IAVM’s one-day Severe Weather Preparedness event at the Marriott Quorum Hotel in Dallas came and went with the intensity and urgency one associates with, well, severe weather.

From real-life severe weather experiences at venues to understanding severe weather tools to looking at advances in weather science to be better prepared to exploring severe weather cases from legal standpoints, attendees were treated to a single day of information and education to help them address all aspects when it comes to severe weather.

“Terrorism is always on the table, but severe weather is the first thing,” said Paul Turner, CFE, senior director of event operations, Dallas Cowboys/AT&T Stadium, joined by Rob Matwick, who works just across the street from Turner as executive vice president, business operations for the Texas Rangers, on a panel moderated by Billy Langenstein, director of event services, SMG/U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. “Severe weather is inevitable. You have to deal with it head on at some point.”

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Paul Turner, CFE, is the senior director of event operations for AT&T Stadium and the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. Yes, that stadium that carries with it a hypnotizing effect thanks to its grandeur. It is a stadium that offers so much more than just the event taking place on the stadium’s floor, be that NFL football or any other number of events that line up to play there.

“Our product is the experience and memories,” Turner said during IAVM’s GuestX at a session entitled Enhancing the Guest Experience Beyond the Event. “Our product is different for each of our customers. Yours is too. We give you an experience and we can’t recreate that experience. It is unique to everyone who comes into a venue.

“I like to say that we have first time, last time experiences. You are making a first impression or a last impression for people. I remember when my dad turned 86 and could just no longer go to a game. It broke his heart to miss something that he loved so much.”

Turner said that enhancing experiences are created by facilities and also programs and activities.

On the facility side, tailgating is an obvious for several stadium and arena venues. He noted that AT&T Stadium’s lots have perimeters of grass suitable for tailgating that do not take up other parking space. Additional outdoor plazas on the east side and west side of the stadium combine for seven acres of fans enjoying making memories and experiences.

Turner noted how other facilities in recent years have seized the opportunity as well, with San Diego’s Petco Park creating “Major League Memories” for fans and BC Place in Vancouver creating “Make Amazing Happen” following a 2011 renovation. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans created an outdoor Champions Plaza after the venue reopened in 2006 following Hurricane Katrina.

“Now, our footprint is creeping outside our stadiums,” Turner said. “U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis was built with a huge public park at its doorstep.”

Then there is EverBank Field in Jacksonville, home to the NFL Jaguars, which has a swimming pool within the stadium complete with lifeguard.

Programs and activities also greatly enhance the guest experience.

“We keep our Miller Lite Corral open two hours after the game,” Turner said. “It is a way to extend our event, a way for people to have a drink and allow traffic to clear.”

Turner cited other examples such as pre-game field passes, Field Club access and a high-five line for fans. “Many of these ideas aren’t ground-breaking, but they are relevant to the guest experience,” he said.

While all of the enhancements add to the guest experience, Turner emphasized the importance of paying attention to the basics.

“You have to remember the essentials,” he said. “Get back to some of the basics and control what you can control. Examine your status quo. The basics must come before distractions. Walk your building through the eyes of your guests. Pay attention to details. These things may not sound as exciting as some of the other experiences we have talked about, but they have to be done first.”

Bryan Lansing, generational expert and keynote speaker from BridgeWorks, LLC, wore his title well in kicking off the first of 10 solid education sessions at IAVM’s GuestX program that wrapped up Thursday with attendees taking a tour of The Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, the training camp home to the Dallas Cowboys.

Lansing, a Millennial (the age group born between 1980-1995), admitted that in a text communication with a fellow M he was taken aback at his friend’s response.

“I had said that I was looking forward to seeing him soon and ended it with an exclamation point,” Lansing said. “He replied, OK, with a period at the end. A period at the end? Did I do or say something wrong? Did I offend him?”

While the crowd chuckled, it was but one most fitting example of how generations communicate in today’s high-tech, phone-handy society and how that communication is interpreted.

Lansing spent an informative hour talking about the various generations that are not only in today’s workplace, but the same generations that are patrons of public assembly venues.

“Why do Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964) want to meet?” he asked. “Why do Millennials always happen to be on their cell phones? I mean, you are talking to someone outside your generation and you are both speaking English, but feel you are speaking different languages.”

Lansing gave a vivid example of how two generations can view the same word from a different perspective. He asked a Baby Boomer what the person thought of when the word “NASA” was spoken. The response was about the United States landing a man on the moon on July 20, 1969. Lansing asked a Millennial what came to mind with the same word. The response, appropriately, was the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. One word, two meanings.

“We can get frustrated working with people outside our generation,” he said. “My goal is to help you connect, communicate and understand generations outside your own.”

