Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in March 2023. 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.

Kevin Abke, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Becky Allen, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Sean Astrov, Landers Center, Southaven, MS
Joe Baker, Floreano Convention Center, Rochester, NY
Sean Baldwin, Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Logan Barham, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Kearra Barkley, ESa, Nashville, TN
Gary Beckert, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Daniel Blackdeer, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI
Rick Bornhauser, NRG Stadium – Houston Texans, Houston, TX
Rachel Brown, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO
Stewart Brown, Nook Pod, Wonder Lake, IL
Melissa Busch, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Jasmine Cawley, Tacoma Venues & Events, Tacoma, WA
Craig Chapman, Oracle Park – San Francisco Giants, San Francisco, CA
Natalie Chapman, Wise County, VA, Big Stone Gap, VA
Carolyn Clow, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
Greg Condry, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Jason Cornelius, Floreano Convention Center, Rochester, NY
Melissa Coulter, Spokane Public Facilities District, Spokane, WA
Jeremy Cox, Global Rope Access, Las Vegas, NV
Jono de Leon, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI
Kevin Donovan, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
David Embree, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Kevin Eorio, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Terrell Estes, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Marva Evans, OKC Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, OK
Sarah Finnegan, Smart City Networks, Las Vegas, NV
Erin Firestone, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Jon Frost, Landers Center, Southaven, MS
Francesca Furfaro, Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Christian Gagnon, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC
Dailee Gardner, Legacy Events Center, Farmington, UT
Cody Garza, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Ashley Gile, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
Mary Goedken, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI
Ben Gordon, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
Jessica Gorman, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Dustin Gratto, Vepe Hockey, San Diego, CA
Greg Green, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Junior Greenidge, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Ramon Grijalva, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Joe Guthrie, OKC Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, OK
Hope Hall, OKC Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, OK
Bryan Harris, Breslin Center, East Lansing, MI
Jake Hartman, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO
Gail Hatch, Landers Center, Southaven, MS
Jordyn Hattenhauer, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Jake Havemeier, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Chris Hearn, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Adam Heffron, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
Aimee Herman, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Zenik Hite, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC
Brad Hodl, Spokane Public Facilities District, Spokane, WA
Sharon Holmes, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Emilie Hook, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Priscilla Horvath, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Kris Hughes, Floreano Convention Center, Rochester, NY
Benjamin Huss, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Peter I’anson, Secure My Booking, London, United Kingdom
Cynthia Ille, The Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel, IN
Alisha Iniguez, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Katie Johnson, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Jim Jones, Landers Center, Southaven, MS
Nicholas Kazmierczak, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
Carter Keenan, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Orion Kimberlin, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Michaela King, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Maggie Koszala, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO
Aleksander Kozlov, Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL
Donald Kraft, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
Dakota Kretschman, Floreano Convention Center, Rochester, NY
David Langford, Smart City Networks, Las Vegas, NV
Ben Leonard, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO
Jean Leonard, Proctors Collaborative, Schenectady, NY
Sarah Litster, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID
Talya Mamane, Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
DJ McCaffery, Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ
JT McCreary, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Jeff McDermott, The Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel, IN
Kat McDonald, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Brittany McFarland, Landers Center, Southaven, MS
Anjanette Merriweather, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Shawnaia Miranda, Floreano Convention Center, Rochester, NY
Sophia Mobayen, SoFi Stadium – Group 1, Inglewood, CA
Mohammed Mohammed, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Jose Montoya, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Gerri Morgan, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Kelsey Morrisson, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI
Jennifer Nath, OKC Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, OK
Laura Newell, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Paula Newman, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Dallas, TX
Morgan Nyren, Tacoma Venues & Events, Tacoma, WA
Nicklas Oelze, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
Michelle Ohley, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO
Monica Ortega, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Greg Oswalt, Landers Center, Southaven, MS
Tim Overall, Smart City Networks, Las Vegas, NV
Elliot Overton, AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas, TX
William Parker, Cadence Bank Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA
Taylor Pearson, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Briana Pedroza, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex – Group 2, Raleigh, NC
Heather Perrin, Honda Center/ocV!BE, Anaheim, CA
Chelle Phillips, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Nathanael Pretlow, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
David Quackenbush, POSitive Technology.com Inc., Frederick, MD
Steven Rackley, Rice University, Houston, TX
Liana Ramos-Izquierdo, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC
Justin Ratushniak, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON, Canada
Barb Ray, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Nancy Reimer, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Rachel Rhodes, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Ramie Rice, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Eric Richardson, OKC Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, OK
Alyson Robb, Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, Calgary, AB, Canada
Karen Robles, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Antonio Rodriguez, El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, TX
Katie Ryerse, Floreano Convention Center, Rochester, NY
Eimis Sakalauskas, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Victor Salazar, The University of Texas at San Antonio – Student Union, San Antonio, TX
Erika Salgado De La Paz, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Vanessa Schauer, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Kassi Schlund, Rose Quarter, Portland, OR
Justin Schramm, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Mount Prospect, IL
Chris Schultheis, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Donlisa Scott, Tacoma Venues & Events, Tacoma, WA
Rebecca Scott, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Elizabeth Selders, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Brittany Shouse, Old National Events Plaza, Evansville, IN
Shamaree Singleton, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Natalie Skigen, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Alan Sokolsky, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Courtney Spell, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO
Jackson Stachnik, Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL
Emily Stomberg, Las Vegas Ballpark, Las Vegas, NV
Jensen Swaim, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN
Keith Talbert, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Dallas, TX
Kevin Tapia, Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
Ben Taylor, Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, TX
Chris Taylor, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Jennifer Volpi, MTS Seating, Temperance, MI
Jillian Wagner, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ
Elizabeth Washington, Walton Arts Center/Walmart AMP, Fayetteville, AR
Garrett Weller, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
Adam Wheelock, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO
Sarah Whitfield, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Sarah Whyman, OKC Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, OK
Zach Wickencamp, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Meghan Wilcox, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Greg Williams, Alameda County Fair Association, Pleasanton, CA
James Willis, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Alison Wright, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Marlee Yahn, Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, Madison, WI
Genevieve Young, Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC
Meghan Ziegler, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR

