By Julian Bowman

Fair Park First, the non-profit organization charged with management and stewardship of Fair Park, announced the start of Phase 1 of the “Fair Park, Your Park” capital campaign, which will seek to raise $85 million in the next five years. The Honorable and Mrs. George W. Bush will serve as Honorary Chairs, while Ambassador Ron Kirk and his wife Matrice, along with Margo Ramirez Keyes and Jim Keyes, will serve as the Unity Co-Chairs.

During President Bush’s presidency, Fair Park gained recognition from the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the National Park Service, and other cultural agencies with Saving America’s Treasures. Like the Bushes, the Kirks and Keyes are proud Texans and have served as leaders at both the local and national scales.

“Jewels like Fair Park are gathering places that connect people from all walks of life. Parks shape our community and culture and bring us together,” Darren L. James, President of Fair Park First, said. “Support from President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, and our Unity Co-Chairs, the Kirks and Keyes, speak to the importance of this phase of the Fair Park Master Plan implementation. Recognizing their belief in Fair Park’s future and its significance to the city, state and nation is humbling. We are fortunate and glad to have their support in this important endeavor.”

Today, Fair Park continues to be a focal point of activation in North Texas and one of the most highly visited destinations in the state. It hosts the annual State Fair of Texas®, major sporting events at Cotton Bowl® Stadium, Broadway shows at the Music Hall, concerts at Dos Equis Pavilion, and a wide variety of educational and cultural activities at the African American Museum, Texas Discovery Gardens, Band Shell, and the Hall of State. Thirty of the original buildings constructed for the Texas Centennial still host events, but many of those structures and other critical elements need refurbishment.

“In true Texan spirit, a restored and revitalized Fair Park will serve as a beacon of unity to all Texans and the world,” Brian Luallen, Executive Director of Fair Park First, said.

In close partnership with Spectra, Fair Park First is tasked with restoring, revitalizing, and renewing Fair Park. It has received unanimous Dallas City Council approval for a 20-year Master Plan Update to restore and put the “park” back in Fair Park. The initiative will maintain and enhance the park’s educational, entertainment, and cultural activities while creating spacious green belts with fountains, splash parks, and natural Texas landscapes. These updates will transform Fair Park into a family-friendly, 365 day-a-year sustainable destination.

“This campaign will create beautiful green spaces that will benefit the local neighborhoods, designed by Studio-MLA, and enhance the Park operators’ ability to attract new events and permanent attractions,” Margo Ramirez Keyes, Executive Campaign Council Chair and Unity Co-Chair, said. “The goal is to re-activate Fair Park and create a vibrant, catalytic hub of activity that will inspire positive economic activity in the area.”

The Fair Park, Your Park Capital Campaign will look to raise $85 million for Phase 1 of the Master Plan Update with partners Biederman Redevelopment Ventures and Rise360 Consulting. This phase includes creating an 11-acre Community Park, converting 400,000 sq. ft. of concrete and blacktop parking into 17-acres of expanded green space, and a 1.3-acre Gateway Park for residents and visitors across the region, the United States, and the world to enjoy.

Julian Bowman is Senior Director of Marketing for Spectra Venue Management’s Fair Park in Dallas, Texas.

Kylie Wilkerson is the Senior Manager of Event Services at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. She has worked her way through various levels of the venue management industry – intern, food & beverage supervisor, event coordinator, and ultimately to the leadership role in a busy and thriving Event Services department. In her current role she oversees the coordination of professional sporting events with the Nashville Predators, Concerts, Conferences, and Awards Shows. Kylie is honored to represent Bridgestone Arena as a 2020 IAVM 30|Under|30 winner.

“From March – May (and still) many things were uncertain, including the status of this award. When I received word in early May that I had been selected as a winner it was such a relief to finally have some certainty and provided some much needed joy and excitement during a stressful time. Honored to be a part of this group during such a unique time in our industry and world.”

Join your Foundation in congratulating Kylie on being honored as one of the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 and don’t forget to come back each Thursday as we spotlight another honoree!

Haley Wentzlof is the Events Manager at the Butler Arts & Events Center. She started working at the Butler Arts & Events Center as a student and was lucky enough to come back to the center after working at another non-profit for a few years. She is passionate about providing incredible experiences to people in Indianapolis and beyond and excited to be a part of this year’s 30 Under 30 class! 

It was wonderful to receive this award during this time. I know that all of us have been feeling unsure about how events will move forward, and being a part of 30 under 30 gave me a chance to feel like a part of the events community in a new way, even while not actually having events at my venue.

Join your Foundation in congratulating Haley on being honored as one of the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 and don’t forget to come back each Thursday as we spotlight another honoree!

