Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton EXPO Centre Announce New General Managers
By Lauren Andrews
Edmonton Economic Development announced the appointment of Emma Pietroleonardo as General Manager of the Edmonton Convention Centre and Olaf Miede as the General Manager of the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
“After a competitive recruitment and selection process, we are excited to welcome both Emma and Olaf to the EEDC 
family as the general managers of our two venues,” said Arlindo Gomes, Vice President, Venue Management, EEDC. “Both Emma and Olaf’s experience, leadership, community engagement and operating performance will support our venue teams as we continue to drive economic and social prosperity in our region.”
“It is a privilege to join a passionate team of professionals who have worked hard to position the Edmonton Convention Centre among North America’s top performing public assembly venues,” Pietroleonardo said. “I look forward to building upon the Centre’s reputation for service excellence, culinary expertise and dedication to sustainability.”
“It’s an exciting time to join this dynamic venue as we continue to lead the way in driving operational efficiencies and delivering exceptional experiences for our clients and guests,” Miede said. “I am honored to contribute to an established team of public stewards who welcome and serve millions of guests each year.”
Pietroleonardo comes to the Edmonton Convention Centre with extensive operational and leadership experience in the venue and hospitality industries. She has previously held leadership roles with the Royal Hotel Group, providing oversight of six full-service hotels across Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Miede’s career in the hospitality and venues industries spans more than 20 years and includes operational and leadership positions within hospitality properties across Western Canada. Prior to joining the Edmonton EXPO Centre, Miede served as General Manager of Hotels on Whyte.
Lauren Andrews is Marketing & Communications Manager, Venues, Edmonton Economic Development.
Give Back To The Foundation On #GivingTuesday, December 3rd
By Angie Teel
#GivingTuesday isn’t just another opportunity to jump on a social media bandwagon. It is an opportunity for you to collaborate with likeminded individuals to celebrate organizations that are near to your heart. Organizations that are not only trying to make things better right now but are creating a vision of a successful future. Giving Tuesday is a day recognized all over the world for us to stand up, give back, and take part in something that is a part of us.
You have more to give then you realize…It’s not the size of the gift, it’s the meaning, support, and generosity behind the gift that has the impact. You can give your time, knowledge, words of encouragement, or a simple smile to spark change. Borrowing a quote from my fellow St. Louis native, the late Maya Angelou, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”
Read those words again, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”
I GIVE to the IAVM Foundation because …I am forever on the receiving end.
Remember to GIVE to the IAVM Foundation on GIVING TUESDAY, December 3rd.
Angie Teel
Assistant General Manager
ASM Tulsa
A Warm Welcome To Our Newest Members
Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in October 2019. Thank you for being a part of the association!
Also, let us get to know you better by participating in the I Am Venue Management series. Please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story to share your story and photo.
Kerlos Adib, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL, United States
Charlina Allen, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Michael Archibeque, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, TX, United States
Michelle Armenta, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Robert Barajas, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA, United States
Charles Baran, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Kelly Bargabos, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA, United States
Sam Barnett, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, United States
Kelly Beliveau, Portland Expo Center, Portland, OR, United States
Cooper Besougloff, Western Kentucky University, Arlington, VA, United States
Bailey Bowman, U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Megan Buria, Target Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Darin Bush, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC, United States
Elizabeth Campbell, Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS, United States
Chris Campbell, Iowa State Center, Ames, IA, United States
Scott Carpenter, Lethbridge ENMAX Centre, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
Archie Carty, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Stephen Castellano, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA, United States
Kady Chambers, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
Laura Chmielewski, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Don Clark, BioSaphe, Provo, UT, United States
Seth Clines, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, TX, United States
Scott Condor, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Trevor Conn, Southpaw Sports & Entertainment, Irving, TX, United States
Sam Consenzo, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
Terry Cooksey, BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center, Tupelo, MS, United States
Lacey Crump, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, TX, United States
Ta’Corian Darden, Western Kentucky University, Russellville, KY, United States
Mary Downs, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, United States
Bridgett Finochiaro, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ, United States
Nick Fischer, Erie Events, Erie, PA, United States
Shayna Fitzl, U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Nancy Fortney, Target Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Heather Giddens, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, United States
Amber Goodspeed, Texas Performing Arts, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
Lindsey Graham, U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Sabine Granoux, Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Madison Green, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, United States
Stevie Grey, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Diana Gruber, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Brad Gulbranson, Iowa State Center, Ames, IA, United States
