From Globe Newswire

Tampa Bay Defense Alliance (TBDA) President Donna Huneycutt and Airlift/Tanker Association (A/TA) Chairman General Duncan J. McNabb, USAF (Ret.) named Kevin Twohig, CVE, from Fairchild Air Force Base, WA as the winner of the 2021 Tampa Bay Trophy. The Tampa Bay Trophy recognizes a civic leader whose lifetime achievement and distinguished service to the United States Air Force and Air Mobility Command epitomizes the synergy between civilian and military communities.

Donna Huneycutt and Gen. McNabb presented the long-time IAVM member and retired venue professional from Spokane with his citation at the 2021 Airlift Tanker Association Convention held at the Marriott World Resort, Orlando, FL on October 29.

“This year highlights the power of great relationships between military bases and their surrounding communities as they come together to help recover from the effect of a global pandemic. The Tampa Bay Defense Alliance was excited to learn about the outstanding nominees sent to us from Air Mobility Command communities. We enjoyed the hard task of selecting a winner from these fantastic leaders who support military communities, personnel, and their families. We’re incredibly honored to recognize this year’s recipient, Mr. Kevin Twohig from Fairchild Air Force Base, for his outstanding leadership, innovation, and devotion to his community,” Huneycutt said.

Twohig distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the Airmen and families of Fairchild Air Force Base, the greater Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane community, the State of Washington, and to the United States Air Force. Twohig provided exemplary energy, compassion and sustained, enduring service to the men and women who provide our nation’s critical global mobility capability. A renowned community leader and advocate for Spokane, Washington, his Forward Fairchild committee leadership strengthened the relationship between Fairchild AFB and the local community by enabling groundbreaking public-private partnerships and improving military spouse licensure, childcare availability, housing affordability, diversity and inclusion partnerships, and education quality. To that end, Twohig partnered with the 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander to conduct the Wing’s first Airman and Family Quality of Life Summit that developed eight actionable community support initiatives. A passionate advocate for military families, his engagement with Washington state leaders led to improved military spouse employment opportunities and his mentorship of local school districts improved resources for transitioning military children. Selected as both an Air Education and Training Command and Air Mobility Command civic leader, his dedication and continuous commitment to the air mobility mission, our Airmen, and the United States Air Force reflects the outstanding, enduring civic leadership he displayed as he enhanced the mission of our bases, improved the quality of life for all our Airmen, and secured Air Mobility Command’s mission across the globe. Twohig has truly championed the Air Mobility mission of Fairchild AFB earning honor and recognition as the winner of the 2021 Airlift/Tanker Association Tampa Bay Trophy.

“We could write a book on all the amazing support and initiatives that Mr. Twohig has championed or helped advance for Team Fairchild,” said Colonel Cassius T. Bentley, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. “He is our biggest supporter and community partner, and he is an amazing person and mentor; he is well deserving of this award,” said Col. Bentley.

“We appreciate the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance for recognizing our outstanding AMC civic leader every year with the Tampa Bay Trophy. Kevin’s long time devoted work for our Airmen, service members, veterans and families raised the bar for the entire Fairchild Air Force Base community. He truly championed our airmen and their families, the Air Mobility Mission in Eastern Washington, and led the way to make our Air Force and our Nation better,” said A/TA Chairman, Gen. Duncan McNabb (Ret.).

Pictured: Twohig, Air Mobility Command civic leader, is presented the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance trophy by U.S. Air Force Col. Cassius T. Bentley, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Anneliese Kaiser)

The Meadowlands 2040 Foundation has revealed plans to build a new Meadowlands Convention Center at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The 460,000 square foot center would supplement area attractions like American Dream, MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands racetrack. It would host major conventions, banquets, festivals and more. Sources say that the space would include 300,000 square feet of flexible exhibition space 100,000 square feet of meeting space and 60,000 square feet of banquet space. The location is the former Izod Center.

The announcement was made during the foundation’s Thought Leaders Conference/ Mdest 2021 on October 19 at the Hilton Meadowlands in Rutherford, New Jersey. Key speakers included Rob Hunden, CEO of HSP; David DuBois, CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, and Brad Mayne, CEO of the International Association of Venue Managers.

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.