When Robyn Williams, CVE, returned the phone call of long-time friend and IAVM Second Vice Chair Tammy Koolbeck, CVE, Williams thought it was just to chat as part of a check-in conversation that was common and frequent between the two.

So, when instead Koolbeck delivered the news that Williams was named to receive the Charles A. McElravy Award, the public assembly venue industry’s most prestigious honor and designation, the response came back thusly from Williams: “Really? Are you serious?”

And then, “I actually started crying; it was kind of unbelievable.”

Unbelievable, maybe, but very deserving for Williams, who served as the final IAVM president in 2008-09 before the position’s name was changed to chairman. To celebrate the honor, Williams will be recognized at VenueConnect in Toronto on July 22-25.

“This is kind of overwhelming, quite frankly, because it is our industry’s highest honor,” said Williams, who serves as the executive director of Portland’5 Centers for the Arts. “You look at all the people who received it before you and go, how do I even measure up to those folks? There are so many who haven’t gotten it yet and you think, why was this my turn?”

That answer, once again, is that Williams is deserving of an award that was established in 1963 and is granted for extraordinary contributions to IAVM and the professional venue management industry it serves.

Joe Durr, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts director of event services and a long-time colleague of Williams, put her contributions in perspective. “For Portland’5 employees and volunteers, we benefit from, and observe first-hand, that for Robyn there is no such status as business as usual,” he said. “Robyn always seeks and encourages her staff, colleagues, stakeholders, and community toward the next levels of customer service, safety and security, equity, and implementing the next great thing. She is widely known for supporting and insisting that her mid- and senior-level managers participate in IAVM and industry training—for their personal advancements and safety, for the betterment of the venues, and adding to the IAVM body of knowledge.”

Indeed, Williams has logged countless hours in IAVM volunteer capacities since she joined in 1987, including serving as chair of the Performing Arts Committee while helping create the first sector meeting for performing arts; as instructor and past chair of the Board of Regents for the Venue Management School (VMS); as a recipient of the Ray Ward Award honoring her contributions to VMS; and, of course, as a past president. She currently serves on the IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees.

“Robyn’s career-long connections to IAVM are both deep and exhaustive. Even after serving as the IAVM president in 2008-2009, she continued to seek new and meaningful ways to contribute to our association and industry,” said Doug Booher, CVE, IAVM Chairman. “Today, we are grateful that she shares her keen intellect and ability to motivate others to build an even brighter future for IAVM.”

Perhaps most impressive and definitely a passion for Williams at this time is the re-launch of the Diversity & Inclusive Leadership Committee, for which she not only serves as vice chair but during an impassioned speech at the committee’s reception in Nashville at the most recent VenueConnect raised more than $20,000 in less than 10 minutes for the committee’s initiatives.

“I am so freaking passionate about the committee,” Williams said in her typically unbridled and enthusiastic voice. “I have been active in the industry for a really long time, but being involved with this committee is the most important role I will have ever done for the Association, quite frankly.

“You see these things and you can’t sit back and go, well, somebody needs to fix that or somebody else needs to do that. I have always felt like, well, you should raise your hand. Hey, I’ll help with this. I mean, people rarely turn volunteers down. We’re an Association that relies on our volunteers.”

IAVM has certainly relied on Williams. For her part, Williams has more than given back. The fruits of that labor are now evident when the newest name is etched on the Charles A. McElravy Award.

Peter William Anthony Bergin, president of Palm Desert, California-based Caddy Products, Inc., and a loyal and dedicated member of IAVM since January 1, 1977, passed away suddenly on January 9, 2018 in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 61.

Caddy Products, Inc is a world leader in design, development and the manufacturing of innovative products for the entertainment, movie, and sports industries. Peter was a friend to countless colleagues in the public assembly venue industry who mourn his passing. He was also a presence at IAVM’s VenueConnect as an exhibitor for his company.

Born August 25, 1956 to Joseph and Doraldean Bergin in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Bergin was best known as an inventor, entrepreneur and businessman.

