TCF Center Receives 2020 Leadership Award from U.S. Green Building Council
by Mary Klida
Claude Molinari, general manager of ASM Global/TCF Center, announced TCF Center is among 10 companies, projects and individuals receiving a 2020 U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership Award.
The annual awards recognize exceptional work advancing sustainable, healthy, resilient and equitable buildings, cities 
and communities. USGBC presented the award on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. EST during the closing event at the annual Greenbuild Virtual conference. TCF Center is the only convention center in the United States receiving the award this year.
The 2020 recipients represent leaders who are driving the adoption of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) across business portfolios, higher education and green affordable housing, as well as helping to advance Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, resilience planning and innovative waste management solutions. TCF Center has been growing its green initiatives for a decade. By organizing its green event program and sustainable operations protocols the venue continually adapts to the global advancements in facility and event sustainability.
“We realize that the TCF Center is an economic engine for the Detroit community,” Molinari said. “We take this responsibility seriously and do everything we can to include the local and event communities in our efforts to hit as many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as we can each year, reducing our carbon footprint and enriching the lives of residents and visitors.”
TCF Center is a 2.4-million-square-foot convention center in downtown Detroit that achieved LEED Gold in October 2019 under LEED v4.1 O+M. It is one of only a few convention centers in the world to certify under that rating system. TCF is a high-performing green building, and the team is dedicated to ongoing performance measurement through Arc. It invests in educating employees, vendors, customers, partners and visitors on its efforts and the importance of sustainable practices.
The center is also a steward of human health and in response to this year’s pandemic, was designated an alternate care site where it remains prepared to provide medical care space for the overflow of local Detroit hospitals. It continues to clean and sterilize PPE for local hospitals, has distributed 2.5 million pounds of food to the local Detroit community from its docks in partnership with Food Rescue US and is periodically a site for Red Cross blood drives as needed.
For more than a quarter century, USGBC has been defining global standards for designing, constructing and operating healthy, resilient and sustainable buildings and spaces through LEED. LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system and promotes strategies that reduce environmental impact, enhance human health and support economic development. USGBC’s Leadership Award recipients are a model for how LEED and other sustainability practices can be used to improve communities, support business, and contribute to a better future for all.
The USGBC said in a statement, “This year’s Leadership Award recipients are a model for how LEED and other sustainability practices can be used to improve communities, support business, and contribute to a better future for all.”
Mary Klida, is Senior Marketing & Communications Manager for TCF Center.
30|UNDER|30 Spotlight: Marina Jaramillo
Director of Ticketing, Spectra Venue Management
Marina Jaramillo is passionate about and finds deep fulfillment in working in the Ticketing Industry. Whether it’s building shows, managing on-sales, greeting customers, implementing policies and procedures, or traveling to assist other venues; she relishes the opportunity to provide a positive experience to promoters, guests, and employees.
Having worked at an array of venues, she takes pride in being courageous and innovative with each new task various markets bring. Like many, she doesn’t believe she chose the dream of working in the entertainment industry, rather the dream chose her. Marina strives to perpetually impact the future of the Ticketing and Event Industry by driving strategy and innovation.
“After a challenging few months, being named to the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 was a positive reminder that hard work and determination always matter in the long run to accomplishing and achieving your goals.”
Join your Foundation in congratulating Marina 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!
A Warm Welcome To Our Newest Members
Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in October 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.
