By R.V. Baugus

Dr. Jerry Teplitz, JD, PhD, CSP, president/CEO of Jerry Teplitz Enterprises, Inc. in Virginia Beach, VA, and a familiar name to those who attended VenueConnect in Toronto in 2018, brings his dynamic “Managing the Stress of Change” session to ENCORE, IAVM’s new virtual conference and trade show, on Tuesday, October 5 from 44:50 (ET).

For someone who early in his career pushed back against practices designed to combat stress (and before stress was even widely known or considered with the implications it carries today), the light came on and the career change was set in motion from practicing law to the world of speaking (more than 1,800 presentations to more than 1 million people) and authoring books (nine) that have led to Dr. Teplitz earning a wealth of accolades.Those include the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association. The Canadian Society of Association Executives has designated him an Association Excellence Speaker, and the Professional Convention Management Association has designated him a “Best-in-Class” Speaker. He presents and consults on Management and Leadership Training, Sales Development, Brain Integration and Stress Management.

We wanted to find out more about his work and what attendees can expect to learn at the presentation that is guaranteed to change your life, or your money back (well, see how this actually once happened)!

BEFORE WE GET MORE INTO YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU HAVE TO SHARE SOME BACKGROUND HOW YOU CAME TO ENTER THE WORLD OF BRAIN PERFORMANCE, NEUROPLASTICITY, AND STRESS MANAGEMENT.

I was very active in student government and elected student body president my senior year at Hunter College. I went on to law school at Northwestern, decided to become a licensed attorney and passed the bar the first time. Our professors were actually upset because they don’t like it when you have like 100 percent passing the bar the first time because they’re not teaching! I became an attorney for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in the very early EPA days.

While all that was happening I started getting into what was considered weird stuff back then with friends getting into yoga, meditation, and nutrition, when it was totally off the wall. I was actually scared of it and not interested but I kept getting around my friends and had peer pressure. One of the first things I tried was yoga and with a negative attitude. I was going to prove to them it didn’t work so they would leave me alone.

The problem is it actually worked. The lower back pain problems I had for most of my life were gone. I got so excited I became a master teacher in yoga. This was in 1974 and I decided to study some other things including a Japanese pressure technique called Shiatsu that is like acupuncture except you use your fingers.

I in effect put together treatments for headaches and later discovered I could cure a hangover in ninety seconds and migraines in five minutes. I decided to start teaching and found out there was an organization called the National Association for Campus Activities with programming boards, activity boards, to see what was available in terms of entertainment like bands and comedians and a lecture board and so that’s where I fit in. I started speaking to colleges and created a program for passing your exams. I didn’t use the word stress because stress was not in the vernacular when I started speaking in 1974.

My first book came out in 1976 called How to Relax and Enjoy. I have spoken at over 400 colleges and universities around the country. In 1980 I decided to switch over to the business arena and the convention industry and associations. By the way, when I speak at colleges I actually created a relaxation guarantee because even though my program is free to the students my fee is paid for by the activities board. I made a guarantee that if you came to this program and were not more relaxed when you left I would pay you $4 for having come to this program. In total, I have spoken to 120,000 people only four have gotten money back.

A director of student activities once came up to me and said I have a problem. I asked what the problem was, and he said the whole left side of the audience is here for the money. What are we going to do? I said don’t worry about it. Nobody came up!

HOW DID THIS CAREER CHANGE GO OVER WITH YOUR FAMILY AT THE TIME?

My mother freaked out and thought I was going to die. It was more than not recognized. It was thought to be of the devil, actually.

HOW WILL YOUR PRESENTATION RESONANTE BEST WITH OUR AUDIENCE?

The title is Managing The Stress of Change. It doesn’t take long if you look at what has happened in the last year to know that change has literally been instantaneous coming at us. Tied in to that is stress. Regardless of whether it is running an event, running a vaccination clinic, having to lay staff off, or having to rebook dates, those things are all change. The problem is if you do not have something to get rid of your stress it can affect you long term. As a matter of fact, in 90% of all illnesses the bottom line is from stress. We’re talking about how it can impact long term. It is almost like when you have PTSD and so what I will be showing is how you can take a negative stressful situation that is in your mind and can’t get rid of to how you can be able to get rid of the charge attached to that thought.

I am actually going to give them an experience of that and not just me talking. I did this with ASAE in a virtual program with a slightly different title for the Kentucky society and they said 95% of the attendees rated it excellent.