“Peter is an industry leader, innovator, and a valued customer and friend. Primary Colors, Inc. will miss him greatly and be grateful for the enrichment he brought to our work life,” commented Jim Brown, just one of Bergin’s close work associates.

Peter is survived by children Peter (Nikki) Bergin Jr. of North Hollywood, California, and Kaylee Bergin of Rancho Mirage, California; sisters Dolores Bergin of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and Mary Bergin of Alberta, Canada; brother Michael Bergin of Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and nieces Patience and Alannah.

Those wishing to leave condolences may do so here.

Jefferson County, Colorado announced the merger of Boettcher Mansion and Jeffco Fairgrounds, two of the county’s signature event venues, as a new county division. The merged group, Jeffco Events & Venues, became official January 29, 2018.

“The new Jeffco Events & Venues Division offers a collection of indoor and outdoor venues in Jefferson County, Colorado, for celebrations, events, gatherings, and meetings,” said Don Davis, County Manager for Jefferson County. “This collective team specializes in events, hospitality and production – all dedicated to deliver the best possible experiences for guests.”

Tom Hoby, Director of the Jefferson County Parks Department, added, “We want it to be simple and easy to host, plan, and produce amazing events in Jefferson County. Clients, guests, partners and vendors at Boettcher Mansion and Jeffco Fairgrounds will benefit from the combined expertise and skills from both groups, distinguished portfolio of facilities and services and continued focus on service excellence.”

Boettcher Mansion was built in 1917 as a summer home and seasonal hunting lodge for Charles Boettcher. The former “Lorraine Lodge” was donated to Jefferson County in the 1970s for public use and enjoyment. In 1984, the Arts and Crafts estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now serves as Jefferson County Colorado’s premier historic events venue. Jeffco Fairgrounds was established in the early 1950’s and has served Jefferson County ever since with a growing and changing slate of events and facilities, including Jefferson County’s signature summer celebration, the Jeffco Fair & Festival. Organizations such as Jefferson County CSU Extension, 4-H, Jeffco High School Rodeo and the world-renowned Westernaires all call Jeffco Fairgrounds home. Together, both venues host and produce thousands of events annually from trade shows, weddings, rodeos, and other happenings across 13 different indoor and outdoor facilities.

“As one group, we now have shared access to all of the talent and resources to meet our client and guests’ needs,” added Dexter Foxworth, who has been named the Director for Jeffco Events & Venues. “The quality of work and caliber of facilities from both groups, which have always been high, will be amplified. Together, we will build on the great work that Boettcher Mansion and Jeffco Fairgrounds have done and offer the benefits of that partnership to our clients and guests.”

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and Hawaii Convention Center announced the securing of agreements with three national sports organizations to host futsal (indoor soccer), basketball, and volleyball tournaments played on the Center’s new sports courts, starting this year.

All three tournaments, which will be held in the Hawaii Convention Center’s Kamehameha Exhibit Hall, will collectively attract multitudes of teams of youth players in different age groups from outside the state, accompanied by families and supporters, to compete with teams from within the islands.

The four-year agreement with U.S. Futsal to host the Pacific Futsal Cup, from 2018 to 2021, is the organization’s first international tournament. The three-year agreement with Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Basketball, from 2018 to 2020, will bring the Jam on It Pacific Rim Championships to Hawaii. AAU Volleyball, the first organization to host a tournament on the new sports courts in February 2017 featuring hundreds of girls competing in age-group team matches, is returning for a tournament this year.

“The Hawaii Convention Center’s sports courts are proving to be a valuable contributor to our sports marketing strategy for the state, both in motivating groups to come here who might not otherwise do so, and also giving our local teams the opportunity to compete against teams from outside Hawaii without having to travel abroad,” said George D. Szigeti, HTA president and CEO. “Ultimately, the sports courts are helping to support Hawaii’s tourism industry, particularly the service providers that visiting teams rely upon to play in the tournament and enjoy their experience in the islands.”

