Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in July 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.

Duncan Abdelnour, CrowdPass Inc, New York, NY
Violet Acevedo Vera, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
Leo Adams, Linxy, Charlotte, NC
Carlos Aguirre, Southwestern Community College District, Chula Vista, CA
Tina Altadonna, DreamSeats LLC, East Northport, NY
Alexa Antopol, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Cathleen Bachman, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Tony Bacola, Prism.fm, Austin, TX
Breasia Battle, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Megan Bell, Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
Rick Bennett, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Derek Bimat, Allied Universal Janitorial Services, Torrance, CA
Latonika Blackmon, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Tom Blanch, Surfside and Stateside Brands, Philadelphia, PA
Jessica Bray, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Kyle Brown, California Exposition & State Fair, Sacramento, CA
Robert Campbell, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Nathaniel Castro, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Lauren Cearnal, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Ronni Chadwell, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Brian Chen, Pebble, New York, NY
Ray Chery, Monsam Portable Sinks, Antioch, CA
Sarah Christopherson, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Dustin Clem, Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
Jeff Comstock, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
James Cook, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
Nicole Cope, City of Portland, Portland, ME
Thomas Dabovich, Be Live Entertainment Group, Santiago, Chile
Joshua Dachs, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Lauren Davis, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Richard Davis, United Rentals, Orlando, FL
Martin De Jesus, Donald L. Tucker Civic Center – OVG, Tallahassee, FL
Kevin Derenisky, REAL District, Regina, SK
Stephanie DiCaro, Program Productions, Lombard, IL
Mason Donley, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Catherine Downes, usheru, Dublin, Ireland
Anna Draper, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Mason Earnest, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Sarah Elliott, Ticketmaster, Toronto, ON, Canada
Valencia Evans, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
Thomas Ewald, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Michael Ferguson, TheatreDNA, Los Angeles, CA
Todd Fiegen, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sioux City, Sioux City, IA
Fred Fink, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Miguel Garcia De Quevedo, Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Sarah Gebhardt, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Scott Glover, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Melissa Godoy, Omaha Performing Arts, Omaha, NE
Eduardo Goycoolea, Be Live Entertainment Group, Santiago, Chile
Danielle Graves, Odell Williamson Auditorium, Bolivia, NC
Sandra Hall, Athletica Sport Systems Inc., Waterloo, ON, Canada
Caryn Hammond, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
Josaland Hardwick, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
David Hasenauer, VIP Development, Valdosta, GA
Thomas Head, American Interstate Signcrafters, Brookline, NH
Jordan Hildreth, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Raymond Hoadley, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Michael Hoffman, Gather Voices, Chicago, IL
Zach Holt, DLS Events LLC, New York, NY
Tim Jorgensen, Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, TN
Colby King, Four One, a division of Willwork Global Services, Orlando, FL
Ivy Kirby, Pensacola Bay Center – ASM Global, Pensacola, FL
Andy Kursch, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Hiu Tung Lai, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong
Jay Laybutt, EventDraw, Engadine, NSW
Shannon Licygiewicz, Albany Capital Center, Albany, NY
Rebecca Loftus, Palm Beach County Convention Center – OVG, West Palm Beach, FL
Craig MacDonald, Ice-America, Round Rock, TX
Stephanie MacMillan, Busch Systems, Barrie, ON, Canada
Doug Mactaggart, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Pepper Mayor, Barney Monk Event Staffing & Payroll, Cleveland, OH
Katie McAdams, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Alexandra McCloud, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Patty McCormack, Improving Communications, Port Washington, NY
Ian McCoy, Ticketmaster, Orlando, FL
David McElwee, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Jeanie McHugh, Brazos Urethane, Inc., Texas City, TX
Robert Mediano, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Madilyn Micallef, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Angela Miles-Powell, Ticketmaster, Memphis, TN
Asterilla Joanne Monteiro, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Shelly Morehouse, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Shana Motts, Aramark Sports + Entertainment, Philadelphia, PA
Michelle Mulcare, Pasadena Convention Center and Municipal Fairgrounds, Pasadena, TX
Lauryn Munn, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Andrew Nagel, DLR Group, Chicago, IL
Steve Naylor, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
Sean O’Connor, AXS, Los Angeles, CA
Ashley Ostrander, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Mary Patchunka-Smith, City of Thomasville, Georgia, Thomasville, GA
Chad Peters, Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, Reno, NV
David Piccola, Rigging International Group, Las Vegas, NV
Joel Puthoff, Linxy, Charlotte, NC
Babak Rahimi Ardabili, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Corey Reeves, Utah Tech University, Saint George, UT
Rebecca Rennesund, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Michael Rosario, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Peter Rosenbaum, Fisher Dachs Associates, New York, NY
Ryan Rubenskas, Four One, a division of Willwork Global Services, Orlando, FL
Ellen Rusconi, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Dave Sanderson, FreedomPay, Philadelphia, PA
Gary Scott, Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, TN
Jodi Simkins, Utah Tech University, St. George, UT
Ted Simon, ZenSpace Inc, San Jose, CA
Lynnette Simpson, Merch Machines, San Diego, CA
Leslie Sinclair-Kaye, Alley Theatre, Houston, TX
Anthony Siples, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Jordan Sleightholm, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Barbara Smith, Prince George’s Community College Center for Performing Arts, Largo, MD
Tara Snider, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON, Canada
Chris Sobron, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Stephanie Stegall, Pink Bows Foundation, Houston, TX
Adam Sturt, Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Leanne Talik, showNets LLC, Cumming, GA
Scott Uffman, MSB Consulting Engineers, Metairie, LA
Thomas Violante, The Seven, Ferndale, MI
Maikael Vong, Utah Tech University, St. George, UT
Angela Webb, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Jon Webb, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Dale Wheeler, The Morrison Center, Boise, ID
Kanise Wiggins, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
Jordan Wiley, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Michael Williamson, Rogers Arena | Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jim Willits, Boomerang, Hinsdale, IL
Anthony Winter-Brown, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Matthew Wolf, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Wing Ki Wong, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong
Jarvis Woodson, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Steven Yeates, Event Services – Utah State University, Logan, UT
Amanda Zappia, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
Emily Zientek, Sodexo Live!, Orlando, FL

