The board of directors of San Diego Theatres, Inc (SDT) appointed Carol Wallace as Interim CEO of the organization which manages and operates San Diego Civic and Balboa Theatres.

“We are extremely excited to have Carol step in and serve to ensure that the San Diego Theatres continues to be successfully managed,” said San Diego Theatres Board Chair Jim Waring. “Her prior experience with our operation gives her an essential perspective that will allow her to hit the ground running as together we implement a strategic planning review of the organization that is focused on its mission of providing top tier leading performing arts for the region of San Diego and beyond.” The board anticipates beginning the search for a new CEO following the completion of the strategic planning process.

Wallace is the former president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation (Corporation) which oversaw the operations of San Diego Theatres, Inc. until 2014 when it became an independent 501 (C)(3) non-profit. Wallace retired from the Corporation in 2016. She is a past IAVM president (chair) and also served as the Association’s interim CEO prior to the hiring of Brad Mayne, CVE.

“I am thrilled to support and advance the important work of San Diego Theatres and help the board as they begin their strategic planning process,” Wallace said. “San Diego Theatres is a critical part of our rich arts community and I am pleased to provide my services during this time of transition.”

San Diego Theatres (SDT) is a 501© (3) non-profit arts organization that successfully operates the Civic and Balboa Theatres in downtown San Diego. With an annual budget of approximately $8.1M, it serves more than 415,000 patrons annually through arts and entertainment presentations. SDT‘s revenues come primarily from ticket sales, rental fees, ticketing, professional services fees, and donations.

AEG Facilities recently received the 10th annual Los Angeles County Green Leadership Award for its “Next Level Sustainability” campaign at the city-owned Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC).

AEG Facilities was honored in the business/private sector category at the County of LA Board of Supervisors meeting during Earth Week. This award is the second sustainability recognition it has received in 2018 for managing the LACC, following the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) in January.

“The County’s Green Leadership Awards honor commitment to environmental sustainability and remind us that we have to take steps, as individuals, to educate the next generation in ways they can reduce their carbon footprint,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Chair of the Board of Supervisors.

The “Next Level Sustainability” program was established to reduce the LACC’s carbon footprint, and elevate and expand the LACC’s sustainable practices across five areas – waste/recycling, energy/climate, water, purchasing and education/communication.

More than 30 environmentally friendly practices and procedures were implemented. Highlights include:

•Diverted 7.3 million pounds of construction and demolition waste from the landfill by educating event management, exhibitors, and contractors on more sustainable practices
•Replaced 2,146 LED lamps in all exhibit halls that is projected to save one million kilowatt hours per year
•Installed 710 low-flow 1.28 GPF toilet units, projected to decrease toilet water use by 20-25%
•30,000 square feet of turf were replaced with drought-tolerant landscaping, saving an estimated 320,000 gallons of water per year
•Executed sustainable product purchasing that now accounts for 80% of all ongoing consumables

“We hope to share our achievements with the community as a means of motivation and encouragement to keep working hard towards environmental protection and sustainability,” said Brad Gessner, senior vice president and General Manager at the LACC. “We are honored to be recognized by LA County and excited to continue to make our facility more sustainable.”

The Darwin Convention Centre was awarded winner of the Meeting Venue – 500 delegates or more category at the Northern Territory 2017 Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) Industry Awards, held in Darwin.

The MEA Industry Awards recognize excellence and best business practice in the Meetings & Events Industry. Finalists were assessed across a range of business criteria and the year in review, including their impact on the meetings and events industry as a whole.

Janet Hamilton, Darwin Convention Centre general manager, said, “Our passion is always to showcase the Darwin Convention Centre as a modern, world-class venue with outstanding dining experiences and exceptional service. Winning the award is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.”

Beyond driving the business events industry, the Darwin Convention Centre is also a catalyst for innovation and economic growth in Australia’s Northern Territory. The centre draws industry leaders, innovators, scientists, and academics from all over the world to come and exchange ideas in Australia’s strategically located northern most capital city.

The Darwin Convention Centre is now a finalist for the National 2017 Meetings & Events Australia Industry Awards being held in Adelaide in May 2018.

Meeting & Events Australia is a national, independent not for profit organisation dedicated to servicing the needs of the meetings & events industry and promoting professionalism and excellence in all aspects of meetings and event management. It also promotes the value and effectiveness of meetings and events as an important high-yield sector of business travel and tourism.

Congratulations to our latest Certified Venue Professionals: David Cooper, CVP, Director of Facility Operations at Las Vegas Convention Center and Theresa Lloyd , CVP, Senior Manager Arena Events at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. 

View all of our current CVP’s here.

Thanks to the generous funding and support from the IAVM Foundation, the CVP program was launched in August 2015 at VenueConnect in Baltimore. It recognizes the competence of middle-to-senior-level managers of public assembly venues as well as assisting the managers in creating a professional roadmap in the venue industry.

The CVP designation says three important things about an individual: he or she is a capable professional, is committed to the industry, and is pledged to continued professional growth and development. Venue professionals who earn the CVP designation are recognized, by those inside and outside the industry, as skilled in their profession.

Taco Bell Arena, home to the Boise State University Broncos and Boise State University, announced it has partnered with KultureCity to make the venue the first Certified Sensory Inclusive College Arena in the United States. Taco Bell Arena is now equipped with 50 Sensory Bags that contain a variety of items that can help an individual who is experiencing sensory overload during an event. Each bag is equipped with noise canceling headphones, a variety of fidget tools, verbal cue card, and a weighted lap pad.

KultureCity is a non-profit that is committed to spreading awareness for Sensory Sensitivity for those with Autism, Dementia, PTSD, or other like conditions. These individuals may find a live event to be too stimulating, and these tools within the Sensory Bag may assist those individuals in such circumstances. This new initiative promotes an accommodating and positive experience for all guests and fans with a sensory need who visit the Taco Bell Arena.

KultureCity is recognized nationwide for using their resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs. In the past year alone, KultureCity has created several sensory inclusive venues and events, including the NFL Super Bowl, NFL Pro Bowl, about 19 NBA arenas, a growing number of NFL and MLB stadiums, as well as public facilities like zoos, science centers, and aquariums across the nation.

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 by noise, sound or crowded environments. With its new certification, the Taco Bell Arena is now better prepared to assist guests in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible when attending any event.

“Being able to witness a large university make such an important and monumental change to it’s culture and community, in order to improve the lives of each of their community members, no matter their ability, is truly astonishing. Knowing that Boise State University is the first university to have an arena that is sensory inclusive leads the movement in higher education becoming inclusive for all,” said Traci Johnson, executive director of KultureCity.