Haley Wentzlof is the Events Manager at the Butler Arts & Events Center. She started working at the Butler Arts & Events Center as a student and was lucky enough to come back to the center after working at another non-profit for a few years. She is passionate about providing incredible experiences to people in Indianapolis and beyond and excited to be a part of this year’s 30 Under 30 class! 

It was wonderful to receive this award during this time. I know that all of us have been feeling unsure about how events will move forward, and being a part of 30 under 30 gave me a chance to feel like a part of the events community in a new way, even while not actually having events at my venue.

Join your Foundation in congratulating Haley on being honored as one of the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 and don’t forget to come back each Thursday as we spotlight another honoree!

By Nadia Vanderhoof, MA

Smart Meetings magazine has recognized Orange County Convention Center’s (OCCC) Deputy Director Yulita Osuba, CMP, as a 2021 Smart Women in Meetings in the Visionary category for her innovative leadership and commitment to the OCCC.

Smart Meetings is a leading and trusted resource for meeting professionals. The Smart Women in Meetings Awards celebrates the achievements of trailblazing women in the meetings industry and highlights the pioneers who did what others said could not be accomplished and had the skills and courage to make them happen.

“I am honored to be recognized among such brilliant women for this esteemed industry award,” Osuba said. “This year has been a challenge for meeting professionals across the country and has forced us to be innovative in how we approach hosting live events. This achievement further celebrates the women leading the industry who have had to pivot and adapt to an ever-changing environment.”

Osuba is a visionary leader who leads her team with courage, compassion, and conviction. During her almost 20-year tenure at the OCCC, the Center has generated more than $25 billion in economic impact and welcomed millions of visitors. As one of the largest convention centers in the U.S., Osuba’s leadership has ushered an era of growth and significant economic impact to the community.

In recent years, the Center has averaged 200 events, including 115 conventions and tradeshows that attract more than 1.5 million attendees to the region and provides $3 billion in economic impact to Central Florida annually.

Over the last 12 months, Osuba’s leadership has helped the OCCC team to successfully reschedule 36 conventions due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These events will bring an estimated economic impact of $366 million to the region. During this time, she was also recognized by Orlando Magazine as one of Orlando’s 2020 Women of the Year for her dedication and contributions to the community.

Osuba’s passion for the industry combined with her desire to ensure the OCCC experience is superior, has made her a force to be reckoned with. She strives to make her team and her colleagues better and excels in every aspect of her work and family life, fostering professional excellence by developing and empowering those in her life. She hopes that her commitment to initiate change and create a gratifying, rewarding and nurturing work environment inspires her team at the OCCC and others in the hospitality, meetings and conventions industry in Orlando and beyond.

Nadia Vanderhoof, MA, is Marketing and Communications Manager at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

By Sarah Maio

Over the recent March 6 weekend, the Wisconsin Center welcomed its first non-governmental client into the building following an approved safety plan from the Milwaukee Health Department for volleyball events. On March 6 and 7, the Wisconsin Juniors Volleyball Club held two days of volleyball tournaments in the exhibit hall. Subsequent tournaments will take place the following three weekends of March hosted by the Badger Region Volleyball Association.

“This is a major milestone and will give us a glimpse into the future of large gatherings,” said Marty Brooks, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District. “I’m proud of the hard work our team has put in to allow us to welcome youth sports back at the Wisconsin Center. From sanitation to security measures, our team is well-versed on all protocols in place, and we worked closely with the Milwaukee Health Department on this endeavor. Tournament participants and attendees should feel confident their health and safety are our number one priority.”

Early on in the pandemic, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) established COVID-19 guidelines at each of its facilities to ensure the safety of visitors and employees with temperature checks upon entering, mask requirements, high frequency air circulation, and sanitation between visitors. Additionally, each of the WCD’s buildings are GBAC STAR™ accredited, the gold standard for prepared facilities. To achieve this, the WCD implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.

