ASM Global announced that Al Rojas has been appointed as the General Manager of the new Oklahoma City Convention Center. With 30 years’ hospitality experience Rojas is an acclaimed industry veteran with in-depth operational, financial, and customer service background. Rojas is the ideal candidate to lead the new Oklahoma City Convention Center to be a premier facility.

The Oklahoma City Convention Center is part of a MAPS3 project budgeted at $288 million and is the largest in city history for a single project. The convention center will feature a 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall with 45,000 square foot of meeting space and a 30,000 square foot ballroom. With the opening of the new Oklahoma City Convention Center slated for early 2021, the center will be a hub for the meetings and events industry.

“Al brings a depth of knowledge and senior leadership experience which I believe will complement the executive team and provide a dynamic energy to the ASM Global operation at the convention center,” said Tom Anderson, City Managers Office of Oklahoma City.

Rojas has previously Rojas worked in various senior level capacities at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, and the Jackson (Mississippi) Convention Complex.

“It is a very exciting time to be part of the hospitality community in Oklahoma City,” Rojas said. “With an engaged hospitality community and the opening of the new convention center, you can see the city is invested and committed to the meetings industry. I am proud to be part of this modern frontier.”

After a diligent RFP process, ASM Global won the bid for the new Oklahoma City Convention Center. The current Cox Convention Center has been under ASM Global management for several years. The management of these two prestigious convention centers will be added to the portfolio of over 350 worldwide venues managed by ASM Global.

“We are fortunate to have Al accept this leadership position to build an alliance with the local hospitality community, deliver on the brand promise and to provide customers with exceptional service,” said Bob McClintock, ASM Executive Vice President of Convention Centers.

Rojas will be joining the ASM Global team in Oklahoma City September 1, 2020.

(Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of an interview with Kevin Molloy, Lancaster County Convention Center Authority
Executive Director)

By R.V. Baugus

When Kevin Molloy hears from other venues that they are not eligible to receive assistance on the CARES Act program, he channels his inner Lee Corso, one of the voices on television’s College Football Game Day: Not so fast, my friend!

“I’ve had an education in this,” Molloy noted. “Whether the state gets the money or your county gets the money makes a big difference. When the state gets the money most of those sitations they are using it for hospitals, education, supplement unemployment benefits, so there is nothing left after they do that.

“That’s frustrating because they’re not getting down to the level of Main Street USA. I understand it but this is usually the policy. The second problem is those counties that did get it were pretty much subject to the political whims of that county.

“My slant on this, though, is that means we as an industry have blind spots in educating our local officials to understand what the tax in your community can do. During COVID-19 we volunteered to the state, you need a medical station, we’re here, if you need a testing station, we’re here, if you need a warehouse, we’re here, so we kept ourselves relevant in the conversation in this. Our ability is an economic driver, which is essential and another thing I wanted to point out.”

Indeed, Molloy and his team deserve extra credit for successfully thrusting themselves into the conversation when it comes to “essential” and any of the funding that ties in to those specific needs. Speaking of essential, Molloy said that every public assembly venue must do its own economic impact study to even have an opportunity at getting a piece of the financial pie.

“I have been advocating for the last 20 years that every building has got to do their own economic impact study,” he said. “By doing that, not only can we benchmark how we are doing compared to others and I don’t mean that in a we’re good, you’re bad, but in a way you can evaluate yourselves. Such as, hey, my utility charges are a lot higher than yours, or in my case I don’t have my own F&B or parking, therefore we have to be subsidized because when the city and county gave away parking to a local company and F&B to another, you’ve tied my hands behind my back.

“By doing that we recognized that the convention piece brings $30 million in economic benefits to a community in Lancaster County of 500,000 people. That’s all I’m saying. It doesn’t mean we’re bad, just that our economics does not allow that to happen. That beautiful park you have downtown? Believe it or not, that costs a lot of money. Those quality of life and things you need in a community cost.”

As the advocacy efforts have played out from IAVM to its members, Molloy noted once again that sitting on the sideline does absolutely no good for anyone.

“I’m only treading water when I started this process,” he said. “It wasn’t until I got an email from (IAVM President/CEO) Brad Mayne giving me templates to send out to my senators and my congressmen. Brad turned that around within a day. A few days later (then IAVM Chair) Tammy Koolbeck is reaching out in one of the Town Halls. So when we hear these things sometimes it is like, oh, that doesn’t pertain to me but the truth is they all do. A building manager I recently spoke to was like, oh, we’ll get to it, but then they realize they need CARES Act funding and they’re spinning their wheels trying to get things going and they’re calling me asking how I got my funding and I tell them, hey, your guys were on the phone call with me trying to talk to the senators. You guys should be as far along as I am.

“The thing is they were going through the motions and weren’t really communicating with their own organizations. I’m not besmirching but trying to say that sometimes we miss the big picture. Listen when Tammy is making those calls or Brad is making those statements. Together, that’s how we get things done. We don’t just turn on a switch and be an advocate. We need to be advocates 365 days a year and that’s what Brad and Tammy have been saying, so we need to isten a little better when they say that.”