Introduced in 2017, the fully portable sports courts can be configured to simultaneously stage up to 28 regulation volleyball or badminton matches, 18 high school basketball games or 11 futsal matches. The Center also has a regulation NBA- and NCAA-approved basketball court with a solid wood floor.

In addition to volleyball, basketball, futsal, and badminton tournaments, the sports courts can also accommodate events and competitions for wrestling, gymnastics, martial arts, table tennis, dance, cheerleading, and group fitness activities. Elevated seating can be added for spectators.

“The sports courts are allowing us to diversify our development of group business opportunities for Hawaii and to help fill hotel room nights by offering a first-class venue to accommodate events with participants from around the world,” said Teri Orton, general manager of the Hawaii Convention Center. “The response from tournament organizers has been very positive and these new agreements to host futsal, basketball, and volleyball tournaments in the coming years will help us to attract more events and teams from domestic and international markets.”

In 2017, the Hawaii Convention Center hosted AAU volleyball and basketball tournaments featuring youth teams from outside Hawaii and within the state, as well as the Hoops in Hawaii Holiday Classic Tournament, the first-ever NCAA basketball tournament held at the Center.

Because of its new sports courts, the Hawaii Convention Center was recently recognized by SportsEvents “2018 Readers’ Choice Awards” in the categories of “Venues for Youth & Amateur Sports” and “Sports Events Planners & Rights Holders to Watch.” More than 5,000 sports events planners and industry professionals cast votes in determining the winners. SportsEvents Media Group, publisher of SportsEvents magazine, is the industry leader in providing products and services designed to connect sports events organizers with sports commissions, convention and visitors bureaus, hotels, insurance companies and other sports events industry suppliers.

After more than 25 years as the premier sports and entertainment venue in Salt Lake City, a new era at Vivint Smart Home Arena has begun with a $125 million renovation to enhance the guest experience on all six levels of the home of the Utah Jazz. As a community gathering place, the arena hosts more than 100 events annually with 1.8 million guests.

An illuminated navy, green and gold J-Note statue, measuring 14-feet high and 21-feet wide, welcomes visitors on the plaza before entering the 12,000-square-foot America First Atrium with an exclusive Jazz Team Store, redesigned lower and upper bowl concourses with new fully cushioned seats in the bowl, and destination dining restaurants.

While no events were held in the summer of 2017, the facility was still abuzz each day as more than 2,000 workers participated in the project, demolishing concrete walls, removing all the green plastic chairs and building new dining, club and social spaces. Salt Lake City-based Okland Construction served as the general contractor for the project with valuable work from 78 subcontractors.

The atrium is the location for the box office, Utah Jazz Team Store full of unique arena-only merchandise and memorabilia, and easy access to the Toyota Club on level two and the suites on level four. Concourse walls have been removed for the creation of a new porch that gives fans a full view of the lower bowl. What they’re seeing is an ocean of blue with the iconic green plastic chairs being replaced by fully-cushioned seats in both the lower and upper bowls.

Fans are able to taste another change. A multitude of food selections – more than 30 restaurants and vendors – have created destination dining with a lineup of new culinary choices. The four corners of the main concourse at Vivint Smart Home Arena feature specialty menus with barbecue from R&R, hand-tossed pizzas from Maxwell’s, Mexican food from El Chubasco, and gourmet hamburgers and signature beef sandwiches from Cubby’s.

Technology has also been deployed to enhance the guest experience through a new mobile Jazz + Vivint app, high-speed public Wi-Fi, cloud-based technology and predictive analytics. More than 400 televisions are located throughout the arena, providing information, directions and a constant eye on what’s happening on the stage or court.

Originally opened as the Delta Center on Oct. 7, 1991, the building was known as EnergySolutions Arena from Nov. 20, 2006 until being renamed Vivint Smart Home Arena as part of a 10-year agreement announced on Oct. 26, 2015.

Construction began on June 11, 1990 and was completed in record-time—15 months and 24 days later, at a cost of $66 million.