You, as an IAVM member, are our most important asset. Without your commitment to the association and to the venue management industry, we wouldn’t be here. Because of your support, we are featuring member profiles in our I Am Venue Management series. If you are interested in participating in the I Am Venue Management series, please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story.

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be a: Hmm … getting paid to travel and eat would be pretty awesome, for a time at least! Seriously, my heart is to help and encourage people, especially those that can’t advocate for themselves, such as children, to let people know that they are seen, they have value, and they are special.

Most impressive person I’ve ever met: My father. He has faced insurmountable odds and hardship during his life.  He was born in Puerto Rico, one of 13 children. His father died when he was 11. After his father’s death, the family lived in a dirt-floor shack. My father worked for pennies a day, shining shoes to help support the family. In high school, he played baseball and was offered a full scholarship to college as a baseball player. Instead, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War.

During the war, my father was in a company comprised of Puerto Ricans that was considered to be “expendable” and sent in the first wave. He was a scout and became trapped behind enemy lines. My father had to bury himself in a hole to hide. It was winter. Left behind by his company, he was found a week later by another company—frost-bitten and snow-blind. Despite having discharge papers documenting his service, his military records were “lost”/ sealed for decades. He was finally acknowledged as a veteran 17 years ago.

Upon separating from the Army, my father went to school for engineering and was told he’d never graduate or succeed. Instead, he graduated at the top of his class and was recruited by NASA. My father ultimately signed on with GE and conducted much of the research pivotal to modern appliances such as toaster ovens and microwaves. He worked with the semi-conductors, transistors, wafers, and the vacuum tubes found in early TVs. As a result, he is listed on several patents.

He is the father of eight children. He was the sole support for his family, working three jobs when necessary. Each of us went to college and secured successful careers. He is now the proud grandfather of 15.

I unwind by: Unwind? What is that? I guess it would be late-night watching of Sci-Fi series (like Stranger Things) while sipping on a glass of red wine.

On my desk right now is: three monitors, two computers, two cell phones, stacks of papers, and receipts (representing things that need to be addressed, copied or filed)—along with this morning’s coffee cup, a bag of mixed nuts, and photo strips taken at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville during Venue Connect 2017.

My favorite IAVM program/conference/event/session I ever attended was: the 2014 PAMC conference in Kansas City. It was my first PAMC conference and my first occasion, since college, to be immersed with theatre people. It was incredible! Couple the conference with being in Kansas City, a city I LOVED living in right out of college, and it was wonderful. I was smitten.

If I were on the other side of the seats, I’d be: working at a performing arts center. I discovered a love for the theatre while in college when I had the opportunity to work at the campus performing arts center. I helped with load in, hanging lights, sound check, and then worked front of house for performances. At the time, I didn’t realize that there was an industry and profession that I could have remained a part of. Decades later, I came full circle and was able to reconnect with that first love and “live vicariously” through serving performing arts centers and venues of all types.

One trait an up-and-coming venue manager should have is: to realize and recognize the strengths represented in everyone around them; to be willing to absorb and learn from their experiences and knowledge.

One up-and-coming venue star in the industry is (name/venue): There are so many impressive people all around us that it is hard to name just one! Kayln Denniston, though, is one to watch. She is committed to serving venues and this industry. Kayln is caring, passionate, intelligent, and committed to excellence. Our future as an industry is very bright with so many exceptionally talented professionals.

One of my goals for this year is to: serve our clients, my company, and this industry with excellence. To make positive contributions wherever I go and in whatever I do.

How do you plan to help elevate the profession? By engaging with the industry through IAVM and its initiatives; contributing to and assisting with the committees that I’ve aligned with.

Where do you see new growth opportunities in the profession? Technology and safety/security. So much, especially in these areas, is changing at such an incredible rate that we can’t even imagine what might come next.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments? It is my privilege to have daily interaction with those on the “front lines”— the representatives of venues of all shapes, sizes, and locations. This interaction allows me to listen, learn, and therefore observe patterns and trends within the industry. Additional resources include attending conferences, following industry publications, blogs, newsletters, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party and why? My grandparents. I knew them for a short time in my childhood and don’t think I fully appreciated who they were, what they’d lived, and what they had to offer. It would be wonderful to be able to have an encounter with them now.

The International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) this week announced the recipients for its 2018 Industry Awards at the annual Honors & Awards Ceremony including selecting Kim Bedier, CVE, as Venue Executive of the Year. IEBA is a not-for-profit trade organization for live entertainment industry professionals, founded in 1970. Bedier is director for Tacoma Venues & Events at the City of Tacoma. She served as chair of IAVM in 2014-15.

“This industry and the people I work with every day inspire me. It is a privilege to be part of an amazing team committed to delivering superlative service and making memorable experiences for all of our guests at the Tacoma Dome,” Bedier said. “It is particularly exciting to receive recognition – for all of us – as we embark on the most exciting time as we debut the newly refreshed Dome.”

The Tacoma Dome is completing a four-month revitalization that includes all new seating, concessions, additional restrooms, backstage artist quarters, loading docks, and more. The Dome will re-open in October with annual consumer shows like the RV Show and Holiday Food & Gift and host eight concerts in November.

