The City of Fresno has announced the selection of VenuWorks and ATG Entertainment as the new managing partners for the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center. This partnership will oversee operations for the complex—including the Fresno Convention Center, Valdez Hall, Selland Arena, and the historic Saroyan Theatre—beginning January 11, 2026, marking a new era of collaborative management for the city’s premier event venues.

The decision follows a successful joint bid from two organizations whose qualifications and experience set a new standard for venue management in the region. With nearly three decades of proven success, VenuWorks brings a legacy of operating performing arts centers, arenas, convention, and expo halls in communities across the nation. As the industry’s only 100% employee-owned management firm, VenuWorks is deeply invested in the prosperity of every venue and community it serves, fostering an ownership culture that inspires excellence at every level.

ATG Entertainment complements this expertise as one of the world’s leading live entertainment companies, renowned for bringing world-class programming to theaters across the globe. Their vision is rooted in expanding access to unforgettable shows and experiences, supported by a network of more than 70 venues—including the nearby Orpheum, Golden Gate, and Curran Theatres in San Francisco.

Together, VenuWorks and ATG Entertainment are united by a shared vision: to deliver an innovative, community-focused approach that extends beyond the venues themselves. Their dedicated teams are committed to partnering with the City, local stakeholders, and patrons to develop actionable plans, maximize operational efficiencies, and spark a new era of success for the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center. Every aspect of their approach will be tailored to create memorable experiences, drive consistent and sustainable revenue, and establish the FCEC as a benchmark for excellence—where guests don’t just attend events, but experience the heart of Fresno. “This is a major step forward in our ongoing revitalization of the downtown Fresno.” Said Mayor Jerry Dyer. “By partnering with VenuWorks and ATG Entertainment, we are expanding the number of events that activate our downtown core, create economic opportunity, and bring people together. I look forward to seeing the Fresno Convention and Event Center as a premier venue that brings locals and visitors to the area for arts, sporting events, conventions, and so much more.”

VenuWorks will manage the overall operations for the entire Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center complex. This includes overseeing executive leadership, convention sales, finance, marketing, sponsorship development, events, security, and food and beverage services. VenuWorks will be responsible for setting the annual operating budget with the City, managing complex-wide financials, and hiring all full-time and part-time staff for these departments. VenuWorks CEO Steve Peters said “We are honored that the City of Fresno has entrusted VenuWorks, alongside our partners at ATG Entertainment, to usher in this exciting new chapter for the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center. As an employee-owned company, our team brings a deeply personal commitment to operational excellence and a passion for serving the communities where we live and work. We look forward to leveraging our collective expertise to elevate the guest experience, drive economic growth, and ensure these venues serve as a vibrant gathering place for the entire Fresno community.”

ATG Entertainment will take the lead on programming the Saroyan Theatre, granting VenuWorks staff key resources through their extensive booking network and theater management best practices.  ATG Ticketing will also service the FCEC complex. “We look forward to embarking on this partnership with VenuWorks and the City of Fresno to deliver exceptional live experiences to residents and visitors alike. The City’s vibrant cultural arts ecosystem and strong sense of community make it an ideal place to create meaningful, engaging events. We are grateful for this opportunity and excited for what we will build together,” said Lori Hotz, ATG Entertainment North American CEO.

This strategic partnership is designed to maximize the potential of each venue while operating as a unified and thriving community hub. By combining VenuWorks’ extensive experience in comprehensive venue management with ATG Entertainment’s global leadership in programming and ticketing, the collaboration will deliver a broad array of cultural, recreational, and educational events for the benefit of the Fresno community.

The Seattle Convention Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael McQuade to Senior Advisor, Commercial Strategy, reporting directly to Jennifer LeMaster, President & CEO effective January 1, 2026. This transition marks a significant step in advancing the Center’s future growth objectives.

