Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in July 2021. Thank you for being a part of the association! Also, let us get to know you better by participating in the I Am Venue Management series. Please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story to share your story and photo.

 

Billie-Jo Aasen, DraganFly, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Tim Allen, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Arianna Alosi, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Stuart Ascher, State Farm Arena – Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta, GA

Jeanice Baker, America’s Center, Saint Louis, MO

Tim Barr, Forum Info-Tech, Inc., Corona, CA

Ron Berkebile, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA

Andrew Bianchi, Live Nation Entertainment, Austin, TX

Rebecca Black, Memorial Hall, Chapel Hill, NC

Mike Blanton, BB&T Center – Florida Panthers, Sunrise, FL

Lisa Bleakley, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA

Joshua Boyd, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC

Scott Bridgeman, PhoneSoap, Hudson, OH

Darrow Bronner, Riverside EpiCenter, Austell, GA

Dale Bronner II, Riverside EpiCenter, Austell, GA

Jeff Brosz, Athletica Sport Systems Inc., Shakopee, MN

Stephanie Brown, America’s Center, Saint Louis, MO

Mackenzie Burkett, University of Florida Performing Arts, Gainesville, FL

Ronnie Burt, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ

Miranda Call, ASM Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

Chris Caluya, Martin Harris Construction, Las Vegas, NV

Darrell Cardona, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Michael Chatham, HHCP Architects, Inc., Orlando, FL

Jake Clark, Orlando City Soccer Club, Orlando, FL

Chip Cossar, Landers Center, Southaven, MS

Jacey Coursey, ASM Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

Jake Crownover, DraganFly, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Amanda DeWalt, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

Dan Donahue, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Sharon Dunaway, ASM Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

Jared Elliott, PhoneSoap, Naperville, IL

Arianna Fake, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX

Evan Falat, ASM Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

Lissa Frenkel, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

Tammy Genovese, Crossroads Arena, Corinth, MS

Jessica Gonzalez-Garza, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Janet Grant, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

Dave Gwozdz, MIS Security LLC, Tallahassee, FL

Lyric Hamilton, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Tori Harris, ParkHub.com, Dallas, TX

Ryan Hemenway, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Donnis Hendrix, ASM Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

Sara Hicks, The Lerner Theatre, Elkhart, IN

Sims Hinds, Oak View Group, Pawley’s Island, SC

Taylor Holloway, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

Ryan Johnson, C.H. Johnson Consulting, Inc., Chicago, IL

Kiara Jones, Renasant Convention Center, Memphis, TN

Nathan Jones, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID

La’Shaina Joseph, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA

Tondrae Kemp, City Parks Foundation – SummerStage, New York, NY

Nicole Kinney, Forum Info-Tech, Inc., Corona, CA

Jamey Kirby, Florence Center, Florence, SC

Miranda Korniloff, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

Jason LaGrange, Lancer Worldwide, San Antonio, TX

Philip Laws, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Matt Lentell, BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center, Tupelo, MS

Kaelin Leonard, ABM Industries, Inc., Atlanta, GA

Adam Logan, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

Kenneth Mann, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

Melanie Margarum, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC

Karen Massicotte, Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Tom McFlynn, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Marisa Montoya, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

Cindy Moore, DraganFly, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Maritza Morales, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Aida Moreno, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Jourdon Morgan, America’s Center, Saint Louis, MO

Cydney Mosby, Appetize Technologies, Los Angeles, CA

Brad Munda, Memorial Hall, Chapel Hill, NC

Ashleigh Nader, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA

Dennis Nickerson, Portable Solar Inc., Pinecrest, FL

Hee Soo Oh, DeKalb CVB, Tucker, GA

Aly Pane, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Tim Perez, Threshold Acoustics LLC, Chicago, IL

Norberto Perez-O’Neill, Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority, San Juan, PR

Benson Phoumsavath, Marcus Performing Arts Center, Milwaukee, WI

Karla Puente, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Michael Reynolds, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ

Kenny Robinson, Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, Concord, NC

Robert Rockhill, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Alicia Rodriguez, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID

Isidro Rodriguez, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Jim Salamenta, DraganFly, Vancouver, BC, Canada

John Sandoval, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

Alyssa Sandvig, Renasant Convention Center, Memphis, TN

Cole Satterfield, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID

Falynn Schmidt, OTJ Architects, Washington, DC

Tony Sciulli, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Lisa Scoville, Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, UT

Virginia Sheppa Shupe, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

Casey Skarecki, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ

Alex Smith, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Dan Smith, Legends, New York, NY

Jaime Solis, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

Barry Sutherland, Henderson Engineers, Lenexa, KS

Keiko Sutton, Kotobuki Seating, New York, NY

Garry Swearingen, Clark Construction Group, LLC, Roswell, GA

Cynthia Tapia, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

Erin Tappel, University of Kentucky – Department of Arts Administration, Lexington, KY

Greg Thompson, Downtown Springdale, Bentonville, AR

James Tsismanakis, DeKalb CVB, Tucker, GA

Martins Udotai, SitEat, Bronx, NY

Kerry Warner, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

Megan Wein, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, WI

Alex Weinrich, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ

Brenda Wharry, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

Megan Whitaker, Memorial Hall, Chapel Hill, NC

Andre Wright, Renasant Convention Center, Memphis, TN

Josie Yang, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, WI

By Ashley Dabb

ASM Global, the global leader in venue and event strategy and management, announced the promotions of Mary Ann Torres, Dominique Bonds, Dwight Bazemore, and Melvin Smith.

