The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) is proud to announce the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2026, recognizing thirty exceptional young professionals who are helping shape the future of the venue management industry.

Now celebrating its 11th year, the 30|UNDER|30 program honors emerging leaders who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their venues, communities, and the advancement of the profession. Selected through a competitive application and judging process, this year’s class represents a diverse cross-section of venue types, disciplines, and career paths from across the industry.

These rising stars are already making an impact through innovative thinking, leadership, operational excellence, and a passion for creating memorable experiences for guests, clients, and communities. Their accomplishments reflect the talent, dedication, and forward-thinking mindset that will continue to drive the venue industry into the future.

The Class of 2026 will be formally recognized during VenueConnect 2026 in Indianapolis, where they will participate in professional development opportunities, networking events, and special recognition activities designed to celebrate their achievements and connect them with industry leaders.

“Each year, the 30|UNDER|30 program reminds us that the future of our industry is in very capable hands,” said Trevor Mitchell, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CDP, President & CEO of IAVM. “The members of the Class of 2026 have already distinguished themselves through their leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence. We are excited to celebrate their accomplishments and support their continued growth.”

Please join us in congratulating the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2026!

Parker Arnholt, Director of Events, State Farm Center
Janelle Augustine, Event Services Manager, Broadmoor World Arena
Connor Ayers, Event Manager, Climate Pledge Arena
Jayda Bennett, Event Manager, SCHEELS Arena
Andrea (Annie) DiRenzo, Events and Operations Coordinator, Strathmore
Hattie Douglas, Special Events Coordinator, Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP
Nicholas Frazzell, Manager, Security, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment / Ball Arena
Emily Gardner, Production Supervisor, Des Moines Performing Aarts
Lily Hesen, Senior Marketing Manager, Simmons Bank Arena
Addie Hillenburg, Guest Experience Manager, Chaifetz Arena – OVG
Emma Keider, Senior Marketing Manager, Desert Diamond Arena / Legends Global
Mylene Lamoureux, Client Services Manager, Rice-Eccles Stadium/Stadium, Arena and Camous Event Services
Lexi Lundy, Senior Event Manager, Owensboro Convention Center/Owensboro Sportscenter/Bluegrass Fieldhouse
Talya Mamane, Event Services Manager, Kaseya Center
Emily Martinez, Exhibitor Services Supervisor, San Diego Convention Center
Katie Masterson, Senior Manager of Event Services, Ensemble Arts Philly
Merrill Miller, Manager of Concerts, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie/VenuWorks
Morgan Nyren, Event Manager, Tacoma Venues & Events – Tacoma Dome
Melanie Ortiz, Event Manager, Angel Of The Winds Arena/Oak View Group
Lea Raad, Security Operations Analyst, Prevent Advisors
Marissa Raiford, Box Office Manager, Department of Event and Venue Management at Kennesaw State University
Giovanny Romero, Director of Events, Snadragon Stadium/OVG360
Adriana Rosario Perez, Event Coordinator II, Ferst Center for the Arts/Georgia Tech
Alana Shields, Event Manager, Events DC
Jackson Short, Guest Services Manager, Moody Center/Oak View Group
Anna Stemsrud, Program Assistant/Hospitality Coordinator, Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center
Megan Thele, Creative Marketing Manager, Arvest Convention Center / BOK Center | Oak View Group
Dalton Williams, Marketing Manager, BOK Center
Caroline Yates, National Sales Manager, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Kara Zarfos, Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications, Target Center / Legends Global

Our International Association of Venue Managers community continues to grow, and we are excited to welcome the newest members who joined us in May 2026. Thank you for being part of the association and helping shape the future of venue management.

