Nashville’s Music City Center Hosts Risk Mitigation Training
By Elisa “Putt” Putman
The Music City Center had the privilege of hosting Mark Herrera, Director of Education for the International Association of Venue Managers on Dec. 11 to discuss situational awareness and crisis management to its entire team as well local law enforcement and other venue teams from across the state.
The training focused on risk mitigation which included enhancing your physical security measures in which the 
Music City Center has done with the addition of perimeter K12 bollards, increasing awareness, and mitigating risks through guest service interjection. Herrera stressed the importance of looking beyond the traditional security measures and identifying any suspicious behavioral patterns that are not conducive to the environment.
“This training is just another example of our constant commitment to enhance our safety and security measures at the Music City Center for our guests, our team members, and the hundreds of vendors that attend events and work in the facility each and every day,” said Charles Starks, President/CEO of Music City Center. “Mark Herrera provided a remarkable presentation, engaging with all attendees while offering invaluable tools to mitigate risk.”
Attendees left the session much better prepared to recognize behavior out of the ordinary and how to most effectively and quickly handle situations that may arise to help ensure the safety of all our guests and team members.
Elisa “Putt” Putman is Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Three Promoted to Senior Vice President at PMI Entertainment Group
By Terry Charles
PMI Entertainment Group Chief Operating Officer Brendan Bruss announced the following promotions:
Paula Kirchman has been promoted to Senior VP of Administration and Organizational Resources. Kirchman oversees finance, information technology, human resources, and PMI’s Lambeau Field operations.
Kathie Mickle has been promoted to Senior VP of Marketing and Strategic Communications. Mickle oversees marketing, ticketing, and strategic communications.
Brad Foytik has been promoted to Senior VP of Revenue and Operations. Foytik oversees food and beverage services, facilities, conversion, housekeeping operations, and security.
Through its mission, PMI Entertainment Group generates economic impact and enhances the entertainment offerings in Northeastern Wisconsin. PMI Entertainment Group manages the Meyer Theatre, Resch Center, and owns the Green Bay Gamblers hockey team. PMI Entertainment Group also produces several shows and events including Nicolet Bank Tall Ships, The Wedding Show, WBAY Home & Garden Show, Boat Show, RV & Camping Expo and Pet Expo. PMI Entertainment Group will also manage the new $91M Brown County Expo Center upon completion in January of 2021.
Terry Charles is senior corporate communications manager for PMI Entertainment Group.
Kentucky Venues Announces New General Counsel
By Ian Cox
Kentucky Venues announced Carrie Bauer was hired as the organization’s General Counsel.
Bauer brings years of experience to the role. In her most recent position, she spent more than five years as the Associate General Counsel for Farm Credit Mid-America. There she worked with various business partners, from agricultural lending to facilities and real estate management to government relations, advising the organization on a broad range of business and legal matters.
Since graduating from the University of Kentucky School of Law, Carrie has worked in the Louisville community as 
an associate attorney then as a partner at Adams Law Group before joining Farm Credit Mid-America.
With her experience as a lawyer and business partner, Bauer will be able to guide Kentucky Venues in building collaborative relationships, improving processes and enhancing the customer experience. During her tenure at Farm Credit Mid-America, Bauer developed a passion for agriculture that will serve her at Kentucky Venues.
“With our many clients, exhibitors and guests, it’s important to have someone with the knowledge and experience that Carrie brings to our organization. We’re excited to have her on board,” said David S. Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues.
With two different facilities, the Kentucky International Convention Center and Kentucky Exposition Center, Kentucky Venues hosts more than 280 events, all leasing space, each year. Those shows generate $360 million in estimated economic impact for Louisville and the surrounding area.
“I am excited to join the Kentucky Venues team to serve Kentucky and the local Louisville community. I’ve loved working as part of a team and look forward to working with everyone,” Bauer said.
Ian Cox is assistant director Of communications at Kentucky Venues.
A Warm Welcome To Our Newest Members
Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in November 2019. 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.
