The International Association of Venue Managers has named Kathryn Eades as the new Director of Development for the IAVM Foundation. Eades joined the staff March 14, 2018 and will work with Brad Mayne, CVE ,IAVM President & CEO, Stephanie Curran, CVE, Chair of the IAVM Foundation, and the Board of Trustees to implement a variety of fundraising strategies and initiatives, as well as increase awareness of the IAVM Foundation.

“Your IAVM Foundation is fortunate to have Kathryn Eades as our Director of Development,” stated Mayne. “Kathryn brings 11 years of non-profit experience in fundraising, event planning, marketing, and volunteer recruitment to her new position. she will be meeting this week with the Board of Trustees, and following the Trustees meeting, will be announcing the initiatives that will drive our fund raising efforts for the foreseeable future.”

Eades comes to the Foundation from Hobbs, NM with a strong background in non-profit development, having worked for United Way of Lea County as Campaign, Events and Marketing Director and University of the Southwest as Development and External Relations Coordinator.

“The Board of Trustees is excited to welcome Kathryn Eades as the Director of Development for your Foundation,” said Stephanie Curran, CVE, Chief Executive Officer for Spokane Public Facilities District and the Chair for the Foundation Board of Trustees.  “Kathryn’s experience in not for profit organizations made her our choice from the multiple applicants we reviewed and interviewed. The Board of Trustees will be working closely with Kathryn to provide a positive return on the investments our donors make in support of our industry.”

Back in the DFW area after many years, Eades noted that she is happy to be back among family and friends, having been raised in Richardson, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. “I’m so excited to be beginning this journey with the IAVM Foundation and look forward to working with its wonderful staff and membership to continue to strengthen the Association, all while once again living near people close to me.” said Eades. 

With a BA in Marketing and Advertising from Texas Tech University, she rates one of her biggest accomplishments as raising $1.1 Million for the United Way of Lea County in one fall campaign season.

The mom to two daughters, Rachel and Hilary, Kathryn enjoys spending time with family, painting, arts and crafts, reading, gardening, and antiquing. She is looking forward to discovering new favorite places and the new experiences in store for her in the Dallas area.

Do you know a young professional that is a rising star in the venue industry?  Nominate that individual to be a part of the 30 |UNDER | 30 Class of 2018!

Launched at VenueConnect 2015 in Baltimore, 30 | UNDER | 30 focuses on identifying and developing the talent of venue industry professionals, 30 years of age and under, through increased access and exposure to industry networking and thought leadership. The program provides year-round continued education for professional growth in the venue industry and helps program participants become better, more productive employees.

“One of the most important investments that the IAVM Foundation makes every year is the 30 | Under | 30 program,” stated Bob Hunter, CVE, Chief Project Development Officer for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Air Canada Centre and Foundation Immediate Past Chair for the Board of Trustees. “Up and coming industry professionals are recognized through this program for the contributions they are making to their respective organizations. That investment allows these individuals to participate in and experience VenueConnect, as well as reinforce the value of a career in our industry.”

Selected applicants will receive a travel stipend of $800 and complimentary registration to attend VenueConnect, IAVM’s Annual Conference & Trade Show. Honorees notified in May and will be recognized formally at the Venue Industry Awards luncheon in Toronto, July 25.

“Our vision is to honor and inspire the next generation of leaders in the public assembly industry,” said Kathryn Eades, Director of Development, IAVM Foundation. “The Class of 2018 will truly represent the best of the best who show passion and drive for our industry.”

The deadline to receive nominations is March 31, 2018.  Click here to learn more.

Kletra Newton has been named chief operating officer of the San Mateo (CA) County Event Center.

The COO is a new position designed to provide more emphasis on strategic planning, customer satisfaction and efficiencies of the venue’s thriving corporate event business. “Kletra is a collaborator, a visionary, and has a unique understanding of the importance of business to business relationships,” said Dana Stoehr, chief executive officer of the San Mateo County Event Center. “She is an exceptional event planner and at the same time an impressive senior executive. That combination is what makes our venue sought-after by seasoned event planners who depend on venue collaboration and event expertise for their corporate event success.”

