By R.V. Baugus

Trudy Bourgeois, founder and CEO of the Center for Workforce Excellence, will serve as the keynote speaker for IAVM’s virtual annual conference ENCORE, held October 5-6. Suffice to say where she has been the last 20 years in founding and leading her business is quite a career change from her previous life in the corporate world. A visit with this dynamic personality who is one of America’s leading experts on transformational leadership and a highly regarded leader in the fields of leadership, diversity, and inclusion proved further she is where she belongs, making a difference in lives. It is that same desire she wishes for those who attend her upcoming session — to be difference-makers. Trudy took some time out of her schedule to visit about her background, her business, and what she plans to bring before IAVM members at her keynote at ENCORE.

RVB: I understand that your background prior to starting your business was quite different from where you now sit. Tell us some about that.

TB: I spent 18 years in corporate and was very blessed, very fortunate. I had a $3 million business unit that I managed but as I was climbing the ladder I remember when I became the VP because one lady made me a sign. On one side it said the doctor is in and the other side said the doctor is out. We had that on my door because people would come by and want to talk to me about their personal strategies and challenges. What I really discovered was something that was a seed sown in childhood that I have a love for the underdog. I have a real thirst to help people and found out I loved developing people even more than I loved putting together million dollar deals.

As a result of that, several years later I decided I was going to leave corporate. I was going to really use my talents whatever God had given me to make a difference for others. So twenty years ago I started this business.

I am so incredibly fortunate. I am not going to say it’s been easy because I had to hit the reset button. I moved from the comfort of a title and a corner office. I decided that wasn’t fulfilling enough for me. When you can find sweet spots where you can do real life, knowing your life matters to people – it just gives you a different journey in life.

I couldn’t do the things I do now had I not gone through what I did in life. One is segregation. I grew up in Jim Crow and it wasn’t easy. This was back in the day when Black people weren’t welcome but I know that I am where I am not because of me but my faith and I’m very blessed to have parents and grandparents who breathed possibility into my life. I had only gone into homes of two of the kids I had gone to school with because I was Black. There was a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Donaghy, who were people ahead of their time. They were white people and exposed me to things I would have never otherwise have known like opera and other things.

I know there is such power in people using their gift, using their platform, using their privilege to make an impact. I’ll be talking about the Donaghy’s when I’m on my death bed.

RVB: How will your presentation resonate with the IAVM audience?

TB: Of all the industries, you all attract people from all walks of life. I believe that means that there is a special opportunity for this industry. Not every industry has the platform that you guys have and so the more that you all can be public champions … we all need to be public champions of inclusion but because of your platform you can speak to so many different people from so many different backgrounds. I’m super excited about the opportunity to maybe remind people of the things that they already know but maybe stir a richer appetite for being bolder, being more courageous, being more intentional, because our country is at a horrible state of polarization. We need people who can bring people together.

RVB: You’ve whetted my appetite! Without giving away the kitchen, can you give us another teaser or two about your keynote?

TB: What I have learned is that no matter how you were raised or who influenced you as a child that once you become an adult you can make a different choice. History is history but we can challenge ourselves to say that some of the things that I learned in my past still serve me well. I don’t want to blame anybody. I don’t want to shame anybody. There’s no value in that. All of us are going to have something that is going to be written about our time on this earth and I just want to enable and equip these individuals with the passion and the know-how to be a voice of peace, to be a voice of inclusion, and to be a voice of celebrating differences. I’ll be talking about my life story including the good, the bad, the ugly, and the stories of many of my clients who have had their own revelations, their own aha moments. I am so incredibly grateful to be able to speak to anybody but I’m particularly excited for this opportunity.

I really want people to leave different than when they first came, even if it’s like a month down the road, like, oh, that’s what she was talking about. You never know when the dividends are going to pay. I’m hoping to have a conversation and not be a talking head. I’m hoping to have a conversation about humanity and about the way we treat each other. Hopefully that is going to have a ripple effect.

RVB: Your impressive business website has a tagline of “Equipping Leaders to Be Change Agents.” Define for us a change agent and is this something easier said than done to change people?

TB: Our heart’s desire is to help people build new capabilities that allow for them to create an inclusive culture where differences can be celebrated and be a business advantage. When I think about equipping people it starts with understanding history. Being a change agent means by default that you represent something that goes against the norm, goes against the grain. That’s not natural. It is so much harder it seems because you are trying to shape and influence others and you can only do that through vulnerability. You have to actually open your heart up and admit what you don’t know and admit you’re afraid and find the courage to shift your behavior to the degree that you find your voice and then you use that voice and you use it intentionally. It’s not something that you turn on or turn off.

