George Mason University and EagleBank have announced a multi-milliondollar partnership that includes a broad array of education programs and an agreement to change the name of the Patriot Center to EagleBank Arena at George Mason University.

The deal will create scholarships and internships, launch a lecture series and mentoring programs, and provide arena improvements. The internship program will allow qualified Mason students to participate each semester in EagleBank operations.

“This is a landmark moment for George Mason University and EagleBank,” said Mason President Ángel Cabrera in a statement. “Our shared vision goes beyond the financial contribution that will benefit so many people. This is about a relationship between two institutions that have a stake in the community and are investing in the future of our region.”

The agreement provides for a minimum $6.6 million commitment by EagleBank to the university over 10 years. It also includes the unilateral right of EagleBank to extend the agreement for up to a total of 20 years; in such case EagleBank will have provided $13.7 million in funding to the university.

“As a local bank, we are delighted to partner with one of the region’s most prominent universities,” said Ronald D. Paul, chairman and CEO of EagleBank in a statement. “In entering into this array of support, EagleBank underscores not only our commitment to Northern Virginia and the region, but also to the creation of a multi-platform alliance that will support education, job growth, and future economic prosperity throughout our community.”

The Patriot Center will be officially renamed EagleBank Arena on July 1. It opened in 1985 and is a 10,000-seat multipurpose sports and entertainment venue in Fairfax, Virginia, and is managed by Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

(Image: Facebook)

In response to recent incidents in Baltimore, Maryland, and the ongoing potential for demonstrations and civil unrest to affect the operations of public assembly facilities, IAVM presents a webinar that will share best practices, legal considerations, and actual real-time responses from member venues.

Participants:
Russ Simons (moderator), chief listening officer, managing partner, Venue Solutions Group
Allen Johnson, executive director, Orlando Venues
Adina Erwin, vice president and general manager, Fox Theatre
Robert Noonan, director of public safety, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
Denis Braham, co-chair, Sports Business & Public Venue Industry Group, Winstead PC

Register now!

As the IAVM Foundation begins a new fiscal giving year, it gives me pleasure to work with Sarah Rogers and the Foundation Board of Trustees on a challenge grant to honor my friend, Joe Floreano. My company, VenuWorks, is pleased to announce a $5,000 lead gift as part of a matching challenge for the Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship Program to raise $50,000 from May thru September.

Joe was one of the first people I met back in the 1970s when we were known as IAAM—the International Association of Auditorium Managers. If you ask any of the old-timers from District III, they will probably tell you the most fun they have ever had at a District Meeting was when Joe hosted in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The attendee gift that year was a lacquered buffalo chip nailed to a varnished board…yes, that kind of buffalo chip. The “gift” held a unique place of honor in my garage for many years.

The Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship program was established after the passing of Joseph A. Floreano, CFE, a long-time IAVM member, Foundation Trustee, and the first-and-only Honorary Chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees. Floreano was known for giving selflessly in both time and money to worthy industry causes. His leadership was aspirational and he took great pride in mentoring and supporting the advancement in the development of the Foundation’s Build an Amazing Future campaign but also became the inspiration as he truly resembled and embodied everything it stands for. The contributions Floreano made to the Foundation are immeasurable and he will forever leave a mark on the Foundation.

This new fundraising initiative will be a matching challenge to my industry friends and colleagues to support and honor our friend, Joe Floreano. To join me with your support, please visit www.classy.org/scholarships.

Joe was a friend and a true leader in IAVM. It just feels right to honor him with a gift to the IAVM Foundation, which was and is dear to both of us. Joe believed in the Foundation and felt it was worthwhile of his efforts. I hope you do as well.

The International Association of Venue Managers Foundation announces a US$50,000 fundraising initiative backed by Steve Peters, CFE, and VenuWorks to support the Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship Program. The initiative will help fund 38 scholarships + internships to IAVM sector meetings, schools, and VenueConnect each year.

The Foundation has been committed to programs, ideas, and initiatives that build amazing careers and a strong future for the industry for more than 32 years. It has bestowed more than 300 scholarships worth approximately $350,000.

Last July at VenueConnect in Portland, the Foundation continued this legacy by announcing its newest campaign, Build an Amazing Future. This campaign is a three-prong approach focused on students, young professionals, and mid-level management in the venue management industry.

The program was established after the passing of Joseph A. Floreano, CFE, a long-time IAVM member, Foundation Trustee, and the first-and-only Honorary Chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees. Floreano was known for giving selflessly in both time and money to worthy industry causes. His leadership was aspirational, and he took great pride in mentoring and supporting the advancement in the development of the Foundation’s Build an Amazing Future campaign but also became the inspiration as he truly resembled and embodied everything it stands for. The contributions Floreano made to the Foundation are immeasurable, and he will forever leave a mark on the Foundation.

This new fundraising initiative will include a $5,000 matching challenge from Steve Peters, CFE, and VenuWorks as part of a fundraising matching challenge to industry peers, community partners, and friends of Joe Floreano.

“Joe was a friend and a true leader in IAVM,” said Peters, founder and president of VenuWorks. “It just feels right to honor him with a gift to the IAVM Foundation, which was and is dear to both of us. Joe believed in the Foundation and felt it was worthwhile of his efforts.”

To date, 15 recipients have been positively impacted by the Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship Program through opportunities to attend IAVM’s Performing Arts Managers Conference (PAMC), IAVM’s Academy of Safety and Security (AVSS), and IAVM’s Venue Management School at Oglebay (VMS) since the program launched in 2015.

To join this fundraising initiative, you can make your donation by visiting www.classy.org/scholarships.

iCommit, IAVM’s annual member referral campaign ended March 31. We especially thank all of our members who encouraged their peers to become connected to our community. With the generous support of Ungerboeck Software International Inc., who has funded this program for three years, we are happy to announce the winners of five, $500 Apple Gift Cards:

Jan Addison, CFE—Orange County Convention Center
David Angeles—Allen Event Center
Russell Read, CFE—AT&T Performing Arts Center
Tom Richter, CFE—Swiftel Center
Jeremy Tipton—Artis-Naples

(photo credit: SimpleSkye via photopin cc)