(Editor’s Note: IAVM Chair Rip Rippetoe, CVE, was interviewed for the December Member Spotlight by the California Travel Association. We both congratulate Rip and thank him for his story as well as his promotion of IAVM and the role it plays throughout the public assembly venue world.)

CALTRAVEL / MEMBER SPOTLIGHT / DECEMBER 2020

An Interview with Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, President & CEO of San Diego Convention Center

BY SHANNON BROOKS, PRINCIPAL AT FORWØRD

No doubt, the pandemic has had—and continues to have—a devastating effect on our industry, the economy, and the health and welfare of so many. Yet, it’s the abundance of creative pivots and heartwarming demonstrations of human kindness and generosity that have made getting through this challenging time more bearable and even enriching. The subject of our latest Member Spotlight, Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, CVE, President & CEO of San Diego Convention Center, can attest to this.

The many ways he and his team have pitched in to support their community in a critical time of need demonstrate that the power of travel has not been diminished. Nor has the meetings and events industry coming to a relative standstill stopped the San Diego Convention Center from continuing to serve as a place of great value for San Diego residents.

The venue not only stepped up to serve as a critical super polling center for San Diego County during the recent elections, they also received a well-deserved Grand Golden Watchdog Award from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association for protecting the homeless during the pandemic as a key partner in the collaborative “Operation Shelter Home.” These are just a couple of the many impressive accomplishments that are a credit to Rip’s leadership of the San Diego Convention Center. Read on to learn more about our esteemed California travel industry colleague and some of the experiences and milestones that made him the man and leader he is today.

How did your career in hospitality/events begin?
I was a scenery and lighting designer for a summer stock theatre company, and then I was given an opportunity to operate a performing arts theatre in Kansas. Following that, I went to Las Vegas to run a theatre, an AAA baseball stadium, and an exhibit hall complex. That experience led to working in leadership roles at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Salt Palace Convention Center, the Olympic Winter Games of 2002, a senior role at the Salt Lake CVB, Senior Vice President at GES headquarters in Las Vegas, The Kentucky State Fair Board, and here in San Diego.

What project(s) had the biggest influence on you personally and/or professionally?
I spent just under five years contributing to the Olympic movement. I had the opportunity to work for the Pan American Games in Winnipeg in 1999, the Goodwill Games in Lake Placid in 2000, the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, and then was responsible for all Spectator Services for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002. It was life changing. The movement instills character in ways I had not experienced before.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I currently serve as the Board Chair for the International Association of Venue Managers. I’m a 32-year member of the Association and have served in many roles. We represent 7,200+ professionals in over 21 countries. I am so proud to be in this leadership role. I have dreamt of it for all these 32 years. It is so humbling to be in this role. I am also very proud to be a father, grandfather, brother, and more for an amazing family.

Tell us something about yourself that might surprise people?
I completed a Masters in Divinity at the age of 59 and became an Ordained Minister within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

How has the pandemic changed you as a leader?
I hope it hasn’t changed me, but instead I hope it has enhanced what I consider dear to us all—instilling hope and providing comfort to my team.

What three things kept you sane during the most “locked down” phases of quarantine?
My Wife. My Faith. And my Leadership team at the Convention Center.

What events are you most excited to see return once we can gather in larger numbers again?
All of them, of course. But I really am looking forward to Comic-Con International coming back to San Diego in a big way.

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Urban League of Louisiana honored the winners of the inaugural Ernest N. Morial Awards at a socially-distanced luncheon on December 3 in the Convention Center’s Great Hall.

These awards recognize a small business and a corporation that have demonstrated innovative growth and economic impact, as well as exceptional contributions to the sustainability and growth of local communities and small businesses across the state of Louisiana.

Airware Transportation and Logistics was recognized as Small Business of the Year. Woodward Design+Build was recognized as Corporation of the Year.

These awards were established in celebration of Mayor Ernest N. Morial’s achievements and his legacy as a civil rights activist, and political pioneer. As the first Black mayor of New Orleans in 1977, a position he held for two terms through 1986, he championed the Convention Center’s construction and saw it as a way to promote economic development, especially for local and diverse small businesses.

“Small business growth has been a central focus for the Convention Center,” said Michael J. Sawaya, president and general manager of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and co-chairman of the Urban League’s Annual Gala. “We’ve made it our commitment to continue to support our local small business vendors and to honor the legacy of the Convention Center’s namesake, Ernest N. Morial. We congratulate the winners for their achievements and we hope the awards will inspire businesses, big and small, to promote the economic growth of our small business community.”

Through their Small and Emerging Business Program, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is committed to creating opportunity to help the SEBs of Louisiana succeed. The Convention Center encourages the hiring of local vendors for the purchase of goods and services at the Convention Center and provides easy access to new business opportunities through their SEBConnect app, and through the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority’s website at exhallnola.com.

“We are proud to partner with the Convention Center to recognize those businesses, big and small, who continue to fearlessly triumph and support small business growth in a highly competitive environment,” said Judy Reese Morse, president and CEO of the Urban League of Louisiana. “We commend these exemplary businesses for their outstanding work.”

Since the Small and Emerging Business Program launched in 2019, 687 Certified Vendors have been registered and nearly $10 million has been awarded to SEBs and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.

