By Michelle Riehle-Ludtke

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) and in-house caterer Taste of LA by Levy Restaurants recently repurposed more than 800 meals from two GRAMMY® Week events, hosted by the Recording Academy®, to serve several Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations.

The LACC Levy team partnered with Musically Fed to donate unused meals from the 2020 MusiCares® Person of the Year benefit gala and the GRAMMY Celebration® to the Los Angeles Mission, The Midnight Mission and Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women & Children.

“We are thrilled to share the success of this initiative,” said Ellen Schwartz, General Manager, LACC. “As a facility committed to sustainability and community service, Musically Fed was a perfect partner to further our goals to reduce our environmental footprint while serving those in need.”

In the United States alone, nearly 40 percent of food is wasted per year and Musically Fed is working with the music industry to change that. The Phoenix-based nonprofit mobilizes artists, promoters, managers and venues to donate unused meals to local organizations.

“Our goal is to equip artists and their teams to leave each city with a lasting positive impact,” said Maria Brunner, Founder & Director, Musically Fed. “We are grateful to the Recording Academy and Levy for making this tremendous opportunity possible. We hope it serves as an example – and a challenge – for the rest of the music industry to get involved in the fight against hunger.”

Taste of LA by Levy worked alongside Musically Fed to ensure every bit of food was upcycled to local organizations in need after the conclusion of the GRAMMY Week events. This initiative builds on the LACC Levy team’s commitment to waste diversion. Since 2014, the LACC and Levy have worked together to donate 221 tons of food.

“At Levy, we are continuously looking for new ways to repurpose leftover food and create less waste,” said Patrick Smart, General Manager, Taste of LA by Levy, LACC. “Utilizing Musically Fed’s services during GRAMMY Week was a very positive experience and we hope to inspire our peers to join us in making a difference.”

Michelle Riehle-Ludtke is Marketing & Community Relations Specialist at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Pictured: Musically Fed employees drop off repurposed meals from GRAMMY Celebration® at The Midnight Mission, Los Angeles on January 26, 2020.

IAVM members should plan to join us this Friday, February 7, at 4 PM EST, for a very important webinar with major stakeholders concerning the Coronavirus outbreak.

Among those participating in the approximate 45-minute webinar include the Center For Disease Control, American Red Cross, US Travel, and Department of Homeland Security.

Joe Bresee, Associate Deputy Incident Manager with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will speak on Friday’s panel, as will Brad Keiserman representing the American Red Cross, and Tori Barnes, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs & Policy with the U.S. Travel Association.

“This webinar will also be inclusive of other associations involving meeting planners, organizers, and service contractors,” said Mark Herrera, IAVM Director of Education/Life Safety. “All those working within environments involving mass crowds from small to large where all types of events are held will benefit greatly from the webinar.”

The webinar will provide participants an update on the current emerging Coronavirus threat, which has sickened more than 20,000 people and killed almost 500 people in China. Plan to learn about the current travel restriction and precautionary measures to take when traveling. The webinar will also provide insight on how the government, health officials, and American Red Cross are working to prepare for and halt the spread of the Coronavirus.

IAVM looks forward to providing information and resources that can assist members and those from other associations to better prepare for this emerging threat.

CLICK HERE to register for the webinar!

By Delaware North Communications

Adina Erwin, CVE, has joined Delaware North as senior vice president for business operations at TD Garden in Boston. Erwin will report to Amy Latimer, president of TD Garden.

In her new role, Erwin will develop strategies to support and drive business results for operational excellence, including facility management, capital projects and guest service; maximizing the event schedule; leveraging innovative technology initiatives; and positioning the business as an industry leader. She will be responsible for developing and managing all operational functions and personnel related to client satisfaction, retention and maximization of guest experience, and will serve as a key contact for both Delaware North Sportservice at TD Garden and for The Hub on Causeway development.

Erwin brings more than 20 years of operational and managerial experience in sports and entertainment to Delaware North. She most recently served as vice president and chief operating officer of Fox Theatre in Atlanta, where she developed and led a master plan that enhanced existing revenue streams, introduced new revenue opportunities, and improved guest and premium experience assets. She has also held leadership roles with SMG Jacksonville, which manages six sports, entertainment, and convention venues on behalf of the City of Jacksonville, FL, and Center Operating Company in Dallas.

Erwin is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master’s in sport management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her numerous awards and honors include a Woman of Influence Award from VenuesNow Magazine, the Ray Ward Award for extraordinary contributions to IAVM’s Venue Management School, and serving as the chair of the Board of Trustees for the IAVM Foundation.