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 AIPC/CCC/IAVM Academy, taking place at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre & BMO Centre, Calgary Exhibition & Stampede, from October 26th to October 30th, 2025.

IAVM has partenered with AIPC and CCC in delivering this acclaimed leadership program. This expanded collaboration reflects the global commitment to advancing leadership excellence in our sector.

“Partnering with IAVM and CCC for the 2025 Academy reflects our shared commitment to advancing leadership excellence in our industry,“ says Sven Bossu, Chief Executive Officer, AIPC.” Together, we will deliver a truly global learning experience, fostering connections and skills that will help shape the future of our sector.”

Trevor Mitchell, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CDP, IAVM President & CEO, adds, “We are excited to join forces with AIPC and CCC for the 2025 Academy in Calgary. This collaboration offers an outstanding opportunity to bring our global community together, share best practices, and strengthen leadership within the convention and venue management sector.”

Barry Smith, Executive Director, Convention Centres of Canada (CCC), highlights the importance of this growing partnership: “The addition of IAVM to the Academy reinforces our mission to bring world-class education to Canada’s convention centre leaders. This expanded partnership will offer participants unparalleled insights and the chance to build global connections, right here in Calgary.”

The comprehensive four-day program is designed for convention centre leaders and executives, focusing on the strategic, operational, and leadership challenges facing our industry today. Attendees will gain practical tools, fresh insights, and build a powerful network of peers from across Canada and around the world.

Click here to register today!

Kate Jansen promoted to new role beginning July 28

The Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater, as part of Raleigh’s Complex of venues, is pleased to announce the promotion of Kate Jansen, CMP to Director of Marketing and Sponsorships. 

Jansen joined the Raleigh Convention Center in 2010 as a special event coordinator and has served as catering sales manager, national sales manager, and stepped in as the interim booking manager for the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts to support the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jansen steps into this role at an important time, as the Complex embarks on a sizeable expansion project. In this role, she will drive growth and awareness for each of the Complex’s brands, leading strategic marketing and communications efforts, as well as cultivating high-impact partnerships and corporate sponsorships. 

“Kate is stepping into this role at a strategically valuable time for our Complex. Her industry experience is a major asset at this time of expansion and business growth,” said Kerry Painter, Executive Director of the Complex. “Her skill in relationship building and business prowess in this role are a key part of our venues’ bright future.” 

Jansen is an active member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), and the International Association of Exhibitors and Events (IAEE). She also holds the prestigious Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) from the Events Industry Council. 

“This is a pivotal moment for our Complex, and for the city of Raleigh as our venues expand. I’m eager to cultivate these sponsorships that will connect partners with our hundreds of thousands of new guests,” said Jansen. “Having developed a deep passion for this city as an NC State student, it’s gratifying to have been with our venues over the past 15 years and see their contribution to Raleigh’s growth. I take pride in seeing Raleigh earn recognition as a premier destination, and I’m honored to help shape the future of both our venue and our downtown community with our innovative marketing team that will continue to elevate our visibility and impact.” 

She began her new position on July 28. 

Texas FFA tipped its hat to Fort Worth in a big way, awarding staff of Visit Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Convention Center and other community leaders with the Honorary Lonestar Degree during its 97th Annual Convention in July — celebrating years of partnership, hospitality, and hometown pride that keeps the blue corduroy jackets coming back to Cowtown.

The degree honors individuals, business groups or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to FFA (Future Farmers of America) and to the advancement of agricultural education.

“Texas FFA appreciates your dedication to agriculture and to the youth of Texas,” wrote Texas FFA Executive Director Jennifer Jackson in a letter to recipients, thanking them for their years of support of the association.

