Michelle Minyard has been named as National Sales Manager at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. In this role, Minyard will be responsible for developing and servicing clients in the Washington D.C. and Southeast markets. She will also work closely with the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau on prospects to generate business for the Convention Center.

With her career in the New Orleans hospitality industry spanning more than 25 years, Minyard brings rich sales and event planning experience to the position.

Previously, she served as Sponsorship Director for the Festival International de Louisiane and the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. Minyard honed her sales skills in Sales Manager roles with the Hilton St. Charles Hotel New Orleans, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (2004-2005), and the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Michelle will be a tremendous asset to our team,” said Elaine Williams, Director of Sales. “Her extensive sales experience and knowledge of the local convention industry provides her with the ideal perspective to help us increase occupancy and revenue.”

Lionel J. Dubay, Assistant Vice President for the Business Services Division at the University of Florida, announced that he will retire from the University on July 6, 2017.

Dubay came to UF in 1985 as the director of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, a position he held until 2007 when he became the director of UF’s Business Services Division. He took on his current title of Assistant Vice President of Business Services in 2012.

When Dubay moved over to the Business Services Division in 2007, his new responsibilities included overseeing the operational, fiscal, programmatic, and administrative activities of several auxiliary enterprises and private management services.

“Throughout my 47-year professional career I have been blessed to have worked with so many hard working, dedicated and talented staff members and business partners as well as people I have reported to,” Dubay said. “I am very grateful to them for all of the support they have extended to me.”

As the head of UF’s Business Services Division, Dubay has worked closely with the University’s food service business partner Aramark to increase the number of national brands on campus from nine to 18 such as: the new Au Bon Pain, Panda Express, Wing Zone, Pollo Tropical, Moe’s, Salad Creations & Rising Roll. Through the BSD and Aramark partnership they have spent over $20 million in building new and refreshing food service units on campus. The number of Starbucks on campus was expanded from two to five with the most recent being at Marston Library. Currently the Chick–fil-A located at the Hub is under expansion and renovation, the Starbucks at Library West is under renovation and a Chomp it and Starbucks is being installed at the Law School. These projects are slated for completion before the start of the fall semester. UF was one of the first campuses within the State to go Styrofoam free at all of their food service locations. The student meal plan program was completely revamped from a number of meals a student could purchase per plan to five and seven-day open access meal plans which now have up to 12 additional meal plan equivalency food service locations a student can go to.

With the extension of the Bookstore contract two years ago with Follett Higher Education Group, the main bookstore underwent a $1.2 million renovation and the auxiliary bookstores at the Law School and Health Science Center went through a re-fresh. And, Follett helped with the financial support to expand the seating in the Reitz Union food court across from the Pollo Tropical. In an effort to save students money on course materials Follett implemented a Rent–a–Text Program, Price Match Program, and a Digital All Access Opt in Program.

The process time to obtain a Gator 1 Card has been shortened for students because they now can submit their photos online to the Gator 1 central office.

Upon graduation from the University of Maine-Orono in 1970, Dubay was hired as the first full-time Recreation Director for the City of Augusta, Maine. In 1972 he became actively involved in the construction process of the Augusta Civic Center and shortly after the Center opened in 1973 he was appointed Director, a position he held until 1985 when he became the O’Connell Center director. He joined IAAM in 1973.

Dubay was one of the founding members of the Florida Facility Managers Association which consists of arenas, stadiums, convention centers, and performing arts centers within the state of Florida. He served as the association’s president from 1991 to 1993 and again from 2005 to 2007.

Dubay was responsible for bringing many acts to the Augusta Civic Center and UF campus over the years, including Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, John Denver, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Cher, Loretta Lynn, Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, Billy Joel, Elton John, Rod Stewart, M.C. Hammer, the Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Dave Mathews Band, the Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley. The May 24, 1977 Elvis Presley concert Dubay hosted in Maine was one of Elvis’s last concerts before his death on August 16 of that year.

He served as the 75th president of the International Association of Assembly Managers (as it was known at the time), which he said was a great honor and privilege. Dubay also served in numerous leadership positions within IAAM including Vice President of Region V (1995-1997), chair of the Board of Governors, Universities Committee, and Diversification Committee, and was on the IAMM Board of Directors for seven years.

“I truly loved my time in the arena business. I have many fond memories of the many wonderful artists I booked over the years,” Dubay said. “And more importantly, I have made so many life-long friends within the entertainment industry and my professional associations. Having the opportunity to serve as President of the International Association of Assembly Managers was such an honor and privilege.”

Shortly after Dubay became President of IAAM the tragic events of 9/11 took place. In response to the terrorist attacks on the United States, Dubay appointed the IAAM Safety and Security Task Force (SSTF) which brought together the largest number of likeminded organizations in the history of IAAM to develop a set of safety and security best practices and protocols for the industry’s various venue types. Out of the tireless efforts and great work of the IAAM SSTF, the IAAM Academy for Venue Safety & Security was later formed.

A champion of diversity, professional development and growing students within the venue management profession, Dubay was the architect in setting up a student scholarship program within IAAM at the International and Regional V level, and within the Florida Facilities Managers Association.

Dubay received the prestigious Charles A. McElravy Award in 2007 and in 2013 he was the first to receive the IAVM Region V Distinguished Service Award.