By Zan Lewarn

Dean Hassall, CVE, has been named as new International Instructor at IAVM’s Venue Management School.

Hassall, a highly regarded Venue Management Association (Asia and Pacific) Limited school instructor for the past 18 years, and a past long-term VMA board member, will bring his wealth of industry knowledge and experience to the U.S. based school and their students.

Both the VMA’s Australian-based VMS and the IAVM’s U.S.-based VMS has maintained a strong, supportive and collaborative relationship over many years. Each year there is a reciprocal exchange of both instructors and students who share knowledge, networks, and experience.

“To be named as the new resident International Instructor by the IAVM reflects Dean’s skills, knowledge, passion and high standing in the venue management industry that has been forged over many years,” said Wayne Middleton, CVE, VMA’s VMS Chair. “This exchange further enhances the longstanding relationship between the IAVM and VMA annual School program and we congratulate Dean on this appointment.”

“I am honoured and delighted to be considered an appropriate addition to their outstanding group of instructors, and to ensure the international flavour and experiences continues to be strongly represented at the IAVM VMS following prior long-term Instructor Craig Lovett,” Hassall said. “I am excited to be given the opportunity, which will undoubtedly continue my own industry professional development interacting with my international peers and the VMS students in Tampa.

“The experience will assist with allowing me to continue to remain up to date with contemporary industry trends which can only benefit our own VMS.”

As an established VMS committee member, Hassall is arguably one of Australia’s most experienced venue managers. As Principal Consultant for Dean Hassall Consulting, he provides advisory services in the areas of event and venue management, facility development, sports administration, and industry business analysis.

Hassall was the IAMV VMS international guest instructor in 2007, completed the IAVM Graduate Institute program in 2014, and was the proud recipient of the VMA Allied Venue Professional of the Year in 2011.

Zan Lewarn is Education Manager for Venue Management Association in Carrara, Queensland, Australia.

By Cynthia McCafferty

The Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) announced that Larita Clark has been appointed CEO of the Authority. Since October, Clark has served as Acting CEO and CFO, and has been with the Authority since 1984. As CEO, Clark will oversee modernization efforts as MPEA continues to compete with other world-class convention centers, as well as work to ensure that the Authority is on sound financial footing.

“Selecting the CEO is one of the most important responsibilities for the board,” said Brett J. Hart, Chair of MPEA’s Board of Directors and Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for United Airlines. “Larita Clark brings outstanding operational and financial expertise that made her the right choice for MPEA. We have complete confidence that under Larita’s leadership, the Authority will continue to deliver outstanding service to our customers.”

The MPEA board conducted a search to identify a new CEO for the Authority following the resignation of Lori Healey, who stepped down from her post in October 2019. The board’s process included a review of joint recommendations by both the Mayor’s Office and the Governor’s Office.

I know first-hand that Larita has a deep understanding of our business and industry,” said David Causton, General Manager of McCormick Place/ASM Global. “McCormick Place extends its sincerest congratulations to Larita as she transitions into her new role. I am confident Larita will work hard to further the mission and goals of MPEA in 2020 and beyond.

“Larita Clark has outstanding credentials and a deep understanding of MPEA and the convention industry and I am confident she is the right choice to lead this organization,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With decades of leadership and financial experience at the Authority, I know that Larita will be a strong partner as we work to attract more conventions to Illinois, grow our tourism industry and enhance MPEA’s campus and the surrounding communities.”

“The McCormick Place campus is critical to Chicago’s thriving tourism and convention industry, and Larita Clark brings the necessary leadership experience and financial acumen to ensure the continued success of this economic engine for our city and state,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “Under the leadership of Larita and her team, the campus has grown, maintained a strong financial standing, and strengthened the diversity of its workforce and supplier base. I have no doubt that MPEA will continue to expand, increasing economic opportunities for every community across our great city.”

During her tenure with the Authority, Clark held various financial positions including Controller, Director of Finance and Administration of McCormick Place and Assistant Controller. As CFO, Larita was responsible for the financial, and administrative operations of McCormick Place, two hotels, the Wintrust Arena, and an energy center.

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve as MPEA’s Chief Executive Officer and to work alongside a very knowledgeable and committed team dedicated to moving the Authority forward,” said Clark. “As we look ahead, I am committed to working alongside our industry partners as well as city and state partners to further enhance our customers’ experience throughout their visit and to ensure that MPEA continues to live up to our commitment to expanding Chicago’s global tourism profile while creating opportunities for the communities here at home.”

Cynthia McCafferty is president and CEO of Hawthorne Strategy Group in Chicago.