Molloy said it is especially for smaller venues to speak up, those which correctly make up the majority of the IAVM membership.

“The big name cities are highly recognized,” he said. “I probably have Napoleon’s syndrome. I’ve always said you have more smaller venues than you have buigger venues as members. If the little guys like us can get this done then everyone else can.

“Here’s an interesting side angle on that. There was a meeting in Philadelphia with Destinations International and IAVM to talk about what was the right economic impact study, metholodogies to be done, and when they put out the same data they came out close. I learned a very valuable lesson. The only buildings at the table are those buildings that have staff that they can dedicate to that. Us little guys can’t be at that level because as an executive director I can tell you I was licking envelopes at the conference table yesterday.

“My point is it is hard to really level the surface at the table with them. We’re grateful they have the resources that can help us get along but that’s why we don’t get the attention even though you get the membership dollars from the smaller guys.”

Molloy says this while not complaining about his lot in life working in Lancaster. In fact, he would have it no other way for his own career.

“People will ask why I don’t go to work in a bigger building. To be quite honest, I like to know the name of everybody who works in the building and let them know my name,” he said. “I want to be able to talk to them on eveyy level. It’s those relationships that I really enjoy in this whole thing. I know where my niche is. I don’t need to be in a bigger building to get quality of life. This is where I felt I can make my best difference.”

Molloy has been at his venue now for 12 years and is a true champion for the “little guys” in the venue world. He would have it no other way.

By Alyssa Meyer

ExtraMile Arena has gone from hosting Metallica to Boise State classes, transitioning from a live entertainment arena to an expanded classroom. Staff have worked extensively across all departments to get ready for this change, and the collective ExtraMile Arena staff is so excited to play this important role in our campus community!

Highlights from the first day:
2 Classrooms simultaneously hosting distanced classes
792 total students for the first day of class
Classes varied from University Foundations, to Psychology to Business!
All students entered voluntarily wearing facial coverings
Nearly 86% of students opened their emails noting where to enter, how to access the necessary technology for the classroom, how to access their assigned seats, etc.

The Registrar’s Office is sending daily reports of adds and drops to our Box Office team to be able to update enrollment and assigned seating in a timely manner – thank you Registrar’s Office!

The arena has received GREAT support to get the classrooms’ infrastructure setup – thank you OIT!

In total, the arena will play home to a total of 18 classes a week and 2,100+ Boise State weekly Students this semester. While this semester may look different than those in the past, this campus community is coming together in an unprecedented way.

Thank you to everyone in our Boise State Campus Community for helping make the transition from concerts to classrooms so seamless.

Alyssa Meyer is Assistant Director Marketing & Brand Development at ExtraMile Arena.

By Erin Goldmeier

The Virginia Beach Convention Center (VBCC) was recently presented with a 2020 Leadership Award by the U.S. Green Building Council Virginia Chapter (USGBC VA). These prestigious awards recognize Virginia building owners and project teams for their extra effort to accomplish Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, and celebrate the local leaders who are working to create a healthier, more sustainable and more resilient future for all in the Commonwealth.

As an organization, the VBCC was recognized for its accomplishments in the community and sharing the knowledge

they attained through LEED certification with the hospitality and tourism community. Staff has shared best practices in recycling, composting and energy efficiency, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of sustainability.

“We are honored to have received this award. It truly is a testament to our ongoing dedication to sustainable practices and good stewardship of public dollars,” said Bryan Miller, Assistant General Manager for the VBCC.

The VBCC was the nation’s first convention center to earn LEED Gold certification as an existing building in 2010. As is required, the VBCC renewed certification in 2015 and is currently seeking certification renewal using the new LEED Arc platform. The VBCC is also an active partner in the Commonwealth’s Virginia Green program, which promotes sustainability in the tourism industry.

Erin Goldmeier is Director of Public Relations for Visit Virginia Beach.

 

Samantha has managed over 200 events including Virginia Beach’s High School Graduations with 30,000+ attendees, and building specific programs for Pharrell Williams’ inaugural Something In the Water Festival. Receiving the supervisory role of the Usher/Ticket Taker and Shuttle Driver staff at just 24 years old was a demanding challenge, but has become one of the most rewarding accomplishments of her position. Innovation and adaptation are Samantha’s top strengths that has aided in her success both professionally and personally. She is a VMS Year 1 graduate slated to attend Year 2 in 2021, and will be celebrating her five year anniversary with the Virginia Beach Convention Center this fall.

When asked what being named to the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 meant to her, Samantha replied, “Receiving the congratulatory email amongst all of the negative emails surrounding COVID was a breath of fresh air! It was not only good news resulting from my dedicated work and efforts, but positive news to share with coworkers, family, and friends and was a change of pace from the somber conversations at that time.”

Join your Foundation in congratulating Samantha on being honored as one of the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020! Join us each Thursday as we spotlight each honoree!