Aymen Al-Ani, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, United States
Alex Arellano, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Alyssa Blumling, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Catelyn Booth, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
Sheila Brannock, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Charles Burge, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
Ruben Burgess, Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, CA, United States
Jon Carvell, First National Bank Arena, State University, AR, United States
Ashley Christopher, Kings Theatre, an Ambassador Theatre Group venue, Brooklyn, NY, United States
Johnny Cooper, Genatek Global, LLC, Flint, MI, United States
William Corder, Las Vegas Ballpark, Las Vegas, NV, United States
Joshua Curtis, Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District, Seattle, WA, United States
Jon DeMarco, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Adarryll Dent, Renasant Convention Center, Memphis, TN, United States
Patrick Doherty, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Kate Dordick, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Karen Duncan, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA, United States
Steve Ebner, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR, United States
Amy Forgerson, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, United States
Eric Gold, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
David Handwork, First National Bank Arena, State University, AR, United States
Francine Harris, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Michelle Hedegard, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR, United States
Tyler Higgins, Allen Event Center, Allen, TX, United States
Kristen Hoover, Fayetteville Public Library, Fayetteville, AR, United States
Michael Johnson, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ, United States
Seth Kagy, Navy Pier, Inc., Chicago, IL, United States
Sharlene Lambert, Allen Event Center, Allen, TX, United States
Jason Lemiere, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Hannah Lowney, Minnesota Orchestra, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Jarod Matheney, First National Bank Arena, State University, AR, United States
Natalia McDonough, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR, United States
Matt McInnis, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Marie McLean, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR, United States
Khaly Merot, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Michael Miller, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA, United States
Melissa Mitro, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Brian Mulligan, Bohemian Foundation, Fort Collins, CO, United States
Jasmine Noldon, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Mike Oberst, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Shelby O’Neal, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Darcy Pease, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Morgan Pitman, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Joel Poppert, Artis-Naples, Naples, FL, United States
Brittany Roberts, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, United States
Jeff Rodgers, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Jaime Rosner, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC, United States
Jamie Saul, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, Fort Walton Beach, FL, United States
Lindsay Scherer, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
Andy Silverman, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Adrian Silverstein, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO, United States
Reginald Smith, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, United States
Jordan Smyth, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA, United States
Marina Soffer, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC, United States
Megan St John, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
Dallas Stark, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Lisa Strong, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR, United States
Cori Talbot, The River View at Occoquan, Alexandria, VA, United States
Matthew Tamindzija, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Rosco Thomas, Bush Convention Center, Midland, TX, United States
Sarah Tisinger, Bohemian Foundation, Fort Collins, CO, United States
Kelly Vickers, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, United States
Lorenzo Vigliante, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Brenda Walker, Kirkegaard, Chicago, IL, United States
Sheena Way, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Jeff White, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, United States
Joshua Williams, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR, United States
Nicki Wilmot, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA, United States
Terry Wilson, Southern Methodist University, Melissa, TX, United States
You Have GOT to Read the Big News From This Week!
By R.V. Baugus
Hear about the big news this week?
Gotcha! No, we are not talking about the presidential election, although Lord knows it has been battered and filleted every which way since Tuesday. Instead, we are talking about something that is so under the radar it could not be located by a Hubble Space Telescope.
Interestingly, it was called to my attention in a text message on Wednesday from former IAVM colleague Dana (Glazier) Hoffman, who shared a Facebook post she made on November 4, 2010, that stated, “We have a new name! I now work for the International Association of Venue Managers.”
Yes, these 10 years have flown by, have they not? There was plenty of news about the change, including the Association’s statement that the change was “to better reflect members’ jobs and current industry vernacular.”
Indeed, just a change of one word, but a word that most all can agree makes perfect sense today. “Our annual conference 
is now called VenueConnect, our new proprietary social network platform is VenueNet and our new awards are the Venue Excellence Awards. The concept to change our association’s name made perfect sense,” said Shura Lindgren, immediate past chair at the time. Even the letters of CFE after Lindgren’s name would change to CVE as the industry’s premier designation went from Certified Facilities Executive to Certified Venue Executive with Certified Venue Professional also joining the ranks.
“Changing ‘assembly’ to ‘venue’ does not change who or what we are. We will preserve all that our brand represents and yet reflect all we can become in the future,” said then IAVM President and CEO Dexter King, CVE, in a comment to Successful Meetings. “Regardless of our name, this organization is committed to being relevant by encouraging and equipping today’s venue professionals worldwide. Through its many program offerings, IAVM will continue to assist its members with commerce, advocacy, research and education.”