“I have a strong passion and love for IAVM and FFMA because they have done so much for me in the way of my personal and professional growth,” Dubay said. “Further, I would encourage everyone to get involved within their professional associations as you will definitely receive more in return than you put in.”

As for retirement, Dubay says he has no major plans other than “playing a little more golf and spending time with my grandkids. I do know I will miss coming to work at UF every day. It was a very energizing and special place to work.”

After an extensive nationwide search Mac Campbell has been promoted to Deputy Director for the Baltimore Convention Center.

In his previous role as Director of Client Services, Campbell was a key member of the senior executive team. As a leader Campbell is committed to staff development, safety, customer service, and sustainability. His expertise in venue management was honed during his work with Strathmore Hall in Bethesda, expanded upon in his previous role at the Convention Center, and heavily influenced by his participation in industry associations.

On June 21, Campbell was named as a recipient of the 2017 Pacesetter Award by the Events Industry Council. He was nominated for this national honor by the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) where he served as the chairman on the Young Professionals Committee from 2014-2016. In August of this year Campbell will begin serving on the board of IAVM. The presentation of the Pacesetter Award for Emerging Leaders will be presented in October of year.

In his new role, Campbell will be overseeing the day to day operations of the facility and supporting the executive director in developing the Center’s strategy for continued success.

“This is a very exciting time for me,” Campbell said. “Discovering that I received the Pacesetter Award by the Events Industry Council the day before learning of my new appointment as the deputy director for the Baltimore Convention Center is both an exciting and humbling experience. I’ve found a home in our industry and I hope that my work continues to make a positive impact here at the Baltimore Convention Center and in a city that we serve.”

“I am excited to begin this chapter with Mac Campbell as deputy director,” said Peggy Daidakis, executive director of the venue. “Mac is smart, innovative, and respected in our industry as an emerging leader. Like any good leader he believes in his people, the work, and our mission of being the best convention center in the country.”

Voting is now open and will remain so through July 22, 2017. The complete slate including biographical information and photos can now be viewed through the ballot site as well as on the IAVM web site.

All voting members should have received an email titled “2017-2018 IAVM Board of Directors Election – login information below”. The email contains a generated username and password to use when logging in to submit votes. If you haven’t received the email, please contact Rosanne Duke via email or by calling 972-538-1025.

Once again, the ballot is available through Survey & Ballot Systems allowing complete confidentiality and security to our members.

The results of the voting will be posted following the closing of the ballot on July 22. However, join us in Nashville for VenueConnect, August 7-10 and have the opportunity to meet the new board members in person. Every minute of this year’s program is distinct, offering new dynamic sessions, topic roundtables, and the largest industry trade show and networking events only possible in a city like Nashville!

Patience, dear young professionals, patience. It is natural to want to do too much too soon, but by following these five valuable tips as outlined by Zach Sloman, booking and marketing manager for the John Paul Jones Arena/SMG at the University of Virginia, you will be on the road to success in no time.

Understand The Big Picture

If there is one thing above all else that I truly believe is key to success, it is understanding the big picture. Understanding how you fit in the overall operation of your office or in most of our cases, how an event happens from booking to settlement will give you the knowledge necessary to take your work to the next level. Stay late after a show to see the load-out, understand the revenue streams each event creates, look into the finer details of the ticketing world (service charges, facility fees, rebates). The earlier you develop a greater understanding of the big picture, the better off you’ll be.

Find A Mentor Outside Your Office

Your direct supervisor can certainly be a mentor and steer you down the right path. However, finding a mentor outside of your office allows for a new perspective and different experiences. Topics that may feel uncomfortable to talk to your supervisor about are easier to discuss with someone that is completely removed from a situation in the office and allows for a bias-free conversation. While finding a mentor outside the office is certainly harder, IAVM has a wonderful Mentor Connector Program (shameless plug) that I have had the pleasure of completing. While no longer in the program, I still talk with my mentor on a regular basis as if nothing has changed and cannot recommend it enough.

Read/Listen To What Others Are Doing

There is no better way to learn than from first-hand experiences. You will only be subjected to so many different situations in your career and thus the ability to learn from others about the ones you have not yet run into is invaluable. Besides spending a significant sum of money going to conferences, industry publications are the next best way to hear and learn from the experiences of others. There are many different outlets currently reporting on the entertainment and facility management industry. Whether through print publications such as FM Magazine or Pollstar, online publications such as Amplify, or podcasts such as Promoter 101, a plethora of options currently exist that you should be taking advantage of. You’ll look like a hero when a situation you read about occurs and you’re the only one with a solution.

Voice Your Opinion When Appropriate

Just because you may not be in a position of power does not mean you should stay quiet. I believe there is a time and place that one, no matter the position, should speak up if done in a respectful and intelligent manner. There is certainly going to be a time in your career when you do not agree with a decision being made or a task you are asked to complete, yet every decision should not be questioned or argued. Every situation is different and navigating these seas can be tricky. However, knowing when to speak up and present a meaningful opposition to something can lead to meaningful takeaways. On the flip side, be prepared for things to not go your way.

Enjoy The Freedom At The Bottom

While most likely taken for granted, the ability to not have to deal with the stress of an upcoming big decision or great responsibility makes it easier to leave work at work and have a social life. You’re young and still able to hit the bars until close. Don’t cash that ability in so fast in lure of money and power. Certainly, you can have a social life at the director level and above but it’s easier to do when you’re at the bottom with very little baggage to take out of the office.