Since 2010, IAVM’s membership has grown substantially, currently over 5,500 members, which reflects a steady increase of 6% each year. In 2014, we created Group Membership which delivered exceptional growth in 2015 of 14%. This year alone, we’ve added 21 venues to Group Membership, with more than 400 new members in this category.

Our members are a huge part of our success story. Members have helped our growth by supporting iCommit, Just One, and Give The Gift of Membership (our annual recruitment campaigns) by identifying students, young professionals, and seasoned individuals who are rock stars and are passionate about the venue management profession. This has been invaluable to stimulate growth and continue to encourage more participation by all sectors of our industry and to encourage diversity in leadership roles.

Your support enables your association to continue to deliver professional development, training, and unique networking opportunities, such as our recent VenueConnect in Nashville. Advocacy has increased on behalf of our membership. The Industry Affairs Council has led the way in making our voice heard to ensure our venues remain competitive within their communities without adverse legislation. Many of our members have updated their safety and security measures due to the Life Safety Programs that IAVM provides. Numerous member venues in the U.S. and Canada have participated in the Mindset: Situational Awareness, Active Threat/Active Shooter and Trained Crowd Manager live training exercises. Soon the Call for Volunteers will go out, so watch your inbox for the application form.

This is a sampling of your dues at work. Brad Mayne, CEO & President, will be sending an annual review very soon that will expand on our accomplishments for 2017.

Membership Dues: A portion of your dues are tax-deductible. You can check your renewal date by clicking here: Renew Now, and select your membership category, i.e., Professional, Allied, Faculty, etc. Just a friendly reminder, please take care of your renewal before the New Year. We value your continued support!

By Erin Jepson, CMP

This is the time of year where many of us reflect back on the last 12 months and are looking forward to the fresh start a new year brings. We may be celebrating accomplishments from the past year, thinking of how things can go differently next time and many of us are planning for next year’s resolutions.

I ask you this – what did you do last year to make a difference in someone else’s life? Perhaps you coordinated a coat drive at work or wrote a check to the IAVM Foundation (wait … you didn’t do that? It’s not too late to get that in before the end of the year). Did you know that IAVM provides the opportunity to give back in a way that doesn’t cost you any money out of pocket but the returns are priceless?

I first signed up to be a mentor in the Mentor Connector program during VenueConnect 2016. I have to be honest, however. I signed up on the heels of a frustrating conversation with a colleague and was looking to feel better about my participation in the industry so it was purely self-serving at the time. What I didn’t know that August afternoon on the exhibit hall floor was how much the program would transform how I look at my career – past, present and future.

Over the course of the next 12 months, I had the pleasure of sharing information about IAVM volunteer opportunities and what volunteering has meant to me, connecting my mentee with professional contacts as he prepared for the CVP test, and discussions around my experience working at the Super Bowl in 2012 as he is preparing to help host some of the Super Bowl activities in his own venue in 2018. When I signed up to help, I had no idea those would be the areas we talked about at length. If you had asked me what I could contribute as part of the program, my response may have been “Umm, I’m good at taking leaps of faith and throwing caution to the wind so if someone is on the fence about a decision, pair them with me and I’ll talk them into it.” What I was able to offer was so much more. Aside from all of the association and professional knowledge you actually have to share, being a mentor means making a meaningful connection outside of your workplace and good connections have a lasting impact.

Is this still not resonating with you? Let me try to tug at your heartstrings a bit. Do you remember your first mentor (official or unofficial)? I do. I wasn’t expecting to meet someone who turned out to mean so much in my career the second year I attended VenueConnect but thankfully I did. Would I be where I am today without her? Maybe. Would the path to get here have been the same filled with interview opportunities, volunteer work and leadership opportunities? Absolutely not. My connection to her helped lay a road map that has taught me so much, whether she directly impacted that or not, having her in my life was paramount to how my career has turned out so far.

Don’t you want to be that for someone else? What if it only took an hour or so a month to make that impact? That’s nothing for you in the grand scheme but it may mean the world to your mentee. So as you’re thinking about how to give back and what resolutions to set for yourself in 2018, make a note to head to the IAVM Mentor Connector website and sign up for the next round. You absolutely have what it takes to be a great mentor; you just need to take that first step.

