The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) is pleased to announce that it will hold the 2019 (July 21-24) VenueConnect Annual Conference & Trade Show in Chicago, Illinois at McCormick Place Convention Center and the 2020 (July 26-29) VenueConnect in Long Beach, California at Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. IAVM’s VenueConnect is the leading industry conference that provides targeted education created specifically for more than 2,000 arena, stadium, convention center, performing arts center, amphitheater & fairgrounds, and college & university venue professionals.

VenueConnect 2019 will bring the conference and trade show back to Chicago for the first time since 1965. “Chicago has so much to offer the members of IAVM. We are excited to have the privilege to host VenueConnect 2019,” stated David R. Causton, Regional Vice President SMG’s Convention Center Division and General Manager for McCormick Place Convention Center.

McCormick Place Convention Center is anchored in Chicago’s McCormick Square, a community that was created to provide economic stability and growth to the area. It is undergoing tremendous growth, including new hotels, restaurants, and retail spots.

Chicago will provide the perfect setting for attendees from all sectors, and McCormick Place Square provides quick access. From Motor Row, a historic district with great entertainment, shops, and restaurants, to Chinatown, considered one of the most vibrant ethnic communities in North America and provides diverse places to explore, to Soldier Field, Wintrust Arena, the Adler Planetarium, Field Museum of Natural History, and more, conference participants will have many historic and recently added venue options to explore.

VenueConnect will move to the west coast and Long Beach, California in 2020. Long Beach last hosted the annual conference and trade show in 1954. “The Long Beach

Convention & Entertainment Center is extremely excited to be selected as the 2020 International Association Venue Managers (IAVM) host,” said Charles Beirne, General Manager. “We are looking forward to showcasing our unique turnkey spaces and sharing ideas among our IAVM colleagues.”

The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is located in the center of the city’s downtown waterfront and entertainment district. The convention center recently underwent a $60 million modernization and has prompted tremendous economic growth in the community, specifically in the local tourism and hospitality sectors. The “Pacific Ballroom at the Long Beach Arena, The Center’s first turn-key venue, features over 45,00 square free of floor space, built-in professional LEDs, stage lighting, and sound system to provide an intimate environment for dinners, concerts, and special events. The Terrace Plaza comes complete with programmable “dancing waters” fountains, and with its downtown skyline and waterfront views, is the ideal outdoor venue to experience Southern California’s near-perfect weather.

Long Beach, located in Los Angeles County, ranked one of the “Most ‘Walkable’ Cities in America,” will provide easy access for VenueConnect attendees to tour venues across all sectors, such as the new Inglewood Stadium and Staples Center, as well as enjoy the shopping and culinary experiences offered close by.

“IAVM is excited to be returning to Chicago in 2019 and Long Beach in 2020,” said Brad Mayne, IAVM CEO and President. “Each location offers unique backdrops to the VenueConnect experience, but also access to the communities and venues that the Association serves for our attendees. Both McCormick Place Convention Center and Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center will provide unique opportunities for our attendees to learn and network.”

More information for the 2019 and 2020 VenueConnect conferences will be announced at a later time.

The IAVM Foundation is proud to announce the 2018 Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship VenueConnect scholarship recipients.  Each year, scholarships are awarded to attend the sector conferences hosted at VenueConnect and provides recipients with a full conference registration, as well as a $600 stipend to assist with travel costs.

Your 2018 scholarship recipients are:

Arenas

Outstanding Leadership Scholarship – Matthew Hatch – Landers Center, Southaven, MS

Diversity Scholarship – Anila Hardin – Richard E. Berry Educational Support Ctr. – Cypress, TX

Young Professional Scholarship – Tony Clements – Univ. of Florida, Steven C. O’Connell Center

Scholarship for Industry Women – Eboni Wilson – MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas, NV

Convention Centers

Outstanding Leadership Scholarship – Karla Gonzales- San Diego Convention Center

Diversity Scholarship – Ryan Briones – SMG/Moscone Center – San Francisco, CA

Young Professional Scholarship – George Long – Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA

Scholarship for Industry Women – Dianne Javier – San Diego Convention Center

Stadiums

Outstanding Leadership Scholarship – Meredith Ley – Columbus Crew SC, MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, OH

Diversity Scholarship – Anecia Carroll-Bankston – Metropolitan State University of Denver – Student

Young Professional Scholarship – Morgan Ewert – The Rose Quarter – Portland, OR

Scholarship for Industry Women – Megan Max – Natl Music Publishers Association – Washington D.C.