John Siehl, CVE, IAVM Board Chair at the time, also added to Successful Meetings: “Our new name clearly characterizes our industry and aligns the organization with what our members do — manage and operate thousands of venues in communities, metroplexes, cities, counties, territories, countries and more worldwide. We will likely witness other changes as we continue to evaluate our brand portfolio to ensure that it is nimbly meeting the needs of our members and the industry it serves.”
And there were other changes. The Public Assembly Facility Management School (PAFMS) became the Venue Management School. As recent as this past July, the association’s 35-year-old magazine moved from Facility Manager to Venue Professional.
More than 85 years old, IAVM was started in 1924, when it was called the Association of Auditorium Managers. Over the years, the organization’s name has changed several times. It became the International Association of Auditorium Managers, for instance, in 1934 and IAAM in 1996.
The name change 10 years ago was actually voted on electronically prior to the annual conference and trade show in July in Houston, where the results of the ballot were made public during the keynote address.
Venue so easily now rolls off the tongue and is certainly less bulky than some of the predecessor names for the association’s schools and programs.
Dexter King, always a very dear friend as much as a boss at the time, brought some humorous perspective to the IAAM logo etched outside World Headquarters. Even as a member as a venue manager, King would visit the association office and upon seeing the logo had an immediate thought to what it resembled.
“With the two A’s sticking up, it looks like Felix the Cat,” he would say.
Just one more reason to love Dexter, and one more reason 10 years ago this week to celebrate the formal name change to your International Association of Venue Managers.
Claude Molinari Named President/CEO of Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
By Renee Monforton
Claude Molinari, general manager of TCF Center, has been named president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB), effective January 1, 2021. He will succeed current president and CEO Larry Alexander who is retiring at year end after 22 years at the helm of the DMCVB.
In his new role, Molinari will be responsible for developing the strategic direction and overseeing the operations of the
DMCVB. He will provide the leadership and direction necessary to enable the DMCVB to bring meetings and conventions, leisure and business visitors to metropolitan Detroit and accelerate economic growth. He will lead the creation of the annual sales and marketing plan of the DMCVB which outlines the direction the DMCVB will take to attract tourism and meetings business to the region.
Molinari will also oversee the direction of the Detroit Sports Commission (a DMCVB subsidiary) which is responsible for securing amateur sports for the region.
In his current role at TCF Center, Molinari is responsible for managing the day-to-day operation and also business development of the 17th largest convention center in North America. His responsibilities include developing a budget, forecasting and financing, and implementing safety, security and crisis management programs for the center. He negotiates with local trade unions, develops business contingency, facility safety and emergency plans, and assures that annual budget goals are achieved.
According to the search committee assigned to identify a new CEO, there were 14 strong candidates from across the U.S. that applied for the position.
“Claude is uniquely positioned to accept this new role,” said Christina Lovio-George, chairman of the search committee and DMCVB board member. “He knows the DMCVB business, he understands the role of tourism, meetings and conventions as an economic driver in the region, and he intimately understands the challenges the tourism and hospitality industry are facing now as it deals with the impact of COVID-19.”
Lovio-George added as a side note that the DMCVB will be 125 years old in 2021 and Molinari will be the 10th person in the CEO seat.
Molinari’s history at TCF Center began when it was the former Cobo Center. There he served as assistant general manager from 2011-2016 with oversight of operations, security, events and production services and union labor services. He was named general manager in March, 2016 by SMG/ASM Global and during that time forged a strong partnership between the DMCVB and the TCF Center operation.
“Looking toward the future, Claude’s deep understanding of the vital role the TCF Center plays in the overall economic health of the entire Detroit region will be invaluable as the partnership grows to new levels,” said Alexander, who is retaining his position as chairman of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority.
Molinari currently serves on the board of directors for the DMCVB and the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. He is a member of the International Association of Venue Managers, International Association of Events and Exhibitions. He is a USA Hockey official, Level III certified and selected to referee state and national playoff tournaments. He resides with his wife in Northville, Michigan.
Renee Monforton is Vice President, Marketing & Communications for the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.