Sharon Cummins announced her plans to retire as the executive director of the U.S. Cellular Center, Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids Ice Arena and McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa later this year. Cummins’ decision to retire will close a remarkable career of 30 years in public assembly management.

“On July 7, 2017 I will celebrate my 30th year in the public assembly management industry,” Cummins said. “Never would I have thought 30 years ago when I answered an ad for the City of Cedar Rapids looking for an Administrative Assistant at the Five Seasons Center what an exciting career I would have in this business. I have met incredible people, had the pleasure of working with great mentors and feel that I have made a positive contribution to the varied tasks that I have undertaken. I am now ready for
the next adventure in my life. Ron and I plan to travel the country, spend time with family and friends and just see what lies ahead.”

In addition to serving as the executive director of the U.S. Cellular Center, Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids Ice Arena and McGrath Amphitheatre during two time frames, Cummins also spent seven years working as the national director of planning and development at VenuWorks’ corporate office.

“Sharon Cummins has been a strong leader for our company. I am grateful for her innumerable contributions to the Cedar Rapid managed-venues and her distinguished tenure with VenuWorks,” said Steve Peters, president of VenuWorks.

Associate Executive Director Mike Silva will succeed Cummins at the helm effective July 1, 2017. “It is truly an honor to succeed Sharon as the next executive director in Cedar Rapids,” said Silva. “It has been a pleasure to work directly with Sharon. She has guided us with her leadership, integrity, and commitment to our community. I look forward to leading the team with this legacy of excellence.”

You, along with your co-workers, colleagues, and peers are invited to mix and mingle with the team at IAVM Headquarters.

Join us for a laid-back afternoon of networking, drinks, and a Tex-Mex taco bar. Meet up with venue professionals from all over the DFW metroplex, connect with local allied companies, and catch up with industry peers.

There is no cost to attend, and when you walk through the door, you will automatically be entered into a Starbucks gift card raffle. 

Would you like to sponsor this event?

Please click here to email Kelly McDowell (kelly.mcdowell@iavm.org).

The Venue Operations Summit (VOS) was created in 2014 for the sole purpose of addressing an acknowledged need for professional development in the areas of public assembly facility operations and engineering. From our first conference in 2015, we have been delighted with the response and support that we have received from the industry. We are looking forward to the third annual event: 

Venue Operations Summit | Nashville, TN | April 30 – May 2, 2017 

Registration for the 2017 Venue Operations Summit is now open. The premier industry conference for public assembly facility operations and engineering professionals will convene with topics including venue sound systems, maintaining concrete and structural elements, preventive maintenance software, deploying appropriate security technology, ice plant/ice floor operations and much more. Regardless of venue type attendees can be assured of a program that will provide actionable information to assist them in their facility responsibilities along with very valuable networking opportunities. Keynote speakers include, industry veterans Sporty Jeralds who will talk about dealing with change in your job, as well as former Madison Square Garden executive Alex Diaz.

Submitted by: Russ Simons, Managing Partner, Venue Operations Summit

Dear IAVM Member,

Volunteers are at the heart of what we do, and it is only because of the time and knowledge our volunteers contribute that we are able to fulfill our mission. We hope, therefore, that you will consider responding to this Committee Call for Volunteers.

As a volunteer, you will be making a difference to this industry, and giving back to other members. We hope you will also get value out of your service, making connections with other IAVM leaders and learning about the issues that face us all.

Among the many volunteer opportunities is service on one of the association’s committees. IAVM has two types of committees: board committees and management committees. A board committee helps the board do its work, of oversight, strategy and member engagement. Management committees help IAVM’s management do its work, of meeting the board’s goals and effectively operating the association to the benefit of our members.

Read below to find the list of opportunities available and the volunteer roles and responsibilities for each. To volunteer, please click here, or follow the link below to complete the survey and tell us where your interest, skills, and abilities will allow you to make the greatest contribution. Even if you currently serve on a committee and wish to continue, you must indicate your interest on this application to be considered for renewal as all committee appointments have one-year terms and term limits. You may indicate your interest for no more than three committees, so please make sure that you rank your choices with 1 being your highest preference. Finally, given the level of interest in service, we can generally only place you on one committee with some exceptions, such as the Industry Affairs Committee which is partially filled by specified representatives (sector directors of the board, for example).

The deadline to respond to the Committee Call for Volunteers is March 3, 2017; appointments to board committees will be made by the First Vice Chair, while appointments to management committees will be made by the CEO in consultation with the committee chairs and vice chairs. Volunteers will be notified of their committee assignment by the end of May.

CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER

IAVM welcomes your expertise and commitment to our active and talented group of volunteers.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Rosanne Duke.

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Mountain Productions has appointed Simon Franklyn, entertainment industry mainstay, as their Director of West Coast Operations. With over 43 years of experience in project and production management, staging, rigging and structural design, Franklyn has experience in all aspects of the entertainment industry.

“Simon has a spectrum of experience that has made him an invaluable member of the production community and, now, an integral part of Mountain Productions’ expansion to the West Coast market and beyond,” said Mountain Productions’ CEO, Ricky Rose.

Franklyn has previously served as a Tour Production Rigger for the iconic likes of Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac and The Who. He also worked as a consultant and project manager on events around the globe, including complex projects in the United States, Japan, Europe, Korea, South America and Australia.

“Having grown up alongside the development of staging and rigging technologies in both the UK and USA, I have worked with almost every type of system used in the entertainment industry,” said Franklyn. “I have been very impressed with the approach that Mountain has taken in streamlining their staging systems across the board with in-house engineering and fabrication, an in-house soft goods department, standardized pre-loaded truck packs and full training for personnel.

Mountain’s focus on safety and equipment organization makes my job a lot easier. I look forward to working with Mountain and helping them to continue to create great new products and staging and rigging innovations as they move west.”

Franklyn has been responsible for the safe installation of hundreds of unique and challenging projects, gaining expert knowledge and practical experience in a variety of fields, including hoisting, lifting, crane work, truss and scaffold structures and work for major film studios. Some of his most notable projects have included installations at Lotte World in Seoul, the 1996 Olympic Games, an 80,000 square-foot scaffolding system for Universal Studios’ Jurassic Park, and work on the main
stages at Desert Trip, Panorama and Coachella, among many other high-profile jobs.

Franklyn will help lead Mountain Productions’ expansion into the Western United States, where the organization now has the largest staging system in the industry, the MTN TRUSS HD+, along with a robust inventory of equipment and rigging services to accommodate any type of project.