Beginning with the 2018-2019 season, Herberger Theater Center will add three resident companies: Arizona Opera, Childsplay Theatre, and Arizona Broadway Theatre.  They will join the current robust lineup of resident companies (Arizona Theatre Company, Center Dance Ensemble and iTheatre Collaborative) and will ensure that there is something for everybody who wishes to attend an event at Herberger Theater Center.

“We are excited and proud to welcome these wonderful organizations to join the amazing resident companies who call the Herberger Theater Center home,” said Mark Mettes, CFE, President and CEO of the Herberger Theater Center. “Each of these new companies have a long history of quality productions for audiences throughout the Valley, and I can’t wait to see their performances on our stages. Together, the diverse offerings of the resident companies of the Herberger Theater Center will entertain and inspire audiences of all ages, providing more reasons than ever to live, work, and play in downtown Phoenix.”

(L-R) Mark Mettes, CFE, President and CEO of the Herberger Theater Center; Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton; Gail Browne, Executive Director of the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture

The addition of the resident companies will increase Herberger Theater Center’s events to more than 8oo annually and is expected to bring a 70% boost in overall attendance.  “It is growth in a time when the performing arts don’t seem to be growing as fast as other industries.,” Mettes said. 

Arizona Opera is entering an exciting new chapter of artistic vibrancy and community engagement. “With this program expansion, we are increasing our commitment to presenting an adventurous, gutsy, and compelling repertoire of diverse works to inspire new audiences, while continuing to meaningfully invest in the cherished traditional operas known and loved by so many,” said Joseph Specter, President and General Director of Arizona Opera.

Childsplay Theatre is returning back to Herberger Theater Center after spending the past decade in Tempe.  “Childsplay is very happy to be performing at a more central Valley location and we are thrilled to be a member of the Herberger Theater Center’s outstanding family of resident companies,” said Steve Martin, Managing Director of Childsplay.

Looking to expand its brand of Broadway-style musicals to an ever-growing audience in the Valley of the Sun, Arizona Broadway Theatre (ABT) plans a continued partnership with the Herberger Theater Center. As founder of Arizona Broadway Theatre, I am thrilled the Herberger Theater Center’s Board of Directors has accepted ABT as one of its newest resident companies,” said Kiel Klaphake, CEO & Executive Producer of Arizona Broadway Theatre. “As we foster new relationships with the other resident companies, working together to offer audiences a variety of exciting productions, ABT is eager to advance the mission of the Herberger Theater–bringing the ‘art’ to the ‘audience.’”

These new companies will add to the vibrant offerings of performing arts in Phoenix, as the Herberger Theater Center fulfills its vision to provide and support significant and relevant experiences and to serve as a premier performance venue, “Where Audience Meets Art.”

IAVM’s Diversity and Inclusive Leadership Committee is new and born partly out of the One Member, One Vote that was passed prior to VenueConnect 2017. Before the committee came truly into existence, one of the highlights at VenueConnect in Nashville was a reception in which committee Vice Chair Robyn Williams, CFE, shared some remarks about how a new committee was being birthed and what some of its goals would be. That speech, not surprisingly, drew several individuals who committed donations to help enable more diversified attendees to have the opportunity to come to a future VenueConnect. That, of course, is but one of the highlights for the committee moving forward.

The Diversity and Inclusive Leadership Committee (DILC) is focused on developing opportunities to promote a diverse membership into leadership roles in IAVM. Leadership emphasis to focus on members of color, culturally diverse members, LGBTQ members, women and people with disabilities.

The committee’s purpose is to ensure that boards, committees and other leadership positions reflect diversity in their makeup.

The committee’s charge is in:
• Identifying issues related to maximizing the diversity of ALL membership
• Celebrating the benefits and possibilities of a diverse and complex membership
• Recognizing and celebrating the richness of an active, diverse membership
• Advising the IAVM Board on mechanisms and programs that encourage diversity in leadership roles
• Encouraging active participation by membership of color including identifying barriers and how to remove them
• Enriching the Association and the profession through diverse leaders

“As IAVM delivers on its commitment to serve a diverse and inclusive membership, I am honored and proud to do my part along with this esteemed committee to ensure we do all we can to include, educate and foster, all,” said Julia Slocombe, committee chair and vice president, regional operations for the Western Region of Smart City. “I am encouraged by the words of Stephen R. Covey that ‘strength lies in our differences, not in similarities.'”

