The IAVM Mentor Connector Program is getting ready to launch the Fall 2023 Cycle. We’re looking for members who want to invest time in their careers through one-on-one mentoring.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Mentor or Mentee to further your professional development, please join our informational webinar Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 4:00 PM ET.

Mentor Connector creates the opportunity for an experienced professional (Mentor) to provide guidance and encouragement to a member who has an identified professional development need (Mentee). Anyone at any stage of their career can be a Mentor or Mentee. There are no restrictions or qualifications, just an IAVM membership and a desire to participate – and, it’s free!

Applications are due October 6, 2023. Click here to learn more!

Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation officials have announced a long-term management renewal with ASM Global, the world’s largest venue management company — beginning in 2025 — as part of an ambitious multiyear strategy to leverage ASM Global’s international multidisciplined expertise in the future development of the Houston 350-acre NRG Park campus.

ASM Global has operated the county-owned venue since 2000. It is home to the NFL Houston Texans and the renowned Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. It’s been a fixture at NRG Stadium for 20 years.

The NRG Park site is part of ASM Global’s network of more than 350 venues around the world that host 20,000 events and welcome 165 million guests every year.

2022 and the first half of 2023 have marked one of the most successful financial performances in NRG Park’s history, highlighted by multiple sold-out events, including the 2023 NCAA^® Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four^®, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (three sold-out shows in April 2023), Karol G and Beyoncé: World Renaissance Tour (September 2023).

NRG Park also annually hosts the Offshore Technology Conference, Houston Auto Show/Houston Boat Show, Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market, and Feld Entertainment’s Disney On Ice and Monster Jam.

The College Football Playoffs Championship Game is slated for this coming January, and NRG Park will welcome FIFA World Cup matches in 2026.

Inside NRG Park’s exhibition center, NRG Center, ASM Global Insights program — the largest live-event customer-feedback database in the industry — will provide the benefits of engaging clients, monitoring guest satisfaction in real time, evaluating performance across various metrics, and benchmarking success across the industry, ultimately providing the business acumen to inform and propel the business forward.

“This agreement demonstrates that ASM Global is aligned with our belief about the tremendous future for NRG Park,” said Ryan Walsh, CEO/executive director Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation. “Much of our success throughout the years is because we have positioned ourselves with high-impact, respected partners like ASM Global. NRG Park is proud to be one of the crown jewels in an unparalleled international portfolio that includes some of the most prestigious, iconic and successful venues. We look forward to continuing our partnership to elevate and build on our continuing standard as one of the top sports, entertainment and convention destinations in the world.”

ASM Global’s President and CEO Ron Bension said, “We’re very appreciative of this vote of confidence. We passionately believe in Houston and the area’s track record of hosting spectacular events like the Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s Final Four and partnering with amazing organizations such as the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo; the NFL’s Houston Texans franchise; and, of course, the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation. We’re eager to grow the property even more to enrich the Houston-Harris County community.”

Utilizing its global relationships in content, programming, planning, technology, sustainability, guest experience and enhanced premium experiences, ASM Global will continue to meet the needs of NRG Park hosted events.

ASM Global has an unrivaled track record working with major cultural, entertainment, convention and sports campuses, including L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Darling Harbour in Sydney, OVO Wembley Arena in London and AO Arena in Manchester.

IAVM is proud to announce Linda Deckard, founder of Venues Today (VenuesNow), as the new editor of its trade publication, Venue Professional (VP) magazine.

Following the retirement of the magazine’s long-time editor, R.V. Baugus, Deckard was recruited to take the helm of the publication.

“I am extremely excited that Linda has agreed to take on the responsibility of leading Venue Professional to higher levels of communication for the industries our diverse membership serves,” stated Brad Mayne, CVE, IAVM President & CEO. “Replacing R.V. Baugus is not an easy task, yet I know Linda will continue with the important storytelling and reporting for our members.”

“If it weren’t for the networking made available through IAVM, I would not have been as effective as a reporter, editor, and publisher covering live entertainment,” noted Deckard. “I have known some members of this association for 40 years, in some cases their entire careers, and they mine.”

Deckard was first introduced to industry trade publications in 1976 by Tom Powell, editor of Amusement Business (a part of Billboard publications), when hired to report on the business of operating venues, including arenas, convention centers, performing arts centers, theaters, stadiums and amphitheaters, amusement parks, fairs, and carnivals.

In 2002, Deckard founded Venues Today to report the “news behind the headlines.” Her innovations at Venues Today included the institution of the Hall of Headlines Awards, Venues Today Women of Influence Award, Ticketing Stars (in association with INTIX), GenerationNext, and Excellence in Concessions Awards.

After selling Venues Today to Oak View Group (owned by Irving Azoff and Tim Leiweke, leaders in the industry) in 2016 and aiding in ushering in the redesign to VenuesNow, Linda left the publication in 2018 to pursue her new passion – telling venue-centric stories in books and blogs.

“In my many years in this venue industry, I have dealt with a myriad of media interviews and must state that the one person I have always trusted in being truthful and supportive of our industry has been Linda Deckard,” said Mayne. “I look forward to seeing what she does with VP, especially considering she is coming on board at the start of IAVM’s 100-Year celebration!”

