Opened in Oct. 1999 as Alltel Arena and located in North Little Rock, Ark, Simmons Bank Arena recently commemorated its 25th anniversary!

To celebrate, they held a memorable Tourism and Hospitality Mixer, where they celebrated their journey alongside community leaders, partners, and friends. General Manager and 40-year industry veteran, Michael Marion, joined local leaders in reflecting on the arena’s cultural and economic impact, honoring the role that Simmons Bank Arena has played in Arkansas and sparking excitement for what’s to come.

We wish them success in their next 25 years!

Simmons Bank Arena celebrates its 25th Anniversary!

Photos and information were provided by Simmons Bank Arena.

We are spotlighting the incredible ways our members are putting their knowledge into action! Whether it’s a new initiative inspired by an IAVM event or session, a training program that elevated your team’s performance, or an innovative solution that made your venue more efficient—your story matters! Send us yours today!

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in November 2024. 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 here to share your story and photo.

Jessica Andrews, TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Liz Arlian, MetraPark, Billings, MT
Carla Armanet, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, Australia
Adrian Armijo, Baylor University, Waco, TX
Candido Barbosa, Venue Management/UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Erynn Bell, Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Anchorage, AK
Bronson Beverly, Events DC, Washington, DC
Cindy Bishop, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
Artie Blakeney, Metropolis Events, Southbank, VIC, Australia
Quentin Blaue, Frost Bank Center/Spurs Sports & Entertainment, San Antonio, TX
Lindon Bond, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Sam Bourke, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, South Bank, QLD, Australia
Mallory Bowman, Indiana University, Bloomfield, IN
Barbara Brady, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Rebekah Brown, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Gabrielle Brumley, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Curtis Burgess, Events DC, Washington, DC
Teddy Burgis, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), Charlotte, NC
Michael Butler, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Dave Campbell, TITAN Global Enterprises Inc, Atlanta, GA
Thomas Carrier, Blue Arena – OVG, Loveland, CO
Kenneth Carter, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Washington, DC
Amanda Cason, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Lacie Coleman, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Paul Couch, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Sean Coyle, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Steven Cranford, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Devon Dahlberg, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Michael Dammen, StageRight Corporation, Clare, MI
Richard Doss, Ford Park Entertainment Complex – OVG, Beaumont, TX
Peter Doyle, Cross Insurance Arena – OVG, Portland, ME
Samantha Dunnigan, Seattle Convention Center (SCC), Seattle, WA
Joel Edmondson, Venue Management Association, Milton, QLD, Australia
Chelsea Estacio, Brooklyn Nets, Brooklyn, NY
Matthew Firth, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, South Bank, QLD, Australia
Andy Flynn, The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland, OH
David Fortenberry, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
John Foster, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Kansas City, MO
Aaron Gaga, University of South Carolina, Austin, TX
Albert Galindo, Acrisure Arena – OVG, Palm Desert, CA
Jeffrey Gardner, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, FL
Michael Gardner, Events DC, Washington, DC
Meredith Gatlin, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Heath Gibson, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Craig Grossarth, UOB Live, Bangkok, , Thailand
Holly Hayes, ICC Sydney – ASM Global, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Melody Henderson, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Chris Hitchcock, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, South Bank, QLD, Australia
Kate Hogan, MetraPark, Billings, MT, United States
Tele’ Horn, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Tracey Hunting, Event Services – Utah State University, Logan, UT
Katie Ivey, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Larry Johnson, Leflore County Civic & Agri Center, Greenwood, MS
Daniel Karrs, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Quinci Keaton, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Carmel Kennedy, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture, Salt Lake City, UT
Ellie King, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC
Erik Knudsen, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Calvin Kretz, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA
Tommy Kruse, Seattle Convention Center (SCC), Seattle, WA
Emily Lane, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Kansas City, MO
Ryan Lazarus, The Commencement Group, San Antonio, TX
Nadia Leonard, Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, GA
Kyra Libuser, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Scott Lozar, Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
Hilary Mangazva, Crown Resorts, Southbank, VIC, Australia
Frances Marin, Marin Center, San Rafael, CA
Natalie Mavrovich, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Ethan McAllister, Event Services – Utah State University, Logan, UT
David McMillan, Irving Convention Center, Irving, TX
Alex Middleton, Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Ginger Miller, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Damali Mitchell, Venue Management/UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
John Mobbs, State Library of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD
Morgan Montalbano, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
George Morris, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Tessa Moses, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC
Rodney Myers, Events DC, Washington, DC
Michael Natera, First National Bank Arena, State University, AR
Wendy Odden, Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Anchorage, AK
Jeffrey Page, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), Charlotte, NC
Alyssa Patani, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Luis Payan, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale, AZ
Roger Peterson, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Tajee Pledger, Phoenix Suns, Phoenix, AZ
Emiko Poor, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Michele Preston, Bojangles’ Coliseum/Ovens Auditorium (CRVA), Charlotte, NC
Morgan Prosser, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Kansas City, MO
Marquis Quick, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), Charlotte, NC
Abigail Railsback, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Thousand Oaks, CA
Krystal Rich, Seattle Convention Center (SCC), Seattle, WA
Jacob Rogers, Venue Management/UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
John Rohanna, The Venue Alexandria, Alexandria, NSW, Australia
Robert Romito, MetraPark, Billings, MT
Tom Rulon, Allied Universal Event Services (AUES), Fullerton, CA
Elizabeth Rupert, Joffe Emergency Services, Brentwood, CA
Gary Russin, Gas South District, Duluth, GA
Fatou Sacko, Gas South District, Duluth, GA
Scott Sandilands, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf, VIC, Australia
Christophe Sautot, Event Staff App, Goleta, CA
Duane Scott, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
James Seagle, Gas South District, Duluth, GA
Neal Simmons, Ryan Center & Boss Ice Arena – OVG, Kingston, RI
Jacob Smith, Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Austin Sneed, Irving Convention Center, Irving, TX
Farrah Stanfield, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Jennifer Stanton, MetraPark, Billings, MT
Aubrion Sterrett, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Emma Such, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall, QLD, Australia
Michael Tamucci, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
James Taylor, Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Jerry Thomas, VenuesLive Management Services (NSW) Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Courtney Thornberry, Orlando Venues, Orlando, FL
John Torres, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Casey Troy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Patrick Tutka, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Dayna Ulmer, Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Steven Upshaw, Event Services – Utah State University, Logan, UT
Blake Vanderwoude, Venues NSW, Moore Park, NSW, Australia
Raegan Verhoff, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Erwin Vidallon, Seattle Convention Center (SCC), Seattle, WA
Michael Villa, Frost Bank Center/Spurs Sports & Entertainment, San Antonio, TX
Caitlin Wadsworth, ICC Sydney – ASM Global, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Curtis Waller, Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Anchorage, AK
Joseph Wang, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Caitlyn Ward, Mount Baker Theatre, Bellingham, WA
Kourtney Washington, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Adam Westenskow, Event Services – Utah State University, Logan, UT
Mark Whitfield, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Olivia Whitt, Populous, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Andersen Williams, Venue Management/UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Denise Williams, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Kyle Willis, Brookshire Grocery Arena, Bossier City, LA
Michaela Woempner, MetraPark, Billings, MT
Kenneth Yu, Seattle Convention Center (SCC), Seattle, WA