It is with pride in noting that the committee is comprised of four past IAVM chairs/presidents. In addition to Chairman Slocombe, other committee members include:

Robyn Williams, CFE, Vice Chair (IAVM past president)
Executive Director
Portland’5 Centers for the Arts

Kim Damron
President and COO
Paciolan

Jimmy Earl, CFE (IAVM past president)
Senior Athletics Director
Frank Erwin Center

Shura Garnett, CFE (IAVM past president)
Division Senior Vice President
Spectra Venue Management and Food Services & Hospitality

Daniel Huerta
Executive General Manager
Fair Park

Joyce Leveston
Director, Convention Services
Events DC

Jennifer Norris, MFE
Assistant Managing Director
San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

Steve Peters, CFE (IAVM past president)
President
VenuWorks

Naz Sabripour, CEM, CVP
Director of Events and Operations
Pasadena Convention Center

Jill Schinberg
Assistant Professor
University of Kentucky
College of Fine Arts

Troy Thorn, CTA
Executive Director
Chesapeake Conference Center

This holiday season, give someone you know the gift of IAVM Membership.  – Just a few minutes of your time is needed to sign up a co-worker, employee, intern, or student.

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#GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. Millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.

We hope that you will use this time to reflect on your experiences in the venue industry, and that you’ll realize the importance of your gift to the IAVM Foundation. Over the past 35 years, donations to the foundation have helped to create amazing programs such as VMS, the IAVM research department (VDS), safety and security initiatives (EMSSI), and scholarship and internship programs for the future of the industry. Tuesday, November 28th is a time to give back, so the IAVM Foundation can continue to develop programs and education that improves every aspect of our venue industry.

For your support, in any amount, we thank you, and hope that you have a magical holiday season!

Give Back on #GivingTuesday

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Back in May, we reported on the upcoming retirement of industry icon Kevin Twohig, CFE, the man who for the last 16 years served as chief executive officer of the Spokane Public Facilities District. Twohig’s impact carried far beyond his Pacific Northwest corner of the world, however. Most notably, Twohig’s involvement with IAVM’s Venue Management School (VMS) at Oglebay goes far back. While it is difficult to pin down exactly where his greatest influence to an industry he loves so much can be found, certainly those weeks spent every year in the rolling hills of Wheeling, West Virginia, qualify high at the top of the list.

It was my personal pleasure and honor to travel to Spokane and to Twohig’s office some 10 years ago for a cover feature story for Facility Manager magazine. There, I found Twohig to be welcoming, accommodating, and mostly proud of the venues that comprise the Spokane Public Facilities District, including the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane Convention Center, and INB Performing Arts Center.

Ever the gracious person, Twohig recently took time out of a busy schedule to answer a few questions surrounding his career and retirement.

When is your last official day?

My last day as CEO is January 31, 2018. I’ll find out if I am going to continue to work thru a PAC renovation project that will take all of 2018.

Your thoughts on Stephanie Curran stepping in to the position to succeed you.

Stephanie emerged from a pool of more than 100 candidates as the best choice to fill the position. I’m very proud of the work she has done at the PAC and the Spokane Convention Center and expect she will be a great leader for all of the facilities and our District employee team. Steph has shown a very well developed skill set and has been active in IAVM for many years. She has great communication skills which has led to a good rapport with the District Board.

What is next for you? Where will you live and what will you be doing?

My wife and I have grandkids in Vermont, and a second home in Phoenix where I still have family. We love to remodel and have a never ending list of projects. There is golf to play and places to visit that have been on the list for quite a while.

Was now just the perfect time for you to step down and why?

I started realizing about 18 months ago that it was time to consider a change. As everyone who has been in the seat knows, these jobs are 24/7. I love the challenges and the people, and have become adept at dealing with the problems and the politics. But it does take a toll and I want to get out of the top seat while I still enjoy the industry. Projects have been a special focus for me. Having a great team to operate the venues and great GMs has allowed me to focus on some great projects in and around our venues.

What are some career highlights, if you can somehow make the answer manageable after earning so many accolades?

Working on the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena project and helping to develop a facility that really works.

Assembling the team, developing an unique operating model, and selling the model to the Board when the District took over the operation of all three facilities.

Changing the Spokane “skyline” with major additions to the meeting, entertainment, and sports facilities in the community.

Chairing the Venue Management School and being part of the team that launched the Graduate Institute.

Receiving the Charles A. McElravy award.

I’ve had some amazing opportunities with USA Volleyball including attending four Summer Olympic games and recently with the U.S. Air Force.

We are proud to report that most recently Twohig led an expansion of the convention center and a series of improvements to the Veterans Arena. In May, he won Visit Spokane’s Leadership Excellence in Tourism award, which honors “significant achievement and historically significant contribution by someone who has impacted Spokane’s tourism industry for more than 10 years.”

Congratulations on a distinguished career, Kevin. You deserve all good things that have happened in your illustrious career and that are sure to follow you in your newest chapter of life.