Joe Vera III, Assistant City Manager, Culture, Recreation and Special Events, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, passed away April 16 at the age of 69.

Before joining McAllen, Texas, in 2014, Vera helped the City of Hidalgo, Texas, transform from a small border town to a bustling cultural and entertainment destination. He was instrumental in launching BorderFest, overseeing the development of Dodge Arena (now Payne Arena), and securing historic retail and economic initiatives.

Vera believed in networking and was an involved member of both IAVM and the International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE). Many in the business were recipients of his famous pink grapefruit holiday gift to promote his fairs and festivals and the city of Hidalgo, Texas.

In 2025, he served as World Board Chair of the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA). His contributions earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the IFEA Hall of Fame and the Texas Festivals & Events Association Hall of Honor. He was both a Certified Festival & Events Executive (CFEE) from IFEA and a Certified Economic Developer (CECD) from the International Economic Development Council).

According to the obituary published online, Vera was born and raised in Pharr, Texas. He started his working life at just six years old by shining shoes and selling Coca-Colas.

“Joe dedicated himself to crafting experiences that brought communities together, elevated civic pride, and created lasting memories for countless people. He was also a proud Eagle Scout, embodying the values of leadership and service throughout his life,” it reads.

Vera was also a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for over 40 years, significantly contributing to its growth and new construction.

As Assistant City Manager for Culture, Recreation, and Special Events for the City of McAllen he spearheaded the creation and expansion of landmark events including the McAllen Holiday Parade, South Pole Illuminated Festival and McAllen Marathon.

Vera is survived by his wife, Alma Vera; his children, Trisha Garza and Homer Garza (Sonya); grandchildren, Ryan and Reena; sisters, Joann Watts (George Sr.) and Linda Casas; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his esteemed parents Joe Vera Jr. and Gloria.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in July 2025. 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 here to share your story and photo.