Change agents are always on. They can’t see injustices anywhere and keep quiet. They just simply can’t. It’s so deep into their soul that they are compelled to act, even if it’s just something like trash on the ground. They’re just compelled to pick that up. If they see someone being mistreated they’re compelled to say something and not go “oh that’s too bad,” that’s not my problem.

RVB: A lot of people see vulnerability as a weakness. Is it?

TB: No, in fact it’s quite the opposite. It’s a strength. It is a source of growth. To walk around pretending that you know everything you’re not going to learn a doggone thing. If you’re vulnerable, you admit your own frailty … there’s power in that because then you have opened yourself up to all kinds of opportunities for growth.

RVB: Diversity in its infancy in the business world as well as the outside world pretty much meant black and white. How has diversity changes over the years and have you seen progress?

TB: I’ve seen starts and stops. I definitely have seen positive things accomplished. Am I satisfied? No. That’s how change agents come into play. I will say the untimely death of George Floyd … his death was a gift in a lot of ways. It gave us an opportunity to start having those courageous conversations. I am still more hopeful now even though we are in a high level of polarization. I feel like the next generation does not have the same tolerance that we had. I think CEO’s and boards are now recognizing they must play a role in solving societal issues including race relations.

RVB: Any final comment or takeaway you would like to have IAVM attendees leave with?

TB: My heart’s desire would be for them to embrace their role in changing daily experiences for the positive. Over our careers, no one is going to remember how many widgets you sold or how many deals you made, but every single person will have made an impact in one way or another. Make it positive. Not too hard to do. Wrap your head around that and you have power.

By Gloria Fong

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”) announced the completion of the installation of 5G infrastructure which will herald a new era of digitally-elevated and connected venue experience as well as enhancement of operational efficiency. Marking this new page is the introduction of a futuristic staff member to the HKCEC team – “Captain C”, a 5G smart robot which recently completed its apprenticeship successfully as a security captain at the “Hong Kong Computer & Communications Festival.” The addition has only been made possible with the new 5G network infrastructure.

The HKCEC now boosts 100% 5G coverage spanning event spaces, restaurants to backstage areas. In addition to accommodating a large number of facility users to simultaneously access data-intensive applications and content, the 5G network infrastructure will empower exhibitors to integrate physical and online marketing and sales efforts such as more stable and better real-time live-streaming of events, application of new technologies (such as hologram and augmented reality) to enhance engagement with visitors, and streaming of high-definition videos to visitors’ mobile devices.

Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, said, “As an industry leader, HML is committed to using smart technology to offer better service to our customers, and we are delighted to be one of the first organisations in Hong Kong to provide high-speed indoor 5G connectivity. Our new 5G smart robot also helps us flexibly allocate resources and provide event organisers and visitors with safer, more reliable services.”

Captain C combines 5G network and artificial intelligence technologies. It is equipped with a 360-degree 4K high-definition surveillance camera, infrared detection camera, and a sensor system for detecting smoke and fire. Captain C can play very versatile roles including implementation of crowd management or pandemic prevention measures such as broadcast of social distancing reminders. When a person exhibits a high body temperature or does not wear a mask, Captain C will instantly transmit real-time images to the security control room so that appropriate follow-up actions can be taken.

HML kicked off the US$128 million (HK$1 billion) HKCEC Five-year Advancement Project in 2019 to upgrade and refurbish the HKCEC’s facilities and infrastructure over several stages. The introduction of Captain C is a benefit of the HKSAR Government’s “Subsidy Scheme for Encouraging Early Deployment of 5G” to improve operational efficiency.

Gloria Fong is Senior Manager – Corporate & Marketing Communications at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Pictured: The 5G smart robot “Captain C” was deployed during the Hong Kong Computer & Communications Festival from 20-23 August 2021 to enhance security and operational efficiency at the HKCEC.

By Stacie Bauer

Ungerboeck, The World’s Event Software, added to its impressive list of 2021 Top Workplace National awards in the following Cultural Excellence categories: Top Compensation, Top Managers, and Top Work-Life Flexibility.

At Ungerboeck we work hard to provide a culture and environment where employees feel empowered, they are valued, and that each of them plays a key role in the organizations’ success. However, these Cultural Excellence awards are more meaningful than most because these are awarded and based on the opinions of our best organizational asset, the employees at Ungerboeck.

Hear directly from the employees on what makes Ungerboeck a 2021 Top Workplace in Cultural Excellence:
“It’s a great place to work. Smart, driven and good people, a great product, flexibility in working from home, and visionary leadership.”

“I can make decisions that change and improve other peoples lives.”

