The 2014 Senior Executive Symposium (SES) is quickly approaching. It takes place May 12-15 in Ithaca, New York, at Cornell University. In order to learn more about the program and what it offers leaders and future leaders, we spoke with IAVM member and past SES attendee, Kerry Painter, CFE, CEM, assistant general manager at the Cox Business Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

What does SES provide that you do not get anywhere else?

More time to engage in higher level thinking. Classes deep-dive into a subject as opposed to one-hour surface learning. At SES, there is the chance for interaction with brilliant minds that are gathering the best information from the world at large, not just the U.S. or Canada. And, once you leave, those professors are resources for you going forward…not just that one-week period.

Is there a key takeaway that has remained with you from SES?

I was always in awe at the ability of the professors to analyze trends and cross-pollinate our industry with another. About seven years ago, I was in the “future trends” class and the professor talked about how “Toasted sandwiches” are the next big thing. I remember thinking…Really? And then not long after, Subway, Quiznos, etc… all started the toasted sandwich trend along with several other coffee chains and high-end restaurants. Wow, to be able to incorporate that into your concession/food offerings sooner than the rest of our market is to get a jump on impressing clients and gaining revenues.

The classes that analyze your personality leadership styles to such an in-depth level really help you go away and be a stronger leader. If you are aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, then you can better direct others without going in your own biases.

Is there someone that is now a part of your network that SES enabled you to connect with?

I met several industry colleagues in my SES time who are my “go-to” people now. Right off, I think of Leslee Stewart from California, who has served since with me on many things including this year’s new Women in Leadership committee. Karen Totaro, our IAVM 2nd Vice Chair, was also in my class and we talk regularly. Bob Perry (the rock-star professor at SES) is a friend that I have continued to connect and converse with over the years outside of the program. He is an abundant resource for learning opportunities, such as new books and studies.

Applications for the 2014 Senior Executive Symposium (SES) close on March 31. This year’s focus is on leadership culture, and sessions will cover topics such as diversity in the workplace, ethical dimensions of leadership loyalty and brand management, and applied HR strategies. The curriculum is co-developed by IAVM and Cornell University, and it’s geared toward senior-level venue managers and other individuals on leadership tracks.

This news just came over the press wire (a fancy way of saying it arrived in my email inbox). The Oregon Convention Center has achieved LEED Platinum certification. This makes it only one of two U.S. convention centers to hold that distinction.

“For the Oregon Convention Center to achieve LEED Platinum certification is an extraordinary accomplishment and represents the high value our community places on environmental stewardship,” said Scott Cruickshank, executive director of the Oregon Convention Center. “It’s also a testament to our staff whose years of dedication and commitment toward sustainable practices and responsible building management made this achievement possible.”

Platinum is the highest level a building can receive.

“Although this is major accomplishment, we will continue to explore new and innovative ways that the convention center can further reduce its carbon footprint and continue to be a role model for the entire convention industry,” Cruickshank said.

The Oregon Convention Center will play host to this year’s VenueConnect, July 26-29.

There was a lot of news this past week. Here are some stories that caught our eyes.

Introducing Populous’ Living Park, an Exclusive Baseball Stadium for the Future
—Sports Illustrated
“A park that doesn’t simply sink into the dense urban fabric of a city, but merges with it, creating a completely new vision of stadium facades, community and interaction.”

FCC to Tackle Media Ownership, Spectrum Allocation Rules at March Meeting
—Bloomberg BNA
“The FCC will consider a report and order that seeks to revise rules that would liberate 100 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum in the 5150-5250 MHz band for unlicensed Wi-Fi use.”

Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center Launches National Music Theater Institute, Ensuring Future of Broadway Musical
—Playbill
“The O’Neill promises that the faculty will consist of “industry professionals and master teachers” but has not yet announced the names.”

Bigger Ice in NHL Arenas? It’s a Conversation Worth Having
—Toronto Star
“While the NHL’s unlikely to ever move to international size ice surfaces, there is an appetite for some amendments to the current standard.”

8 Ways Tech Has Completely Rewired Our Brains
—Mashable
“Some cognition experts have praised the effects of tech on the brain, lauding its ability to organize our lives and free our minds for deeper thinking. Others fear tech has crippled our attention spans and made us uncreative and impatient when it comes to anything analog.”

(Image: Sports Illustrated/Populous)

Engineers at Duke University have built the world’s first 3-D acoustic cloaking device. For venues, this could help with architectural acoustics.

“The particular trick we’re performing is hiding an object from sound waves,” said Steven Cummer, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke University, in an article written by Ken Kingery . “By placing this cloak around an object, the sound waves behave like there is nothing more than a flat surface in their path.”

This all has to do with the field of metamaterials (artificial materials that exhibit properties not normally found in nature). For this cloak, the materials manipulating the sound waves are plastic and air. The final construction looks like a pyramid—plastic plates with air holes in them stacked above each other.

“To give the illusion that it isn’t there, the cloak must alter the waves’ trajectory to match what they would look like had they had reflected off a flat surface,” Kingery wrote. “Because the sound is not reaching the surface beneath, it is traveling a shorter distance and its speed must be slowed to compensate.”

Cummer said that even though the structure looks simple, it’s actually more difficult than it appears and the team had to put a lot of thought into how the sound waves would interact with it.

“To test the cloaking device, researchers covered a small sphere with the cloak and ‘pinged’ it with short bursts of sound from various angles,” Kingery wrote. “Using a microphone, they mapped how the waves responded and produced videos of them traveling through the air. Cummer and his team then compared the videos to those created with both an unobstructed flat surface and an uncloaked sphere blocking the way. The results clearly show that the cloaking device makes it appear as though the sound waves reflected off an empty surface.”

Cummer said that there’s potential for using this technology in venues.

“…the design of auditoriums or concert halls—any space where you need to control the acoustics,” he said. “If you had to put a beam somewhere for structural reasons that was going to mess up the sound, perhaps you could fix the acoustics by cloaking it.”

(Image: Duke University)

The IAVM Mentor Connector Program is an excellent vehicle to enhance your venue management career. Supported by some of our industry’s best and brightest venue professionals, now is the time to sign up for this unique program. Are you looking to change the sector you are involved in, are you wanting to learn a new skill, improve your leadership skills or need help devising a plan to become the next general manager at your venue? If so, sign up for the next 12-month schedule, April through March. Both mentors and mentees benefit from participating in the program—mentors become better teachers and mentees benefit from the knowledge and direction they gain. The partnership usually introduces both individuals to a new network of colleagues!

The program has no age limitations. You may want to learn about the latest smartphone apps, the latest techniques in ensuring the fan experience, advocacy laws that are applicable in your state or region—everyone can learn something from someone.

If you’d like to experience the value of this member benefit, please apply by March 26. If you have questions, please contact me at 972.906.7441. You can complete your application online at www.iavm.org/mentor.