From Halley Olsen Chapel of the Valley

The theater lights got a little dimmer when Jay Thomas, 65, of Leona Valley, Calif., died peacefully at home on March 29, 2023, after a two-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Janice, son Bryce Thomas, and daughter Brooke Enriquez (Sebastyan), his sister Pat Thomas, and a wide circle of family members, friends, and colleagues.

Jay was a respected veteran of the California and national entertainment scene. As Vice President and General Manager of the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, he oversaw the booking and venue management for thousands of performances, including every Academy Awards show from 2001 to 2022. Jay joined the executive team at the theater even before its construction started, having previously been a part of the team overseeing the construction and management of The Staples Center in Los Angeles.

He was hard-working, innovative, and smart, but Jay’s family and friends will remember him best for his quick wit and unrivaled ability to tell a great story (some of which could even be told in public). In 2019, Jay was named a “Hero of Hollywood” by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for his service and commitment. He was a longtime member of the International Association of Venue Managers, and he actively promoted several charitable causes, most notably Stand Up to Cancer.

Jay was devoted to his wife and children, taking special joy in showing off his short-order cook skills at breakfast or planning travel adventures. There was not a sport he would not watch, and he was a sneakily accomplished left-handed golfer and tennis player. Within the family, he earned a reputation for choosing offbeat names for the variety of indoor and outdoor animals who shared their property.

A native of Cleveland, Jay was a proud graduate of Ohio University and an even prouder alumnus of The Ohio University “Marching 110,” for which he played trumpet and danced like a maniac. He graduated with a degree in music education, but Jay found his true calling in venue management at the University of Texas at Austin and later at San Diego State University.

If you would like to make a memorial donation – Jay’s favorite charities were Stand Up to Cancer and The Painted Turtle.

Arrangements are pending.

Jay’s memorial will be held at the Dolby Theatre in late May.

