IAVM’s thoughts are with all in the northern California region this week as wildfires continue to burn. While the true extent of the damage to the area is not yet known, 41 lives have already been lost, hundreds more are missing, and reports show at least 3500 homes and businesses have been destroyed.

A couple of our members have contacted us, or released statements, regarding venue updates:

“Our campus is good, so I’m feeling optimistic. Our team is working well to secure it.”—Judy Sakaki, President, Sonoma State University

“The main building, which includes the Ruth Finley Person Theatre, the Lytton Rancheria Lobby, the Carston Caberet and Fireside Room, as well as the box office area and conference rooms remain intact. However, we estimate approximately 30,000 square feet on campus, including schools, workshop, pavilion tent, as well as all landscaping and irrigation appear to be damaged.”—Rick Nolan, President/CEO and Paul A. Wilcock, Board Chair, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

The impact of these devastating fires will be far reaching across the area, and many have not yet been allowed access to their homes or venues to assess damages, as of yet.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our IAVM family in the region, and we are here to assist in anyway possible. Please continue to reach out to us, or post updates on VenueNet, to let us know that you are safe.

Daktronics announced that the company has been selected by Turner Construction in San Antonio, Texas, to design, manufacture, and install a new multi-display system for the Alamodome. These additions are a part of overall renovations to the Alamodome in preparation for the City of San Antonio’s hosting of the 2018 men’s college basketball championships.

“It’s a pleasure to continue our long-standing relationship with Daktronics,” said Nick Langella, Alamodome general manager. “Our goal is to continually enhance the guest experience and the improved technology that Daktronics delivers will make every event even more memorable to our fans.”

The four main displays to be installed in the corners of the facility will measure approximately 33 feet high by 60 feet wide and feature 10-millimeter SMD line spacing – an increase from the previously-existing 16-millimeter Daktronics technology – to provide excellent image clarity and contrast with wide angle visibility.

The displays are capable of variable content zoning which allows them each to show one large image across the entire display or each display can also be separated into multiple zones. These zones can then show any combination of live video, instant replays, scoring and statistic information, animations, and sponsor advertisements.

A ribbon display will wrap around the seating fascia of the entire facility. It will measure 3 feet high by more than 1,868 feet long and feature 15-millimeter line spacing. This display will be able to show complimentary content to the main displays such as up-to-the-minute statistics and animations while also providing the opportunity to highlight sponsors throughout events.

“We’re proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the Alamodome, a facility that hosts numerous high-profile events such as the men’s collegiate national basketball championships in 2018,” said Dan Fjeldheim, Daktronics sales representative. “It’s a testament to our products and services when our customers continue to trust Daktronics for their high-profile events. We’re excited to see this project come together this year.”

Ticket industry veteran Fred Maglione is leaving TopTix/SeatGeek at the end of the month and re-launching his consulting practice.

Maglione is an accomplished ticket industry executive with more than 40 years of experience working with various organizations in the live sports and entertainment business. He specializes in helping business owners scale their enterprises as they develop strategies for fundraising, domestic and international sales, product positioning, management of acquisitions, or a successful exit. During his career, Maglione has been instrumental in helping company founders negotiate exits with a cumulative valuation of more than $130,000,000.

“I started with TopTix as a consultant to help the founders, Yehuda Yuval and Eli Dagan, develop their strategy for North America and explore the opportunity to raise additional funds to grow the business,” Maglione said. “As I learned more about the power of their technology platform SRO, I was hooked and came on full time as their Executive Chairman Americas.

“The goal was to either find a partner or strategic investor to help us grow the business. Mission accomplished with the SeatGeek merger this past April. Now that the dust has settled and the two companies are working as one, it’s time for me to move on and start my next project.”

“Fred played a key role in SeatGeek and TopTix coming together,” said SeatGeek co-founder Russ D’Souza. “Fred quickly saw the potential of SeatGeek Open and how SRO would complement and accelerate our strategy.”

“I’ve had an interesting and varied career in this industry, from working with venue managers to educate them on how and why to sell tickets on this thing called the Internet in the early 90’s to working with the Italian Lottery when they launched TicketOne (later acquired by Eventim),” added Maglione. “There’s a lot of value I can bring to the right organizations.”

In addition to TopTix, Maglione is the former CEO of Comcast Spectacor subsidiary New Era Tickets and FanOne Marketing, and held senior management roles, both domestically and internationally, with Tickets.com, Select Technologies, Globe Information Systems, and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Maglione can be reached at Fred@FredMaglione.com.

APPI Energy announced that it has been selected as ABC (aggregator, broker, and consultant) of the Year by The Energy Professionals Association (TEPA). This is TEPA’s third year presenting the award, which recognizes one company on its promise and innovation in areas such as contract negotiation, ethical business practices, and customer service. The winner is selected by a vote of the association’s supplier membership.

“We’re pleased to be recognized for our commitment to customer service and best practices,” said Walter Moore, President and CEO of APPI Energy. “None of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our team, and the culture of communication and ethics we’ve built over 21 years in the industry. APPI Energy is more than a group of consultants; we’re a coordinated team of professionals, with an obligation to do the right thing for our customers.”

“The retail energy market is incredibly dynamic and largely driven by data and stats,” said Andrew Barth, president of the National TEPA Board. “But a company’s success goes far beyond simply crunching numbers for the best possible price. The TEPA ABC of the Year award recognizes our member companies who also strive to connect with their customers and partners to effect positive change in our industry. We appreciate APPI Energy’s efforts in these regards and congratulate them on earning this recent award.”

Founded in 1996, APPI Energy provides data-driven procurement solutions to commercial, industrial, and nonprofit customers in every deregulated energy market in the U.S. APPI Energy delivers superior consulting, coordination of energy management strategies, and world-class customer service. The firm reduces and manages electricity and natural gas costs for members of the 155 affinity groups that endorse us as their energy consultant.

The Energy Professionals Association (TEPA) is a 501(c)(6) organization that establishes a standard code of conduct, serves as an educational resource and advocates legislative initiatives for the deregulated energy markets across the country. TEPA members include aggregators, brokers and consultants (ABCs), retail electricity providers (REPs) and affiliate members. TEPA members exhibit expertise, ethical practices and a high level of professionalism to help consumers buy electricity in the restructured national marketplace.

We did it! The 2017 100 + Women of IAVM campaign was a great success because of YOUR commitment to your IAVM Foundation. Your donations raised $11,000+ and made it possible for five women to attend sector conferences at VenueConnect17 and one woman to go to an IAVM school.

“The support and response for the 100 Women Campaign is overwhelmingly heartwarming. To know that together we have changed the professional lives of 6 women is so gratifying. When we come together we can do unimaginable and powerful great things!” stated Kerry Painter, CFE, CEM, CMP Assistant General Manager of Cox Business Center, IAVM Foundation Board of Trustee member, and champion of the campaign. Echoing her words is IAVM Foundation Board of Trustee, Chair Stephanie Curran, CFE, “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are extremely grateful for the continuous support so many of our members give. This initiative (or campaign) is one such example of members coming together to support your Foundation and the future of our industry. These tremendous things would not happen without you. Thank you!”

In its 35^th year, your IAVM Foundation has funded several scholarships and internships for VMS, AVSS, VenueConnect, and Sector Conferences at VenueConnect. Through the continued support of our members, these scholarships and internships are made possible. Our success is your success and the success of the whole industry. Thank you for making a difference!