In addition to the two aforementioned groups, others include Traditionalists (born before 1946), Generation X (born between 1965-1979) and Generation Z (born after 1996 and ongoing).

To understand a Traditionalist is to understand someone who came up through the Depression and was often without a job. This is the group that coined “waste not, want not.” After fighting through two World Wars, this is a class that brought a militaristic mindset to the table. Patriotism, work ethic, a fiscal conservatism and faith in institutions are also byproducts of Traditionalists.

“Once these people returned from fighting, you saw babies being born like crazy,” Lansing said. “That is how we got Baby Boomers, a group that has 10,000 a day turning 65.”

Civil rights came into play as this class believed it could make a change. The group arrived early to work, stayed late and put in anywhere from 60 to 80 hours a week on the job. It is an optimistic, idealistic class that questions authority and is competitive.

Lansing noted the advent of video games to help define those in Generation X. By the time this group reached its teen years, those three or four basic television channels now burst with 145 channels or more. Another cable phenomenon was when CNN introduced 24-hour news.

“Xer’s grew up seeing the veil pulled back,” Lansing said. “We saw OJ being chased in the Ford Bronco, the Exxon Valdez oil spill. This became a group that said, ‘We can’t trust anybody.’ It became a group that was independent, resourceful, entrepreneurial, skeptical and said that work and life must balance.”

While Millennials were born when the early Macintosh computers performed at 128 kilobytes, that number amazingly equates to two tweets today.

“Millennials have had massive change in a short time,” he said. “We want updates faster. Social media is the thing. We grew up with the ability to connect with people halfway around the world. And the group has experienced violence right here at home. During 9/11 we were kids and teenagers. If anything this has made the group comfortable talking about anything. It is a diverse, collaborative, socially accepting and tech-comfortable class.”

Lansing said the three areas to manage for cross-generational success include leadership, such as providing opportunities for the different groups to share their voice. “Let Millennials sit in with the top-level management at meetings,” he said.

Another aspect is to keep the management authentic. “Ask them about their day, how they are doing,” Lansing said. “Be that leader who people will follow whether you have a title or not.”

Finally, communicate the why. “Few people can talk about why they do what they do,” he said. “Every organization is better when they understand who the generations are. Communicate the why.”

Are you looking to change the sector you are involved in, are you wanting to learn a new skill, improve your leadership skills or need help devising a plan to become the next general manager at your venue? Are you a veteran in the industry looking to obtain a CFE or CVP designation?

The IAVM Mentor Connector Program is an excellent vehicle to enhance your venue management career. Supported by some of our industry’s best and brightest venue professionals, now is the time to sign up for this unique program.  Both mentors and mentees benefit from participating in the program—mentors become better teachers and mentees benefit from the knowledge and direction they gain. The partnership usually introduces both individuals to a new network of colleagues!

Mentor Connector has no age limitations. You may want to learn about the latest smartphone apps, the latest techniques in ensuring the fan experience, advocacy laws that are applicable in your state or region—everyone can learn something from someone!

If you’d like to experience the value of this member benefit, please apply online at by March 25, 2017. The Mentoring Committee will be hosting an informational webinar on March 22, 2017 at 1pm CDT. We hope you can join in to learn more about the program! REGISTER NOW.

The Shaw Conference Centre (SCC) announced the addition of internationally renowned culinary expert Thomas Trevethan as Food & Beverage Director. In his new role, he will oversee the culinary, banquet and purchasing departments at Edmonton’s premier convention centre.

Trevethan brings 15 years of leadership with luxury brands such as the Ritz Carlton, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Marriott Autograph Collection, Caesars Entertainment and the Paris Casino and Resort. He has received U.S. Senate and Congressional recognition from former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter, and was invited to the White House by first lady Michelle Obama in 2010.

“We are thrilled to have a professional of Thomas’ calibre come to Edmonton to join our team,” says Lisanne Lewis, General Manager, Shaw Conference Centre. “His proven expertise in managing large-scale food and beverage operations will elevate our award-winning food, service and guest experience to even higher, world-class levels.”

With Executive Chef Serge Belair and Executive Pastry Chef Jason Wang now in place, Trevethan joins one of Canada’s top culinary teams. His unique combination of international culinary and management experience will strengthen the city’s brand and reputation by continuing to position Edmonton as a premier meetings and events destination.

“I’m very excited to join the Edmonton community and Shaw Conference Centre team,” says Trevethan. “I look forward to working with everyone to build on the continued excellence of managing one of the city’s iconic assets, and delivering best in class experiences to our guests.”

Featuring Canada’s premier culinary team and led by Executive Chef Serge Belair, Edmonton’s Shaw Conference Centre serves 250,000 meals annually for regional, national and international guests. For more information on the convention centre’s award-winning culinary program visit http://bit.ly/2f9OTRJ.