IAVM recently announced its participation with the International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE) on the creation of the Exhibitions Industry Collective to drive awareness on essential issues centered around workforce development, sustainability, and health & safety within the exhibitions ecosystem.

The Exhibitions Industry Collective is comprised of six key industry organizations including Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA), Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA), International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE), International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), and the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO).  

Each organization has previously worked together on advocacy with ECA and are now expanding this effort to address workforce development, sustainability, and health and safety as a unified effort.  By leveraging the strengths in their respective fields, the Collective will better serve the larger exhibitions and events community by bringing more awareness to key stakeholders and a defined path of success for each member base.

To kick off 2024, IAEE will host a virtual Exhibitions Industry Awareness Week from 20-23 February and will feature each of the six organizations in the Collective.

The purpose of Exhibitions Industry Awareness Week is to promote the exhibitions industry as a career path opportunity to students, faculty, those looking for a career change and all members in each industry sector. Attendees will learn about sector specific information including jobs available to those considering a career along with salary information, skill requirements and training needed.

Stay tuned in the next few weeks for a new website for the Exhibitions Industry Collective that will feature a defined roadmap for the Collective’s initiatives and house top level information on each organization in the Collective. The site will serve as a launch point for more exhibitions industry sector details depending on the interest of the user.

Registration for Exhibitions Industry Awareness Week will open at the end of January.

The deadline to nominate a young professional that is on the rise to the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2024 is February 2, 2024!

30|UNDER|30 focuses on identifying and developing the talent of venue industry professionals, 30 years of age and under, through increased access and exposure to industry networking and thought leadership. The program provides year-round continued education for professional growth in the venue industry and helps program participants become better, more productive employees.

The Foundation’s vision for this year’s 30|UNDER|30 is to honor and inspire the next generation of leaders in the public assembly industry, and the Class of 2024 will represent the best of the best who show passion and drive for our industry!

Selected applicants will receive a complimentary registration to attend VenueConnect, IAVM’s annual conference & trade show. Honorees will be notified in May and recognized formally at VenueConnect 2024 in Portland, OR on July 28 – 31, 2024.

To learn more about the nomination criteria and to access the nomination form, click here.

The IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees and Diversity & Inclusive Leadership Committee are proud to announce the 2024 Scholarships to the Academy for Venue Safety & Security (AVSS), GuestX, Venue Management School (VMS) and the Venue Management School Leadership Institute.

85 application submissions were reviewed and scored using an anonymous scoring system to evaluate the responses.

The 2024 Scholarship Recipients are:

• 100+ Women – VMS Scholarship – Year 1
  Emma McKenzie, Region 6, Coppell Arts Center
• 100+ Women – VMS Scholarship – Year 2
  Michaela Ashworth, Region 5, PNC Arena
• Diversity & Inclusive Leadership Committee – VMS Scholarship – Years 1 & 2
  Shaun Franklin-Sewell, Region 7, Performing Arts Center – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  Emily Anderson, Region 5, Kennesaw State University
• Diversity & Inclusive Leadership Committee – VMS Leadership Institute
  Tron Stamper, Region 5, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Joseph A. Floreano – VMS Scholarship – Year 1
  Derrick Palms, Region 5, Pullman Yards
• Joseph A. Floreano – VMS Scholarship – Year 2
  Nicholas Turgeon, Region 5, PNC Arena
• Joseph A. Floreano – VMS Leadership Institute
  Ashley Peacock, CVP, Region 6, OVG Tulsa
• 100+ Women – AVSS Scholarship – Year 1
  Adrienne Hutchens, Region 6, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
• 100+ Women – AVSS Scholarship – Year 2
  Maria Tofalo, CVP, Region 2, Haslam Sports Group
• Diversity & Inclusive Leadership Committee – AVSS Scholarship – Years 1 & 2
  Matthew Destouet, Region 6, Moody Center
• Joseph A. Floreano – AVSS Scholarship – Year 1
  Shanay Shah, Region 2, Indiana University
• Joseph A. Floreano – AVSS Scholarship – Year 2
  Travis Winters, Region 4, ExtraMile Arena
• Diversity & Inclusive Leadership Committee – GuestX Scholarship
  Jyoti Aheer, Region 4, Oilers Entertainment Group Canada Corp.
  Toyya Lassere, Region 5, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
  Noel Widup, Region 2, IU Auditorium, Indiana University

Congratulations to each of this year’s scholarship winners, and thank you to each of the Foundation‘s generous donors who have helped make these opportunities possible!

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in December 2023. 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 here to share your story and photo.