Marilyn (Deborah) Shaff, widow of Moscone Center’s Dick Shaff, passed away on Oct. 18 in San Mateo, Calif., at the age of 86. As wife of Dick, Marilyn was very involved in IAVM activities. Along with being GM of Moscone Center in San Francisco for 35 years, her husband was president (now chair) of IAVM in 1994-95.

She is described by close friends Cliff and Susan Wallace as being a lady of grace, warmth, and wisdom. She was regularly active in past IAVM programs for spouses and known for her nurturing spirit, as well as her ability to make everyone around her feel welcomed and appreciated, said Wallace, CVE.

Marilyn is survived by two children (Lori and Greg) and five grandchildren. Dick Shaff, her late husband, passed in August 2016. He was GM at the Long Beach (Calif.) Convention Center prior to moving to San Francisco.

VenuWorks, a leading provider in venue management, proudly announces the creation of a pioneering executive position—National Director for Operations, Production, and Safety (OPS)—to support its ongoing commitment to operational excellence and safety across its venues nationwide.

Scott Smith, an industry expert with over 20 years of experience in venue management, has been appointed as the inaugural National Director of OPS. With a proven track record in event operations and leadership, Smith previously served as Director of Operations at the award-winning Swiftel Center. During his tenure, he successfully managed a diverse range of events, from concerts and conventions to sporting events, and led a team that earned national recognition.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to be part of a great team. I look forward to assisting with all aspects of operations in the facilities that we serve. We will work to deliver an exceptional customer experience and provide employees the tools for operational success,” said Smith. His extensive background includes strategic oversight of safety/risk management, production management, and operational efficiency.

Steve Peters, CEO of VenuWorks, shared his enthusiasm for the new appointment, stating, “The National Director for OPS position reflects our unwavering commitment to elevating safety standards and operational excellence. Scott’s appointment marks a pivotal moment in our journey to further empower our teams and partners.”

Scott Smith’s responsibilities will include collaborating with local operations leaders to ensure compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standards, managing facility infrastructure, developing standard operating procedures, and enhancing risk management strategies. His leadership and expertise are further affirmed by his certifications in safety and security, alongside his recognition as a Venue Excellence Award team member.

“Scott brings a unique blend of strategic vision and practical expertise that will significantly bolster our efforts in ensuring the safety and satisfaction of our patrons, staff, and clients at every VenuWorks managed facility,” noted Mike Silva, Chief Operating Officer of VenuWorks.

The appointment of Smith as National Director for OPS sets a foundation for a more integrated and cohesive approach to venue management. The role is geared toward providing a consistent and elevated standard of safety and operational efficiency across all VenuWorks locations, benefiting venue managers, safety professionals, clients, and communities alike.

