Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in March 2016—a total of 83 new members. 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.

Thomas Aicher, University of Cincinnati
Jim Alderden, ClearStream Recycling
Timothy Allen, Western Kentucky University
Leeanne Ashcroft, Venue Management Association
Ray Bess, Savannah Civic Center
Yonnie Blanchette, Carver Community Cultural Center
Joshua Brown, Qualcomm Stadium
Ryan Cahoy, Rise Vision
Philip Campbell, LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Tyreon Clark, Western Kentucky University
Dawn Collins, Loyola University Chicago
Kacey Conley, Texas A&M University
Melissa Corban, Music City Center
Shane Cummings, Florida Atlantic University
Lisa Marie Czop, Nationals Park/ Washington Nationals
Michelle Doherty, Duke Energy Convention Center
Adam Epstein, Innovation Arts & Entertainment
Jermaine Ervin, Western Kentucky University
Allison Focke, Duke Energy Convention Center
Dennis Galloway, Washington State Convention Center
Lindsay Greer, Wichita Falls Multi-Purpose Event Center
Jody Grossman, Denver Performing Arts Complex
James Harvey, Austin Convention Center Department
Alex Hearn, Savannah Civic Center
Jacquelynn Heath, Wright State University Nutter Center
Tracy Hedrick, The Jerome Schottenstein Center
Robert Heimbach, GALA Systems, Inc.
Emily Hinkle, Duke Energy Convention Center
Tracy Hodges, Savannah Civic Center
Detarian Holmes, Western Kentucky University
Tameka Hutchinson, Savannah Civic Center
Anna Jensen, University of Iowa
Juviza Jimenez, Prudential Center
Ronnie Johnson, Western Kentucky University
Lee Kaloidis, Mayo Center for Performing Arts
Veronika Kelemen, SEDA Seating LTD.
Lakia Boddie Kelly, Savannah Civic Center
Deborah Kicklighter, Savannah Civic Center
Sun Kim, Washington State Convention Center
Cassandra Kolder, Western Kentucky University
Rick Kriscka, R.I.C. Corporation
Gretchen Landrum, Northern Kentucky Convention Center
Michaela Liebl, Northern State University
Adriana Lucas, Studio City Event Center
Ashley McCord, Superior Recreational Products
Elizabeth Milcarek, Western Kentucky University
Mike Moore, Ticketfly
Nihkolle Morton, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas
Michael Orman, Greenhill School
Ryan Parrent, Southern Aluminum
Dilisha Patel, Washington State Convention Center
Christian Perez, GoVision
Pam Plageman, Duke Energy Convention Center
Debbie Ponath, San Jamar
Nicole Reeves, Western Kentucky University
Jonnah Renfroe, Mabee Center
Henry Reyes, Austin Convention Center Department
Bernard Roberson, Savannah Civic Center
Wendy Rohaly, The Jerome Schottenstein Center
Maurice Ruffin, Nationals Park/ Washington Nationals
Stacy Rutherford, Harford Community College
Tom Saunders, Social Tables
Timothy Savona, Ford Idaho Center
Chris Schappert, Music City Center
Cait Schumann, The Jerome Schottenstein Center
Christopher Shaw, GALA Systems, Inc.
Joseph Shearouse, Savannah Civic Center
Mark Shoemaker, CyberLock, Inc
Steven Smith, Vivint Smart Home Arena
Mark Sonder, George Washington University
Connie Stephens, Savannah Civic Center
Darcy Strang, Oilers Entertainment Group
Joshua Sumner, Western Kentucky University
Barbara Veiock, Savannah Civic Center
Jeff vom Saal, Spokane Symphony & Morton Woldson Theater at the Fox
Eugene Wade, Denver Performing Arts Complex
Kevin Wagner, Resch Center
David Waymon, Western Kentucky University
Andrew Wedding, Western Kentucky University
Carlos Wolfolk, Savannah Civic Center
Leigh Wooldridge, McAllen Auditorium and Convention Center
Sam Yarin, Oracle Hospitality
Rachael Zambias, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

(Image: Judy ** via photopin cc)

Gensler and Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Rinka Chung are the team that will design the entertainment block adjacent to the Milwaukee Bucks’ new arena.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome these two cutting-edge firms to our team as we continue to transform this portion of downtown Milwaukee and create a community gathering space that will attract year-round activity to the city,” Bucks President Peter Feigin said in a statement. “We envision this space being a showcase for the best entertainment outlets that Milwaukee and Wisconsin have to offer and one that empowers local businesses to partner with us in revitalizing this portion of the city. We look forward to working with Gensler, Rinka Chung, and local officials to bring our ownership’s vision for this space to life.”

The entertainment block, spanning Fourth Street from W. Highland Ave. to W. Juneau Ave., will feature dining, entertainment, and retail businesses.

“This is a great project to revitalize downtown Milwaukee, anchoring the Bucks to the city and transforming the way residents interact with the area,” said Lamar Johnson, regional managing principal with Gensler, in a statement. “We’re thrilled this project affords us the opportunity to work with ICON Venue Group again, and we look forward to the excitement and changes to come from this landmark development.”

The arena is expected to break ground in summer 2016.

