, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL

Macy Short, Missouri State University, Osage Beach, MO

Diane Smith, Alliant Energy PowerHouse, Cedar Rapids, IA

Emma Smith, Johnson & Wales University – Rhode Island, Providence, RI

Justin Smith, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS

Sunshine Smith, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV

Tiana Smith, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

David Snyder, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

Sam Solatycki, Miller High Life Theatre, Milwaukee, WI

Nicholas Tanzymore, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Chandler Taylor, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Cindy Trevino, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Nick Ulrich, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison, WI

Megan Vormbrock, Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati, OH

Robert Wehmhoff, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT

Cassidy Werkheiser, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Stephanie Wigginton, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Ashley Wright Shannon, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Kansas City, MO

Dan Young, Miller High Life Theatre, Milwaukee, WI

Erik Young, Spokane Public Facilities District, Spokane, WA

Justin Young, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL

Heather Zaehringer, Alliant Energy PowerHouse, Cedar Rapids, IA

Live Nation, Oak View Group, and ASM Global are among those that have pledged not to do business with Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Live Nation, which had a Moscow office in the early 2010s as it expanded its operations in the region, has vowed not to promote shows in Russia and says it is cutting ties with Russia-based suppliers.

“Live Nation joins the world in strongly condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” the company said in a statement released to IQ. “We will not promote shows in Russia, and we will not do business with Russia. We’re in the process of reviewing our vendors so we can cease work with any and all Russian-based suppliers.”

ASM Global, whose portfolio includes Moscow Convention Center and MTS Live Arena, said it “stands with the people of Ukraine and condemns Russia’s actions.”

“We fervently support a community’s right to freedom,” it said. “Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, their families, and loved ones all around the globe.”

Oak View Group (OVG) had earlier announced it was boycotting Russia amid widespread outrage over the country’s actions. OVG’s Climate Pledge Arena lit up Seattle Center in the colors of the Ukrainian flag in a gesture of support for #StandWithUkraine.

“In light of the tragic conflict rapidly unfolding in Ukraine, Oak View Group has pledged to not do business in or with Russia, nor will we serve Russian brands in any of our venues on a global basis, effective immediately,” it said. “We stand with the people of Ukraine, we condemn the actions of Russia, and we hope our stance inspires others in our industry to take action where they can.”

The announcement immediately affects OVG hospitality services worldwide, in order to take a clear and strong stance to #StandWithUkraine and its people by denouncing business with Russia.

By R.V. Baugus

Paul Pettas has been promoted at Sodexo Live! (previously known as Centerplate) to the position of Vice President, Brand & Communications.

“I will still focus on PR as events come roaring back to life,” Pettas said. He added that he is in the process of hiring a new manager-level role that will hopefully be finalized soon.

“I’ll be tasked with developing a clear and effective internal and external communications strategy that strengthens our reputation as the number one hospitality partner to the most iconic sports and entertainment venues in North America,” Pettas added.

He will also be tasked with rolling out the next phase of the company’s brand identity that will focus on the company’s client partners and the ways the company drives revenues for the venues it serves.

Pettas has more than 10 years’ experience in media relations, corporate and consumer brand building, social media management and more, and oversees the brand strategy and communications for Sodexo Live! His background includes both in-house and agency work across various industries with a focus on entertainment brands.

A graduate of Boston College, Pettas serves as an alumni career mentor for current undergraduates who are pursuing a communications degree, and volunteers with New York-based Bottom Line, which helps low-income and first-generation students get to college, earn their degrees and thrive in a professional setting.