Duncan Abdelnour, CrowdPass Inc, New York, NY
Violet Acevedo Vera, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
Leo Adams, Linxy, Charlotte, NC
Carlos Aguirre, Southwestern Community College District, Chula Vista, CA
Tina Altadonna, DreamSeats LLC, East Northport, NY
Alexa Antopol, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Cathleen Bachman, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Tony Bacola, Prism.fm, Austin, TX
Breasia Battle, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Megan Bell, Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
Rick Bennett, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Derek Bimat, Allied Universal Janitorial Services, Torrance, CA
Latonika Blackmon, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Tom Blanch, Surfside and Stateside Brands, Philadelphia, PA
Jessica Bray, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Kyle Brown, California Exposition & State Fair, Sacramento, CA
Robert Campbell, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Nathaniel Castro, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Lauren Cearnal, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Ronni Chadwell, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Brian Chen, Pebble, New York, NY
Ray Chery, Monsam Portable Sinks, Antioch, CA
Sarah Christopherson, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Dustin Clem, Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
Jeff Comstock, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
James Cook, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
Nicole Cope, City of Portland, Portland, ME
Thomas Dabovich, Be Live Entertainment Group, Santiago, Chile
Joshua Dachs, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Lauren Davis, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Richard Davis, United Rentals, Orlando, FL
Martin De Jesus, Donald L. Tucker Civic Center – OVG, Tallahassee, FL
Kevin Derenisky, REAL District, Regina, SK
Stephanie DiCaro, Program Productions, Lombard, IL
Mason Donley, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Catherine Downes, usheru, Dublin, Ireland
Anna Draper, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Mason Earnest, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Sarah Elliott, Ticketmaster, Toronto, ON, Canada
Valencia Evans, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
Thomas Ewald, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Michael Ferguson, TheatreDNA, Los Angeles, CA
Todd Fiegen, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sioux City, Sioux City, IA
Fred Fink, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Miguel Garcia De Quevedo, Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Sarah Gebhardt, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Scott Glover, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Melissa Godoy, Omaha Performing Arts, Omaha, NE
Eduardo Goycoolea, Be Live Entertainment Group, Santiago, Chile
Danielle Graves, Odell Williamson Auditorium, Bolivia, NC
Sandra Hall, Athletica Sport Systems Inc., Waterloo, ON, Canada
Caryn Hammond, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
Josaland Hardwick, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
David Hasenauer, VIP Development, Valdosta, GA
Thomas Head, American Interstate Signcrafters, Brookline, NH
Jordan Hildreth, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Raymond Hoadley, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Michael Hoffman, Gather Voices, Chicago, IL
Zach Holt, DLS Events LLC, New York, NY
Tim Jorgensen, Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, TN
Colby King, Four One, a division of Willwork Global Services, Orlando, FL
Ivy Kirby, Pensacola Bay Center – ASM Global, Pensacola, FL
Andy Kursch, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Hiu Tung Lai, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong
Jay Laybutt, EventDraw, Engadine, NSW
Shannon Licygiewicz, Albany Capital Center, Albany, NY
Rebecca Loftus, Palm Beach County Convention Center – OVG, West Palm Beach, FL
Craig MacDonald, Ice-America, Round Rock, TX
Stephanie MacMillan, Busch Systems, Barrie, ON, Canada
Doug Mactaggart, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Pepper Mayor, Barney Monk Event Staffing & Payroll, Cleveland, OH
Katie McAdams, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Alexandra McCloud, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Patty McCormack, Improving Communications, Port Washington, NY
Ian McCoy, Ticketmaster, Orlando, FL
David McElwee, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Jeanie McHugh, Brazos Urethane, Inc., Texas City, TX
Robert Mediano, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Madilyn Micallef, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Angela Miles-Powell, Ticketmaster, Memphis, TN
Asterilla Joanne Monteiro, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Shelly Morehouse, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Shana Motts, Aramark Sports + Entertainment, Philadelphia, PA
Michelle Mulcare, Pasadena Convention Center and Municipal Fairgrounds, Pasadena, TX
Lauryn Munn, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Andrew Nagel, DLR Group, Chicago, IL
Steve Naylor, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
Sean O’Connor, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Ashley Ostrander, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Mary Patchunka-Smith, City of Thomasville, Georgia, Thomasville, GA
Chad Peters, Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, Reno, NV
David Piccola, Rigging International Group, Las Vegas, NV
Joel Puthoff, Linxy, Charlotte, NC
Babak Rahimi Ardabili, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Corey Reeves, Utah Tech University, Saint George, UT
Rebecca Rennesund, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Michael Rosario, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Peter Rosenbaum, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Ryan Rubenskas, Four One, a division of Willwork Global Services, Orlando, FL
Ellen Rusconi, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Dave Sanderson, FreedomPay, Philadelphia, PA
Gary Scott, Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, TN
Jodi Simkins, Utah Tech University, St. George, UT
Ted Simon, ZenSpace Inc, San Jose, CA
Lynnette Simpson, Merch Machines, San Diego, CA
Leslie Sinclair-Kaye, Alley Theatre, Houston, TX
Anthony Siples, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Jordan Sleightholm, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Barbara Smith, Prince George’s Community College Center for Performing Arts, Largo, MD
Tara Snider, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON, Canada
Chris Sobron, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Stephanie Stegall, Pink Bows Foundation, Houston, TX
Adam Sturt, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Leanne Talik, showNets LLC, Cumming, GA
Scott Uffman, MSB Consulting Engineers, Metairie, LA
Thomas Violante, The Seven, Ferndale, MI
Maikael Vong, Utah Tech University, St. George, UT
Angela Webb, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Jon Webb, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Dale Wheeler, The Morrison Center, Boise, ID
Kanise Wiggins, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
Jordan Wiley, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Michael Williamson, Rogers Arena | Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jim Willits, Boomerang, Hinsdale, IL
Anthony Winter-Brown, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Matthew Wolf, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Wing Ki Wong, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong
Jarvis Woodson, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Steven Yeates, Event Services – Utah State University, Logan, UT
Amanda Zappia, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Emily Zientek, Sodexo Live!, Orlando, FL

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 AIPC/CCC/IAVM Academy, taking place at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre & BMO Centre, Calgary Exhibition & Stampede, from October 26th to October 30th, 2025.

IAVM has partenered with AIPC and CCC in delivering this acclaimed leadership program. This expanded collaboration reflects the global commitment to advancing leadership excellence in our sector.

“Partnering with IAVM and CCC for the 2025 Academy reflects our shared commitment to advancing leadership excellence in our industry,“ says Sven Bossu, Chief Executive Officer, AIPC.” Together, we will deliver a truly global learning experience, fostering connections and skills that will help shape the future of our sector.”