Amphitheaters & Fairgrounds

Outstanding Leadership Scholarship – Thomas DeBari – WALMART AMP/ Walton Arts Center – Rogers, Arkansas

Diversity Scholarship – Justin Aquino – San Mateo Event Center – no city listed

Young Professional Scholarship – Hannah Turner – City of Dallas, Fair Park – Dallas, TX

Scholarship for Industry Women – Lori Marshall – Cow Palace Arena & Event Center – Daly City, CA

Performing Arts

Outstanding Leadership Scholarship – Ashley Schneider – The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts – Louisville, KY

Diversity Scholarship – Bradley Carter -Scottsdale community College/Mesa Arts Center – Mesa, AZ

Young Professional Scholarship – Kaitlyn Higgins – Old Town School of Folk Music – Chicago, IL

Scholarship for Industry Women – Tori Morgensai – Mesa Arts Center – Mesa, AZ

Congratulations to the 2018 Scholarship recipients!  And THANK YOU for investing in YOUR Foundation to make each of these scholarships possible!

The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Foundation announced Steve Peters, CVE, as the 2018 Legacy Award Recipient. Peters is the founder and President of VenuWorks.

The purpose of the Legacy Award is to recognize significant contributions of an individual or company that benefit the mission and objectives of the IAVM Foundation, leaving a legacy for the advancement of the venue management industry.

“The Legacy Award is given to someone who, through either financial or non-financial contributions, has made a positive and lasting impact towards the mission and objectives of the IAVM Foundation,” said Kathryn Eades, IAVM Foundation Director of Development.  “Steve Peters, a valued member of IAVM and supporter of the Foundation, truly embodies those qualities and is a tremendous industry leader.”

Peters has over 40 years in the venue management industry. He began his career in 1976 in Dubuque, Iowa as manager of the Five Flags Center. In 1982, he became associate director, and in 1984 executive director of theIowa State Center in Ames, IA. In 1990, Peters was named the National Director of Operations for Ogden Entertainment, Inc., and served as opening director of the Target Center in Minneapolis before being named an Ogden Vice President in 1995. In the fall of 1996, he left Ogden to create VenuWorks.

Stephanie Curran, CVE, chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees, remarked that “Steve Peters has been a valuable member of IAVM and investor in the Foundation and our industry. We are fortunate to have someone of his caliber making our industry better through his leadership and leaving a strong legacy for IAVM”

“I have known Steve for over 30 years and know him to be a man of the highest stature, with a significant focus on the future,” said Tammy Koolbeck, CVE, IAVM Board of Directors 2^nd Chair. “Steve’s passion for the industry sets the direction for his continual support of the Foundation, both professionally and personally.  Most recently, Steve generously joined a challenge to support the diversity efforts of the Association through the Foundation.  Coupled with the incredible attributes mentioned, Steve is a tremendous advocate for IAVM’s continual and ongoing efforts in the realm of education and training for the staff members of VenuWorks.”

Peters’ passion for the venue management industry can be seen in the success of the company he founded, VenuWorks. Starting from a desk in the basement of the Peters home, VenuWorks has grown to become the management company of choice for over forty venues in twenty US markets.  He created VenuWorks Sports, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, in 2016, through which he became the proud owner of the Evansville Thunderbolts of the Southern Professional Hockey League.  Steve’s lifelong passion for live theatre resulted in the creation of VenuWorks Theatricals, which in 2015, won the Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play for co-producing You Can’t Take It with You on Broadway, starring James Earl Jones.

“I am humbled, and very honored to receive the Legacy Award,” stated Peters. “IAVM has been a very important part of my professional, and my personal life for over forty years. For many years we planned our family vacations around the annual conference. My kids grew up in the business, and now three of them are involved in our company.  You might say IAVM has become a part of my DNA. I am thrilled to be able to give back to IAVM, through the Foundation, at this stage in my life.”  

Peters is a Past President of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), and received their highest honor, the Charles A. McElravy Award for lifetime achievement in 2015.

Next week marks my fourth week on the job as the Foundation’s Director of Development. It’s been a whirlwind of learning about the Foundation’s past, it’s present, and hopes and plans for its future.

The IAVM Foundation belongs to YOU, its members, and we work to offer you ways to advance and enhance your careers in the public assembly industry. We do this by offering scholarships and internships, education, certifications, and resources to our members. This is YOUR FOUNDATION. This is YOUR FUTURE.

Foundation Fridays begin today. Each Friday all informational emails and social media going out from IAVM headquarters will pertain to the IAVM Foundation. The first Friday of each month is designated as “First Friday.” We want to keep you updated about what is happening here. On First Friday, you will receive the Foundation monthly newsletter, which will include information about goings on at the Foundation, stories about how the Foundation has impacted a life or a career, a link to invest in YOUR FOUNDATION and YOUR FUTURE, and reminders about events, opportunities, and deadlines.