Meagan Guy, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, TX, United States
Chad Hardy, Western Kentucky University, Columbus, GA, United States
Simone Harms, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Jasmine Harris, Toyota Center, Houston, TX, United States
Keenan Havey, Western Kentucky University, Ames, IA, United States
James Hicks, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, TX, United States
Taylor Hight, Walton Arts Center/Walmart AMP, Fayetteville, AR, United States
Johnny Holland, BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center, Tupelo, MS, United States
Zach Hughes, Southpaw Sports & Entertainment, Irving, TX, United States
Megan Jackson, Toyota Center, Houston, TX, United States
Jessica Johnson, U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Ricky Jones, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Jay Katz, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Karolyn Kirchgesler, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Tyler Koolbeck, Iowa State Center, Ames, IA, United States
Ryan Kuddes, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, TX, United States
Kyle Kuehn, Western Kentucky University, New Ulm, MN, United States
Jeff Kunowski, Southpaw Sports & Entertainment, Irving, TX, United States
Michael Lacharite, Edmonton Convention Centre, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Claire Ladner, City of Tacoma, Venues & Events, Tacoma, WA, United States
John LaFortune, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Terrence Lake, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Skylar Lewis, U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Marcelis Logan, Western Kentucky University, Lexington, KY, United States
Ric Marcelino, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA, United States
Charles Marino, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
David Marsh, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Brianna Martin, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Matthew Martinucci, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Sean McBroom, City of Tacoma, Venues & Events, Tacoma, WA, United States
Phillips Mickeal, Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue, WA, United States
Tod Minnich, Honeywell Foundation, Wabash, IN, United States
Angel Moore, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA, United States
Madina Moore, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
John Moskal, The Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel, IN, United States
Madison Muschinske, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Michael Oca, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Claire Oliver, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Ori Ovics, Edmonton Convention Centre, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Robert Paglieri, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Marina Paul, STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Jeremy Pendley, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, United States
Kristine Perry, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC, United States
Rynarda Ransom, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC, United States
Nicole Raymond, Target Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Michael Rescigno, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Jeremy Riley, Southpaw Sports & Entertainment, Irving, TX, United States
Katie Ripke, U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Jen Ritchie, Target Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Rob Rivera, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, TX, United States
Alex Rojas, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA, United States
Benjamin Roschke, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Delmonte Ross, Western Kentucky University, Gilbert, AZ, United States
Richard Schade, Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, CA, United States
Nikki Scheel, U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Jeff Schoening, Iowa State Center, Ames, IA, United States
Brian Seitz, The Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel, IN, United States
Paul Shamp, Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL, United States
Larissa Sherman, Full Sail University, Las Vegas, NV, United States
Ashley Sinclair, STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Tanner Smith, Western Kentucky University, Nashville, TN, United States
Michael Sousa, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA, United States
Greg Stocker, Southpaw Sports & Entertainment, Irving, TX, United States
James Stocum, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, TX, United States
Maggie Swenson, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Todd Temple, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA, United States
James Te’o, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Alexia Testa, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
Sydney Upah, Iowa State Center, Ames, IA, United States
Matt Vaessen, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA, United States
Gabriel Valentin, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Jonté Valentine, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
Jackie Ventura, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
Emily Wade, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, United States
Vinni Walia, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Erin Weldon, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Kevin Wilkes, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Mack Williams, Western Kentucky University, Lexington, KY, United States
Derek Winning, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Frances Wong, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA, United States
Jerrod Woods, Target Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Kyle Worman, Enterprise Center, Saint Louis, MO, United States
Dustin Zuelsdorf, Iowa State Center, Ames, IA, United States
Venues, Churches: We Are More Alike Than We Think
By Kerry Painter, CVE, CMP, CEM
Our venues have always been a reflection of the best of our community by providing memorable moments for its citizens, iconic events as well as places of support such as fundraisers, economic impact, or in the recent decade, places of refuge from weather. It was a stretch at first to wrap our arms around how to become a shelter. Think back to the days of Hurricane Katrina when we formed a mega-shelter committee to create best practices and train people in the line of hurricanes.