Bedier serves as Director, Tacoma Venues & Events for the City of Tacoma, where she is responsible for the Tacoma Dome, Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Pantages and Rialto Theater, Theater on the Square, and Cheney Stadium. She serves as a board member for Travel Tacoma and Tacoma South Sound Sports.

An industry-leader, Bedier has successfully opened three new arena construction projects, including the XFINITY Arena in Everett, which received the venue industry’s top award in 2010 for Arena Excellence.

Bedier served over a decade on the Board of IAVM and currently serves as an instructor at the Venue Management School and Graduate Institute, in both the United States and Australia.

Bedier serves on the Board for Enduris Washington, is a member of Rotary 8 of Tacoma, and is a past board member of Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, Rotary Club of Everett, and the YMCA of Snohomish County.

For more information about the Tacoma Convention Center, click here.

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center continues to lead the way into a green future with their award-winning Sustainability Program, which aims to improve the environment through innovations in the use of energy conservation techniques, renewable energy, and more. The Convention Center continues to follow through on its commitment to being a sustainability champion through collaborative efforts with like-minded community partners.

Beginning in 2010, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s sustainability program continues to be a model of excellence for the steps taken to reduce the building’s impact on the environment. In August 2018, the Convention Center named Art Shilling as the assistant director of sustainability, a newly created position.

In this new role, Shilling will focus on tracking, compiling, and reporting on the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Center’s sustainability initiatives with special focus on LEED certification, and will work closely with Director of Capital Projects Paul O’Connell and the director of construction on upcoming special projects.

Shilling joined the Convention Center in 2016 as the assistant director of building operations, where he assisted in overseeing physical plant operations and was designated as the building’s Sustainability Specialist. As sustainability specialist, Shilling created programs for surplus management, waste reuse, recycling, energy conservation, and various in-house sustainability programs and reporting.

Shilling has more than 30 years of experience in facility management, engineering, project management, and environmental/waste management fields. He also headed a private company, Lamp Environmental Industries for 13 years, which earned an Environmental Leadership award from the Louisiana Governor’s office for pollution prevention.

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was awarded the title of Overall Sustainability Leader in the Downtown NOLA Energy Challenge. A community panel of judges from the Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability reviewed plans from more than 40 buildings in the New Orleans area and found that the Convention Center’s plan not only improves sustainability, but can also increase competitiveness on the national stage.

The Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena are officially Certified Sensory Inclusive by KultureCity! The organization has partnered with KultureCity to improve staff members’ ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory needs to provide an inclusive and seamless experience for all guests at all events.

“We strive to raise awareness of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with sensory processing disorders by supplying our staff with continuous training and by offering the necessary resources and accommodations to our guests inside Smashville,” Nashville Predators Vice President of Event Operations David Chadwell said. “The certification processes our staff went through included training by leading medical professionals on how to recognize those guests and fans with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation.”

Sensory Bags Sensory bags containing special KCVIP badges, fidget tools, noise canceling headphones, and other resources are available for checkout (at no cost by leaving an ID) at the AT&T Fan Information Center located off the main concourse and near the entrance to the Lexus Lounge.

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD, and other similar conditions. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to over stimulation and noise, which is an enormous part of the environment in a venue like Bridgestone Arena. With its new certification, Arena staff are now better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible when attending any event inside Smashville.

“To know that you soon will be able to see families attend a hockey game, a true community binding experience, with their loved ones who have a sensory challenge and who were not able to previously attend, is truly a heartwarming moment,” KultureCity Executive Director Traci Johnson said. “Our communities are what shapes our lives and to know that the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that everyone, no matter their ability, is included in their community is amazing.”

Daktronics has partnered with High Point University to manufacture and install four new LED video displays to the Millis Center in High Point, North Carolina. Installation was completed this summer to bring improved visual experience to Panthers sports and special events.

“High Point University is thrilled to enhance the game-day experience for our fans this season with the installation of new Daktronics video boards in our basketball arena,” said High Point University Athletic Director Dan Hauser. “Daktronics has been the leader in the area of video board technology and it was an easy decision to partner with a business built on customer service and quality products. We’re excited to begin the 2018-19 basketball season with hall of fame head coach Tubby Smith and a transformed Millis Center thanks to Daktronics video boards.”

The main display measures 12.5 feet high by 22 feet wide and three auxiliary displays each measure 9.5 feet high by 16.5 feet wide. All four displays feature 6-millimeter line spacing to bring crisp, clear imagery to fans, student-athletes and coaches at every event.

“This project started out with a goal of increasing the size of each display in Millis as well as trying to streamline their control system in hopes of making the operator experience more user-friendly,” said Corey Williams, Daktronics sales representative. “I think that we were able to accomplish their goals and it has brought a new feel to this great facility. We’re very grateful for the opportunity to build upon our long-standing relationship with High Point University and can’t wait to see the impact the new system will have on the fans’ game-day experience.”

Each of the video displays is capable of variable content zoning. This allows each display to show one large image or to be divided into multiple zones to show any combination of live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics, graphics, animations and sponsorship messages.

Along the sidelines, the Millis Center received four courtside LED scorer’s tables. Each table measures approximately 2 feet high by 9 feet wide and features 10-millimeter line spacing. They can provide supplemental content to the main displays such as statistics and graphics as well as offering the opportunity to highlight sponsors throughout events.