You will see that it is easy to do to get rid of the negative attitudes. At the end of the program I ask people to pick another thing and do it by a day later and the next day on something else to prove to yourself that it wasn’t just on the virtual that it worked.

IT SOUNDS LIKE ANY MAIN TAKEAWAY YOU HAVE FOR THE AUDIENCE WILL BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE USED OVER AND OVER.

The takeaway is if change happens and stress happens five times in a day in two minutes on each of those things I will show you how you can get rid of the charge, so a total of 10 minutes on five things. This way the stress doesn’t build and doesn’t affect you. That is critical because when you have stress coming at you from change is when we get overloaded and it becomes fight or flight or how some people freeze like the deer in the headlights. You stop thinking at that point because your signals don’t go to the part of the brain where you can have choices that help you decide what to do. It stops at the fight or flight mechanism and overrides everything that’s survival which is most important, and so in two minutes I will show other options that can pop in that you never thought of.

Not yet registered for ENCORE?  There’s still time!   Click HERE to register now!

By Meghan Risch

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Foundation recognized more than 20 business events industry leaders at the 2021 Visionary Awards, held at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C. The Visionary Awards honors the industry’s exceptional stars for their significant contributions to their organizations and the business events community. More than 500 guests celebrated with a red-carpet experience, awards show and an after party featuring Austin-based band The Nightowls.

“The Visionary Awards is an opportunity to celebrate our amazing colleagues, while also supporting the PCMA Foundation,” said Angie Ranalli, PCMA Foundation chairwoman. “To the innovators, the game-changers, the risk-takers, and above all, the visionaries that provide the power behind business events, thank you for your hard work, dedication and passion. Congratulations to all of our honorees and finalists.”

Six recipients were honored with Professional Excellence Awards. The winners were selected by an awards committee, which reviewed all nominations and chose the finalists. As part of the process, the committee reviewed the finalists again and selected the winners via a blind online vote.

Supplier of the Year: WeeMin Ong, Vice President of Conventions and Exhibitions, Marina Bay Sands
Business Event Strategist of the Year: Bob Bejan, CVP, Global Events, Studios and Marketing Community, Microsoft
Digital Experience Strategist of the Year: Victoria Fanning, CMP, DES, Sr. Manager, Digital Events, Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
Event Designer of the Year: Amy Ledoux, retired as Chief Learning and Meetings Officer, ASAE
Community Advocate of the Year: José Quan, Founder and Owner of Eventia
Outstanding Service to a Chapter: IAVM member Kim Allison, Senior Director of Sales, Georgia World Congress Center — Capital Chapter

“We are all in the business of bringing people together – convening with purpose to deliver the human connections that help enrich our communities and our quality of life,” said Sherrif Karamat, CAE, PCMA president and CEO. “We advance industries and social change. We are resilient. We are innovative and we passionately believe in our ability to change the world. The world is a better place when we are together.”

In recognition of leaders who made a significant impact during a year filled with so much uncertainty, the PCMA Foundation added three new awards – the Wayfinder Award for an individual and an organization, and the Groundbreakers Award.

The Wayfinder Award honors an individual and an organization for their innovation, courage, leadership and solution-focused approach when impacted by a significant external challenge. IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer was the individual award winner, and the organizational award went to Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Carol Wallace, a past IAVM president (chair) and former president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, received the inaugural PCMA Groundbreakers Award — honoring industry trailblazers who represent diverse sectors of the business events community, recognizing those who have made a significant contribution to their organizations, and programs that advance inclusion and equity.

Also recognized were the Lifetime Achievement Honorees — Bill Grusich, CMP, FASAE, senior vice president at Associated Luxury Hotels International, and Lisa Delpy Neirotti, Ph.D, professor and director Sports Management programs (BBA, MSSM, MBA, Sport Philanthropy Certificate) at The George Washington University.

Due to current travel restrictions and border closures, the PCMA Foundation will appropriately honor Ben Goedegebuure, vice president and global general manager at Maritz Global Events with his Lifetime Achievement during the 2022 Visionary Awards.

Other finalists for the Professional Excellence and Wayfinder Awards that were honored include the following: Karen Watson, Cultivate Event Design and Consulting; Camille White-Stern, Splash; Rose Horcher, Choose Chicago; Lora Stanley, Visit Anaheim; Carly Silberstein, Redstone Agency Inc.; Ben Elliott, Live Productions Australia Pty Ltd; John Woo, GES Events; Megan Finnell, CMP, Medical Group Management Association (MGMA); Toni Zoblotsky, Hilton Corp.; Michelle Guelbart, MSW, a recognized voice in the movement to eradicate human trafficking and child exploitation; Allen Anderson, Anderson Hospitality Services, Greater Philadelphia Chapter; Andrew Horsfield, DES, Hyatt Place Ottawa West, PCMA Canada East Chapter; Michael Clarke, Marriott International; Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno, AIM Group International; Events DC; PCMA Rocky Mountain Chapter.

