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!

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in November 2020. 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.

Ramona Adams, The Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel, IN

Andra Bennett, Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX

Mindy Biladeau, Lansing Center, Lansing, MI

Katie Brejda, Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, GA

Anthony Colangelo, Boise Centre, Boise, ID

Kyle Conway, State Farm Arena – Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta, GA

Nikki Davis, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD

Lucas Fox, Otterbein University, Westerville, OH

Lane Ganong, Edmonton Convention Centre, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Allena Jeremiah, California State University, Chico, Chico, CA

Chris Kinnard, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Dallas, TX

Christine Latch, Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, TX

Lauren McCullough, State Farm Arena – Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta, GA

Mike Medeiros, Rogers Centre/Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto, ON, Canada

Monte Ortel, Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, GA

Rich Peterson, Renasant Convention Center, Memphis, TN

Pamela Rambo-Sexton, Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX

Dorian Shelton, Chartway Arena at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, VA

Wynston Waller, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