By R.V. Baugus

Jim Mercurio knows a thing or two about Forward Thinking Leadership, a topic he will cover in a presentation on October 5 at IAVM’s ENCORE virtual conference.

As Executive Vice President and General Manager of Levi’s Stadium, home to the NFL San Francisco 49er’s, Mercurio is in his 30th year with the team and his fifth in his current position. Previously, he served six years as vice president, stadium operations & general manager. In his current role, Mercurio oversees all aspects of stadium & event operations including executive oversight of the food and beverage operations, engineering, grounds, guest services, janitorial services, operations & logistics, parking and transportation. He additionally manages all police, safety & security services, including 24/7 stadium security operations, and game and event day medical services at Levi’s Stadium.

At IAVM ENCORE, Mercurio will share answers to questions offered by Russ Simons, Chief Listening Officer and General Manager at Venue Solutions Group and himself someone who knows a lot when it comes to leaders and leadership.

You will not want to miss this special session from two of the very sharpest minds in the public assembly venue world when they have more a conversation than presentation at ENCORE. We will not give away the full conversation but want to share in advance a snippet of the conversation between the two icons.

RUSS: Leadership is what we all pay attention to and leaders to consider themselves learners. That said, how did you get to where you are today?

JIM: It started well before entering into pro sports and venue management. It started at home with mom and dad. Then from playing sports and sports in general. How to handle defeat, how to compete, how to be a team player, how to coach, how to teach, how to be taught, all things I think in my day I valued growing up and certainly to this day.

When we look at everything that sport teaches us, it should be applicable to everyday life and certainly in my case if you are a boss all of those things you learn specifically how to form a team, how to play on a team, how to be an honest, hard-working individual and a productive member of society, all of that stuff started for me at home.

I played baseball as a kid and basketball player but not very good. I got a baseball scholarship to University of Pacific in Stockton, CA. I made the jump from playing sports to being a part of sports, entertainment, and service.

RUSS: When I interview people today I don’t ask about their skill set in their job, I ask about their career and the items that create the foundation of their character. What was the first job you had on our side of the industry?

JIM: I like to say I picked up jocks and socks. That’s really what I did. I was on the sidelines at Candlestick Park picking up jocks and socks in the locker room first, getting Gatorade and water to the team, and when the game started I actually pulled up the nets in the end zone. That and as a security guard back in the day with Contemporary Services.

Mercurio is just getting warmed up to the topic of Forward Thinking Leadership. You are invited to be at the session to hear the full interview and gain insights into making yourself a better leader and one respected by your “team” in your own “locker room.”

By R.V. Baugus

In the words of Ruben Hernandez, CVE, “Estamos iniciando este foro abierto de administradores de recintos.
Nos gustaría saber su opinión al respecto y qué sugerencias desean compartir para que se convierta en una herramienta valiosa para intercambiar ideas, experiencias, tips, conocimientos y cualquier tema que les sea de interés.”

In English, what the IAVM member and Business Specialist with Mirrub Soluciones in Monterrey, Mexico, is sharing translates to “We are starting this open forum for venue managers. We would like to know your opinion about it and what suggestions you want to share so that it becomes a valuable tool to exchange ideas, experiences, tips, knowledge, and any topic that is of interest to you.”

A new community group on VenueNet is under the title of Foro Abierto de Administradores de Recintos and serves as a platform for those wishing to connect through a Spanish-speaking channel.

We also had an opportunity to catch up with our good friend from Monterrey to chat some more about the forum.

HOW DID THE IDEA COME ABOUT FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR MEMBERS TO POST IN SPANISH?

For many years, we have observed that there is a large community of Spanish speakers working at venues in North America. Many of them communicate better in Spanish. In Mexico, on the other hand, some colleagues don’t speak English very well and need someone to help them ask their questions about operations, administration, and sales issues in our industry.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS NEW PLATFORM?

We would like the benefits of our association to reach each of the members by eliminating the language barrier and thus achieve one of the important objectives that we have: To be a means of knowledge transfer.
Attending to this important segment would also increase the interest of more venues including Latin America.

WHAT MUST PEOPLE DO IN ORDER TO BECOME A PART OF THE COMMUNITY?

It is easy to be part of this community. As a member, it is only necessary to login TO VenueNet, open the communities menu, select “Foro Abierto de Administradores de Recintos” and join this community. If you are not a member yet, it is also very easy to get an IAVM membership on the association’s website. In Mexico, there is an alternative to belonging to IAVM if you are also a member of AMEREF (Mexican Association of Venues). But the most important thing will be the active participation of all colleagues so that this forum becomes a really helpful tool for all participants.