“The Authority has been a champion of more active involvement of SEB’s as a guiding principle for how business is done at the Convention Center,” said Bonita Robertson, Small and Emerging Business (SEB) committee chair, Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority. “Recognizing businesses that demonstrate active involvement in alignment with our vision is an appropriate way to continue the progress we have made in recent years, as well as to honor the incredible legacy of Ernest Nathan Morial.”

The Morial Award winners were presented with a trophy that was custom-sculpted by New Orleans visual artist Sheleen Jones, who is renowned for using her art to pay homage to the heroes of our city. The winners will also receive the Urban League of Louisiana’s full suite of capacity-building and training, technical assistance, and will have all expenses paid to attend the National Urban League annual convention.

(From left to right) Ms. Judy Reese Morse, President and CEO of Louisiana Urban League. Mr. Terry Williams, Airware Transportation and Logistics, President and CEO. Mr. Paul Flower, Woodward Design+Build, CEO. Mr. Mike Sawaya, President and General Manager of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Ms. Rocsean Spencer, Director of Small Business Program Director for the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

From Visit Phoenix and R.V. Baugus

Steve Moore, President & CEO of Visit Phoenix and long-time IAVM supporter, announced his retirement effective March 31, 2021. Moore has led Visit Phoenix for 19 years after he previously spent 14 years as CEO of Visit San Antonio and 13 years with Visit Houston. Moore has played a key role in booking conventions and mega sporting events at the Phoenix Convention Center, sports venues, and resorts throughout Greater Phoenix.

Moore played a key role in the pro forma and booking of conventions and mega-sporting events at the Phoenix Convention Center, sports venues and resorts throughout Greater Phoenix. He was heavily involved in the initiatives to secure an expanded convention center and additional downtown hotel.

During his tenure, as the convention-centric downtown product evolved simultaneously with an expanding metro resort footprint, Moore continually re-engineered Visit Phoenix to best meet the collective needs of the destination’s two primary markets. Moore also worked tirelessly to ensure the financial well-being of Visit Phoenix by securing multiple year funding agreements and establishing conservative fiscal policy that has positioned Visit Phoenix well for the upcoming return of group and leisure business.

“I am blessed to have served with a great staff and for the amazing partnerships with the City of Phoenix, its elected officials, civic leaders, and the tremendous professionals in the hotel and sports community,” said Moore. “This retirement has been in the works for some time and I know that Visit Phoenix’s best years are ahead. There is no ceiling too high for this staff to achieve.”

Bob Miller, Visit Phoenix Chair, said, “Having worked with Steve for almost two decades, I will simply say that Visit Phoenix and its constituency owe Steve a debt of gratitude. His passion for Visit Phoenix and his excellence will be greatly missed.”

A search committee to find his successor has already been formed and is being overseen by the executive committee of the Visit Phoenix board of directors.

Thank you to those who responded quickly yesterday to a targeted email (sent to members who participated in the Advocacy webinar on 12/2) asking to include your venue in the attached letters (House/Senate).  These letters were delivered to the bi-partisan group of House and Senate members working on COVID relief this morning.  The letter urges them and Congress to include publicly owned venues in the next COVID relief bill by expanding eligibility to publicly owned venues under the PPP and also includes them in any new grant or assistance program to help live event organizations.

Please reach out directly to your House and Senate representatives TODAY with a personal note and attach the appropriate letter.  Below is an example from IAVM member, Michael Marion, CVE to help get you started.

Dear Senator Cotton,

It seems the Problem Solvers Caucus bipartisan COVID proposal doesn’t allow for government owned arenas like ours to qualify for PPP. It appears to only cover independently owned venues, such as night clubs. As the year draws to a close, we have still not received any assistance from the Cares Act. Even though we have made numerous cuts and furloughed much of our staff, our reserve fund is running low. As we don’t receive any taxpayer funding, our options are becoming limited. Qualifying for assistance would make a real difference in the future of the arena. Could you help get this point across to your colleagues? Thank you for all you do for Arkansas. 

If you didn’t receive the email yesterday, we still need your assistance by reaching out to your congressional delegation with the attached information.

For those members who don’t represent publicly created venues, you can still help by crafting a slightly different message to your congressional delegation in support of your colleagues.

Time is running out for legislation to be approved by the end of the year.  Please share with your contract administrators as well to spread the word.

Thanks for all that you are doing.  Stay Well!

Tammy Koolbeck, CVE

IAVM Board Past Chair

 

Your Foundation Proudly Presents
The 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 Spotlight
Sponsored by Ungerboeck 

KATY LANG
Director of Education & Community Engagement, The Grand Theater in Wausau, WI

 

Katy Lang is the Director of Education and Community Engagement at The Grand Theater in Wausau, WI. She manages numerous events and programs at The Grand, including student matinee performances, a high school musical theater performance ensemble, and dozens of community engagement events. She is proud to introduce over 17,000 students each year to amazing arts programs at the very same venue where she first experienced the power of the performing arts.

“When I received notification that I was selected as part of the 30|Under|30 Class of 2020, I not only felt appreciated and supported, but I also immediately felt motivated to continue to work hard to live up to this honor. I am also thrilled to be recognized alongside so many other talented and hardworking young professionals.”

Join your Foundation in congratulating Katy 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!