Each year at VenueConnect, the Awards Luncheon draws a huge crowd. IAVM members applaud their fellow members in their accomplishments, and the great things that happen in our industry are acknowledged and congratulated. We invite you to nominate an IAVM member or member venue that has exceeded expectations and risen above the rest. 

Education & Service Award

The IAVM Education & Service Award recognizes member involvement through community outreach, education opportunities, mentorships, and internships that demonstrate excellence within our industry as well as giving back to the community. Some examples that have been shared include: active in high school programs and career development; offering internships for local college students within the company/venue; mentoring through community outreach or within a university setting; educational offerings to staff within the company/venue; community involvement with youth and young adults. IAVM takes pride in its members and member venues that excel in providing their communities with an enjoyable space for all types of events and educational opportunities. This award is open to university staff, professional members, faculty, allied companies and individuals, as well as retired members.

Any allied company or individual, faculty or university venue, public assembly venue, (publicly or privately owned and operated) is eligible to apply. Individuals or companies/venues may be nominated by others or themselves and must have at least one current employee who is an IAVM member in good standing.

NOMINATE NOW →

Venue Excellence Award

The Venue Excellence Award recognizes up to five IAVM venues of any type within the membership which demonstrate excellence in the management and operation of public assembly venues. This includes but is not limited to amphitheaters, arenas, auditoriums, casinos, complexes, convention centers, exhibit halls, fair/festival grounds, performing arts centers, race tracks, stadiums & university venues. IAVM takes pride in its members and member venues that excel in providing their communities with a safe and enjoyable space for all types of events and educational opportunities.

Any venue, publicly or privately owned and operated, that has demonstrated excellence within the last calendar year and has at least one current employee who is an IAVM member in good standing may apply.  Venues are eligible to win multiple VEAs; however, previous winners are eligible to apply in the third year following their most recent award.  As an example, a venue that wins in 2016 may apply for the 2019 award.

NOMINATE NOW →

IAVM Allied Group Membership offers you and your team the chance to focus on what matters most – building business and energizing your team.  This new membership program delivers two options to have more of your employees involved in IAVM, with more perks to enhance the value your company receives as a member.

Each member of your team that you add to your group membership will receive

• Connections to decision-makers at all kinds of venues
• Networking events where you can build long-term client relationships
• Knowledge-expanding webinars and online learning 24-7
• A subscription to Facility Manager magazine, plus our weekly e-newsletter, (blogs), email updates and event previews
• Online membership directory to target venue types and prospects
• …and so much more

The process is simple! Just choose which Allied Group Membership Tier best meets the needs of your company:

Once you have determined the best tier for you and your staff, simply fill out the Membership Application and submit for processing, so you can start enjoying the robust benefits of IAVM Allied Group Membership!

Please feel free to contact our Membership Department with any questions or visit the webpage HERE.

Midwest hospitality at its best; that’s the philosophy at the Swiftel Center, managed by VenuWorks. That motto has rung true as the Swiftel Center has been awarded the 2018 George S. Mickelson Great Service Award. The award was presented to members of the Swiftel Center staff by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and South Dakota Secretary of Tourism Jim Hagen at the 2019 Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

The George S. Mickelson Great Service Award honors businesses, communities, or organizations that have done an exemplary job of exceeding visitors’ expectations in customer service. It marks the culmination of a yearlong hospitality program that involves hospitality training, customer comment cards, an employee recognition program, and an application for the Great Service Star designation.

“The Swiftel Center is taking a unique look at motivating and educating their staff to provide high levels of customer service,” said Governor Noem. “Whether a full-time or part-time employee, they are demonstrating what people-first service looks like and are seeing the benefits of their excellence.”

Team members – including all Swiftel Center full-time and part-time staff – are encouraged to continuously consider the four basic needs of any guest: to feel welcome, to feel important, to be understood, and to be safe and comfortable. The staff at the Swiftel Center strives to provide excellence customer service that upholds these four needs.

“We are honored to be recognized by the Governor of South Dakota for the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award,” said venue Executive Director Tom Richter, CVE. “The Swiftel Center Team takes great pride in consistently putting service first for our customers and patrons.”