“My boss gives me the autonomy to complete my job duties, while also being available as needed for feedback or coaching. Our teams have the opportunity to work on and deliver engaging solutions for our customers. Ungerboeck provides phenomenal work/life balance.”

“These awards mean so much to us, especially after the difficult time our customers and employees that serve the event industry have gone through. We did everything we could as an organization to ensure that we were all there for each other as well as and serving our customers and broader events community. These Cultural Excellence awards speak volumes about the company culture we all live every day. I’m humbled by the passion our employees have about the industry, our customers, and the work they are doing at Ungerboeck,” said Manish Chandak, President & Chief Executive Officer at Ungerboeck.

Stacie Bauer is Event & Sponsorship Coordinator at Ungerboeck Systems International.

By Roxanne Donovan

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has opened its $40.4 million Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence (RACE), the university’s latest milestone in a multi-tiered project that will enable the success of student-athletes and provide state-of-the-art recreational facilities to the San Antonio community. Kansas City-based Populous was the architect of record for the project, working with local architects at MarmonMok.

UTSA is dedicated to building an urban serving and community-engaged university, and the Populous-designed Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence will help fulfill that commitment. In addition to providing a world-class recreational resource for the San Antonio community, the RACE facility will serve as the central hub of UTSA Athletics, helping to attract the most competitive Division I student-athletes.

“This is a transformative moment for UTSA, and we were honored to be involved with the RACE project, not only because it sets the course for the future of UTSA Athletics, but because it will also help enrich the San Antonio community,” said Populous Associate Principal Austin Welsh. “Previously, facilities were spread throughout the campus and even off-campus. RACE provides the opportunity for student-athletes to optimize every minute of their day.”

The center spans more than 10 acres near the southwest corner of the UTSA Main Campus. The nearly 95,000-SF facility features multiple practice fields (one synthetic turf field and one field with natural grass), academic spaces, a sports medicine center, strength and conditioning facilities, locker rooms, meeting rooms, a student-athlete lounge, and office space for coaches and administrative staff.

“At UTSA, student success is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to providing all of our students, including our student-athletes, with the very best environment to enable them to achieve their full potential,” said Lisa Campos, UTSA vice president for intercollegiate athletics and athletics director. “Just as UTSA is becoming an exemplar in academics and research, UTSA Athletics is increasingly gaining national recognition. RACE will have a long-lasting impact in further propelling UTSA’s stature as a Division I competitor.”

The project featured an efficient design that concentrated on athletes use and experience, maximizing useable space with column free interior, extensive use of concrete and glass to provide natural light and views of campus while reflecting the environment of surrounding structures and topography.

Upcoming phases of the project will include the addition of a covered pavilion over the synthetic turf practice field and the construction of a facility at the university’s Park West Campus.

Joeris General Contractors served as the construction firm and Project Control served as the project manager for the RACE facility.

RACE is another foundational project in UTSA’s broader strategic vision to achieve national standing as a premier research enterprise and model Hispanic thriving institution. For more information about the UTSA RACE facility, visit their website.

By Paul Pettas

The San Diego Symphony officially announced partnerships for The Shell Provisions, its signature culinary program featured at its new permanent waterfront venue, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, in downtown San Diego. The program, conceived and created by Frank ODea Hospitality for the San Diego Symphony, curated by Centerplate, offers an impressive range of local specialties in partnership with some of the city’s most popular purveyors including celebrity Chef Richard Blais, URBAN KITCHEN Group, Biga, Lola55, Achilles Coffee Roasters and more.

In addition to top-notch food and beverage selections, The Shell Provisions at the Prebys Plaza Dining Pavilion and Market boasts new state-of-the-art kitchens and incredible dining spaces, allowing concertgoers to enjoy some of the best tastes San Diego has to offer, while taking in the beautiful sights and sounds of the city. The Rady Shell’s inaugural season started on Friday, August 6, 2021 with Music Director Rafael Payare conducting the Symphony in the world premiere of Mason Bates’s Soundcheck in C Major.

“Our goal with The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is to not only give San Diegans and visitors an unforgettable musical experience, but also a well-rounded cultural experience that reflects our city. The Shell Provisions highlights cuisine San Diego is famous for, while supporting local businesses and elevating the concert-going experience,” said San Diego Symphony, CEO Martha Gilmer. “We are thrilled to partner with Centerplate and Chef Richard Blais as well as Chef Tim Kolanka and restaurateur, Tracy Borkum with URBAN KITCHEN Group to give concertgoers an unmatched tableside dining experience. We are equally excited to showcase beloved local purveyors along with our dynamic programming this summer. We are infinitely grateful for every partner, donor and community member who helped make this possible.”

Paul Pettas is PR & Communications Director for Centerplate.