For more information on VenuWorks and its management services, please visit www.venuworks.com.

Music Forward, a national non-profit organization and Live Nation’s charity arm, proudly recognizes National Apprenticeship Week by celebrating its federally recognized apprenticeship program — the first of its kind nationally that focuses specifically on music and live entertainment. Apprenticeships bolster Music Forward’s mission to pave the way for the next generation of industry talent by helping young leaders transition from music enthusiasts into seasoned professionals via competitive training, professional development, on-the-job training, and mentorship and coaching. This innovative program is revolutionizing how young people from underrepresented communities gain the skills, experience, and mentorship they need to thrive in one of the most dynamic industries in the world.

The journey to this first-ever registered apprenticeship in music and live entertainment began pre-pandemic via Music Forward harnessing its connections at the California Department of Education, community-based organizations, arts media and entertainment industry leaders BRIC Foundation (BRIC), Entertainment Equity Alliance (EEA) and Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) coming together to assess the role of workforce stakeholders in supporting a thriving and diverse arts and entertainment industry. This process led to the realization that registered apprenticeships are a vital part of preparing the next generation of industry professionals. 

“This historic apprenticeship program bridges training, education, and high-skill, high-wage jobs in music and live entertainment, addressing challenges around building an inclusive industry and cultivating its long-term sustainability,” explains Music Forward Foundation Executive Director Nurit Smith. “With support from our employer partners, we are providing paid, hands-on experience to kick-start careers and drive economic mobility. This initiative is a critical addition to our work, our youth, and the industry we serve.” 

These career paths are being built in partnership with high schools in the Centinela Valley Union High, Compton Unified and Los Angeles Unified school districts along with the California Department of Education’s Arts, Media, and Entertainment (AME) and Career Technical Education (CTE) industry sector schools plus Compton College – who are all teaching essential workplace skills, training students on creative processes and industry-standard technology and emulating professional environments to create authentic learning experiences for students. From San Francisco to San Diego, Music Forward works to reach young professionals, giving them the tools they need to launch successful careers in the music and live entertainment industries. Since its launch, Music Forward has received over 200 applicants interested in apprenticeships. Of those applicants, 92% are BIPOC and 61% female – ensuring the program supports underrepresented voices. 

Music Forward’s competency-based apprenticeship program’s rigorous structure requires at least 1,080 on-the-job paid training hours coupled with mentorship and supplemental learning. It provides a vast breadth of apprenticeship opportunities in different pathways including Marketing, Special Events, Music Supervision and Talent booking as well as technicians in Lighting, Audio and Video (A/V) and production roles such as Grip/Rigger, Stagehand and Audio Engineering. Music Forward has partnered with entertainment industry heavyweights Live Nation, Wasserman, Bigger Hammer, Show Imaging, BRIC, Bulldog Event Group and others to provide a robust selection of apprenticeship placements where young emerging professionals receive training and experience to ensure they are poised for success. As the apprenticeship program grows, Music Forward seeks to bring in additional industry employer partners to continue expanding opportunities and build a bigger future together for young talent. 

Music Forward’s current apprenticeship program participants are Gabriel Escalante & Kaije Rood at Show Imaging as Warehouse Techs, Chloe Colligan and Troy White at Wasserman in Talent Coordination and Marketing respectively, Emily San Vicente at BRIC Foundation in Marketing and Breanna Flores at Music Forward in Special Events.

“My experience has been incredible,” raves Wasserman apprentice Troy White. “My team has taught me tour marketing from the ground up, and my main takeaway is that being detail-oriented is the key to success in the agency space, no matter what department you are in, along with ambition!” 

Wasserman apprentice Chloe Colligan enthuses, “The experience has been really amazing, and I am so grateful for this opportunity! I think the main takeaway for me is seeing how the music industry operates first-hand, and it honestly surpassed my expectations.” 

Ensuring a strong foundation and necessary resources, Music Forward’s apprenticeship program has received remarkable government support including being the recipient of a $500,000 California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) grants, one of the only dedicated to careers in the creative economy. 

Governor Gavin Newsom’s dedication to Music Forward’s apprenticeship program is exemplified by his statement: “California is committed to helping disadvantaged youth prepare for high-quality careers. Through our nation-leading career education efforts, we’re boosting apprenticeships throughout the state and across industries to help young people launch into the right career for them.”

Along with the COYA grant, Music Forward has secured nearly $1M in multi-year support for this initiative from the Irvine Foundation, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board, California Workforce Development Board and High Road Training Partnerships. These funds will allow for youth and employer incentives, education stipends, mentoring and training for careers in the creative economy. 

National Apprenticeship Week: November 17-23, 2024, is a nationwide celebration where employers, industry representatives, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and Federal, State, and local government agencies host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs, creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into good jobs, and advancing racial and gender equity. National Apprenticeship Week gives registered apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities, and apprentices in their community. To learn more about Music Forward Foundation’s apprenticeship program, visit HERE.