Wait, are you still on the fence about signing up? Remember when I said I’m good at talking people into good decisions? Feel free to email or call me to talk about this. I’m happy to tell you more about my experience. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Erin Jepson, CMP, is Director of Events at the Oregon Convention Center. Contact her at 503-731-7890 or at erinjepson@oregoncc.org.

Lauren Castine and Leah Sulony have been named as new event managers at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (MCCNO) – the sixth largest convention center in the nation.

Castine and Sulony will be responsible for managing all aspects of the event planning process. As a liaison between the Center and clients, they will guide clients through event preparation and show set-up, monitor in-house events and oversee all related activities to ensure successful events.

A native of Louisiana, Castine’s career path took her around the country as she continued to hone her skills. From her stay in New York where she interned for a variety of high-profile brands

like BET Network and the fashion brand Valentino, to her work in Washington D.C. as the Director of Meetings and Events for the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), Castine comes to the MCCNO with a sharp knowledge of the event planning world.

In her previous role as Director of Meetings and Events for AIAS, Castine handled forecasting, development, and execution of D.C. area and international conferences. With more than six years of experience under her belt, Castine returns to Louisiana to make an impact as event manager at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Castine graduated from LSU in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science. She also aims to complete her Masters in Tourism Administration and Events Management in 2019 from the George Washington University School of Business.

Sulony began her career in New Mexico where she worked to monitor and inspect vehicles for the U.S. Air Force. The New Orleans native then transitioned from her military career to become an International Air Freight Pricing Specialist for UPS Supply Chain Solutions before serving as Director of International Operations for Chicago’s New World Van Lines.

After a brief stint as a small-business owner, she began her service in the hospitality industry. She gathered experience as Event Services Manager for Hilton Worldwide and as operations manager for Hosts New Orleans before landing at the New Orleans Convention Center.

Sulony has experience handling logistics for all manner of events, from intimate receptions to parades with more than 10,000 guests in attendance. “We are proud to bring Leah on board and look forward to seeing what she can do for the Convention Center and the city of New Orleans,” said Donna Karl Sakelakos, Director of Events at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

December 8 marked AEG Facilities and the City of Los Angeles four-year anniversary of a successful partnership. The private and public entities have worked together to refresh the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), turning the facility into an economic driver for Downtown Los Angeles. The City’s original goals for AEG Facilities in taking over LACC management were to: generate an operational surplus each year, build a 10% budget reserve within 5 years, increase revenues, book more events – particularly citywide conventions. Since assuming management in December of 2013, AEG Facilities has exceeded all of the City’s goals and expectations with an operating surplus year after year, a healthy reserve of $7.1 million, reinvesting more than $40 million in building improvement and alteration projects, increasing citywide conventions, and the reimbursement of $7.7 million to the City of Los Angeles for the Department of Convention & Tourism Development (CTD) overhead since privatization, all while elevating LACC brand recognition, sustainability metrics, and community involvement projects.

“AEG Facilities’ best business practices along with the strategic planning and collaboration between the City of Los Angeles and the CTD have solidified the convention center as an important economic driver for Downtown Los Angeles. The past four years of partnership are commemorated with headline achievements and record-breaking years for the LACC,” said Doane Liu, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Department of Convention & Tourism Development (CTD).

Highlights of the four-year partnership include:
• Operational surplus year after year. Since taking over management in December 2013, AEG Facilities has generated a total operating profit of over $26.6 million.
• AEG Facilities has surpassed the City’s initial goal of building a financial reserve of $2.1 million in five years with $7.1 million at the conclusion of 2017.
• Reimbursed $7.7 million to the City of Los Angeles for the Department of Convention & Tourism Development (CTD) overhead.
• The improvement to the parking program by rethinking operational policies and procedures to improve efficiency, upgrading equipment in addition to establishing competitive rates. Results: an increase of over $3 million in annual revenue.
• Reinvested more than $40 million into the building completing over 50 capital and alteration projects including: 314 security cameras installed throughout the facility along with a modernized security command center, LED lighting retrofits, purchasing Energy Star appliances, adding water bottle filling stations, carpet replacement, upgraded landscaping and interior florals and furniture, and more.
• Establishing the Food and Beverage program “Taste of LA” with Levy Restaurants which features fresh, in-house prepared and baked products, strategic buying, increasing gross sales and flow through by $2.9 million annually.
• Revitalized relationship between the LACC and the LATCB for a unified goal of booking more citywide conventions, resulting in an increase in building occupancy every year and citywide bookings by 30 percent.
• Improved the sales and marketing strategy to develop fresh approach to sales (booking) and branding, which increased occupancy to 75 percent and client satisfaction rate to 94 percent.
• AEG Facilities increased LACC Security and employed a Guest Services department which has led to the improved safety of attendees and employees while increasing customer service.
• Enhancing the environmental sustainable practices by focusing on waste diversion, water reduction, and energy reduction. Achieving a 75 percent waste diversion rate this past calendar year 2016-2017 and becoming the first convention center of its size to receive LEED Gold recertification.
• As a Downtown stakeholder and the LACC values giving back to the community through internal community involvement programs such as the annual LACC Service Day at the Downtown Women’s Shelter, Earth Day, E-Waste Fair, and participation through other AEG sponsored programs such as the Read-to-a-Child program at 10th Street Elementary School in Downtown Los Angeles.