Meghan Risch is Vice President, Strategic and Corporate Communications at PCMA.

ASM Global has been appointed as the main operator for two venues within a planned mixed-use destination in
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The 20,000-seat Jeddah Arena and the International Convention Centre Jeddah will form part of the Airport City project, which will be based adjacent to the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah.

ASM Global has been appointed by SARH Real Estate Investment to provide design expertise and management of the two venues, which are set to open in December 2025.

The megacity district project has been billed as the “ultimate live-work-play lifestyle destination” linked by train to KAIA and the city of Jeddah. The Jeddah Arena and ICC Jeddah will be complemented by three to five-star hotels, a shopping mall, parklands, a business centre, residential sector, and other recreational amenities.

Harvey Lister, chairman and chief executive of ASM Global in the Asia-Pacific and Gulf region, said: “ASM Global is looking forward to being an integral part of the team to deliver this visionary project in Jeddah. We pride ourselves on joining forces with partners with whom we know we can make a difference to creating and delivering amazing experiences.”

Sultan Al-Harbi, chairman of SAHR Real Estate Investment, added: “Upon analysing the significant importance of both the iconic arena and convention centre, it was only fitting to appoint the global giants in the venue and entertainment industry, ASM Global, to collaborate on this landmark project for Jeddah and Saudi Arabia.”

The agreement bolsters ASM Global’s presence in the Middle East. The company operates the 17,000-seat Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai and was recently appointed as the managing operator of the new Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre in Sakhir.

The construction of the Jeddah Airport City project is expected to begin by the end of 2021, with work hoping to be completed by December 2025.

By OakViewGroup.com

Oak View Group (OVG) announced that Chris Granger has joined the company to lead OVG Facilities as its CEO. Based in Detroit, Chris will report to Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group.

Chris’ appointment comes on the heels of OVG’s announcement to merge with Spectra, one of the industry’s leading food and beverage and hospitality providers, to create a leading full-service live events company. The combined company will provide industry-leading expertise in booking and creating content for the venues it manages, and it will be committed to sustainability across its business operations by harnessing the power of the entertainment and sports industries to inspire positive change robustly and at scale.

With more than 25 years of experience, Chris will oversee OVG Facilities, OVG Media & Conferences, and the OVG Arena Alliance, a collection of the top 32 venues in North America that provides a platform for booking, content, and sponsorship sales opportunities. In addition, Chris will focus on sustainability, public safety, and sanitization solutions across all venues, addressing some of the biggest challenges in the live events industry.

“As we grow as a company, there are priorities that we have set to guide that growth,” Leiweke said. “First, character, in all aspects of our organization. Second, a commitment to lead the industry and change the conversation. Third, to not operate in fear. What I admire most about Chris is he is a living example of all three. Anyone and everyone that has worked with him knows he is a class act and leads by example. In addition, he is like us, dreaming for what we could be as an industry and thinking outside the box. And finally, he believes that this is the time for us to be bold, to be entrepreneurial, and to grow this industry. All of us at OVG, our facilities, and our fans, are looking forward to Chris’ leadership.”

“I am excited and humbled to join Tim Leiweke, Irving Azoff, and the incredibly talented team at Oak View Group,” Granger said. “Venues, arenas, and stadiums increasingly play an irreplaceable role in society. They bring diverse people together to cheer, to sing, to vote, to protest, and to celebrate. Further, we are seeing facilities lead the way in areas of public health, public safety, and sustainability. I look forward to contributing to the OVG vision of making a positive contribution to the world through our venues. I can’t wait to get started.”

“I would also like to thank Chris Ilitch for the amazing opportunity to steward the business operations of two iconic teams, six world-class venues, and work with some of the hardest working people in sports and entertainment. It’s been an honor to represent the Winged Wheel and Olde English D, and truly the highlight of my career thus far. I am grateful for what I have learned, for the friendships built, and for the chance to live, work, and play in the Motor City, one of the great entertainment destinations in the world.”