Trevor Mitchell, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CDP, IAVM President & CEO, adds, “We are excited to join forces with AIPC and CCC for the 2025 Academy in Calgary. This collaboration offers an outstanding opportunity to bring our global community together, share best practices, and strengthen leadership within the convention and venue management sector.”

Barry Smith, Executive Director, Convention Centres of Canada (CCC), highlights the importance of this growing partnership: “The addition of IAVM to the Academy reinforces our mission to bring world-class education to Canada’s convention centre leaders. This expanded partnership will offer participants unparalleled insights and the chance to build global connections, right here in Calgary.”

The comprehensive four-day program is designed for convention centre leaders and executives, focusing on the strategic, operational, and leadership challenges facing our industry today. Attendees will gain practical tools, fresh insights, and build a powerful network of peers from across Canada and around the world.

Click here to register today!

Kate Jansen promoted to new role beginning July 28

The Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater, as part of Raleigh’s Complex of venues, is pleased to announce the promotion of Kate Jansen, CMP to Director of Marketing and Sponsorships. 

Jansen joined the Raleigh Convention Center in 2010 as a special event coordinator and has served as catering sales manager, national sales manager, and stepped in as the interim booking manager for the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts to support the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jansen steps into this role at an important time, as the Complex embarks on a sizeable expansion project. In this role, she will drive growth and awareness for each of the Complex’s brands, leading strategic marketing and communications efforts, as well as cultivating high-impact partnerships and corporate sponsorships. 

“Kate is stepping into this role at a strategically valuable time for our Complex. Her industry experience is a major asset at this time of expansion and business growth,” said Kerry Painter, Executive Director of the Complex. “Her skill in relationship building and business prowess in this role are a key part of our venues’ bright future.” 

Jansen is an active member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), and the International Association of Exhibitors and Events (IAEE). She also holds the prestigious Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) from the Events Industry Council. 

“This is a pivotal moment for our Complex, and for the city of Raleigh as our venues expand. I’m eager to cultivate these sponsorships that will connect partners with our hundreds of thousands of new guests,” said Jansen. “Having developed a deep passion for this city as an NC State student, it’s gratifying to have been with our venues over the past 15 years and see their contribution to Raleigh’s growth. I take pride in seeing Raleigh earn recognition as a premier destination, and I’m honored to help shape the future of both our venue and our downtown community with our innovative marketing team that will continue to elevate our visibility and impact.” 

She began her new position on July 28. 

Texas FFA tipped its hat to Fort Worth in a big way, awarding staff of Visit Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Convention Center and other community leaders with the Honorary Lonestar Degree during its 97th Annual Convention in July — celebrating years of partnership, hospitality, and hometown pride that keeps the blue corduroy jackets coming back to Cowtown.

The degree honors individuals, business groups or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to FFA (Future Farmers of America) and to the advancement of agricultural education.

“Texas FFA appreciates your dedication to agriculture and to the youth of Texas,” wrote Texas FFA Executive Director Jennifer Jackson in a letter to recipients, thanking them for their years of support of the association.

Recipients of the Texas FFA Lone Star Degree are, from left to right: Bob Jameson, President & CEO, Visit Fort Worth; Mary Wilson, Director of Sales – Central Texas Region, Visit Fort Worth; Stephanie Rodriguez, Senior Convention Services Manager, Visit Fort Worth; and Joy Bradley, National Sales Manager, Fort Worth Convention Center.

Fort Worth has hosted Texas FFA nine times since 2002. As is the norm for most Texas associations, they rotate their annual convention among the largest cities in Texas. With 13,000 students (plus teachers and sponsors), the Texas FFA Annual Convention has an $18 million economic impact to Fort Worth. Citing Fort Worth’s unmatched hospitality, they will return to Fort Worth for their annual conventions in 2026 and 2027.

Joy Bradley, national sales manager for the Fort Worth Convention Center, has been partnering with Texas FFA since 2014.

“Texas FFA has strong ties to Fort Worth through partnerships with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo as well as several Fort Worth-based corporations,” she said. “Our compact, safe and walkable downtown area with so many hotels and restaurants is a big benefit for the group, as is our genuine hospitality and ease of doing business.”

FFA members study not only farming and ranching but also horticulture, aquaculture, food sciences, accounting, business, wildlife management, mechanics and engineering — leading to careers in a variety of fields, according to the organization’s website.