Darius Alleyne, Butler Arts & Events Center, Indianapolis, IN
Andrew Almeter, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, IL
Arash Amanlou, TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Andrew Avila, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC
Dawson Ayers, The Classic Center, Athens, GA
Tyler Ayres, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Aleksy Bartas, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Izzy Beddingfield, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC
Seth Beling, Xpodigital, Orlando, FL
Damian Benales, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Marcus Bernal, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Tina Brady, Horizon Convention Center, Muncie, IN
Sarah Brewer, University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center, Springfield, IL
Zachary Briscoe, Schuler Shook, Dallas, TX
Michael Burgoyne, Schuler Shook, Minneapolis, MN
Kris Caiati, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA
Grikor Canas, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Armand Catlin, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Ka Ying Ivy Chung, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited, Hong Kong, China
Terri Ciofalo, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, IL
Ashley Cleveland, Legacy Arena, Douglasville, GA
Chancellor Cochran, Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities, Kansas City, MO
Katie Corrigan, Versare Solutions, Minneapolis, MN
SeAsia Cortez, DreamSeats LLC, East Northport, NY
Thomas Davidson, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC
Emma DeBurger, California State University, Fresno, Lemoore, CA
Serge Depelchin, MGM Resorts, Las Vegas, NV
Victoria Dinu, TixTrack, New York, NY
Rik Edgar, Vibrant Arena at The MARK, Moline, IL
Tara Elliott, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra – Hilbert Circle Theatre, Indianapolis, IN
Elise Enos, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Colleen Etheridge, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA
Travis Feehan, Bungalow Theater, Brooklyn, NY
Jeffrey Fickas, Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities, Kansas City, MO
Sean Free, TixTrack, New York, NY
Erin Gage, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., Fort Wayne, IN
Cory Gamberg, LytePost, Las Vegas, NV
Pete Garza, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Rachel Gladd, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, IL
Michael Godoy, Rider Levett Bucknall, Tarpon Springs, FL
Hannah Graham, Frank W. Mayborn Civic & Convention Center, Temple, TX
Jean Gutierrez, Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, CA
William Hammond, Paramount Theater Ashland, Ashland, KY
Stephanie Hays-Mussoni, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra – Hilbert Circle Theatre, Indianapolis, IN
Amy Hernandez, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Rolando Hernandez, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Dan Hill, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Emma Howard, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra – Hilbert Circle Theatre, Indianapolis, IN
Zachary Italian, Xpodigital, Orlando, FL
Quincy Jenkins, University of Oklahoma Athletics, Norman, OK
Christina Johnson, Blumenthal Arts, Charlotte, NC
Holly Johnson, The Classic Center, Athens, GA
Raymond Kent, Studio B1, Westlake, OH
Andrew LaMadrid, Allied Universal Event Services (AUES), Irvine, CA
Trey Lawhorn, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
David Lewis, University of Oklahoma Athletics, Norman, OK
Wayne Light, Rologard Global, Bottineau, ND
Kamerra Liles, The Orion Amphitheater, Huntsville, AL
Garrett Long, Moody Amphitheater, Austin, TX
Jessica Manzaro, Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee, WA
Robert Maple, Salem Convention Center, Salem, OR
Maxwell Martin, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra – Hilbert Circle Theatre, Indianapolis, IN
Joana Martinez, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Brad McCormick, Landers Center, Southaven, MS
Greg McEwen, Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee, WA
Ryan McFarland, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Jeff McKinley, Events DC, Washington, DC
Jordan Mesrobian, Save Mart Center at Fresno State, Fresno, CA
Lauren Meulener, Xpodigital, Orlando, FL
Joe Meza, Central Bank Center/Rupp Arena – OVG, Lexington, KY
Jeff Mitchell, TixTrack, New York, NY
Stephen Mitchell, The Classic Center, Athens, GA
Scott Munn, The Classic Center, Athens, GA
Mollie Murchison, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
Megan Neville, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Judith Oliden, MUSE/IQUE, Los Angeles, CA
Zachary Oliver, Xpodigital, Orlando, FL
Jennifer Pacheco, Allied Universal Event Services (AUES), Fullerton, CA
Megan Patterson, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
Heather Peron, Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, CA
Randy Philipson, Legends Global – Venue Management, New Orleans, LA
Valerie Poland, Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, CA
Katie Polson, Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee, WA
Jennifer Potnar, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Lee Potter, ConventionSuite by NewGen Business Solutions, Scottsdale, AZ
Charles Rainey, Allied Universal Event Services (AUES), Tacoma, WA
Nikoll Randolph, Salem Convention Center, Salem, OR
Tim Rayman, Wings Event Center, Kalamazoo, MI
Jenna Reyes, City of McAllen: Convention Center/Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX
Jonathan Rojas, Xpodigital, Los Angeles, CA
Mackenzie Russell, The Classic Center, Athens, GA
Conery Schmidt, Legends Global – Venue Management, New Orleans, LA
Lauren Sears, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC
Eric Shancey, Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, CA
Rachael Shaw, The Orion Amphitheater, Huntsville, AL
Texas Singleton, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC
Taylor Sone, The City of Rogers AR, Rogers, AR
Erica Stasyshyn, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Sofia Strazzulla, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Esther Swanson, Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities, Kansas City, MO
Jaime Tamsin, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC
Caro Tanghe, Blumenthal Arts, Charlotte, NC
Quinn Thomas, Kentucky Performing Arts, Louisville, KY
Samuel Todd, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra – Hilbert Circle Theatre, Indianapolis, IN
Alyssa Turowski, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
Jose Vega Ramirez, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Eduardo Vera, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Morgan Weaver, Modernfold, Inc., DORMA, Greenfield, IN
Geoffrey Wedlock, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota, FL
Tylee Wendland, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Joe Wolfe, The Orion Amphitheater, Huntsville, AL
Lynette Yi, Allied Universal Event Services (AUES), Tampa, FL
Nick Ziegenbein, Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ

As IAVM continues to evolve and serve venue professionals around the world, it is important that our governing documents evolve as well.

The Board of Directors has approved a series of proposed updates to the IAVM Bylaws that will be presented to the membership for a vote. These changes are intended to modernize language, align the bylaws with current practices, strengthen governance, and ensure the Association remains positioned for future growth.

What Is Being Proposed?

This year’s package includes ten proposed amendments that modernize and clarify the IAVM Bylaws while aligning them with current practices. While several of the amendments are administrative in nature, all have been reviewed through the governance process and approved by the Board of Directors for presentation to the membership for a vote.

Why It Matters

Strong governance helps ensure IAVM can effectively serve its members today while remaining adaptable for the future. These proposed updates are intended to keep our governing documents aligned with current practices, provide greater clarity, and support the continued growth of the Association.

As a member-driven organization, your participation in this process is important. Your vote helps shape how IAVM operates and serves the venue management profession in the years ahead.

Review the Proposed Changes

We encourage all voting members to review the complete Bylaws Explainer Document before casting their ballot. The document outlines each proposed amendment, why it is being recommended, and what it means for the Association and its members.

This communication serves as the official sixty (60) day notice of the proposed bylaws amendments. Members will have the opportunity to review and discuss these changes prior to the vote, which will take place electronically following VenueConnect 2026. Additional details regarding the voting process and key dates will be provided as the voting period approaches.

Thank you for taking an active role in the governance of IAVM. Your participation helps shape the future of our Association.

A record-setting group of 226 business and professional events industry leaders and advocates traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as part of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s annual Legislative Action Day.

Participants traveled from across the United States and around the world to meet with members of Congress about how they can strengthen the business and professional events industry’s ability to create new jobs, reduce economic uncertainty, safeguard affordability for our small businesses and those we serve, and ensure that the U.S. remains the premier global destination for events. Their message: our industry is a proven engine of economic resilience and growth, and it needs a policy environment to match.

“ECA Legislative Action Day is a powerful reminder of what makes our industry so special,” said Fernando Fischer, President, Americas for RX and Chair of the ECA Board of Directors. “Business and professional events bring people together, strengthen small businesses, support jobs, and help communities grow. By showing up on Capitol Hill in record numbers, we ensured that our elected officials understand both the impact of our events and the policy choices that will help shape them going forward.”