FROM DOLBY THEATRE

On March 29, 2023, the employees and staff of the Dolby Theatre lost one of our family. Jay Thomas was a highly respected executive in the entertainment industry, serving as the Vice President and General Manager of the Dolby Theatre for over twenty-two years. He has made numerous contributions to the world of Hollywood, and in 2019 he was named a “Hero of Hollywood” by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Community Foundation. At the Dolby Theatre, Jay has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the venue remains one of the most prestigious and sought-after locations in the entertainment industry. His tireless work ethic, strategic thinking, and leadership abilities have helped to establish the Dolby Theatre as a hub for world-class events, including the Academy Awards. Jay is known for his many positive personal attributes, including his unwavering commitment to excellence, his exceptional communication skills, and his ability to inspire and motivate those around him. He is widely regarded as a visionary leader who has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry, and his contributions to the Dolby Theatre and Hollywood as a whole will undoubtedly be felt for years to come.

FROM FRIEND TODD HUNT, CVE

I first met Jay when we worked together on the 1996 Olympics. His career included stops in Austin and San Diego before opening the Staples Center and then the Kodak Theatre in LA. He was a great guy and will be missed by all who knew him. Jay possessed a quick wit and a calm demeanor. Those two traits served him well throughout his venue management career. I was honored to call him a friend.

By Nicole Bowman, MBA, CEM

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced the retirement of David DuBois, CMP-F, CAE, FASAE, CTA, as President and CEO effective December 31, 2023.

DuBois has been with the association for 11 years, providing strategic insights and vision to propel the association forward while successfully leading the association through the recent pandemic. He will continue to lead the association through its strategic growth initiatives in 2023 and continue to build on his legacy of advancing IAEE’s mission and member community.

“IAEE is a large and diverse global association that represents a vast ecosystem, Dubois said. “I look forward to continuing to lead the exhibitions and events industry’s trade association and over the months ahead my goal is for IAEE to continue delivering valuable programs to our members and stakeholders globally.”

“We appreciate everything David has accomplished during his tenure at the association and are grateful for his leadership and service to IAEE members,” said IAEE Chairperson of the Board Dennis Smith. “The IAEE Board is following a well guided succession plan and committed to paving the direction forward with new leadership to position the association for future growth.”

The IAEE Board of Directors has retained SearchWide Global, a full-service executive search firm that specializes in C-level positions in the event, convention, travel, tourism, hospitality, trade association, venue management, and experiential marketing industries. The search for IAEE’s new President and CEO will begin with a detailed needs assessment led by SearchWide Global and will aim to publish the official position overview in late June.

Nicole Bowman, MBA, CEM, is Vice President, Marketing and Communications at IAEE.

From Comcast

Comcast Spectacor announced that Dave Scott, Chairman and Governor of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, has decided to retire in his 30th year working for Comcast. Dan Hilferty, who was recently named CEO of Comcast Spectacor, will succeed Scott as Chairman of the company on April 17 and as Governor of the team on July 1.

“Dave is a highly talented executive who contributed to the growth of our business in many ways over the past three decades,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. “He was one of the early entrepreneurs as we expanded our company nationally, first as a Division President and then as CFO of Comcast Cable during some of our most pivotal years. We’re very grateful to Dave for all he has done for Comcast and for his leadership of Comcast Spectacor over the last decade.”

“Working for both Comcast and Comcast Spectacor have been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m very proud of all that we’ve accomplished over the last 30 years,” Scott said. “It has been an incredible honor to work for such a terrific company and I’m very thankful to Brian for his trust in me. I’ve also been fortunate to work with so many fantastic colleagues and look forward to watching this company continue to grow under Dan’s leadership.”

“I’ve enjoyed partnering with Dave since I joined Comcast Spectacor last month and I’m energized about the opportunity to further advance the company,” Hilferty said. “Our number one goal for the Flyers will be to consistently compete for the Stanley Cup. It is going to be a process that will take time to get on that path, but I’m confident we are headed in the right direction with Danny Briere as interim GM, Coach Tortorella, and our hiring of a President of Hockey Operations soon. Our leadership team will be fully focused to deliver on this for our fans while also continuing to make the sports complex the best location for sports and entertainment in the nation.”