Mary Ann Torres, CMM, has been promoted to the Director of Event Management and Business Analysis. With more than 20 years of experience as a leader in the events industry, Torres is an award-winning and respected industry expert. Torres will lead the events department as well as continuing to provide relationship management, client retention, and assist clients in their long-range planning efforts. During her career, she has built a reputation among event planners and colleagues as a reliable, transparent, knowledgeable subject matter expert within the event services industry.

Dominique Bonds, a 23-year veteran of the Center, has been elevated to Director of Engagement. During the past year Bonds, has been spearheading the Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in addition to her previous role as Guest Experience Director. In her new role, Bonds will continue leading the Center’s DEI initiatives as well as coordinating the Center’s customer and guest experience efforts and will provide thought leadership in the areas of talent engagement.

Dwight Bazemore, previously the Network Administrator, has been promoted to Assistant Information Technology Director. Information Technology infrastructure and services are vital to the meetings and events industry and to general business continuity, and Dwight Bazemore has done a great job leading the IT efforts of the Center during the past 16 months. Bazemore’s promotion solidifies his increased leadership role in the department as the Center ramps back up its operation.

Melvin Smith has been promoted from Senior Accountant to Accounting Supervisor. His eagerness to learn and grow professionally along with his willingness to step up whenever he is needed has made Smith a valuable asset to the finance department. In his new role, he will take on greater responsibility in the finance department which will also include the direct supervision of the staff accountants.

“The last 16 months have been extremely challenging for us all. During that time, Mary Ann, Dominique, Dwight and Melvin have all stepped up to meet the unprecedented demands of the time and took on additional responsibilities to aid the overall operation. Their commitment to the mission, to their colleagues and to our customers have been exemplary and these promotions are well deserved.” said Kelvin D. Moore, CMP, ASM Global Regional General Manager.

“The ASM Global team has consistently brought top talent to the Center, and these hard working staff are no exception” said John J. McNichol, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA). “These promotions reflect the Center’s commitment to deliver the best possible guest and event experience. Congratulations Mary Ann, Dominique, Dwight, and Melvin!”

Ashley Dabb is Senior Communications Manager for the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

By ISSA and R.V. Baugus

From concerts to sporting events to art exhibitions to weddings, people are rediscovering the joys of attending in-person events as more facilities reopen and lift occupancy limits. This week, Strathmore Hall Foundation Inc. in North Bethesda, Md. has earned GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™, (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, for three of its venues: AMP by Strathmore, The Mansion, and The Music Center. Joining the Strathmore facilities with new accreditations are the Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif., numerous commercial offices and hotels, a Maryland-based salon, and transportation provider.

“GBAC STAR accredited facilities know how to effectively clean to uphold the health of all building occupants and visitors,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “With an increasing number of larger venues reopening for events, it’s important to look for the accreditation seal. With the online GBAC STAR Facility Directory, people can easily locate accredited facilities so they know whether best practices are being followed.”

Strathmore brings nearly 400 events to North Bethesda each year, including concerts, festivals, art exhibitions, and more. Its venues are also sought after for private events like parties, training sessions, weddings, and mitzvahs. Meanwhile, the Toyota Arena is a 225,000-square-foot venue that can accommodate more than 11,000 guests. It hosts more than 125 events annually and is home to several sports teams, including Ontario Reign (American Hockey League), Ontario Fury (Major Arena Soccer League), Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario (G League Basketball), and LA Temptation (Legends Football League).

This week, the following facilities have earned GBAC STAR accreditation:

Stadium or Arena

Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif.

Theatres or Performing Arts Centers

Strathmore Hall Foundation Inc. – AMP by Strathmore in North Bethesda, Md.
Strathmore Hall Foundation Inc. – The Mansion in North Bethesda, Md.
Strathmore Hall Foundation Inc. – The Music Center in North Bethesda, Md.

“The GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation program is based on quality management system principles and ensures facilities have a clear map in place for training, preparation, prevention, and more,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett.

Learn more and apply for GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation at gbac.org/star.

Find accredited facilities and those pursuing accreditation via the GBAC STAR Facility Directory at gbac.org/directory.

IAVM members seeking to apply for accreditation through GBAC, please use the link https://gbac.issa.com/iavm/!

By R.V. Baugus

Hail Caesar!

And now, hail the iconic Superdome in New Orleans with the announcement that a new naming rights deal will result in the storied venue to become the Caesars Superdome. Toga’s optional.

Indeed, the NFL New Orleans Saints confirmed a 20-year partnership with Caesars Entertainment for naming rights to its Superdome stadium.

