Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM May-October 2015—a total of 497 new members. That’s great news, because it shows your network of professionals is growing. 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.

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In today’s venue, managers rely on automation and control systems for many daily functions – maintaining and adjusting HVAC set points, controlling audiovisual systems throughout a building, turning lights on and off with predefined schedules for energy conservation are just a few. Often times these become “daily schedules” that we set and forget. As we approach the holiday season, this is a good time of year to review those schedules and consider creating a “holiday” mode for our buildings that may sit dark for several days. In such a mode, daily schedules for office and corridor lights could be suspended, security lighting reduced, and HVAC set points could be changed to minimize utility costs for empty buildings. Having a “holiday” mode that makes these adjustments automatically can easily help venue managers control expenses and celebrate the holidays while being green.

(Image: Veronica Aguilar/Creative Commons)

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) has joined the IAVM-led Wi-Fi Coalition whose members include a cross section of the convention industry professionals.

“Wi-Fi, while a key commodity that many meeting attendees and consumers feel the need to access, is not free. The cost of bandwidth, and other related factors, affect its efficiency, making it even more imperative to deliver a successful connection for a meeting or event,” the CIC said in a press release. The coalition was initially formed to address the backlash against venues blocking personal Wi-Fi devices and the subsequent involvement of the FCC.”

The Wi-Fi Coalition’s main goal is to establish standard operating principles and rules that ensure a reliable Wi-Fi environment for all users. A “common sense standards” is currently being developed.

“We believe that delivering an exceptional technology experience at meetings and events requires a new level of collaboration and dialogue between venue managers, service providers, show organizers, meeting planners, exhibitors, and guests,” said Vicki Hawarden, CMP, president and CEO of IAVM. “We are thrilled to see the coalition bringing these groups together, and we are confident that this new effort will lead to meaningful results.”

The Wi-Fi Coalition members include

Vicki Hawarden, CMP, CAE—IAVM
Fred Peterson—Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
Mark Haley—Smart City Networks
Mark Sims—Javits Center
John Rissi—PSAV, CIC APEX Chair
David DuBois, CAE, FASAE, CTA, CMP—Intl. Association of Exhibitions and Events
Cathy Breden, CMP—Intl. Association of Exhibitions and Events
Chris Brown—National Association of Broadcasters
Ryan Stowger—Intl. Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
Barney Lavengood—Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium
Michael Owen—EventGenuity
Brett Mitchell—Overland Park Kansas Convention Center
Glenda Brungardt—HP Marketing
Jim Wurm—Exhibit & Event Marketers Association
Stacey Knoppell—Baltimore Convention Center
Russell Rice—Convention Sales Professionals Intl.

To better understand this topic, please read Part 1 and Part 2 of our series, “The Wi-Fi Dilemma.”

Do you have a young professional working for you that has a bright future in the industry? Nominate your employee to be one of 30 venue industry professionals, 30 years of age and under, who will receive a travel stipend of US$850 and complimentary registration (value: $1,1185) to attend VenueConnect, IAVM’s Annual Conference & Trade Show, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 23-26, 2016. Recipients will be recognized throughout the annual meeting and formally at the Venue Industry Awards luncheon on Monday, July 25, 2016.

Launched at VenueConnect in Baltimore, the inaugural IAVM Foundation 30|UNDER|30 class of 2015 kicked off the program by participating in the IAVM Foundation’s Legacy Project and UpStart: Emerging Leaders Experience, in addition to exclusive 30|UNDER|30 and Young Professional networking events before being honored at the Venue Industry Awards luncheon. By participating in education and professional development sessions geared toward young professionals throughout the conference, many 30|UNDER|30 recipients returned to their venues with renewed enthusiasm for their jobs as well as industry.

“They talked about how amazing it was to have the chance to converse with other people from every size and type of facility and to hear the panels or classes they previously would not have had the ability to be exposed to,” said Kerry Painter, CFE, CEM, CMP, assistant general manager at the Cox Business Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “It was an inspiration for them and in some ways permission in the future to continue to reach out to industry colleagues who they now know. ‘Knowing what other buildings do makes you start to think what you’re doing and that it can always be better. It helps you learn, grow, and think more than you did before’ was the quote from one of our winners.”

Supporting young professionals in the industry through a program like 30|UNDER|30 is key to the profession’s growth.

“If we want to keep young professionals engaged and desiring a career in venue management, then we need to get them involved in the industry outside our buildings as soon as possible,” said Robyn Williams, CFE, executive director of Portland’5 Centers for the Arts.

Brad Mayne, CFE, president and CEO of MetLife Stadium, agrees with Williams.

“It is important to get our young professionals networking and professional development opportunities so they are exposed to multiple and diverse experiences in our industry,” Mayne said. “The impressive programs, custom made for millennials, at VenueConnect will help propel their knowledge and experience, making them a greater asset for our organization.”

Painter said the impact of not only being nominated but having to work for the achievement is powerful.

“The educational and social experience was of a quality I have not often seen in a conference and the recipients left with renewed enthusiasm, relationships in both peers and mentors, and a better idea of the professional world they are setting out to conquer,” Painter said. “They will become valuable to our industry in the future because of programs such as this. You absolutely should not hesitate to nominate your young rock stars. They will be fired up upon returning to your venue and the organization as a whole will be stronger for it!”

To learn more about the 30|UNDER|30 program or to nominate someone from your team, click here.

You, as an IAVM member, are our most important asset. Without your commitment to the association and to the venue management industry, we wouldn’t be here. Because of your support, we are featuring member profiles in our I Am Venue Management series. If you are interested in participating in the I Am Venue Management series, please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story.

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be a: national parks ranger.

Most impressive person I’ve ever met: is Yo-Yo Ma.

I unwind by: watching TV (I used to be a total TV junkie, but now I have a 2-year-old and no time!). Also camping or sitting on the back patio at the fire pit.

On my desk right now is: a model toy school bus given to me by a mentor years ago when I graduated grad school. It is meant to serve as a reminder not to push the busses up hill, choose my battles, and only fight the battles you can win. It has served me well as a reminder.

My favorite IAVM program I ever attended was: Nothing beats the VMS experience! (Class of ’14!)

If I were on the other side of the stage, I’d: wish I could play the piano like Billy Joel.

One trait an up-and-coming venue manager should have is: a thirst for knowledge, recognizing there is always more to learn.

One of my goals for this year is to: make it through our building renovation with my sanity intact!

How do you plan to help elevate the profession? I came across a meme on Facebook not long ago that was a quote from Kevin Spacey that said, “If you’ve done well in your career, it is your duty to send the elevator back down.” I don’t know if the quote is real or not, but I think that sentiment is something we all have to remember. Share our successes and failures, and let those coming behind us learn from them.

Where do you see new growth opportunities in the profession? Integration between all of the various software we use. POS systems, venue management software, maintenance and work order systems, etc. So much potential for efficiency if all these systems talked to one another. Every company tries to do all of these things well themselves rather than partnering with the people who are already doing it well and creating integrations. Nobody can be good at everything.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments? Attending IAVM conferences, reading VenueNet regularly, asking questions when I have them, and establishing relationships with other venues in my region who don’t mind a visit from my staff now and again to pick their brains!

Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party and why? Jimmy Buffett, Kevin Spacey, and David Letterman. All brilliant entertainers I respect immensely and who have figured out something about life, priorities, and careers that I have yet to learn. Plus imagine how intelligent the conversation would be! Well, at least until the third round of margaritas.

Nick Zazal is director of events and patron services at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.