Audrey Alani, Auckland Stadiums, Auckland, New Zealand
Greg Allen, Te Pae The Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand
Nicholas Alonzo, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, La Jolla, CA
Christopher Ang, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore,  Singapore
Quin Ansley, The Momentary, Bentonville, Bentonville, AR
Clinton Arthur, Compass Group Australia, Parkville, VIC, Australia
Sarah Atkinson, VenuesWest, Mt Claremont, WAu, Australia
Mike Bates, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
David Bavage, Tataki Auckland Unlimited, Auckland,  New Zealand
Claire Bazeley, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf, VIC, Australia
Jarrod Bell, NEC Australia, Docklands, VIC, Australia
Usha Bhana, Auckland Live, Auckland,  New Zealand
Michele Blackwood, OVG Tulsa, Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
Andrea Blann, Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, Wichita, Wichita, KS
Kristian Blundell, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Lam Boon Soon, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Benjamin Boudaud, Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns, QLD, Australia
Cheryl Bowden, Reliance Risk New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand
Lindsey Brinson, Orlando Venues, Orlando, Orlando, FL
Mitchell Brown, Compass Group Australia, McMahons Point, NSW, Australia
Chloe Brown, Kaseya Center, Miami, Miami, FL
Lucy Bruton, City of Gold Coast – Major Sporting Venues, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
Alexander Budd, Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Anthony Cabrera, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, La Jolla, CA
Jordan Cannefax, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Kenan Cano, AwnClean USA, LLC, Tampa, Tampa, FL
Joey Carey, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St Augustine, St Augustine, FL
Gavin Castricum, NEC Australia, Docklands, VIC, Australia
Jaime Cheong, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Min Wen Chia, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Graeme Clark, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Michael Clark, MC Safety Consulting, LLC, Rock Island, Rock Island, IL
Chris Coffey, Cox Business/Hospitality Network, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Ramon Cruz, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, La Jolla, CA
Jack Dahlqvist, Schuler Shook, Richmond, VIC, Australia
Angela Daniels, Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, Wichita, Wichita, KS
Carina De Graaf, Northland Events Centre 2021 Trust (NECT 2021), Whangarei, New Zealand
Geoffrey Dobson, Devonport City Council, Devonport, TAS, Australia
Felicity Duff, Devonport City Council, Devonport, TAS, Australia
David Duran, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, La Jolla, CA
Trent Ferguson, Fair Park Dallas, Dallas, Dallas, TX
Claire Field, ICC Sydney – ASM Global, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Dennis Flores, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, San Jose, CA
Grant Freeman, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, San Jose, CA
Mike Freeman, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Matthew Gawel, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, La Jolla, CA
Carrie Granada, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
Matt Groom, Devonport City Council, Devonport, TAS, Australia
Damon Grundy, Compass Group Australia, Parkville, VIC, Australia
Tanner Haag, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Blake Hammond, Compass Group Australia, McMahons Point, NSW, Australia
Nathan Harper, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, La Jolla, CA
Todd Harris, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Angela Henderson, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Kathrine Holland, NEC Australia, Docklands, VIC, Australia
Charlee Hrubesky, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Qiuling Hu, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Genevieve Hudson, ICC Sydney – ASM Global, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Edward Hurtig, DLR Group, Overland Park, Overland Park, KS
Alex Hutchison, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Alexandra Jackelen, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Rene Jarman, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Mark Jones, Melbourne Cricket Club, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Devin Jones, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Kylie Jones, Utah Valley University, Orem, Orem, UT
Steven Jones, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Bronte Judd, Scone Race Club, Scone, NSW, Australia
Jimmy Kadwa, ICC Sydney – ASM Global, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Debbie Kershaw, Devonport City Council, Devonport, TAS, Australia
Nadeem Khan, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Tom Kimball, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Pattanun Kitcharoenrot, EM Live, Bangkok, Thailand
Sylvia Kou, Compass Group Australia, McMahons Point, NSW, Australia
Justin Lachner, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Cheryl Lai, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Michael Laine, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Jacob Largent, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
First Name Last Name, Organization, City, State, Country
Connie Lawrence, Keystone Centre, Brandon, MB, Canada
Lih long Lee, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Song Wei Leng, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Joanna Leong, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Andrew Low, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
James Lucas, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Isabelle Lumsden, Oilers Entertainment Group Canada Corp., Edmonton, AB, Canada
Angus Macdonald, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Grace Maher, ICC Sydney – ASM Global, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Cristian Manjarrez, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, San Jose, CA
James Masner, The Momentary, Bentonville, Bentonville, AR
Brian McCarthy, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Chris McCullough, NEC Australia, Docklands, VIC, Australia
Sharon McDougall, Coffs Harbour City Council, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
Angel McKercher, Oilers Entertainment Group Canada Corp., Edmonton, AB, Canada
Angie McManus, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
George Michaelides, Compass Group Australia, McMahons Point, NSW, Australia
Jacki Miller, Smart City Networks, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Colby Murphy, United Center, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Brian Nash, ICC Sydney – ASM Global, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Tat Siong Ng, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Tracye Obenchain, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Christopher Ochoa, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, La Jolla, CA
Richard Oliver, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Yazed Osman, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Patrick Oxley, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Calvin Palyama, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Shasha Pan, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Nick Parfitt, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Sariah Parry, Utah Valley University, Orem, Orem, UT
Linda Petersen, Devonport City Council, Devonport, TAS, Australia
Serene Phang, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Jennifer Phillip, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana, Shipshewana, IN
Renee Picarsic, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
Madonna Pinna, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre-ASM Global Pty Ltd, Southbank, QLD, Australia
Lee Pokarop, Leading Edge Limited T/A Apex Management Services, Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea
Nadia Promyong, EM Live, Bangkok, Thailand
Kelly Ramseyer, Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, Wichita, Wichita, KS
Josh Redfearn, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Stephanie Revies, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
Kelsey Riner, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
Rick Roberson, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Chad Robertson, Chase Center, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Mohd Sidek Rosli, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Nicole Rouleau, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Stephani Sanchez, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, San Diego, CA
Katharine Sark, Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach, FL
Ian Schneider, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Sophia Scholz, United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, Lubbock, TX
Norma Sebert, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Mitch Seeto, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Phil Shaw, Supercars Australia Pty Ltd, Southport BC, QLD, Australia
Jordyn Simpson, Oilers Entertainment Group Canada Corp., Edmonton, AB, Canada
Stephanie Slater, Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, Wichita, Wichita, KS
Kylie Smith, NEC Australia, Docklands, VIC, Australia
Sarah Snowden, Northland Events Centre 2021 Trust (NECT 2021), Whangarei, New Zealand
Nikolas Soto, Viejas Arena at San Diego State University, Chula Vista, Chula Vista, CA
Kristian Spannhake, Elysian Park Planning, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Francois Spina, NEC Australia, Docklands, VIC, Australia
Daniel Spizzica, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Shelby Spray, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Watcharawut Sriboonruang, EM Live, Bangkok, Thailand
Grant Stebbins, The Momentary, Bentonville, Bentonville, AR
David Stephens, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Josh Stringer, Riverside Theatres, Parammatta, NSW, Australia
Jon Stromberg, Stromberg Sport, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Kenny Tan, Kallang Alive Sport Management, Singapore, Singapore
Rhiannon Tavai, The Momentary, Bentonville, Bentonville, AR
Ismael Tenorio, Kia Forum, Inglewood, Inglewood, CA
Talun Theng, EM Live, Bangkok, Thailand
David Thilwind, NEC Australia, Docklands, VIC, Australia
Michal Tolman, Belmont University, Nashville, Nashville, TN
Martin Unicomb, Stadiums Queensland, Milton, QLD, Australia
Jarda Vanek, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Kelsey Vollenweider, The Momentary, Bentonville, Bentonville, AR
Tao Wang, Ticketingbox, Duluth, Duluth, GA
Navina Warawinit, EM Live, Bangkok, Thailand
Melissa Ward, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Kate Ward-Smythe, Q Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand
Andrew Watkins, Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, Wichita, Wichita, KS
Melinda Watkins, Branson Convention Center – ASM Global, Branson, Branson, MO
Andrew Welch, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, San Jose, CA
Mark West, MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Brittany White, Blumenthal Performing Arts, Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Kristen Wren, North Sydney Council, North Sydney, Australia
Stuart Wyse, NEC Australia, Docklands, VIC, Australia
Heripseme Yaghlejian, ICC Sydney – ASM Global, Sydney, NSW, Australia
John Zahra, NEC Australia, Docklands, VIC, Australia