The deal officially rebrands the venue as the Caesars Superdome. The agreement was confirmed afterLouisiana state lawmakers approved the deal.

The deal, which was first reported in March, is said to be worth $138 million NOLA.com reported that the money will be paid directly to the Saints as part of the team’s agreement with the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, which oversees the venue.

Caesars replaces Mercedes-Benz as the naming-rights sponsor of the Superdome. Mercedes-Benz had sponsored the stadium since 2011 but the company confirmed last May that it would not be extending its deal.

In September, the Saints appointed Oak View Group to sell naming rights for the Superdome. It had been hoped that a new deal could be struck by this month, with the Mercedes-Benz agreement having expired on July 15.

Caesars Superdome will host the Super Bowl in 2025, as well as next year’s NCAA Men’s Final Four, the annual Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff contests, and a range of concerts and other events.

The Superdome is currently undergoing extensive renovation work worth $450 million ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl and in January the team shared further details on the next phase of improvements. The Saints have pledged to spend the Caesars income on this project.

Saints owner Gayle Benson said: “This partnership sends a strong message about the positive future for the New Orleans Saints. That message states that companies with the global reach of Caesars Entertainment is investing in our city, state and region.

“Caesars has long been one of the world’s most respected entertainment companies. Caesars is in the midst of creating a first-class multi-million-dollar entertainment facility in downtown New Orleans, this significant investment also demonstrates the strength of their commitment to our state and region. We are proud to partner with a company that is dedicated to the economic growth of our city, state and region.”

Tom Reeg, chief executive of Caesars Entertainment, added: “All of us at Caesars are proud to be part of New Orleans’ vibrant culture. We understand that the Caesars Superdome is more than an iconic venue, it’s the symbol of a resilient and innovative community.

“We’ve had a strong relationship with the New Orleans Saints for nearly two decades and we are thrilled with the opportunity to strengthen it and celebrate our commitment to the city, the state, and the entire Gulf Coast region.”

By Blair Cardinal

Spectra, one of the industry’s top private management and hospitality companies, has appointed Michael Logan as general manager to lead venue operations at the Swiftel Center. The company, which operates more than 330 venues across North America and globally, began its venue management and partnerships sales contract at the 6,500-seat arena in Brookings on August 1.

Logan will oversee all aspects of the facility’s daily operations, including contract negotiations, financial planning, marketing initiatives, and event booking. Spectra’s strong network of venues – in particular within its sizable regional cluster including the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D.; Ralston Arena in Omaha, Neb.; Tyson Events Center & Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa; and Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. – will help enhance booking and sponsorship revenue generation at the Swiftel Center.

On May 25, 2021 with a 6-0 vote, Brookings City Council unanimously approved Spectra to assume management of the multi-use facility. The five-year contract will run through December 31, 2026. Spectra invited 100 percent of the building’s staff to remain onboard, with all but three opting to stay, and also created and hired two new positions – director of finance and director of partnerships.

“The transition has been exciting and seamless. We have weekly meetings with our new partners in the City, and regular and frequent communication with the team,” Logan said. “We’re all eager to officially get started, and I’m prepared to help Swiftel Center reach its full potential as an economic driver and centerpiece to the local community.”

Logan will work to uphold the center’s mission to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the region and provide a positive economic impact by hosting live spectator events, banquets, meetings, trade shows, conferences and conventions. Spectra intends to increase the number of event days by 20 percent and attendance by 45 percent by the fifth year, which would equal $1 million annual incremental economic impact to Brookings.

Previously, Logan was Spectra’s assistant general manager and director of events at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill., where he oversaw the events, operations, and technical departments, and supported event booking and managed arena contracts. Since joining Spectra in 2014, Logan has also served as the director of events at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa, where he managed the events, parking, and guest services staff. While in this role, he also oversaw numerous events including concerts for artists such as Drake, Paul McCartney, and Eric Church and major sporting events, such as the first and second rounds of the 2019 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Prior to that, he served as Senior Event Manager at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colo.

“With Mike at the helm, Spectra will improve Brookings’ position as a prominent destination for live entertainment and events, meetings, trade shows and conventions,” Erick Rangel, Chief Financial Officer, City of Brookings, said. “Spectra brings extensive resources to the table: strong relationships with promoters, business intelligence, streamlined policies and procedures, next-level customer service, and a network of professionals across North America to help train and support our employees. Plus, we can tap Spectra’s successful teams among our regional peer venues for knowledge sharing and best practices. We’re excited to get started.”

Mike Scanlon, Spectra’s Senior Vice President of Arenas & Stadiums, added: “We know Swiftel Center is going to benefit from Mike’s leadership experience. He’s dedicated not only to the success of the venue, but also to the success of each employee.”

Logan earned his master’s degree in Tourism Management from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He enjoys spending time with his family including his wife, Monica, 2-year-old son, Liam, 2-month-old son, Cooper, and dog, Oliver. Mike also enjoys biking, skiing, golfing, and travelling.

Blair Cardinal is Vice President, Communications at Spectra.