Our friends at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta were omitted from last week’s update of IAVM member venues who have obtained GBAC STAR designation. We apologize for the oversight and wanted to give special acknowledgment to President & CEO Allan Vella and his entire team for now making “The Fox Experience” even more safe, friendly, and entertaining.

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

By R.V. Baugus

IAVM President and CEO Brad Mayne, CVE, was among a dozen sources quoted in a recent feature in Pollstar Magazine regarding the $900 billion federal aid package for individuals and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among other comments, Mayne said that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a “step in the right direction, and we are grateful for that step.”

“I think a lot of people don’t realize the massive ecosystem of the event industry, all of the contracted labor and small businesses. So many professionals’ only form of compensation is live events. If any of those companies or individuals go out of business, that’s something that’s going to have to be rebuilt. The sooner we get some type of legislation to help that entire ecosystem, the better chance we have of not losing people and getting back safely.”

To read the full article, click here.

Zakiya Smith-Dore, MBA, CVP is an Event Operations Manager with the University of Florida Performing Arts. Truly committed to the Gator Nation, Zakiya received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida. Ms. Smith-Dore serves IAVM as the State of Florida Representative, Vice Chair of the University Committee, and is a mentor to her peers. Outside of the industry, Zakiya is an active volunteer and committee member to several national and local organizations, including service as President of her local Rotaract club.

“I received the news of 30 Under 30 on a day that was filled with ‘gloom and doom’ pandemic conversations. The news uplifted me and reminded me that despite our present circumstances, our industry has a bright future and I get the privilege of helping shape it.”

Join your Foundation in congratulating Zakiya 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 R.V. Baugus and nhl.com

We all know how the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the public assembly venue landscape, and for the teams that play in many IAVM venues, financial losses have been catastrophic. That’s why I read with interest and delight when the National Hockey League announced that in partnership with Discover, Honda, MassMutual and Scotiabank, those four entities would hold naming rights as official division names for the 2020-21 season: Scotia NHL® North Division, Honda NHL® West Division, Discover NHL® Central Division and the MassMutual NHL® East Division.

I love it!

Once upon a time I hated the infiltration of corporate names splashed across sports uniforms. In fact, I held to the notion that only those in the professional auto racing circles should be allowed to have corporate names covering uniforms from head to toe. I don’t know … it just seemed ludicrous that a person would become a walking billboard.

Well, those thoughts have changed, even before Ricky Bobby rocked his uni in Talladega Nights.

It looked a little strange to me when NBA uniforms became adorned with corporate logos, but these days I take extra effort to see if any given team has a new logo from the previous year. It is no longer any big deal and in fact in these trying financial times is often a key to survival to some degree.

Going back to the NHL, the idea was simply brilliant to sell naming rights to the sport’s four divisions. I can truly envision other sports looking to follow suit. I applaud the out-of-the-box thinking of the NHL as they move forward into their 2020-21 season which already has met COVID-19 head-on, with our local Dallas Stars registering 17 players who have tested positive.

Here are the divisions and teams in each (note: the ongoing closure of the U.S.-Canada border required realignment):

• Scotia NHL® North Division (Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg)
• Honda NHL® West Division (Anaheim, Arizona, Colorado, Los Angeles, Minnesota, San Jose, St. Louis, Vegas)
• Discover NHL® Central Division (Carolina, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Nashville, Tampa Bay)
• MassMutual NHL® East Division (Boston, Buffalo, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington)

By R.V. Baugus

Andrias White Murdaugh, MBA, CMP, CSEP, CVP, owner and lead event producer for Andrias Events, a full-service convention, special event, and wedding firm, has been named in volunteer service as the Vice President, Strategic Events at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

The CBCF Vision stated on its website is to “envision a world in which all communities have an equal voice in public policy through leadership cultivation, economic empowerment, and civic engagement.”

The website lists the Mission “to advance the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public.”

Andrias began her professional career at George Mason University where she served as an Event Manager and later progressed to the Director of Logistics and Events for George Mason University’s Office of Admissions. There she lead the Events Team’s planning and execution of recruitment open houses, road shows, college fairs, and youth conferences.

After five years of service, Andrias left her full-time role at Mason to serve as Senior Event Manager for Events DC at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center where she managed high-security and high profile conventions, meetings, special events, and athletic events including Presidential Inaugural Balls, The World Gas Congress, The American Israel Public Affairs Policy Conference, and the Congressional Black Caucus’s Annual Legislative Conference. After moving back to her hometown in Richmond, Virginia, she served as the Senior Facility and Sales Manager for SMG Richmond at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Virginia and lead the efforts for facility marketing, guest relations, and special events during the 2019 Washington Redskins Training Camp.

She is a 2018 graduate of IAVM’s Venue Management School and received her CVP that same year. She was also acknowledged in the 2018 30-Under-30 class.

Congratulations from all your friends in the IAVM world on this extraordinary honor!