Newton joined the event center management team in 2014 to assist in onboarding of the venues in-house food and beverage services. In 2016, she was tapped to assume responsibility as director of event sales and services. While originally hired in a leadership role, her venue responsibilities expanded exponentially as she implemented a new vision for the event center. These executive responsibilities resulted in her being named chief operating officer in less than four years after joining the center’s management team.

Newton, the first minority woman to hold an executive position at the event center, has managed more than 500 events, as large as 25,000 guests. Her unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction and increased efficiencies is evident in the numbers. Under Newton’s leadership, the event center’s corporate business has increased 25 percent. During the same period, the event center achieved its highest grossing sales month in a decade.

“Our mission is to transform the guest experience,” Newton said. “Our commitment to that mission is why our corporate business continues to thrive. In less than two years, our team has reinvigorated its event planning processes, procedures, and precision. We understand our event planners’ needs and we share their goals.”

“I have worked with Kletra on some large-scale events which demanded a high level of attention to detail and with lots of flexibility,” said James Kim, corporate events manager for Netflix Events. “Kletra was an amazing partner and really made you feel like she was invested in the success of your event. Her communication style was straight and to the point which made the entire planning process very smooth and stress free.”

“Kletra is a true event professional,” said Ellie Platis, senior event producer for Electronic Arts, Inc. “Her passion and perfection in her work exceeds clients’ expectations.”

“I view my role as COO not only as the senior executive leader of our venue’s event business, but also as an executor of strategy, a change agent, a corporate partner, a mentor, and a complement to our CEO’s knowledge and penchants.” Newton said.

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) Board of Directors voted to approve a contract with Populous Architects for a Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) campus master plan and feasibility study. This data driven financial and industry marketplace analysis will provide an opportunity to evaluate potential future options at the BCEC’s 70-acre campus by taking into account the dramatic development of the South Boston Waterfront and rapid evolution of customer priorities in the global conventions, meetings and events industry.

“The Authority is eager to work with the world class team from Populous to determine the best path forward for the BCEC,” said David Gibbons, Executive Director of the MCCA. “We are asking them to evaluate the convention market to ensure the future competitive position of the BCEC in the conventions, meetings, and events industry.”

Populous is based in Kansas City, Missouri, with offices around the world, including Boston. The firm, which was recently named Fast Company magazine’s Most Innovative Company in Live Events, has a strong and impressive global portfolio of convention center projects across the United States, and also includes signature projects in Australia, India and the Middle East. Their diverse team in Boston has strong local representation with several firms that have first-hand experience working on the BCEC, including the original construction of the center and subsequent projects at the facility since.

“The opportunity to help position the BCEC for future success is exciting, and we look forward to applying our nearly 20 years of planning and design expertise to this new project,” said Todd Voth, Senior Principal and Convention Center Practice Leader at Populous.

In November of 2017, Populous was selected as the winning bid among four finalists by the MCCA’s Designer Selection Panel. Following a vote of the MCCA’s Board of Directors on November 16, 2017, contract negotiations commenced. The study is currently scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2019 and the total design fees approved by the MCCA’s Board of Directors is not to exceed $2.2 million.

The Baltimore Orioles announced a new initiative that will allow paying adult fans to take their children to home games free-of-charge.

Adults that purchase tickets in the regularly-priced upper deck area of the team’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards can bring up to two children aged nine or under for free, via the aptly named ‘Kids Cheer Free’ scheme.

Tickets are subject to availability and will be offered on a month-by-month basis as the MLB 2018 season progresses. Fans can now secure their tickets to games through April 29.

“Baseball is the bedrock recreational institution in American life, where childhood memories are born and family bonds are forever formed,” Greg Bader, vice president for communications and marketing for the Orioles, commented to the Associated Press. “It is our hope that this unprecedented program will bring the magic of Orioles baseball to families from all walks of life and ultimately grow our game.”

John Angelos, executive vice president at the Orioles, added: “The Orioles’ mission, and that of the national game of baseball, is to cast a broad community outreach. That effort starts with thoughtfully expanding our initiatives benefiting kids and families. The Orioles are committed to sustaining the access for families from all walks of life to our great game, and that commitment is reflected in the Kids Cheer Free initiative and our many other family-focused programs.”