“We are very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a collaborative team with the City and the CTD. As 2017 comes to a close, the LACC welcomes 2018, with a booked facility, more building improvement projects, and two large sustainable projects; the LACC rooftop garden and LACC solar panels,” said Brad Gessner, General Manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center and Senior Vice President for AEG Facilities.

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) announced that Chief Operating Officer Sherrif Karamat will become the new CEO following the resignation of 12-year President and CEO Deborah Sexton, who has decided to move on and will step down after the upcoming Convening Leaders event in Nashville this January.

Sexton shared her decision with the Board of Directors at the September meeting. The Board voted unanimously to approve Karamat as the new CEO. This follows careful succession planning at PCMA, where Sexton and Karamat have worked closely together since 2005.

With more than 6,000 members and 50,000 subscribers, PCMA is the world’s largest network of business events strategists. Sexton has led PCMA for more than 12 years, furthering the organization’s dedication to inspiring the business events community with unparalleled educational programs, senior-level networking opportunities and must-attend events on a global scale.

“Deborah’s passion, boundless energy and her hunger to continuously innovate have resulted in tremendous growth and progress both for the organization and the industry,” said PCMA Board Chair

Mary Pat Heftman. “We could not be more grateful for her dedicated leadership, driving strategic plans that make PCMA the leader in our industry.”

In addition to her role as CEO of PCMA, Sexton has also served as president of the PCMA Education Foundation and publisher of PCMA’s Convene magazine. Under her leadership, and working in partnership with Karamat, PCMA more than doubled its membership and revenue, as well as expanded its global reach and cultivated dynamic leadership at the Board and Foundation levels. During her tenure, the Foundation has more than tripled its support for scholarships, research and education programs.

“It has been a privilege to serve PCMA,” said Sexton. “This organization continues to lead the way in the business events industry due to the dedication of our staff, the leadership of our Board and wisdom of our membership. Having worked alongside Sherrif for more than a decade, I have great confidence in the future of PCMA under his leadership.”

Karamat joined PCMA in October 2003 as vice president of sales and became COO of the organization in April 2008. Prior to PCMA, Karamat was vice president of business sales and services for the Toronto Convention and Visitors Association (Tourism Toronto) – a role in which he was very active as a PCMA member and volunteer, serving as president of the Canada East chapter.

“I am honored to succeed such an inspiring leader, and I’m appreciative of the Board’s vote of confidence,” said Karamat. “Because of the strong foundation that has been established by Deborah’s leadership, I know we will build upon this great platform.”

Karamat is already a key member of PCMA’s executive team. Working with Sexton, he has led the development of future planning for the organization. These plans include the expansion of PCMA as a global organization, advancing the content platforms of PCMA and adapting delivery channels for education as technology evolves.

“Working with Deborah, Sherrif has been an integral leader in the development of our new strategic plan and has a clear vision for where we want to take PCMA,” said Heftman. “It will be a very smooth transition for him, even though he has some big shoes to fill.”

Sexton will continue as CEO through the January 2018 Convening Leaders meeting in Nashville, TN. She is looking forward to what’s next and plans to share her experience with those that have a thirst for advancing the industry and investing in innovative and creative solutions. Sexton will remain in a strategic advisory role with PCMA through March. Karamat’s first day as CEO will be Jan. 19, 2018.