“IAVM’s 100th-anniversary celebration goes a long way in motivating me to take this job,” said Deckard. “We’re going to have a lot of fun in 2024 remembering where we came from as we plan where we’re going. I look forward to continuing to cover the industry’s people and places, challenges, and victories in this new role, relying on history and contacts to make a difference.”

Deckard will officially begin her role as Editor of Venue Professional on September 5.

Linda can be reached at linda.deckard@iavm.org.

By Molly Rosenberg

Entertainment consulting company Venue Coalition recently announced industry veteran Steve Kirsner will be joining the company as Vice President of Booking. In his new role, Kirsner will focus on servicing the company’s 150+ member venues across North America, assisting them with national and regional booking as well as providing strong advocacy within the touring industry.

The addition of Kirsner comes on the heels of steady growth within the company adding several new arena members to its roster over the past few months. These venues include Capital One Arena in Washington, DC and sister venue EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA, Agganis Arena in Boston, MA, Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield MO, John F. Savage Arena in Toledo, OH, Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, FL, and Mexico City’s Pepsi Center WTC.

“I’m excited to join the team at Venue Coalition,” said Kirsner, who most recently served as Vice President of Booking & Events at SAP Center at San Jose. “As a former venue client and member of Venue Coalition, I have intimate knowledge of how valuable their services are to independent venues. I’m eager to get started and represent so many members, many of whom I call friends, and to assist as we drive more first-class content into their buildings and help them navigate the touring landscape.”

Kirsner’s forty-seven-year career runs deep in the live entertainment industry. He spent a decade as an integral part of magician Doug Henning’s team, working his way up to vice president and general manager of Henning’s company where he was responsible for all aspects of the magician’s business. In the early nineties, Kirsner left Los Angeles and moved to Omaha, NE producing tours, music videos, and special events for Mannheim Steamroller, where the group was based.

Looking to return to California, in 1996 Kirsner took on a role he would play for over two and a half decades as Director, and then VP of Booking & Events at SAP Center at San Jose (formerly San Jose Arena, Compaq Center and HP Pavilion). Booking the venue under the mentorship and leadership of Frank Jirik and Jim Goddard, the arena became one of the top twenty venues in the country for ticket sales. Kirsner was also instrumental in several industry innovations including the transition in Pollstar and Billboard of ranking venues based on ticket sales rather than grosses as was once industry practice.

“We are so excited to bring Steve onboard,” said Andrew Prince, President of Venue Coalition. “He has decades of extensive operational and programming experience running one of the most successful venues in the country. We welcome his expertise and passion for this industry and know his strong relationships and stellar reputation will be a great benefit to our organization.”

Molly Rosenberg is Director of Administration and Special Projects for Venue Coalition, Inc.

By Kara Nelson

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has received the 2023 New Orleans CityBusiness Empowering Women Award for its commitment to elevating and supporting women. The annual award honors companies that exhibit innovative efforts to help advance women in the workplace and within the community.

“The women in leadership positions at the Convention Center play an integral role in the strategic direction of one of the state’s most valued assets and economic impact drivers,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President and CEO. “Our Center offers significant opportunities for growth and advancement to women and has for many years provided upward mobility as a preferred hospitality employer. As a leader in contemporary initiatives such as innovation and diversity, our advancement opportunities are expected to grow exponentially, as our business expands through this era of dramatic growth and facility modernization.”

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center continues to achieve success with women leaders at the forefront of various projects. From sustainability and innovation to communications and financial operations, almost half of NOENMCC leadership positions is held by women, each one with notable accomplishments that have helped elevate the organization.

Prioritizing the promotion of women into executive positions and leadership roles is paying off. Under the direction of NOENMCC Chief Administrative Officer Alita Caparotta, the Convention Center maintained financial stability — and kept all staff fully employed — throughout the pandemic when the travel industry shut down. In 2023, Caparotta was recognized as a “Power 20” Leader in tourism and hospitality by New Orleans CityBusiness.

“When seeing women in leadership roles is not an exception but the norm, that’s real progress,” said attorney Geri Broussard, Vice President of NOENMCC governing body The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority. “As a major economic engine for the city of New Orleans, the Convention Center is leading by example — proving that hiring and promoting women is more than a mandate; it’s an important key to the organization’s continued growth and success.”

The NOENMCC continues to make strides to ensure that women have opportunities to advance and succeed. In 2019, it launched the Small and Emerging Business (SEB) Program to promote diversity, inclusion, and small business development at the Convention Center which has an emphasis on women owned businesses. In January 2023, the NOENMCC promoted its former SEB Director Rocsean Spencer to Chief Diversity Officer, making it the first Convention Center in the nation to establish this position. Under Spencer’s leadership, the Convention Center is working to implement more diverse, equitable, and inclusive policies and practices across the organization.

“Having more women in the workforce, at every level, is good for business,” said Sandra Lombana Lindquist, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, founder of the Chamber’s monthly Women’s Business Alliance and the annual Women’s Leadership Conference. “And it’s especially important to see women in high-level, visible roles at an organization like the Convention Center, which serves as an ambassador for our city. We want visitors to experience the best hospitality New Orleans has to offer, and the women decisionmakers at the Convention Center are getting it done.”

Kara Nelson is with The Ehrhardt Group.