By Lisa Plummer Savas

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest consumer technology trade show, had yet another record-breaking year. Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and venues throughout the city Jan. 5-8, the 50th annual event for the global technology industry boasted a 2.6 million net square foot show floor occupied by 3,800 exhibitors and more than 175,000 attendees, including 55,000 from 150 countries. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) owns and produces the show.

Last year, CES attracted 177,393 industry professionals representing 158 countries and 3,886 exhibitors, spanning 2,475,646 net sq. ft. of exhibit space.

As a gathering for the world’s greatest innovators, companies, technologies, products and entrepreneurs, the event welcomed the globe’s most well-known technology companies, as well as more than 600 startups showcasing the latest in virtual reality, smart home, 3-D printing, self-driving vehicles, robotics, wearables, health and fitness tech, to name just a few categories.

“From startups to established businesses, traditional tech companies, along with those in new industries like travel and sports, (all) came together and vigorously embraced technology for the 50th anniversary of CES,” said Karen Chupka, CES senior vice president and corporate business strategy, CTA.

She continued, “This year’s show was all about connectivity – both in the form of the technologies unveiled and in the valuable face-to-face business connections happening throughout the show.”

In addition to a plethora of speakers, educational sessions and networking opportunities, the event hosted several competitive contests, including the Best of CES awards, the Mobile App Showdown, and the semi-finals for Richard Branson’s Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC).

Besides welcoming government officials and political leaders from around the world, CES also drew its fair share of world-famous celebrities from Hollywood, sports, eSports and music looking to check out the hottest trends in tech.

The event’s worldwide media coverage continued to be robust, with more than 6,500 members of the media in attendance. This coverage resulted in strong social media momentum, including nearly 1.4 million mentions using #CES2017 hashtags.

“CES 2017 shifted to a new level as large and small companies from around the globe gathered to reveal solutions for many of our world’s most challenging problems,” said CTA President and CEO Gary Shapiro.

He added, “Our industry is bettering the world through connectivity and innovation, touching literally every facet of our lives. Today’s connected world was on full display this week at CES 2017 – our largest, boldest show in history.”

CES will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center Jan. 9-12.

The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) announced the program has now certified 1,000 arena riggers throughout North America. Since 2006, ETCP has issued a total of 2,350 certifications held by 1,978 individuals in the areas of Rigger – Arena, Rigger – Theatre, Entertainment Electrician and the newly developed Portable Power Distribution Technician. ETCP has provided an easy-to-use search function for anyone to find a Certified Technicians within your area. The list is searchable by Name, Certification, City, State, or Union Affiliation at http://etcp.esta.org/cert_technicians/search.php.

“Congratulations to ETCP on certifying its 1,000th arena rigger,” said Bill Sapsis, ETCP Arena – Rigging SME chair. “My entire Arena Rigging Subject Matter Experts Team and I are thrilled that we reached such an important milestone. Not only does this mean that all of our hard work writing the exam is being put to good use, but also having that many qualified riggers in the work force means the industry is that much safer. Now we can start working on reaching the 2,000 mark.”

“One thousand ETCP Certified Arena Riggers is an amazing number, added ESTA President Jules Lauve. “However, equally as amazing but impossible to quantify is the great degree to which our industry has been made safer and more efficient. Congratulations to all certificants and everyone who participates in creating and operating the program.”

Interested in studying for one of the examinations? ETCP offers practice examinations for the Arena, Theatre and Electrical certifications and a practice exam for the Portable Power Distribution Technician certification will be offered in April 2017. Looking for other ways to study? Form a study group or attend training events. Over 2,100 technicians have joined the ETCP Study Group on Facebook which includes Certified Technicians who are more than willing to answer questions for those preparing for the exams.

Tulsa’s Cox Business Center and BOK Center are hosting the first IAVM Region 6 Future Industry Leaders Conference on Monday, January 30 and Tuesday, January 31. The Monday sessions will focus on various aspects of the venue management industry while Tuesday’s all-day sessions will cover Severe Weather Preparedness Training under the leadership team that will be conducting the same session in Dallas on March 17.

The significance of these two days of industry education?

“We have lots of younger enthusiastic staff members who want to do all these great things,” said Kerry Painter, CFE, assistant general manager of the Cox Business Center, host site for the two days. “It kind of started with some of our staff wanting to get their CVP’s and CMP’s and they needed courses. We had to figure out how do we get them committee work for the points that they needed, and how do we let them all be engaged when as mid-level managers many of them are not able to get to IAVM conferences?”

The solution was to create a conference, which is under the auspices of co-chairs and venue staff members Nathaniel Porter and Allie Stites. Attendees will receive credit toward their CVP if they are IAVM members, and Day Two attendees will receive a certificate of completion from the Academy for Venue Safety & Security Weather School.

“It has turned out great,” Painter said while noting that 75 have registered for Day One and 80 for Day Two. “There will be a wide variety of subjects covered that attendees are interested in. Allie and Nathaniel designed it, things like booking conferences and making events, security and a session on what it’s like to be the general manager, and a session on what keeps you up at night.

“On the weather piece, we have always wanted our people to get to the weather conference, but we can’t send everybody. But we live in a weather strip and thought if we could bring it to them how great would that be? Clearly, there was a huge interest in it. Mark Herrera (IAVM director of education) was helpful in getting us the same people the association uses in its session so our attendees could leave knowing they gained lots of knowledge that matters. Really, we just picked up the school for the day and moved it here.”

The weather team presenting includes Janice Bunting, executive director, The National Weather Association; Jeff Crilley, Real News Public Relations; Joseph Sampson, McCathern, PLLC; and Michael Smith, certified consulting meteorologist.

