By Sarah Maio

The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) leadership and board members, elected officials and community leaders broke ground for the Wisconsin Center expansion on Thursday, October 28. The $420 million project will take up one square city block on Kilbourn Avenue, between Vel R. Phillips Avenue and Sixth Street, and include 650,000 square feet of space, bringing the total Wisconsin Center footprint to over 1.3 million square feet.

The Wisconsin Center expansion project will include 300,000 contiguous square feet of exhibit hall space, a rooftop ballroom and outdoor terraces, indoor parking, 24 additional flexible meeting rooms for a total of 52, and a retrofit of the current convention center. The facility is anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2024. Here is a photo from the groundbreaking and renderings of the project.

“Today’s groundbreaking is the formal celebration of our highly-anticipated $420 million expansion that has been years in the making,” said Marty Brooks, president and CEO of the WCD. “Doubling the size of the convention center allows us to execute multiple, simultaneous events bringing more visitors to Milwaukee to attend conferences and patronize local businesses. Meeting planners can expect flexible meeting space, robust IT infrastructure, and top-of-the-line health and safety features, along with our signature Bold, Proud, Experience Obsessed service delivery approach.”

After opening, the WCD anticipates an additional 100,000 out-of-state visitors annually, and the expansion is projected to generate $12.6 billion in total spending over 30 years.

The event began with remarks from Marty Brooks, who spoke to the project’s impact on economic prosperity in Milwaukee and creating a source of pride for residents. Additional speakers included WCD Board Chair Jim Kanter; VISIT Milwaukee President and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith; VISIT Milwaukee Board Chair Dr. Eve M. Hall; Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin; WCD Board Member and Milwaukee Fourth District Alderman Bob Bauman; City of Milwaukee Commissioner of City Development Lafayette Crump; Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley; and Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration Joel Brennan.

Each speaker shared messages with common themes about the project’s economic impact and how the new, state-of-the-art facility will attract more people to visit and explore Milwaukee. The expansion project includes a 31 percent disadvantaged business enterprise commitment with at least 25 percent minority-owned businesses, five percent women-owned businesses, and one percent disabled veteran-owned businesses. Plus, a residents preferred program of 40 percent, meaning at least $40 million of the $100 million in anticipated construction wages will be earned by residents of the City of Milwaukee. Upon opening, the expanded Wisconsin Center is projected to support 2,300 full time equivalent jobs throughout the state of Wisconsin.

“This is a monumental day, and we’re here in large part because of the vision, tenacity and ingenuity of the WCD Board of Directors. In a time of unprecedented uncertainty, the WCD Board demonstrated faith and confidence in the leaders behind this project and voted yes to enhance Milwaukee’s future as a meetings and conventions destination,” said Jim Kanter, WCD Board Chair. “The shovel-ready project will be a source of pride for the city for years to come.”

The Wisconsin Center expansion is a cutting-edge project setting new industry standards. Its dynamic design elements are unique in the convention industry, its environmental requirements meet stringent standards and its contractors’ qualifications are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion practices that will benefit the local economy.

“This event marks the beginning of the Wisconsin Center’s thrilling next chapter and it will elevate Milwaukee in the ranks against our peer cities,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee. “An expanded convention center means more business, more visitors and more national exposure for Milwaukee and translates into billions of dollars in additional tourism spending in our community.”

Expansion partners include the project owner’s representative, CAA ICON, design partners Milwaukee-based Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) and Atlanta-based tvsdesign, construction management partners Gilbane Building Company and C.D. Smith Construction, who have formed a joint venture as Gilbane | Smith Wisconsin Center Expansion (Gilbane | Smith), disadvantaged business enterprise partners Cross Management Services, Inc. and Prism Technical Management & Marketing Services, LLC. and naming-rights partner Legends.

Sarah Maio is Vice President of Marketing and Communications · Wisconsin Center District.

Pictured, from left – Lafayette Crump, Peter Feigin, Joel Brennan, Marty Brooks, Jim Kanter, David Crowley, Bob Bauman, Dr. Eve M. Hall, Peggy Williams-Smith

Kara Dao, senior director, client engagement and operations for JDC Events, recently came up with a list of her 12 Favorite Event Planning Industry Trends. We would love to hear any that our IAVM members might have. These are all good “food for thought” as more and more events take place around the world. With that in mind, here are her twelve:

1. Conservative COVID protocols. Go in conservative on COVID requirements, you could always pull back easier than add.
2. Pre-event communications are key especially with managing expectations of COVID protocols. Talk to all participants about what to expect as well as what is expected of them.
3. Exhibitors/Sponsors always wanted to provide content. Time to open our minds to selling speaking opportunities. There is a means to vet submissions and our sponsors have a ton of compelling content to share.
4. It’s an Online Buyers Guide NOT a Virtual Exhibit Hall. Call it a directory and explain how and why to use it. This will elicit a lot more use of this tool.
5. In-Person order of importance: Networking, Sourcing, Content, In-depth knowledge. People are craving togetherness, give it to them and not an endless stream of speakers.
6. Remote speakers with an in-person audience – saves on travel costs, serves two audiences easily.
7. In-person “fun” is no longer an option, it’s a must. Provide people with the experience they crave. They’ve been cooped up too and want to release all the pent-up FUN!
8. Events must visually WOW = All Hail the Producer!
9. Generational designing = four generations in the workplace for the first time. In event planning we must consider all four generations needs if we are going to meet audiences where they are.
10. D,E&I = it’s here to stay and the positive effects have already been seen. Be sure to incorporate in all aspects of your event planning from diverse speakers to diverse suppliers.
11. One-stop shop show floors – a lot of organizers were doing this prior to the pandemic but now it’s even more important. People have traveled to get there and you want to keep them. Also, it helps maintain a safety bubble.
12. Solutions not sales pitches are making ground on show floors. Help exhibitors understand the importance of showcasing their solutions and how they can truly assist attendees.