McQuade, SCC’s Director of Sales since 1988, brings extensive experience and industry knowledge to the advisory role. He helped launch the original Center and served as an insightful contributor to the three expansions of the Arch building, plus the half-million-square-foot addition of Summit, which opened in early 2023. He will be responsible for shaping new commercial relationships, refining destination KPIs, and partnering with an expanding network of stakeholders to evaluate tradeshows, sports and special event opportunities for the city.

As a result of McQuade’s transition, the Center will initiate a search for a highly experienced and innovative business leader to join its executive team as Vice President, Commercial Strategies. This role is ideal for a tenured professional with a proven track record of diversifying and driving revenue growth and leading high-performing teams in complex hospitality environments. 

Looking ahead to 2026, the Seattle Convention Center is excited to embark on a Campus Master Plan process, with a renewed focus on delivering clean, safe, and secure environments for visitors, guests and residents alike. The plan’s initiatives reflect the Center’s dedication to operational excellence and its vision for the future of business events in downtown Seattle.

Peggy Daidakis, 74, was the first woman to run a major convention center in the U.S., taking the helm of The Baltimore Convention Center in 1986. Daidakis, who passed away quietly at home Dec. 12, was an icon in Baltimore, totally identified with that destination city until the day she died. 

She actually began her venue management career path before the center opened. She was working for Mayor Don Schaefer when he asked her to join a staff of two in 1978 in booking the soon-to-open Baltimore Convention Center. The center opened in 1979 with the East Building and was expanded, with Daidakis as director, in 1997 with the West Building. 

A perhaps little-known fact is that, along with her strong work ethic, innate curiosity and honed skills, Daidakis was the original “autopen” when it came to Mayor Schaefer. She was his assistant and could forge his signature perfectly, with permission of course. That was her claim to fame before she got into the business, remembered Tom Mobley, retired, who counts Daidakis as a friend and mentor. 

Mobley knew the entire Daidakis clan, including Peggy and her sister Zoe, also deceased, before they all got into the business. When he followed her down that path, “everything I needed to know about the convention center industry I learned from Peggy Daidakis,” Mobley said. 

Prior to being named director, Daidakis was co-director with Barney Levengood, per John Zerbe’s appointment. Zerbe, of Hershey fame, was in charge of the BCC and the arena for Mayor Schaefer. It was a strange setup, but they made it work, Daidakis once said in an interview. She honed her operations skills, along with her already strong sales side, and ended up being a stellar manager when given the entire job after Levengood left for Toledo. 

Several of the people who worked with her commented on both her management style and her industry knowledge. Both were recognized by IAVM, which awarded the longtime member the Convention Center Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also honored with Events Industry Council’s Hall of Leaders Award. In 2008, she was named a Woman of Influence by Venues Today (now part of Pollstar). 

“To have known Peggy was to know a true force of nature — someone who cared deeply and unwaveringly about her people, her city and her industry. Her impact on the staff of the Baltimore Convention Center will be remembered and cherished for years to come,” said Mac Campbell, CVE, Executive Director, Baltimore Convention Center. “Through her mentorship, she shaped leaders across the country and touched countless lives, including mine. I am profoundly grateful for her guidance and the example she set.” 

To walk into the convention center business as a newbie and be privileged to learn from an icon in the industry like Daidakis was a great privilege for Campbell. It was not without stress, of course. He was a millennial and full of vim and vinegar, asking endless questions and challenging ideas, to the point he raised her ire. “She would tell me, ‘You’re poking the bear. Stop poking the bear,’” he recalled. 

Mutual respect developed between the “hotshot” and the icon, to the point he became her deputy director and she was sad to see him go back to Strathmore in North Bethesda, Md., after they had survived COVID-19 in Baltimore. She advised him against the move, and rightly so for numerous practical reasons, he says now, but he’s happy to be back as director, a job he took when she retired in 2021. 

David Causton, retired, IAVM member, first met Daidakis in the mid-80s, when he went to work for her at the Baltimore Convention Center as No.2 in sales and services. “She was a great mentor. She knew anyone who was anyone in Baltimore.” 