Recipients of the Texas FFA Lone Star Degree are, from left to right: Bob Jameson, President & CEO, Visit Fort Worth; Mary Wilson, Director of Sales – Central Texas Region, Visit Fort Worth; Stephanie Rodriguez, Senior Convention Services Manager, Visit Fort Worth; and Joy Bradley, National Sales Manager, Fort Worth Convention Center.

Fort Worth has hosted Texas FFA nine times since 2002. As is the norm for most Texas associations, they rotate their annual convention among the largest cities in Texas. With 13,000 students (plus teachers and sponsors), the Texas FFA Annual Convention has an $18 million economic impact to Fort Worth. Citing Fort Worth’s unmatched hospitality, they will return to Fort Worth for their annual conventions in 2026 and 2027.

Joy Bradley, national sales manager for the Fort Worth Convention Center, has been partnering with Texas FFA since 2014.

“Texas FFA has strong ties to Fort Worth through partnerships with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo as well as several Fort Worth-based corporations,” she said. “Our compact, safe and walkable downtown area with so many hotels and restaurants is a big benefit for the group, as is our genuine hospitality and ease of doing business.”

FFA members study not only farming and ranching but also horticulture, aquaculture, food sciences, accounting, business, wildlife management, mechanics and engineering — leading to careers in a variety of fields, according to the organization’s website.

Event centers costing under $100 million to construct are multiplying rapidly these days. In answer to the increasing construction in that genre, particularly amateur sports complexes, VenuWorks is increasing its involvement in privately managing that venue type.

Its most recent contract is with the city of Jacksonville, N.C., which is building One City Center, a sports complex for indoor sports like basketball, volleyball, and wrestling, and outdoor sports like baseball and soccer.

Mike Silva, COO, and Toby Peters, Chief Development Officer, show off VenuWorks Sports at VenueConnect in New Orleans.

Toby Peters, Chief Development Officer of VenuWorks, who was manning the VenuWorks booth at VC25 in New Orleans, explained that VenuWorks has always had sports-oriented centers in its private management book, but is now expanding its portfolio of community sports centers. “We have a lot of expertise working with clients in secondary or mid-sized markets,” Peters said. “We’ve always hosted tournaments and AAU and amateur sports. It’s been a great opportunity to diversify a little bit using our same infrastructure. They all have food and beverage, operations, programming, and recruiting.”

To facilitate the outreach, VenuWorks has added David Stow as a consultant. Stow spent 21 years working for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee on the facility side and is the former CEO of the TBK Bank Sports Complex and Entertainment Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. He founded Stow Sports Management in 2022.

Conversing with Stow before their current collaboration, Peters noted that Stow brought up the fact that there was a growing need for private management in these buildings. “They’re building them everywhere now, and cities are constantly reaching out for consultants to give them new ideas, new plans,” Peters learned.

Jacksonville is a neighboring city to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The city is looking to provide more activities for local and military families. One City Center is in the design phase now and has brought VenuWorks in to consult, with the intention of becoming the project manager and then operator. Construction begins in early 2026, with opening in mid-2027.

“We’re excited to get involved with the project, because when we first started talking to them, they only had a small warming kitchen attached to this huge banquet hall,” Peters noted. “Their plan was to let third-party vendors come in for free. We recommended building a full kitchen and hiring a chef.”

“Then we started talking about how great it will be to have this facility with so many basketball courts, but where do the parents go? So, we suggested they add a green room-type space, so people can sit down and watch TV and break out their laptops,” Peters recalled. “It’s been exciting taking their drawings and saying, ‘Hey, did you think about this? Did you think about that?’”

LP3 is the architect for City One Center, which is envisioned as an economic district, said Stow, who was reached by phone as he was traversing home from a different convention. Phase one includes eight basketball courts, which can be converted to 16 volleyball courts. Four of the courts can be converted to a center-court arena setup.

Jacksonville is a “growing town with a very strong military community. There are a lot of young families in the area, and the only available facilities to handle larger events are outside their community,” Stow said of the thinking there. Wilmington is the nearest city with entertainment and sports venues, but they are not that far from Raleigh. Jacksonville’s city officials are hoping to keep those young families closer to home. The rationale is not different than that in a lot of secondary and tertiary communities post-COVID-19. It’s reminiscent of the civic center construction boom post-WWII, with the end-stage design and the big open floor.

“They’re actually developing a whole new community around it, including mixed-use businesses, residential, retail, and hotels,” Stow said.

The second phase will include nine soccer fields, one of which is built as a championship court, and an outdoor amphitheater.

“They’re not afraid of adding additional phases. They just don’t know what those are going to be yet,” Stow said.

Stow agrees it has been a collaborative process with the city. “They were against the food piece at the beginning, but we came in to show that not only is it valuable, it’s necessary. They’re afraid of taking business away from the community, but if you don’t provide the parents and the families the right services inside the building, they won’t come back a second time,” he said. “There’s so much business to go around when you have a large volleyball tournament with thousands of kids, so those local businesses are still going to thrive and love every weekend that you host a tournament.”

Peters noted that they are having such a great experience in Jacksonville, he has been scouring the internet for similar city RFPs. “We have since put in proposals for a couple of other projects that are going through the same process.”