Jennifer Abplanalp, Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Jen Adams, Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL, United States
Roberto Alabat, Centro de Convenciones y Poliforum Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, , Mexico
Fabiola Aldave, ICC Baja Sur, Los Cabos, , Mexico
Andrew Allen, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX, United States
Nicole Andrews, Matrax Inc., Columbia, MD, United States
Luis Angeles, Expo Santa Fe Mexico, Mexico City, , Mexico
Ashley Aspinwall, Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Gerardo Avina, Expo Chihuahua, Chihuahua, , Mexico
Chelsea Baker, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC, United States
Cari Baker, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St Augustine, FL, United States
Linda Baldonado, Expo Reforma, Ciudad de México, DF, , Mexico
Kim Bledsoe, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC, United States
Hayley Burkhardt, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC, United States
Meghan Carannante, Tyson Events Center/Orpheum Theatre, Sioux City, IA, United States
Enzo Carannante, Tyson Events Center/Orpheum Theatre, Sioux City, IA, United States
Martha Castellanos, WTC Veracruz, Boca del Rio, , Mexico
Marisela Cordero, Poliforum Leon, Leon, , Mexico
Ben Craig, MassMutual Center, Springfield, MA, United States
Chris Culpepper, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St Augustine, FL, United States
Angel Diez, Centro Expositor Puebla, Puebla, , Mexico
Eleonora Ferrell, Expo Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, , Mexico
Mickey Francois, Wisconsin Union, Madison, WI, United States
Magali Fregoso, Centro Internacional De Convenciones De Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, , Mexico
Gustavo Garcia, INFORUM Irapuato, Irapuato, Guanajuato, , Mexico
Thelma Garcia, Centro Internacional de Congresos Yucatan, Merida, , Mexico
Joel Gerrits, Wisconsin Union, Madison, WI, United States
Mauricio Gil, CIEC WTC Cd. de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, , Mexico
Tyler Gilmore, UTA Special Event Facilities, Arlington, TX, United States
Elizabeth Glasgow, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St Augustine, FL, United States
Shannon Goffe, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR, United States
Mark Gruber, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Kara Guambo, Valencia College School of Arts and Entertainment, Orlando, FL, United States
Eduardo Gutierrez, CIEC WTC Cd. de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, , Mexico
Laura Hadley, Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, Wichita, KS, United States
Krista Hansen, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
Connor Hansen, Wisconsin Union, Madison, WI, United States
Mark Hanson, Wisconsin Union, Madison, WI, United States
Emilie Hatch, Wisconsin Union, Madison, WI, United States
Natassia Hernandez, Stadium People By Innovative, Dallas, TX, United States
Shawn Hill, Merestone, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
Marlee Jessen, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
Blake Jones, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC, United States
Blanca Juarez, Centro de Convenciones Morelos, Xochitepec, Morelos, , Mexico
Samantha Kerr, Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Deborah Kime, Kime Advantage Consulting, London, ON, Canada
Richard Kostopoulos, NewGen Business Solutions, Warrenville, IL, United States
Joshua Levy, SUNY Delhi, Delmar, NY, United States
Jolina Li, BuzzyBooth, Culver City, CA, United States
Sarah Lucas, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC, United States
Luz Maciel, INFORUM Irapuato, Irapuato, Guanajuato, , Mexico
Nicolette Manning, Wisconsin Union, Madison, WI, United States
Dianya Markovits, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St Augustine, FL, United States
Nigel Marshall, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, United States
Brandon McAllister, Florence Center, Florence, SC, United States
Nestor Medina, Centro de Convenciones Morelos, Xochitepec, Morelos, , Mexico
Ryan Murray, Omaha Performing Arts, Omaha, NE, United States
Jose Nunez, Baja California Center, Tijuana, , Mexico
Amber Parker, AE International, San Diego, CA, United States
Alejandro Parra, CIEC WTC Cd. de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, , Mexico
Gabe Pellicer, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St Augustine, FL, United States
Luis Pichardo, Centro de Convenciones y Poliforum Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, , Mexico
Derek Pinnock, Freeman, Dallas, TX, United States
René Flores Ríos, Expo Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, , Mexico
Alejandro Rodriguez, Centro Citibanamex, Mexico, D.F., , Mexico
Patricia Romero, Centro Internacional De Convenciones De Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, , Mexico
Jacqueline Salazar, Centro Cultural y de Convenciones de Durango, Durango, , Mexico
Stella Salyer, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Rosalie Sanchez, GRAMMY Museum, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Sara Shevlin, Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA, United States
Alli Slater, Honey Training Center, Playa Vista, CA, United States
Paige Smith, Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, CA, United States
Fernanda Snellings, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
Tiffany Stephens, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St Augustine, FL, United States
Christopher Stockton, Bert Church LIVE Theatre, Airdrie, AB, Canada
Shelbi Stofer, Allen Event Center, Allen, TX, United States
Federico Trevino, Centro Internacional de Congresos Yucatan, Merida, , Mexico
Luis Valdez, Expo Chihuahua, Chihuahua, , Mexico
Andrea Vargas, Palacio De Convenciones Zacatecas, Zacatecas, , Mexico
Eric Velander, EMSEAL Joint Systems, Ltd., Folsom, CA, United States
Catherine Walsh, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR, United States
Melissa Werner, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
Bjorn Westlund, Pepsi Center, Denver, CO, United States
Vincent White, Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Nancy Whitman, Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, CA, United States
Tanner Wyse, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
New FLSA Overtime Rule Becomes Effective January 1, 2020
In September, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its much-anticipated Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Final Rule. On January 1, 2020, all employers—including nonprofits–must do business in a regulatory environment where the minimum salary level for exemption from FLSA’s overtime rules has been raised almost 50 percent.
The final rule updates the earnings thresholds necessary to exempt executive, administrative, or professional employees from the FLSA’s minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, and allows employers to count a portion of certain bonuses (and commissions) towards meeting the salary level. The new thresholds account for growth in employee earnings since the currently enforced thresholds were set in 2004. In the final rule, the Department is:
- raising the “standard salary level” from the currently enforced level of $455 to $684 per week (equivalent to $35,568 per year for a full-year worker);
- raising the total annual compensation level for “highly compensated employees (HCE)” from the currently-enforced level of $100,000 to $107,432 per year;
- allowing employers to use nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments (including commissions) that are paid at least annually to satisfy up to 10 percent of the standard salary level, in recognition of evolving pay practices; and
- revising the special salary levels for workers in U.S. territories and in the motion picture industry.
The increases to the salary thresholds are long overdue in light of wage and salary growth since 2004. Nearly every person who commented on the Department’s 2017 Request for Information, participated at listening sessions in 2018 regarding the regulations, or commented on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking agreed that the thresholds needed to be updated for this reason.
The Department estimates that 1.2 million additional workers will be entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay as a result of the increase to the standard salary level. The Department also estimates that an additional 101,800 workers will be entitled to overtime pay as a result of the increase to the HCE compensation level.
More information about the final rule is available at https://www.dol.gov/whd/overtime2019/.