The IAVM Foundation Legacy Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Trustees to an individual or organization who, in the opinion of the IAVM Foundation has made a significant financial and/or non-financial contribution to benefit the mission and objectives of the IAVM Foundation. The Foundation executive director will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria.

The following criteria are established for the Legacy Award nominees:

1. The nominee may be from any membership category of IAVM or from outside of the Association in a related field.
2. Any current or past contributor to the IAVM Foundation may make a nomination, which must provide, in writing, specific examples of the nominee’s outstanding contributions to the IAVM Foundation.
3. At least three letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination.
4. No Chair of IAVM or Chair of the IAVM Foundation is eligible for consideration until the third VenueConnect following his/her term of office.
5. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Legacy of Leaders).
6. Nominations must be submitted to the Director of Governance and Operations no later than Nov. 16, 2015.
7. The award may be given posthumously.

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to Vicki Hawarden, CMP, IAVM Foundation Executive Director and submitted to me, Rosanne Duke, electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business Nov. 16, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Rogers at (972) 538-1009 or me at (972) 538-1025.

LiveLike VR is a San Francisco start-up that wants fans to watch games via a virtual reality (VR) stadium.

“Sports is not about being ‘on the field’ for the whole game, it’s about being able to hang with your friends, doing stuff while there’s a two-minute timeout, seeing replays, stats, and more,” Andre Lorenceau, CEO and founder of LiveLike VR, told FORTUNE. “We are also focused on infrastructure, with building the capabilities to connect with friends or strangers, multiple ‘channels’ to watch from, statistical interfaces. There’s a whole system that needs to be created before we watch sports in VR, and we’re getting close to finalizing that.”

The company is working with Manchester City to create a VR version of its stadium. Users would be able to download the app and get a custom VR suite where they can invite friends (avatar friends, that is) to watch the game.

“Lorenceau says his team is building a platform that will eventually allow users to invite friends from Facebook directly into their suite,” John Gaudiosi reported for FORTUNE. “Each avatar will have a lipsynched voice that sounds like it’s coming from the couch next to you. Future in-game features will include a table hologram where stats can be mapped over NFL players and highlights from past games can instantly be called up.”

Check out the FORTUNE article to learn more about LiveLike VR and its future plans for the app.

(Image: LiveLike VR)

The Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguish Allied Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Directors to an individual currently or previously employed by a firm which is or was an Allied Member in good standing. The president and CEO will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria.

The following criteria are established for the Anzivino Award nominees:

1. The nominee must have been an IAVM member for at least ten (10) years total, which need not be consecutive.
2. Any member may make a nomination, which must provide a minimum of three examples of the nominee’s exemplary service and contributions to IAVM and/or the industry (for example: leadership, accomplishments, professional service/activities, projects/results).
3. The nominee must have served IAVM by: 1) Attendance at no fewer than six Annual Conferences (VenueConnect); 2) Attendance at no fewer than 10 Region Meetings; 3) Being chair of at least two IAVM committees or sub-committees; 4) Being a member of IAVM Board of Directors, IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees, Board of Regents, or Board of Governors during the member’s tenure with IAVM; 5) Being a member of an IAVM program, campaign, or task force/committee.
4. No Chair of the Allied Committee is eligible for consideration until the second Annual Conference (VenueConnect) following his/her term of office.
5. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Legacy of Leaders).
6. The award may be given posthumously.
7. Selection of recipients will be made by an 80 percent vote of the Board of Directors. Recommendations to the Board of Directors for nominees shall be made by the Allied Committee.

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to Vicki Hawarden, CMP, IAVM president and CEO, and submitted to me, Rosanne Duke, electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business Nov. 16, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact me at (972) 538-1025.

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 I wasn’t doing this I’d be a: coach.

Most impressive person I’ve ever met: Eddie Robinson.

I unwind by: doing nothing.

On my desk right now is: a newspaper, a gift from my daughter, and a bowl of peppermints.

If I were on the other side out on the arena field concert stage I’d be an: agent.

One trait an up-and-coming venue manager should have is: a willingness to learn.

One up-and-coming venue star in the arena industry is: Kevin Welch / Curtis Culwell Center.

One of my goals for this year is to: re-sign all graduation tenants to five-year agreements.

Where do you see new growth opportunities in the profession? High school venues.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments? Reading industry publications and newspapers from different regions of the U.S.

Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party and why? President Obama, Michelle Obama, and my wife. The reason is because it will make my wife very happy.

John Wilborn is the director of the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.

(Image: Orange Photography)

The Charles A. McElravy Award may be awarded annually to a Professional, Honorary, or Retired member of IAVM who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors has made the greatest lifetime achievement to the welfare of the Association or profession.

The following criteria are established for the McElravy Award nominees:

1. The nominee must have been a Professional, Honorary, or Retired Member of the IAVM in good standing for at least fifteen (15) years total (though not necessarily consecutively).
2. The nominee needs to meet the minimum service to IAVM requirements for Honorary Membership, but is not required to be retired. The following criteria must be met for a member to be eligible for consideration for Honorary Membership:  1) Attendance at no fewer than 10 Annual Conferences (VenueConnect) during the past 15 years; 2) Attendance at no fewer than five Region Meetings during the past 15 years;  3) Service as chair of at least three international or two Region committees during the past 15 years;  4) Service as: Director of IAVM or officer in a Region at least once during the member’s tenure with IAVM or b) Program chair for an IAVM venue-specific or specialty meeting during the member’s tenure with IAVM or c) Member of Board of Regents, Board of Trustees, or Board of Governors during member’s tenure with IAVM.
3. Any member in good standing may make a nomination, which must provide, in writing, a minimum of three examples of the nominee’s outstanding contributions to IAVM and/or the industry (for example: leadership, accomplishments, professional service/activities, projects/results).
4. At least three letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination letter.
5. No Chairman of the Board (or Past President) of IAVM is eligible for consideration until the third Annual Conference (VenueConnect) following his/her term of office.
6. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Legacy of Leaders).

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to Vicki Hawarden, CMP, IAVM president and CEO, and submitted to me, Rosanne Duke, electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business Nov. 16, 2015.  If you have any questions, please me at (972) 538-1025.