At the Swiftel Center, each department hosts an annual training to introduce part-time staff to new hospitality materials and review policies and procedures. The Swiftel Center also provides yearly training to motivate and teach new customer service skills.

“Every staff member can provide a moment of impact for our clients, whether it is opening a door, setting up a table, serving a meal, or just offering a friendly welcome,” said Kristina Lankow, Sales & Marketing Manager. “We always need to be on top of our game. The George S. Mickelson Great Service Award is a major honor for our facility and will motivate us to continuously demonstrate our commitment to our guests to always be our best.”

To collect feedback from customers, patrons, guests, and clients, the Swiftel Center sends a client satisfaction survey. Employee Appreciation Parties provide an opportunity to recognize staff achievements, while “high-five” cards are used to let staff members know when they are doing an awesome job.

“We are committed to provide the very best experience for every guest who enters our doors,” said Ashley Biggar, Event Manager. “Our team is nothing short of amazing. Feedback from both our staff and guests is not only heard but is used to take action to make our events better and better. We look forward to utilizing our current training to continue to provide ‘Midwest Hospitality at its Best’.”

(Photo from left to right): South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem; Ashley Biggar, Swiftel Center Event Manager; Kristina Lankow, Swiftel Center Sales & Marketing Manager; and South Dakota Secretary of Tourism Jim Hagen.

When the best football teams from each conference collide in Atlanta, Georgia, for Super Bowl LIII, Daktronics will have a hand in creating the atmosphere and experience for everyone in attendance. This year, Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams to see who will be crowned champion.

The league’s newest venue features 16 LED displays totaling 83,500 square feet installed by Daktronics, including the world’s largest video scoreboard, the Halo Display. The Halo, measuring 58 feet high by 1,075 feet round, is large enough for a helicopter to fly through and the length of three football fields when rolled out.

A massive mega column display, a curved triangle-shaped feather wall display, narrow pixel pitch displays in club areas, and 3,100 linear feet of ribbon displays highlight the uniqueness of technology throughout the venue.

“This year’s game is a big one for Daktronics as we’ve had equipment in use at 15 straight championship games for professional football,” said Daktronics Vice President of Live Events Jay Parker. “The LED displays being used at Mercedes-Benz Stadium total the most square footage of any stadium in the world to provide the best game-day experience possible for fans and viewers. We’re proud to be a part of helping enhance the biggest moments in sports as this game will feature the largest video scoreboard at the biggest football game of the year.”

A game of this magnitude requires extra attention in both preparation and game-day support. As such, Daktronics will have four display technicians and two control room technicians on-site for the event. This includes pre-event checks and game-day support from the company’s services division.

“We’ve become accustomed to supporting the most watched, highest profile sporting events year after year,” said Daktronics Vice President of Services Sarah Rose. “With people on-site, it really is a benefit to our customers that many people might not think about when purchasing a display. We’re always available to ensure everything runs as expected, and this weekend we’ll be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to do just that.”

The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) has named Megan Seppmann as vice president of sales. The WCD owns and operates the Wisconsin Center, Miller High Life Theatre, and UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

“The vice president of sales is not only responsible for maximizing revenue and space utilization opportunities across the WCD properties, but also acts as the primary liaison between the WCD and our colleagues at VISIT Milwaukee,” said WCD CEO Marty Brooks. “Megan’s experience is a great fit for the duties expected of the role, and her professional style will promote an environment of collaboration between the WCD, VISIT Milwaukee, and the overall hotel and hospitality community.”

Seppmann holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Southwest Minnesota State University. She has held positions of increasing responsibility throughout her career, from catering director to sales director, and most recently area associate director of sales for Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

“This role with the Wisconsin Center District is very exciting for someone like me who has broad experience in the hospitality industry,” Seppman said. “The opportunities for teamwork and collaboration are plentiful. I am looking forward to bringing stakeholders together to make the best possible growth decisions for the WCD and its superb facilities.”

More information on events at the WCD facilities is available at www.MillerHighLifeTheatre.com, www.UWMPantherArena.com, and www.WisconsinCenter.com.