“The Rinka Chung and Gensler team is proud to be selected for the Milwaukee Bucks Live Block project,” said Matt Rinka, principal architect for Rinka Chung, in a statement. “Our partnership harnesses international expertise with a regionally-rooted, award-winning design firm. We wish to thank the leadership of the Bucks, ICON and the City for placing their trust in our experienced and talented team. In terms of defining the human experience of the arena district and the downtown urban environment as a whole, this is a monumentally key project for our region. Our team understands this, and we are well prepared to deliver an inspiring destination that our entire community can take pride in.”

(Image: Milwaukee Bucks/NBA)

Comcast Spectacor chairman and Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider passed away today, his family announced.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that our father, Ed Snider has died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 83,” the family said in a statement. “Our dad was loved and admired for his big heart, generosity of spirit, and dedication to his family. Despite his considerable business achievements and public profile, he was first and foremost a family man. He never missed a birthday, important family event or the opportunity to offer encouragement. We turned first to him for advice in our personal and professional lives. We grew up tagging behind him in arenas, stadiums, and locker rooms; and his players, management, and team personnel were our extended family. He treated his employees with respect regardless of rank or position, and the man they called ‘Mr. Snider’ always would have preferred simply to be called ‘Ed.'”

Snider created the Flyers in 1967 and took control of the Spectrum where the team played in 1972. The Flyers won the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975, becoming the first NHL expansion team to win the championship.

In 1980, Snider created Spectacor Management Inc., and in 1988, he joined the company with the Hyatt Corp. to create Spectacor Management Group (SMG). ARAMARK Corp. joined the group in 1991. Snider sold his interest in SMG in 1997.

Comcast-Spectacor began in 1996 when Snider joined with Comcast Corp., and in 2000, Comcast-Spectacor partnered with Globe Facility Services to become Global Spectrum. The company also formed Ovations Food Services and acquired 100 percent of ticketing company Paciolan in 2010.

In addition to his facility management expertise, Snider was recognized for his contributions to sports by being inducted into four hall of fames—the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

He founded the Ed Snider Youth Hockey foundation to help inner city children connect through the sport of hockey.

“Ed was a true visionary and a pioneer who did tremendous things for our city and for the sport of hockey,” Philadelphia Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “He was driven by a relentless pursuit of winning and his passion for the sport was genuine. That’s one of the reasons I think he was so loved and respected by the fans of our city and by his players and staff. They knew he cared just as much as they did.

“Under Ed’s guidance, the Flyers became one of the most consistently successful franchises in the NHL, and he used his leadership to help foster a classy organization across the board,” Lurie continued. “But perhaps more than anything, I think the legacy that Ed will leave behind is his commitment to helping young people in our city succeed in life through his youth hockey foundation.”

Snider is survived by his wife, six children, and 15 grandchildren.

(Image: Michael Alan Goldberg/Creative Commons)

JustOne: This new, annual, recruitment campaign was designed so that IAVM volunteer leaders could recruit at least one new member with a goal of 100 percent participation. The campaign launched at VenueConnect in Baltimore 2015 and ended March 31, 2016. Of our 231 volunteers, 33 committee members recruited new members—a total of 14 percent participation. All of you worked behind the scenes to help grow our membership, build your network of experts to collaborate with, and identify future leaders, so we can’t thank you enough!

The best news is we’ve added 155 new members as a result of JustOne!

Below you will find the recruitment leaders in this inaugural year of JustOne. The individual leaders are shown in red and green:

Top Six Recruiters
• Rick Haycock, CFE – 22
• Rip Rippetoe, CFE – 20
• Tammy Koolbeck, CFE – 16
• Alexis Berggren – 15
• Christine Hunjas – 15
• Mac Campbell – 13

Committee Leaders*
• Membership Committee – 59
• Board of Directors – 24
• Industry Affairs – 22
• Board of Regents – 18
• Board of Trustees – 12

*Volunteers on multiple committees were given credit for each active committee they serve on with 22 committees participating!

Many of you sent emails advising you were recruiting so if your name doesn’t appear, we know you were working hard to support this initiative. IAVM volunteers are the best. Thank you for all you do to continue to support your association.

On behalf of the Membership Committee, thank you, Danke, Gracias, Grazie, Je vous remercie, and so on!!!

If you have any questions or perhaps your referral did not list your name, please let me know. Thank you!

The Ritz-Carlton is known for its impeccable customer service, and the opportunity to learn from leaders in its organization are some of the highest sought seminars in the world. That is why we’re excited to share the news that Jennifer Blackmon, corporate director of culture transformation at The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, will be leading an executive session at this year’s VenueConnect in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Blackmon recently spoke at our GuestX conference in February, and her insights and lessons were eagerly embraced by attendees, who recommended we bring her back for VenueConnect. Message heard and delivered.

The session will help you discover how a service excellence culture results in engaged employees and customers. You will be guided through The Ritz-Carlton Gold Standards and visit key Ritz-Carlton processes such as onboarding and empowerment that lead to legendary service and sustainable success.

The Ritz-Carlton session with Jennifer Blackmon is just one of many great upcoming sessions we have planned for you this summer at VenueConnect. We’ll be sharing more with over the next few weeks. In the meantime, take advantage of the Early Bird registration price, which ends April 18. See you in Minneapolis!