Congratulations to the following individuals who recently were awarded the Certified Venue Professional (CVP) designation.

Thanks to the generous funding and support from the IAVM Foundation, the CVP program was launched in August 2015 at VenueConnect in Baltimore. It recognizes the competence of middle-to-senior-level managers of public assembly venues as well as assisting the managers in creating a professional roadmap in the venue industry.

The CVP designation says three important things about an individual: he or she is a capable professional, is committed to the industry, and is pledged to continued professional growth and development. Venue professionals who earn the CVP designation are recognized, by those inside and outside the industry, as skilled in their profession.

Brian Stovall, CVP
Assistant General Manager
Allen Event Center
Allen, Texas

Ross Girouard, CVP
Director of Operations & Production
Allen Event Center
Allen, Texas

“Great format with fast-paced interaction.”

“Great information and loved being exposed to new products.”

“Great opportunity for one-on-one meetings.”

“Enjoyed learning about new capabilities of products.”

“Great to meet face to face in a smaller setting.”

These are just a few of the many praises from past surveyed DirectConnect participants. Perhaps you, too, will be singing its praises this year.

DirectConnect brings qualified buyers to VenueConnect for FREE, and we already have more than $1 billion (yes, billion!) in confirmed buying power in the 2016 program.

For Professionals, if you or your team have an upcoming project or new product needs, apply here and experience the benefits of our new, customized meeting program.

For Allieds, when you participate as a host, you build a customized schedule of 10 one-on-one appointments with pre-qualified buyers and decision makers that match your business.

Pricing per table:
* Exhibiting Allied Members: $3,000
* Non-Exhibiting Allied Members: $7,500

To reserve your spot, please fill out the DirectConnect Contract.

Appointments opened April 11. Don’t miss your chanced to get in front of these venue managers!

Here is a list of venues that have committed to participating in the 2016 program taking place at VenueConnect in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 23-26.

Allen Event Center
American University
Ames Center
Baltimore Convention Center
Chandler Center for the Arts
Charleston Civic Center
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
Georgetown University Department of Athletics
Hawaii Convention Center
Hellenic College
ICAO
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kellogg Arena & Festival Market Square
Kennesaw State University School of Music
Landers Center
Lauderhill Perf Arts Center
Lied Center for the Performing Arts
Mayo Civic Center
Mesa Arts Center
Millersville University
Orlando City Soccer Club
San Diego Zoo Global
Show Me Center
TAIWAN EXTERNAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Topeka Performing Arts Center
Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
UC San Diego
UCSD Sports Facilities
VenuWorks – Ames
VenuWorks – Iowa State Center
Visalia Convention Center
Walton Arts Center/Walmart AMP
Yakima Convention Center

Score another win for Facebook. By the end of the month, Ticketmaster will start selling tickets directly on the ubiquitous social media site, as reported by Buzzfeed News.

“By putting the ability to buy tickets directly within Facebook we hope that we’re going to provide a more seamless purchase experience and sell more tickets,” Dan Armstrong, VP and general manager of distributed commerce at Ticketmaster, told BuzzFeed News.

Facebook will receive an affiliate fee from Ticketmaster when a ticket is purchased on the site. However, tickets still have to be “claimed” on Ticketmaster’s website or app.

“Millions of people on Facebook connect with their favorite bands, artists, and causes to find out about events happening in their community,” a Facebook spokesperson told Fortune. “We’ve heard feedback from venues and artists that Facebook is an important platform for them to update and connect with fans. We’re excited to help partners like Ticketmaster sell more tickets via Facebook and to make ticket purchasing easier and faster for people.”

Concerning Eventbrite, no affiliate fees will be collected by Facebook when Eventbrite tickets are purchased.

“We are committed to innovation that helps event organizers sell more tickets,” Eventbrite VP of Product Laurent Sellier told Buzzfeed News. “Enabling a seamless purchase experience for consumers in places like Facebook where they are spending significant time is an important step in this mission.”

(Image: The Verge)

As IAVM member Zach Sloman recently wrote in his blog post, “Making the Move,” if someone wants to climb the ranks one must move locations. Sometimes, though, deciding between jobs can be stressful. That’s where Fidelity’s Job Offer Evaluator comes into play.

The tool helps people evaluate two jobs not just based on salary but also on benefits, relocation expenses, and cost of living. The evaluator is only three easy steps, but may help you feel at ease making a hard decision.

Please check out the Job Offer Evaluator and let us know in the comments if you find the tool useful.

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)