Scott joined Comcast Spectacor in December 2013 and under his leadership it became an internationally recognized leader in the sports and entertainment industry. In addition to his role as Governor of the Philadelphia Flyers, Scott has led the Wells Fargo Center’s $350+ million transformation into a new arena, which will conclude in the coming months, and oversaw Spectra, a leading venue management and hospitality company, which was later sold.

Scott also brought professional lacrosse back to Philadelphia in 2017 by re-establishing the Philadelphia Wings, launched Spectacor Gaming, which has broadened the company’s reach around the globe through esports, and returned professional ice hockey back to Portland, ME after the company acquired the Maine Mariners of the ECHL. Scott will continue to serve on the board of T1, Spectacor’s competitive esports team based in South Korea, which is part of a joint venture between Comcast Spectacor and SK Square created under Scott’s leadership. He also served on the Executive Board of Snider Youth Hockey in support of Ed Snider’s legacy and is currently a Board Member Emeritus. Scott first joined Comcast in 1993, was President of what is now Comcast’s Central Division from 1996 to 2005 and served as Comcast Cable’s CFO from 2005 to 2013.

As Chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, Hilferty will lead the company’s entire portfolio, including the Philadelphia Flyers. Spectacor Sports and Entertainment CEO Valerie Camillo will continue to work directly with Hilferty, overseeing the Wells Fargo Center, including its continued transformation, and lead the Flyers’ Business Operations.

From Acrisure Arena

Oak View Group (OVG), the global venue development, advisory, and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries, and Acrisure Arena in Greater Palm Springs, the newest world-class venue in Southern California’s greatest concert destination, announced the promotion of Drew Gershenson to vice president of content, Acrisure Arena, and OVG Southwest Division. Gershenson joined OVG in December 2021 and previously served as director of booking for Acrisure Arena. He will report to John Page, senior vice president of Acrisure Arena, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and OVG360 Facilities.

“We’re pleased to support Drew’s continued growth within Oak View Group,” Page said. “Since joining the team in 2021, Drew has proven himself to be a strategic team leader and we are confident he will bring the same passion and drive to his new role as we continue to expand our reach throughout the southwest.”

In his new role, Gershenson will continue to lead the day-to-day programming of the Acrisure Arena as well as support other OVG managed properties in the Southwest Region including Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA; Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona; and Tahoe Blue Arena, which is scheduled to open this summer in South Lake Tahoe.

“The southwest region represents an important area for Oak View Group. While we continue to grow our presence in Southern California and across the southwest region, Drew will play a critical role in booking and programming to support our managed properties as OVG expands to new key markets,” said Tim Leiweke, chairman and CEO, OVG. Since opening in December, Acrisure Arena has experienced tremendous success with respect to programming, and with 13 sold out events so far, both fans and the industry have taken notice. The Palm Springs market has quickly become a must-play stop for the biggest concert tours and artists in the world and it’s only going to keep getting bigger. We’re just getting started.”

With more than fifteen years of industry experience in working with artists, agents, managers, and labels, Gershenson is responsible for overseeing strategic content programming of all concerts, family shows, and special events, as well as facilitating the AHL hockey schedules.

“I am very excited for this opportunity to advance my career and grow with OVG. Tim and Francesca lead by example and have created an environment that inspires creativity, growth and success. We have all worked hard to make Acrisure Arena a premiere destination for artists to play and fans to attend,” Gershenson said. “I can’t wait to build off the momentum of our huge grand opening and continue to unlock the market’s true potential. I look forward to collaborating with my incredible colleagues in the Southwest Region to strategically align content and bookings for our venues and foster new and existing relationships and opportunities for OVG.”

Before joining OVG, Gershenson served as director of programming for ASM Global’s Paycom Center in Oklahoma City where he was responsible for booking content and working closely with NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to that, he spent ten years at Live Nation Entertainment where he served most recently as senior tour director where he oversaw all aspects of the tour cycle including routing strategy, offer creation, contracting, on-sale, and inventory management. Gershenson holds a Bachelor of business administration, international finance and marketing from the University of Miami.