By R.V. Baugus

Denise Zigler, CVE, has accepted a position as the Venue and Events Coordinator for the St. Joe County Public Library in South Bend, Indiana. The downtown South Bend library has undergone an extensive two-year renovation and addition. The Community Learning Center addition will include the 250-seat Leighton Auditorium, a 180-person ballroom, a large courtyard, the St. Joe Coffee Co. Cafe, and several meeting spaces. The grand opening of the new space is set for November 14, 2021. More information can be found at sjcpl.org.

Zigler has been an IAVM member since 17 and earned her CVE in 2016 and attended Venue Management School in 1996-1997. She was was formerly the Director of Booking and Events at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend and the Director of Programming at the Barns at Nappanee, in Nappanee, Indiana.

From Fort Worth Business Press

As sporting and business events gradually return to pre-pandemic levels, the City of Fort Worth’s Public Event Department (PED) has recently promoted and hired new executive team members.

“Our team members really had to roll with the punches during the past 18 months as business travel and other events evaporated,” said Mike Crum, director of the Public Events Department. “The leadership team not only rose to those extraordinary challenges, but exceeded expectations with a new strategic plan, cross-functional staffing solutions, $2 million in capital project completions and a positive financial position ending FY2021.”

Cynthia Serrano, CEM, has been promoted to Assistant Director/General Manager of the Fort Worth Convention Center. She has been acting in the position in an interim role since August 2019. Serrano holds a master of science in advertising and public relations from Texas Christian University, a bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies from University of Texas at Arlington and a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Texas Wesleyan University. She has been with the City of Fort Worth since 1999 and has worked in several departments, including Finance and Community Relations.

New to the team is Keith A. Chisolm, who has been named Capital Projects Coordinator for PED. Chisolm was previously assistant director of Public Works at the City of Colonial Heights, Virginia\a. Prior to working there, he served in the U.S. Army for 22 years to include combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. A Dallas native, Chisolm received his bachelor of arts in criminology from Abilene Christian University and a master of public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Capital plans for Public Events venues over the next five years include a $450 million expansion of the Fort Worth Convention Center (FWCC) and more than $21 million in upgrades and renovations for Will Rogers Memorial Center (WRMC).

Blake Moorman, CMP, has been promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing for the FWCC. He had been acting in the position in an interim role since April 2020. Moorman attended Texas Christian University and holds a bachelor of arts in music theatre and business from the University of Texas at Arlington. He was managing director for Jubilee Theatre in Fort Worth before coming to the City in 1998, and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Fort Worth, NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha.

Andra Bennett, APR, joins PED as its first Marketing Communications Manager. Bennett brings 18 years of prior experience at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where she was Vice President of Communications. She holds a bachelor of arts in mass communications from Abilene Christian University and has been accredited by the Public Relations Society of America since 1993.

Rounding out the executive team are Crum; Assistant Public Events Director Andrea Wright; and Assistant Director/General Manager Kevin Kemp and Director of Sales & Marketing David Reeves, both with Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip

ASM Global announced the additions of Shawn Fisher, Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip, Joseph Thum and Dushyant Patel to its team at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, as Philadelphia experiences a resurgence of in-person events and a return of major shows and conventions being hosted at the facility.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Fisher, Mrs. Spencer-Phillip, Mr. Thum and Mr. Patel to our ASM Global team at the Pennsylvania Convention Center,” said Kelvin D. Moore, Regional General Manager, ASM Global. “The steady return of in-person events being hosted at the Center has allowed us to slowly rebuild our team to effectively and safely meet the needs of our event organizers and attendees. I am particularly pleased at the depth of experience and level of skill that each of these professionals brings and am confident that they will each play vital roles in our ongoing success as we continue to host more and more events.”

Fisher has been appointed Director of Information Technology, possessing over 20 years of experience in various industries, including petrochemical, mining, manufacturing, information technology and biotech. Throughout his career, he has led IT divisions and supervised programs in cybersecurity, risk management, divestitures, merger and acquisition and project management, among others. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from North-West University in South Africa and completed the Executive Development Program from the University of Stellenbosch Business School.

Spencer-Phillip, the Center’s new Senior Communications Manager, brings over ten years of experience in the hospitality, tourism, government and non-profit sectors, including work with local non-profits, the City of Philadelphia and the Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Development Company. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management from Morgan State University in Baltimore and a Master of Business Administration degree with a specialization in Marketing from the University of Liverpool.

Thum joins the ASM Global team as Staff Accountant and is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants and a certified management accounting (CMA) candidate. Patel has been appointed Operations Manager and brings previous experience with the Wells Fargo Center and the University of Pennsylvania. Both Thum and Patel are alumni of Temple University – Thum having graduated from Fox School of Business and Patel from the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM).

“We’re excited that the career trajectories of these two Temple alumni have led them to one of the city’s most essential resources for the tourism and hospitality industries,” says Jeremy Jordan, STHM’s Senior Associate Dean. “The Pennsylvania Convention Center has been key to our success in providing exceptional career-building opportunities for the future leaders that make up our degree programs—as interns, in context of classroom projects, as volunteers at Center events or on staff after graduation. The services the Center offers not only enhance our brand as a school but elevate—for all of us—Philadelphia as a world-class destination.”

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