Since then, earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes have caused us to sharpen our skills and open our doors to 
house people and provide them medicine, safety, shelter, animal care, and nutrition. Now, we are struggling with our society’s latest challenge: active shooters and crowd terrorism. While we struggle to train our teams and find the best ways to help our staff feel empowered and safe, once again we can come to the aid of our community.
Recently, our venues in Raleigh engaged IAVM’s Mark Herrera to spend the day teaching us about situational awareness, active shooters, Stop the Bleed and Trained Crowd Manager. This is a day of training that many of us have engaged in other cities or other venues; sadly it’s become a touring training curriculum. We invited all the region’s venues to participate along with our promoter Live Nation, our resident arts companies, related City Departments and PD/Fire. What was different this time, was that among the 300 typical attendees we also included 13 of our community’s churches.
Unfortunately churches are now struggling with the same needs our venues are. How to keep the doors open to unknown guests but keep everyone safe in the instance of an unexpected incident. How to create an emergency plan that adapts to so many situations that are now possible. We invited several places of worship, of every denomination and were honored to have 13 of them take us up on the offer. What has become evident is that these are not subjects people who manage these places are equipped to tackle with either budget or security experience. The comments we received were:
“I took so many notes. We’re just at the beginning stages to figure this out.”
“We get complacent and forget. We learned a lot of information even as a small church.”
“We’ve got so many entrances, and when you sit up front you can’t see what’s behind. We need to figure it all out.”
So perhaps the borders of our venues are once again expanding just a little further as we come to the aid of our faith communities and share our training and security resources. I encourage you to reach out and include those in your area the next time you are working toward improving security studies, manuals, drills, trainings, or table tops. Any and all of these activities are not only prudent for our venues but also needed in churches, schools, or entertainment places. Go ahead, reach out and add a few more people to the room and keep your city just a little safer for everyone.
Kerry Painter CVE, CMP, CEM, is director/general manager of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex at City of Raleigh Municipal Government.
There Goes My PR Guy!
By R.V. Baugus
When news came that industry veteran Brad Gessner was retiring, my first thought was that our profession was indeed losing one of its finest.
My second thought was, “Dang, there goes my PR guy!”
Gessner, who got his industry start in 1978 as the assistant director of special facilities for St. Lucie County 
in Ft. Pierce, Florida, will retire from his most recent position as senior vice president of North American Convention Centers for ASM Global at the end of this year. Like several who enter retirement, Gessner will continue to serve as a consultant with the company.
To me, Brad always epitomized the words of President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy of “speak softly and carry a big stick.” Most people stop the saying at that point, but four key words actually followed: “You will go far.”
Gessner went far in his career as he worked as general manager of the HemisFair Arena and Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio and served as the deputy general manager of the Del Mar Fairgrounds and Racetrack. Prior to joining AEG Facilities in 2012, Gessner worked for 14 years at the San Diego Convention Center, serving as the general manager of the facilities for six years.
In his latest role as senior vice president, Gessner oversaw AEG Facilities’ portfolio of North American convention centers including the Los Angeles Convention Center, Hawaii Convention Center, Puerto Rico Convention Center as well as the recent addition of the Palm Springs Convention Center. Gessner also served as the General Manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center until July 2018.
Professional accolades aside, I will miss Brad the PR guy. He frequently sent me story ideas at the highest level all the way to sharing new hires made at the LA Convention Center. Brad knew well the meaning of sharing news and promoting your venue and your personnel.
It wasn’t always just about his facility, though. Yes, he suggested to me that Estella Flores, his vice president of operations, would be a good person to write about effective ways to identify workplace hazards, which she did in collaboration with convention center HR Manager Kevin McCall in the November/December Facility Manager. Good for his facility to have the exposure? Sure. Just as beneficial, though, is the takeaway other venues will have after reading the story.
Perhaps Brad’s greatest lead for me came when he suggested that there is a venue general manager down at the Puerto Rico Convention Center named Jorge Perez who might be worthy of a feature in FM. On the first anniversary after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, I traveled to San Juan to meet Jorge, to see much of the rebuilding still taking place, and to hear his story of how his venue played such a prominent role at the time of the hurricane as well as going forward, even today.
The more I think about it, even though Brad is soon entering “retirement,” I have a feeling that through both his consulting and his love for the industry that maybe I have not received my last tip to follow through on from my friend.
Hey, a guy can hope, right? Enjoy that deserved downtime with the family, Brad!