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.

Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the venue on October 24, 2018. From 5 pm to 7:30 pm the community is invited to explore the venue, enjoy a “Taste of the Arena” at the new concession stands, explore the new concourse patio, and enter to win tickets for upcoming events.

“We wanted to find a way to let everyone enjoy exploring the new improvements at the arena so we’re hosting a party to celebrate our 10th Anniversary” said Michael Krouse, president & CEO. “Our open house will be the exact date, 10 years ago, when the very first ticketed event took place. We are celebrating with the Grand Opening of our new outdoor patio on the main concourse plus
everyone will enjoy the new design and taste of our concession stands.”

The first 100 people to enter the doors on October 24 at 5 pm will receive a swag bag. Each attendee can pick up a tour card for the opportunity to visit all five concession stands for a taste of the new menu items plus a visit to the San Manuel Club, a private space reserved for Premium Seating guests only. In addition to the music, contests, and tasty treats the home teams and partners of the Arena have been invited to join the fun with activation stations.

Known as the Entertainment Icon of the Inland Empire, Citizens Business Bank Arena has been the community’s home for sporting competitions, family shows, and concerts for 10 years.