Painter said that once the initial interest was generated that she called the Region 6 office and asked about making the conference official. She indicated that the region board said that Painter could pick a chair to guide all logistics for the event.

“With our particular group, they don’t really think in terms of chairs,” she said with a laugh. “They think, ‘Why do we need someone in charge?’ because they’re all millennials, right? But it has been fascinating to me to watch how their brains think differently. In the end, of course, they ended up with co-chairs and kind of worked their way back to a traditional conference but still geared to them. It was a fascinating process.”

Painter said that she would like to see this type of initiative extend beyond her region.

“It would be great if other regions do this on this level for a conference,” she said. “We’re just thrilled that it turned out so well. These folks will be making connections that will last forever.”

SMG announced the selection of Fredia Brady as the new general manager for the Wilmington (NC) Convention Center.

“The selection of SMG veteran Fredia Brady as general manager, along with the high quality of services clients have grown to expect from SMG, will enable the facility to continue to develop as a key contributor to the ongoing economic development of entire community and in particular the continued growth of the hospitality industry in the region,” said Bob McClintock, SMG’s senior vice president/chief operating officer for the SMG Convention Center Division. “Fredia’s experience will be invaluable as the Convention Center positions itself to support the rebranding of the River District and the opening of an adjacent Embassy Suites Hotel this year.”

Brady is a hospitality industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in convention sales and marketing, business development, facility operations and event management, including serving SMG as a regional senior director of sales & marketing for SMG’s Southeast Region from 2008 to 2014. She most recently was the senior director of sales & marketing for the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center and served that venue previously as director of sales & marketing from 1999 to 2008. She was the senior sales manager for the Hyatt Regency in Savannah from 1991- 1999.

A graduate of both Brewton Parker College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and South University with an associate degree in hospitality management, Brady is a board member of the Royce Learning Center and the Tourism Leadership Council of Savannah. She is a community adviser for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Student Leadership Program and member of the Junior League of Savannah and a variety of professional associations, including the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Professional Convention Management Association and American Society of Association Executives.

Brady will arrive in Wilmington February 6, 2017.

The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) announced the nomination of Tammy Koolbeck, CFE, for 2^nd Vice Chair of the IAVM Board of Directors. As 2^nd Vice Chair, Koolbeck, the VenuWorks-managed Iowa State Center’s executive director of the C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, Fisher Theater and the Scheman Building, will become a senior officer of IAVM and serve a four-year term culminating in the board chair position in 2019-2020.

In announcing the recommendation, Karen Totaro, CFE, chair of the Leadership Development/Nominating Committee and IAVM Immediate Past Chair, said, “Tammy Koolbeck brings such a unique combination of experience to the table, having worked in multiple venue types, private management, executive leadership, multiple IAVM committee chair roles and instructor experience from the Venue Management School. On top of all that, the committee believed she truly had this amazing ability to relate to our young professionals as easily as our seasoned pros. Tammy is the whole package.”

Koolbeck has worked in the venue management industry for over 20 years and most recently served as chief marketing officer/senior vice president for the VenuWorks corporate office. Before joining the VenuWorks corporate staff, Koolbeck was assistant executive director of marketing and programming for the U.S. Cellular Center Arena/Paramount Theatre and general manager of the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. Koolbeck started in the public venue management field as the director of marketing for the Five Seasons Center and Paramount Theater. Her past work experience includes hotel, convention and visitor bureau and professional sports.

“It’s a very special feeling,” Koolbeck said. “IAVM is an important part of my life, both professionally and personally. This organization has helped me grow as a venue manager. It has opened doors and given me access to many brilliant, hard-working people in our industry, many of whom are friends. I am grateful and honored to have the opportunity to follow those that have preceded me and taken on this responsibility. As part of the leadership team, I will continue the work to grow member-based initiatives and explore new ways of furthering our industry. At this point, I am still doing little happy dances throughout the day.”

Koolbeck is a past president and current member of the board of directors for the Event and Arena Marketing Conference, the premier gathering for arena marketing professionals from the United States, Canada, and Europe. In 2007, she was awarded EAMC’s highest honor, the Gigi Award of Excellence. Koolbeck also received the prestigious Women of Influence Award from Venues Today in 2010. In 2014, she was honored with IAVM’s Chairman Citation. Koolbeck currently serves on the Board of Regents and is a past Graduate Institute’s Assistant Dean. She currently sits on the Convention Center committee. Koolbeck was the past chair for the 2015 and 2016 VenueConnect Planning Committees and is past Chair of the Industry Affairs Committee. On the Region level, she is a past Region 3 Director and Scholarship Chair.

“Tammy Koolbeck has proven worthy to step into the officer role as 2^nd Vice Chair through her phenomenal volunteer work for IAVM,” said Brad Mayne, CFE, IAVM president and CEO. “Tammy’s IAVM successes on multiple levels have proven her passion to delivering return on investment to the members of our Association.”

“I am very excited about Tammy being recommended for the 2^nd Vice Chair,” added Mark Mettes, CFE, IAVM board chair. “I have worked with Tammy for many years on many different committees and she has always done an outstanding job and has a strong passion for our industry and for our Association. She will make a great leader for us.”

IAVM members will vote electronically on this nomination, and, if elected, Koolbeck will take office in August during VenueConnect, IAVM’s annual conference and trade show, August 7-10, in Nashville, Tennessee.

About IAVM

Representing public assembly venues from around the globe, IAVM’s 5,100 active members include managers and senior executives from auditoriums, arenas, convention centers, exhibit halls, stadiums, performing arts centers, university complexes, racetracks, and amphitheaters. IAVM’s mission is to educate, advocate for, and inspire public assembly venue professionals worldwide. More information about IAVM is available at www.IAVM.org or via @IAVMWHQ on Twitter.