Prior to joining OVG, Chris was group president of sports & entertainment with Ilitch Holdings, a position he held since 2017. While there, he was responsible for all aspects of business operations for the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Red Wings, the company’s joint venture interest in 313 Presents, and the operations of Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, Detroit’s historic Fox Theater, DTE Energy Music Theater, Meadow Brook Amphitheater, and Michigan Lottery Amphitheater at Freedom Hill. In Granger’s four years leading the organization, the Ilitch sports and entertainment businesses saw a period of unprecedented growth, a broad expansion of programming, and significant community investment.

Chris previously served as president of the Sacramento Kings and Sacramento Basketball Holdings, LLC. During his tenure, the Kings enjoyed unprecedented revenue growth and were widely recognized as a highly innovative and community-minded franchise. Chris’ influence also extended to the development of Sacramento’s award-winning, LEED Platinum Golden 1 Center, and its 1.5 million-square-foot downtown mixed-use development project, Downtown Commons. The Golden 1 Center was the first arena in the country to be recognized as LEED Platinum, reflecting its groundbreaking commitment to sustainability. Before joining the Kings, Granger worked in various capacities for the NBA for 14 years. While there, he served as the executive vice president of the NBA’s renowned team marketing and business operations function, where he advised NBA, WNBA, and NBA Development League teams on all aspects of business operations.

Chris and his family are active in a wide range of charitable organizations in the Detroit community, including Make-a-Wish Michigan, Salvation Army, the Henry Ford Museum, and City Year Detroit, where Chris proudly serves on the Board.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and his Master of Business Administration from Yale. He was named Sacramento Business Person of the Year in 2017 and was a 2010 Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40 award winner.

By Megan Palmer

SpotOn, one of the fastest-growing software and payments companies with comprehensive solutions for restaurants and retail businesses, announced $300 million in Series E funding, raising its valuation to $3.15 billion. The funding will be used to acquire Appetize, a leading digital and mobile commerce platform for enterprise businesses, such as sports and entertainment venues, theme parks, zoos, college campuses, and more.

The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), one of the world’s leading technology and software investors, with continued participation from current investors, including DST Global, 01 Advisors, Dragoneer Investment Group, Franklin Templeton, and Mubadala Investment Company, as well as new investors Wellington Management and Coatue Management. Advisors Douglas Merritt, CEO of Splunk, and Mike Scarpelli, CFO of Snowflake, also made individual investments. The funding comes four months after SpotOn’s Series D and increases its valuation from $1.875 to $3.15 billion, further reinforcing the company’s momentum and market potential.

“This investment enables SpotOn to significantly increase its total addressable market, with an end-to-end platform for restaurants and retail business of all types and sizes,” said David George, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. “The acquisition is a natural fit given the companies’ complementary technology and shared focus on market-leading customer support.”

Following the acquisition, SpotOn is positioned to rapidly expand its reach to serve the middle market. SpotOn has hundreds of account executives embedded in communities across the country who will bring Appetize’s world-class technology to thousands of regional entertainment centers, stadiums, colleges, and universities in these communities.

“From our first meetings with Appetize, we knew they had great people and a great product, and the more we worked together it became clear that our two companies were stronger together,” said Matt Hyman, Co-CEO of SpotOn. “We are combining our complementary technologies, extending our market coverage and retaining our shared passion for great service and support for our clients. SpotOn is quickly becoming a part of everyday life for consumers across the country whenever they shop, dine, or visit a stadium or a college campus.”

“Appetize has built a truly special team and product that is trusted by some of the most iconic brands in hospitality, from Yankee Stadium to LSU to the San Diego Zoo. Likewise, SpotOn has earned the trust of tens of thousands of small businesses and independent restaurants with their technology and team,” said Max Roper, CEO at Appetize, who will continue running the business as part of SpotOn. “This acquisition enables our combined team to accelerate investments into our core product and client base, while expanding to fill a void in the mid-market space. By bringing the two companies together, businesses from a major league ballpark to a local clothing boutique will have access to modern, intuitive, cloud-based technology that delivers exceptional customer experiences from one trusted provider.”

The acquisition leverages SpotOn’s SMB expertise and Appetize’s enterprise acumen to focus on a broader market that is beneficial for all clients. SMBs will benefit from robust, scalable technology that can grow with them, and enterprise clients can leverage complementary products, such as sophisticated loyalty programs and expanded marketing capabilities, to increase engagement with their most valuable customers. Through these combined, complementary technologies, SpotOn is positioned to support clients of all types and sizes to manage their business now and well into the future. The transaction is expected to close by mid-September.

Megan Palmer is Senior Communications Manager at SpotOn based in the Washington, D.C. area.