By Nadia Vanderhoof, MA

Smart Meetings magazine has recognized Orange County Convention Center’s (OCCC) Deputy Director Yulita Osuba, CMP, as a 2021 Smart Women in Meetings in the Visionary category for her innovative leadership and commitment to the OCCC.

Smart Meetings is a leading and trusted resource for meeting professionals. The Smart Women in Meetings Awards celebrates the achievements of trailblazing women in the meetings industry and highlights the pioneers who did what others said could not be accomplished and had the skills and courage to make them happen.

“I am honored to be recognized among such brilliant women for this esteemed industry award,” Osuba said. “This year has been a challenge for meeting professionals across the country and has forced us to be innovative in how we approach hosting live events. This achievement further celebrates the women leading the industry who have had to pivot and adapt to an ever-changing environment.”

Osuba is a visionary leader who leads her team with courage, compassion, and conviction. During her almost 20-year tenure at the OCCC, the Center has generated more than $25 billion in economic impact and welcomed millions of visitors. As one of the largest convention centers in the U.S., Osuba’s leadership has ushered an era of growth and significant economic impact to the community.

In recent years, the Center has averaged 200 events, including 115 conventions and tradeshows that attract more than 1.5 million attendees to the region and provides $3 billion in economic impact to Central Florida annually.

Over the last 12 months, Osuba’s leadership has helped the OCCC team to successfully reschedule 36 conventions due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These events will bring an estimated economic impact of $366 million to the region. During this time, she was also recognized by Orlando Magazine as one of Orlando’s 2020 Women of the Year for her dedication and contributions to the community.

Osuba’s passion for the industry combined with her desire to ensure the OCCC experience is superior, has made her a force to be reckoned with. She strives to make her team and her colleagues better and excels in every aspect of her work and family life, fostering professional excellence by developing and empowering those in her life. She hopes that her commitment to initiate change and create a gratifying, rewarding and nurturing work environment inspires her team at the OCCC and others in the hospitality, meetings and conventions industry in Orlando and beyond.

Nadia Vanderhoof, MA, is Marketing and Communications Manager at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

By Sarah Maio

Over the recent March 6 weekend, the Wisconsin Center welcomed its first non-governmental client into the building following an approved safety plan from the Milwaukee Health Department for volleyball events. On March 6 and 7, the Wisconsin Juniors Volleyball Club held two days of volleyball tournaments in the exhibit hall. Subsequent tournaments will take place the following three weekends of March hosted by the Badger Region Volleyball Association.

“This is a major milestone and will give us a glimpse into the future of large gatherings,” said Marty Brooks, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District. “I’m proud of the hard work our team has put in to allow us to welcome youth sports back at the Wisconsin Center. From sanitation to security measures, our team is well-versed on all protocols in place, and we worked closely with the Milwaukee Health Department on this endeavor. Tournament participants and attendees should feel confident their health and safety are our number one priority.”

Early on in the pandemic, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) established COVID-19 guidelines at each of its facilities to ensure the safety of visitors and employees with temperature checks upon entering, mask requirements, high frequency air circulation, and sanitation between visitors. Additionally, each of the WCD’s buildings are GBAC STAR™ accredited, the gold standard for prepared facilities. To achieve this, the WCD implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.

Not only is this a landmark occasion for the events industry, but the various tournaments will have a tremendous economic impact on Milwaukee as well, with visitors patronizing restaurants, attractions, and hotels. Wisconsin Juniors is expected to brought about 4,000 attendees over the weekend and more than $1.8 million in estimated economic impact to the Milwaukee area. Badger Region has an estimated economic impact of $1.8 million its first week, $1.6 million the second week, and about $1.3 million its third week. Badger Region attendees will range from 3,000 to 4,000 attendees each weekend.

“Our hospitality community is very excited to welcome Wisconsin Juniors and Bader Region back to our convention center and back to our city for their volleyball tournaments,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee. “This will be much needed stimulation for our local economy, furthering the city’s comeback from this pandemic. Additionally, it demonstrates Milwaukee’s ability and expertise in hosting successful events even during a pandemic or, hopefully, near the end of one. So, future conventions can rest assured knowing that their Milwaukee event will be one of their safest.”

Last summer, the Wisconsin Center was the home-base of the 2020 Democratic National Convention and the convention center became the location of Milwaukee County’s vote recounts during the presidential election last autumn. Currently, it serves as a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site for the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD). The Wisconsin Center opening for additional business will not impact the MHD vaccination efforts. The convention center will continue to serve as Milwaukee’s primary vaccination site and is contracted by the City of Milwaukee through May 1, 2021 for this initiative.

Sarah Maio is Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Wisconsin Center District in Milwaukee.