On her desk, she kept her motto: Management by Walking Around. “It was important to get out among staff and guests to see what was going on,” Causton learned from Daidakis. “You could find her at her desk, of course, but not always. She was out making sure everything operated as it should.” 

“In a city of firsts, Peggy Daidakis cemented her legacy as a champion for Baltimore, a pioneer for equality in her field and a leader in hospitality. Throughout her career, she stayed focused on making sure the Convention Center reflected the energy and vibrancy of Baltimore and that every visitor felt welcome. Peggy understood how a thriving meeting space can lift up our entire city, a belief we absolutely share and will endeavor to uphold. Peggy will be dearly missed by the industry, the city and the entire Visit Baltimore team,” said Kireem Swinton, Interim President & CEO, Visit Baltimore, in a press release. 

In that same release, Charles “Chuck” G. Tildon, III, Chairman, Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board of Directors, lauded Daidakis’ leadership, committing “over 40 years of service to Baltimore city, always leading from a place of passion and pride. To the industry, she was a trailblazer, the first woman to hold a top executive rank in her field. To her team, she was a wonderful mentor. To me, she was a dear friend and ally in elevating this community and inviting visitors to experience Baltimore in new, exciting ways. Her spirit will continue to shine through our work, and our thoughts are with Peggy’s friends, colleagues and family at this difficult time.”  

Daidakis was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Louis Werner, Jr., and her sister and brother-in-law, Zoe and George Piendak.  She is survived by her brother, Art (Susan) Daidakis; nieces Emily (Christian) Vainieri; great-nieces and nephews; stepdaughter Tracy (Joseph) Rammacca and step-grandsons Andrew, Michael, and David; and several cousins.  

For more information on arrangements or to send condolences to Peggy’s family, please visit ruckfuneralhomes.com.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in November 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.

Nouran Abdelrazik, BC Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Joshua Antonio, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Rebecca Atkinson, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
Kathy Ball, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Nathalia Barros, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Miami, FL
Andrew Bass, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sade Battle, Orlando Venues, Orlando, FL
Scott Blackledge, Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, NM
Kimberly Blaurock, Gas South District, Duluth, GA
Alexander Boutzalis, College of Charleston, Manhasset, NY
Andrew Bowman, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
Clinton Box, Scope Arena, Norfolk, VA
Jim Burbridge, Waterloo Convention Center at Sullivan Brothers Plaza, Waterloo, IA
Alyssa Byrns, TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Zack Cannon, Scope Arena, Norfolk, VA
Gabrielle Cipolla, Seattle Convention Center (SCC), Seattle, WA
Ali Curtis, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Callaway Depenbrock, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Hannah Dominique, Scope Arena, Norfolk, VA
Luke Ferrando, Manhattanville University, Purchase, NY
Ryan Folsom, Orlando Venues, Orlando, FL
Jack Foster, University of Oklahoma Athletics, Norman, OK
Annie Gardner, Seattle Convention Center (SCC), Seattle, WA
Chelsea Gibbs, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
Devin Green, Music City Center, Nashville, TN
Kathy Hains, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
Ed Harris, Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
Jeff Henry, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Surdonicus Hilliard, Orpheum Theatre Group, Memphis, TN
Stephen Jackson, Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, TX
Kianna Jackson-Small, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Eric Johnson, Orlando Venues, Orlando, FL
Matt Johnson, Kentucky Venues, Louisville, KY
Frank Keefer, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
Audra Kellogg, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
Kamir Larin, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Amy Lawton, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Jaclyn Le Roy, BC Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jessica Levasseur, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
Ellie Lopez, Vibrant Arena at The MARK, Moline, IL
Tiffany Loushin, Alameda County Fair & Event Center, Pleasanton, CA
Jacob Marks, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Julia Martin, Utah Valley Convention Center – OVG, Provo, UT
Olivia Mason, RATstands Ltd, Witham,
Jonathan McLain, Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, TX
Christian Mua, Canopy Team, Baltimore, MD
Delaney Myers, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Gary Nassibian, Walter P Moore, Dallas, TX
Luis Nazario Soto, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Silver Nelson, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Logan Osborn, University of Oklahoma Athletics, Norman, OK
Marieliz Pagan, Orlando Venues, Orlando, FL
Meagan Pasternak, BC Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jana Ponce, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park, CA
Jenny Quach, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jamie Rauch, MTS Seating, Temperance, MI
Dazhuna Reed, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Marcus Richardson, Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
Jackie Riggleman, Canopy Team, Baltimore, MD
Luis Rojo, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Anna Rookyard, Town of Oakville, Oakville, ON, Canada
Roxie Ruckriegel, Kentucky Venues, Louisville, KY
Haydee Russ, Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
Dereth Salchak, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Zach Shapiro, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Alana Shields, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
Linda Sholtis, First Presbyterian Church and FPC Arts Center, Greenville, SC
Tomas Sluiter, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Ryan Smith, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
Brittany Taylor, City of San Angelo, San Angelo, TX
Dervin Taylor, Ski Hi Complex, Monte Vista, CO
Matthew Taylor, Trail Drive Management Corp./Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX
Robert Tellez, UC San Diego University Centers, La Jolla, CA
Nicole Thompson, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Shawn Thomson, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT
Antonio Torres-Roman, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jane Tubbs, Utah Valley Convention Center – OVG, Provo, UT
Drake Vessels, University of Oklahoma Athletics, Norman, OK
Ashley Wells, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
Will Whitaker, University of Oklahoma Athletics, Norman, OK
Kiona White, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
John Whitty, Canopy Team, Baltimore, MD
Kristy Wolford, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT
Michael Wright, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Felipe Zavalia, Inter Miami CF | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jeff Zearfoss, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO

IAVM is thrilled to introduce a new exclusive member benefit through a strategic partnership with Advantage Training, creators of the Leading the Crowd trained crowd manager program. This collaboration brings members practical, scalable training solutions that strengthen event-day readiness and elevate the guest experience across all venue types.

This new benefit underscores IAVM’s commitment to delivering education and resources that directly support members’ operational success—whether preparing seasonal staff, onboarding new hires, or developing supervisors and leadership teams.

Why This New Member Benefit Matters

Members consistently tell us that one of their biggest challenges is ensuring staff are confident, informed, and ready for the unexpected. Leading the Crowd responds to that need with training designed specifically for workers in live event environments.

With this partnership, IAVM members now gain preferred access to training that:

• Enhances event safety and situational awareness
• Strengthens crowd management and guest flow skills
• Builds communication and teamwork during high-pressure moments
• Reinforces guest experience and service excellence
• Supports consistent operational readiness across all departments

This is training that not only prepares teams—it sticks.

Leaders on the Partnership

Kim Bedier, Chief Operations Officer at Advantage Training, shared:

“At Advantage Training our goal is to provide foundational material to everyone who works in a venue, to support the creation and enhancement of great guest experience. Partnering with IAVM provides venues access to content that helps them build a strategic approach and be better prepared to respond when it matters most.”

Trevor Mitchell, IAVM President and CEO, emphasized how this partnership strengthens IAVM’s commitment to its members:

“Training is one of the most meaningful ways we can support our members’ success. This partnership with Advantage Training expands access to education that is practical, scalable, and immediately applicable. Leading the Crowd helps our members build teams that are confident, prepared, and centered on delivering exceptional experiences. We are excited to provide this valuable new benefit to the IAVM community.”

Strengthening the Member Experience Today and the Industry Tomorrow

This new member benefit reflects IAVM’s ongoing mission to inspire, educate, and connect venue professionals with resources that support operational excellence and industry advancement. By partnering with Advantage Training, we are helping venues build stronger teams and more resilient operations, all while keeping the guest experience at the heart of every event.

Want help integrating Leading the Crowd into your training strategy? Stay tuned for upcoming webinars, onboarding guides, and member-exclusive opportunities!