Plans are underway for the Foundation activities at VenueConnect. The Foundation golf tournament takes place on Sunday, July 22^nd. Go to http://www.iavm.org/venueconnect/register to register for VenueConnect and to register for the golf tournament under Optional Events. There are also numerous golf tournament sponsorship opportunities available in the Marketplace or by contacting Christy Jacobs, Director of Sales at IAVM Headquarters at 972-538-1015.

I’m excited to announce that the Silent Auction will be back at VenueConnect this year. Look for it on the Trade Show floor in the Foundation booth. We are presently looking for items to include in the auction. Please watch on Foundation Fridays for updated information on the Silent Auction.

The VenueConnect scholarships have been awarded to a deserving group of applicants. Committees made up of members from each sector and Foundation Board of Trustee members reviewed the applications and have chosen applicants from each sector to receive the Outstanding Leadership Scholarship, the Diversity Scholarship, the Young Professional Scholarship and the Scholarship for Industry Women.

These are just the “tip of the iceberg” of what the Foundation is doing and has in store. I hope you will stay connected through Foundation Fridays to learn about the IAVM Foundation, what we do, who we serve, and the exciting developments as they unfold.

I am looking forward to working for the IAVM Foundation and for YOU, the members of IAVM. Together, with your help, we can truly make an impact on the future of the IAVM and the professional lives of its members.

Stay tuned…

Tension is one of those words that usually carries a negative connotation. If one is feeling tense one is not likely preparing to spend a day at the beach. Tension, however, has its place on the job and can actually be healthy. Not convinced? You will be after hearing Tim Arnold speak in a keynote at VenueConnect in Toronto on July 24 from 9:15-10:15 am, followed by a Executive Track workshop he will conduct from 10:45-11:30 am.

Arnold’s keynote, “The Power of Healthy Tension,” and subsequent workshop on servant leadership, are both guaranteed to send attendees back home with an overflowing toolkit to better engage with the day-to-day events that happen in any business and any industry.

Arnold points out that the mere concept of tension is acknowledged in a way never before in the workplace.

“I’m finding there is interest in the concept of tension now more than ever,” he said. “I speak about the benefits of leveraging healthy tension; things like embracing diverse perspectives, getting the best from each person on your team, and getting unstuck by challenging an either/or mindset. This is very different than the unhealthy tension that results from inappropriate behavior and a toxic work environment. Effective leaders know the difference.”

The world of public assembly venue management is similar to many other industries that Arnold has addressed, including The United Nations, Citibank, KPMG, Toyota, and Siemens, in that, well, tension and problems bubble to the surface every day.

“My guess is that your members have to solve problems each and every day,” Arnold said. “I also would be confident that they deal with many chronic issues that are in fact unsolvable problems. Things like cost vs. quality, embracing innovation vs. holding on to what works, or structure vs. flexibility. Having the ability to distinguish between a problem to solve and a tension to manage can move a leader (and a venue) to provide a significant competitive advantage. Going beyond this awareness and actually identifying a few key tensions each member experiences will allow them to move from surviving to thriving.”

Arnold believes that while the public assembly industry has some common tensions, there are others somewhat unique to the profession.

“As I learn more about the public assembly industry it seems that beyond facing some of the classic tensions that are unavoidable in all industries, you also have a few unique tensions to manage as well such as Grounded or Logical vs. Gut-Feeling and Visionary, Competing with Others vs. Collaborating with Others, Managing Cost vs. Quality of Experience, Focusing on the Short Team vs. Focusing on the Long Term, and Taking Risks on Trends vs. Banking on What Works.

“It seems to me that that these are make-it-or-break-it tensions for your industry to manage, and having the skill to manage them in a healthy way can have you stand out in highly competitive crowd.”

For more than two decades, Arnold has had the privilege of helping the aforementioned businesses. Beyond leadership and team development, he spent 10 years overseeing a 40-bed homeless shelter, and a social enterprise that helps people transition from the streets to gainful employment through the production, distribution, and sales of amazing jams and jellies.

He now wants to do his part to ensure that attendees to his presentation do not enter into their own jams in the workplace.

“Tapping into the Power of Healthy Tension will allow members to a) unite their team by providing the shared language needed to move from conflict to collaboration, where everyone is heard and understood, b) spark change and find out why it is hard for people to shift their thinking, and c) break through chronic issues and conflicting values to get unstuck,” he said.

Now that is healthy.