Glenn Walinski, 71, of La Crosse, WI, passed away on January 2nd, 2024. He was born on September 1st, 1952, in Milwaukee, WI, to George Walinski and the late Genevieve (Vereb) Walinski. 

For anyone who has ever known Glenn, you know that he has taken a passionate approach to helping people, charitable causes, community needs and organizations that help others. This mindset led him to a lifelong love for Scouts and the Order of the Arrow, where he has held multiple leadership positions and mentored 1,000’s of our nation’s youth.

This passion and drive was evident during the two main stages of his career at both the La Crosse Center in Wisconsin and the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, IA. He left an indelible mark at both buildings where he made more contributions and forged positive relationships with staff and clients. He always made friends, not enemies.

Glenn never asked anyone for anything for himself, nor would he. He has always been a person that has given to others without asking for or expecting anything in return. Nothing else has given him the joy and satisfaction he has received from being there for other people in need!

His family, friends, and the connections he has nurtured with others are what he valued most as a man, along with travel and the opportunity to meet people and be part of something greater than himself. His only reward at the successful end of any positive, hard-fought accomplishment would be the self-imposed “brandy and water”.

Glenn is survived by his father George Walinski, his children Ryan Walinski (Courtney) and Nikki VanderHeiden (Jay), his former wife Nola Walinski, and was a loving grandfather to Jayla and Calli. He was preceded in death by his mother Genevieve Walinski and his grandparents Henry and Mary Walinski.

Glenn’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to assist with his medical and burial expenses.  Anyone wishing to help can click here to make a donation.