Launched in August 2015 at VenueConnect in Baltimore, IAVM’s new certification, the Certified Venue Professional (CVP), recognizes the competence of middle to senior level managers of public assembly venues as well as assisting the managers in creating a professional road map in the venue industry.

If you haven’t yet reviewed the materials on our website, please take a moment to complete the “CVP Checklist” to ascertain if you have earned the 100 points needed to apply and start the formal process.

Mark your calendars for Nov. 4, 2015 at 3 p.m. (ET) and register for the “How to Become a CVP” webinar. Ask the experts questions about the certification and the process.

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.

Now’s the time to take the step and join the elite group of men and women to receive their Certified Venue Professional designation! Remember – Applications and references are due no later than Dec. 1, 2015.

Don’t delay, apply today. Make 2016 the year that you earn one of the first CVPs!

Sacramento Republic FC currently plays in the United Soccer League, a minor league that would be comparable to AA baseball but the organization believes they are #BuiltForMLS. With attendance numbers over 10,000 on average, Sacramento is strongly pursuing an expansion franchise in Major League Soccer (MLS) as early as 2018 with a new downtown stadium.

With the support of Mayor Kevin Johnson and other city leaders, Sacramento FC recently released its “Critical Mass Report,” a new analysis of the estimated economic impact of the development of a new MLS stadium in downtown Sacramento. You can view the report here.

“The ‘Critical Mass Report’ makes clear that the significant private sector investment led by the Sac Soccer and Entertainment Holdings will accelerate the revitalization of downtown Sacramento by generating over $1 billion economic development over a 30 year period,” said Cathy Dominico, managing partner at the Capitol Public Finance Group.

With a strong campaign and private investments, I more than believe Sacramento is #BuiltForMLS as well.

(Images: Sacramento Republic FC)

You’re going to love these festivals if you’re a country fan.

Next Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29, 2016), Daytona International Speedway will play host to the inaugural Country 500 music festival. Set to perform are Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson, and more. Tickets go on sale November 3.

“We’re proud to develop this new partnership with AEG Live and Festival Productions Inc. – New Orleans and bring the Country 500 music festival to Daytona International Speedway,” Track President Joie Chitwood III said. “Signature events such as the DAYTONA 500 and the Rolex 24 At Daytona have made DIS the ‘World Center of Racing’ but by securing this marquee music festival with an amazing lineup of artists, we will also be known as the ‘World Center of Entertainment.”

The acts will perform on stages specially designed and built for the festival, and the event will take place on the infield of the speedway. Fans can camp out in the infield, too. And yes, there will be meet-and-greets throughout pit road and in the garages.

The other country music festival, Dega Jam, will take place July 1-3, 2016, at  Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Acts will be announced on October 25. Festival fans will also be allowed to camp out in the infield and have the opportunity to meet their favorite artists.

(Image: Facebook)

You may have taken the first step in the process toward becoming a CFE by attending the “How to Become a Certified Facilities Executive (CFE)” webinar on September 24, 2015, by completing the “CFE Checklist” to ascertain if you had earned the 300 points needed to make application and start the formal process, or perhaps this is the first time you have considered pursuing certification.

Now’s the time to take the second step and join that group of your peers who have reached the pinnacle of achievement with IAVM by becoming Certified Facilities Executives. Remember – Applications and three written references are due no later than Nov. 1, 2015.

The written essay is due by February 1, 2016 – allowing you extra time to enjoy the holidays and end of the year activities.

Don’t delay, apply today. Make 2016 the year that you earn your CFE!

Serving as the operations manager at the South Towne Expo Center located in Sandy, Utah, I am continually seeking ways to learn and grow personally and professionally. This isn’t just of personal benefit, as it further extends to our professional venue and our community. As a new member—and while browsing the IAVM website—I discovered that the association offered a mentoring program. The program is geared toward members seeking to learn more about venue management or have been in the venue management business and are willing to assist those that may just be starting out in the business.

I followed up with a call to the IAVM headquarters for additional details and learned that the Mentor Connector program started in 2007. This is only one of the benefits that come with being an IAVM member. I learned that there is an application process, and a committee reviews and attempts to match you with someone who is a good fit that can help you grow professionally. Mentors volunteer their time and service to the program, assisting the mentee with networking and achieving success with mutually established goals for the partnership. Each spring and fall, mentees are paired with mentors for a 12-month cycle based on similar interests. The partnership is also paired with a coach who oversees the partnership. In 2014, 68 mentors and mentees completed the program. I was immediately intrigued and came to the conclusion that the program would help me become a better professional.

In December 2014, I was matched with my mentor, Daniel Huerta, executive general manager of Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. Jody Lake was assigned as coach for our mentoring partnership. As I perused through the Mentor Connector handbook, I learned that it contained valuable information including roles and responsibilities of the mentee and mentor. Once I completed the partnership goal statement, spelling out what I sought to accomplish, it was time to reach out to Daniel to arrange the initial introductory call and to schedule subsequent calls. IAVM recommends committing to making time to meet on a regular basis, but no less than quarterly.

Each month, Daniel and I are on a call to discuss several issues using a meeting record form that outlines the goals, documents discussion topics, identifies action items, and updates results. What I have found helpful is that during our monthly calls each of us describes what is currently happening at our respective venues, including what’s working and challenges we faced and their resolutions.

Some of the best advice that I have received is how my mentor has handled difficult situations in the past that may be similar to challenges that I may be experiencing at my venue. I appreciate his candid responses and examples that he uses to describe past situations. One of his greatest leadership qualities is acknowledgement that sometimes even your best laid out plans don’t work, but you have to break things down to find out why it didn’t work and lessons learned. He shares some of the mistakes that he has made and how he learned from them so that I don’t make the same mistakes myself. Daniel has been a great resource and mentor to me by listening to what I have say and providing me suggestions and advice. He has demonstrated genuine interest in my growth and helping me achieve my professional goals.

Two of my SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely) goals we established were to attend IAVM VenueConnect and to fly down to Texas to meet Daniel. IAVM recommends meeting your mentor, if at all possible. Both were accomplished, as I was fortunate to tour and experience his venue and operations, a 277-acre complex with exhibit halls, the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium, museums, a concert amphitheater, and other attractions. In addition to visiting Fair Park, which draws an impressive 5.2 million people a year, Daniel made arrangements with IAVM members Dave Brown and Paul Turner to tour their respective venues of American Airlines Center, home to the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. I quickly realized that they, too, valued the goals of the IAVM Mentor Connector Program and committed to my professional interest and growth.

My participation in the Mentor Connector program has proven to be beneficial, uplifting, and rewarding. Similar to anything in life, you get out of the program what you decide to put into it (time, dedication, commitment, willingness to learn, etc.). I sought to learn from someone who has been in the industry several years and actively involved with IAVM. Daniel has achieved professional success in his career and has given many hours of volunteer service by serving on numerous IAVM committees. Always willing to listen and to provide sound advice, he is a wonderful and encouraging coach by motivating me to strive to achieve my full potential.

Experiencing firsthand the benefits the program has brought me in my career, I highly recommend the Mentor Connector program to anyone who is interested in furthering their career, increasing their knowledge, and seeking to grow personally and professionally.