Legislative Action Day focused on three issues from ECA’s 2026 public policy agenda critical to the future of trade shows, conferences, meetings, conventions, and other business and professional events: trade and tariffs, future workforce development, and the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) — all central to the industry’s ability to continue serving as a growth engine for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and communities nationwide.

“In just a few years, ECA Legislative Action Day has become the advocacy event for our industry,” said Mark Bogdansky, Vice President, Trade Shows and Community Engagement for the Auto Care Association and Vice Chair of the ECA Board of Directors. “With a who’s who of industry leaders on Capitol Hill today, we sent a clear message: the business and professional events industry is engaged, organized, and ready to work constructively with policymakers to support economic growth, job creation, and American competitiveness.”

Beyond Legislative Action Day, ECA provides opportunities for industry leaders and advocates to make their voices heard throughout the year through the ECA Advocacy Network, its one-stop policy engagement platform.

“Today proved that everyone in our industry can take action,” said Chris Griffin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crew XP and Treasurer of the ECA Board of Directors. “Whether meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, contacting Congress from home, or hosting elected officials on the show floor, the more we all get involved, the greater impact we can have.”

ECA would also like to thank its Legislative Action Day partners, without whom today’s event would not be possible: Freeman, Clarion Events, RX, Emerald, Informa, SG Strategy, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, CNTV, Lippman Connects, CustomReg, Encore, Hargrove by Encore, Candr Talent, Nteractive, Map Your Show, The Expo Group, CORT Events, Connections Housing, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, MGM Resorts, and Expo Convention Contractors.

About the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance:

The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading associations comprising the unified public policy voice of the business and professional events industry.

ECA’s member associations include:

• Consumer Technology Association (CTA)
• Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA)
• Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA)
• International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE)
• International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)
• International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)
• PCMA
• Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO)

Steel topping out ceremony marks the completion of highest steel construction at the new venue

The Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex reached a major milestone yesterday with the steel topping out ceremony at the new Red Hat Amphitheater. This placement of the highest vertical steel at the construction site marks major progress toward this new future of live music in downtown Raleigh. 

This steel topping comes at a significant moment as well, with Red Hat recommitting to maintaining their naming rights at the venue through 2030. “Red Hat’s DNA is deeply rooted in Raleigh’s spirit of community and innovation,” said Leigh Day, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Red Hat. “We are thrilled to continue this partnership with a venue that defines the rhythm and heartbeat of downtown Raleigh.”

The new Red Hat Amphitheater will be an exciting evolution of the venue. The new Amp will feature enhanced amenities for artists and fans alike, ensuring that residents of Raleigh will continue to enjoy a venue that attracts rockstars for great nights of live entertainment in the heart of downtown. 

This ceremony was also a celebration of the Raleigh community beyond just the venue. Oak Town Blues Band performed at the event, representing Community Music School, a local non-profit that provides affordable music lessons and instruments. A guitar from local Harry’s Guitar Shop, a Raleigh institution for over 40 years, adorned the beam as it was raised to its place atop the amp. Celebratory treats were provided to attendees by local Two Roosters Ice Cream.

“It’s amazing to finally be here, seeing our new amp take shape” said Kerry Painter, Executive Director of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex. “We’ve been looking at designs and renderings for such a long time, so it’s exciting for us to see the new venue and to be able to show that to the whole community too. We want everyone to look forward with us at what a great thing this is going to be for concertgoers, shops, restaurants, hotels, and everyone Red Hat Amp has a positive economic impact on.” 

“This is another major milestone as we move toward a more vibrant south downtown corridor” said Marchell Adams-David, Raleigh’s City Manager. “All these projects contribute to Raleigh increasingly being recognized as one of the best cities in the nation.”

Next steps in the new venue’s construction include construction of the façade and enclosure of the structure, installation of seating, concrete work, installation of lights, screens, sound equipment, signage, and backstage spaces. The new venue will open its doors in 2027.

Meanwhile, the existing venue will be decommissioned and demolished to make room for the construction of the expansion of the Amphitheater’s sister venue, the Raleigh Convention Center. 

For more information, please visit RedHatAmphitheater.com/Relocation.