By R.V. Baugus

If he will pardon me for invoking a chant by WWE fans after a favorite grappler wins a title, I say to Randy Brown, CVE, “You deserve it! You deserve it!” as he was presented with a Sagamore of the Wabash award on Monday, September 27, as part of Randy Brown Day to honor the contributions of the leader of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana and past IAVM Chair as he retires after a brilliant 31-year run as the venue’s general manager.

The award is one of Indiana’s highest and fitting for someone who has always been one of the industry’s true leaders and mentors to so many. The award is a tribute given to someone for distinguished service to the state or governor. Need we say more?

A number of Randy’s IAVM friends arrived from around the country to celebrate the big day and wish him well into the next chapter of his life, which if you read a recent issue of Venue Professional magazine you will know that his classic car Baby will be part of it along with his beautiful family.

The actual retirement day is Friday, October 1, so by the time you read this Fort Wayne’s finest will already be settling in to a new life, although Randy says and we believe he will still be around to help the Coliseum and give back to the community in his inimitable gracious way.

You have been, are, and will always be a friend, Randy. You better stay in touch with IAVM as well because we need you! Congratulations!

By Vanessa Showalter

Allied Universal®, a global security and facility services company, announced the execution of a definitive agreement to acquire New York-based MSA Security (MSA) from GreyLion, a middle market private equity firm focused on investing in leading high-growth businesses. MSA is a provider of comprehensive threat protection solutions to clients nationwide including K9 security services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of MSA Security will not only expand our K9 program on a local and national level but will also increase our security resources around the world,” said Steve Jones, Global Chairman & CEO of Allied Universal. “For more than 30 years, MSA Security has achieved success through its strong customer relationships, expertise and reliable service. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategic goals for identifying strong and high performing companies that offer vast services and are continuing to grow.”

Founded in 1987, MSA Security mitigates threats with world-class solutions and unrivaled expertise to protect personnel and property offering peace of mind. With revenue approaching $200 million, MSA leads the security industry in explosive mitigation utilizing nearly 700 Explosive Detection Canine teams deployed around the world. MSA’s full suite of services goes on to include specialized armed and unarmed security operatives, 24/7 strategic threat monitoring, specialized investigations, security training and security consulting.

“MSA Security has experienced incredible growth in the last five years. During our partnership with GreyLion, we nearly quadrupled our revenue,” said Glen Kucera, MSA Security’s CEO. “We are excited to further recognize our full potential by combining with another industry leader and I look forward to partnering with Steve Jones and his team. Becoming part of an organization with the resources, technology focus, and depth of service that Allied Universal offers will allow MSA to expand on its success as the preeminent explosive detection canine business worldwide.”

Vanessa Showalter is PR Manager for IAVM member Allied Universal.

BY StadiumBusiness.com

The NBA Indiana Pacers announced Indianapolis-based digital financial services company Gainbridge as the new naming-rights sponsor of its home arena.

As a result, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, which also serves as the home of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, will be renamed as Gainbridge Fieldhouse with immediate effect. Gainbridge has signed a multi-year deal with Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

Health insurance firm Bankers Life acquired naming rights to the Fieldhouse in 2011. The deal expired in 2019 but the arena retained its moniker, with PS&E having stated at the time that there was no deadline to replace Bankers Life.

According to reports, Bankers Life’s deal with the Pacers was among the lowest arena naming-rights agreements in the NBA. Financial terms of the team’s deal with Gainbridge were not disclosed.

It is hoped the agreement will provide Gainbridge with the platform to continue expanding its brand. Gainbridge became the presenting sponsor of the showpiece Indianapolis 500 motorsport event in 2019 and has made a number of business and philanthropic investments in Indiana and around the US.

Rick Fuson, president and chief operating officer of PS&E, said: “Just as the Fieldhouse is so much more than simply a basketball arena, the chance to partner with a bold, forward-thinking company like Gainbridge means so much more than just putting a name on a building.

“Our organizations share a vision for engaging new generations of consumers, strengthening our city and state economies, and investing in our community with intentionality. We could not have asked for a better aligned partner, and we look forward to growing together for years to come.”

Dan Towriss, president and chief executive of Gainbridge, added: “We couldn’t be more excited to join the Pacers and Fever at the new Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It really is the ‘Fieldhouse of the Future’, where we’ll be hosting a wide range of exciting sports and entertainment events with new and improved space, infrastructure and technology.

“This unveiling is such a critical moment for us as we join in experiencing this amazing venue with a bold new Gainbridge Fieldhouse brand. This partnership goes farther than just this new venue because together, we can make an even bigger impact with our aligned commitment to improving communities through sports and education.”

In January, the Pacers completed the first phase of renovation work at the arena. The team is in the midst of a three-year renovation project for the venue, with the first phase having been completed with a focus exclusively on the interior.