Not only is this a landmark occasion for the events industry, but the various tournaments will have a tremendous economic impact on Milwaukee as well, with visitors patronizing restaurants, attractions, and hotels. Wisconsin Juniors is expected to brought about 4,000 attendees over the weekend and more than $1.8 million in estimated economic impact to the Milwaukee area. Badger Region has an estimated economic impact of $1.8 million its first week, $1.6 million the second week, and about $1.3 million its third week. Badger Region attendees will range from 3,000 to 4,000 attendees each weekend.

“Our hospitality community is very excited to welcome Wisconsin Juniors and Bader Region back to our convention center and back to our city for their volleyball tournaments,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee. “This will be much needed stimulation for our local economy, furthering the city’s comeback from this pandemic. Additionally, it demonstrates Milwaukee’s ability and expertise in hosting successful events even during a pandemic or, hopefully, near the end of one. So, future conventions can rest assured knowing that their Milwaukee event will be one of their safest.”

Last summer, the Wisconsin Center was the home-base of the 2020 Democratic National Convention and the convention center became the location of Milwaukee County’s vote recounts during the presidential election last autumn. Currently, it serves as a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site for the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD). The Wisconsin Center opening for additional business will not impact the MHD vaccination efforts. The convention center will continue to serve as Milwaukee’s primary vaccination site and is contracted by the City of Milwaukee through May 1, 2021 for this initiative.

Sarah Maio is Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Wisconsin Center District in Milwaukee.

By Mary Klida

Greg DeSandy, Interim General Manager of TCF Center/ASM Global, announced that Al Vasquez, Manager of Engineering Services, is the recipient of four national and state awards honoring his work on the temporary alternate care facility, the TCF Regional Care Center, at TCF Center.

Vasquez’s awards and medals include a Challenge Coin awarded by the Michigan National Guard, the Legion of Merit medal awarded by the State of Michigan, a Challenge Coin awarded by Keith Kroupfreiter on behalf of the United States Army Corp of Engineers and a Challenge Coin awarded from Dr. David Strong, Medical Lead onsite at the TCF Regional Care Center.

“Al exemplifies the best of TCF Center,” said Patrick Bero, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA.) “His diligence and dedication, all hours of the day and night, exceeds customer expectations and inspires all of our staff and management. We are happy for this professional recognition of his talent.”

Vasquez is Manager of Engineering Services at TCF Center and is responsible for directing and managing the maintenance of the buildings, grounds, equipment and utilities within the venue. He keeps the facility compliant with local building codes and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and assists customers with their facilities requirements.

Vasquez has been with TCF Center since 2009, coming with facilities management experience with Johnson Controls, Inc., St. Joseph Mercy Health System, and the University of Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Ferris State University and is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM.)

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, on March 30, 2020, TCF Center was designated by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, State of Michigan and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a temporary alternate care facility in Detroit.

Construction was performed by the TCF Center workforce and union labor in just nine days and became a model for alternate care facility construction across the country. The temporary site was designed to relieve the burden on local hospitals treating patients with COVID-19, equipped with patient oxygen supply and negative air pressure to accommodate healing.

With guidance from FEMA and other officials, the site was designed in the most efficient way possible in order to allow the convention center to resume normal operations when possible. Currently, the field hospital is decommissioned.

“Healthy buildings host healthy people,” said DeSandy. “We couldn’t be happier that Al’s diligence in supporting the complete physical, mental and social well-being of each employee and visitor has been recognized by these state and federal agencies.”

In January 2021, TCF Center became a designated vaccination distribution site for the City of Detroit. This drive-through vaccine administration is ongoing in the venue’s Atwater Garage and distributing 4,700 doses a day to eligible Detroit residents.

Environmental air quality in the garage is monitored in real-time by Vasquez and his team for CO levels in the garage with 48 sensor readings that signal the team to turn on the required sequence of 17 variable-speed exhaust fans. A twelve-foot by ten-foot video monitor with mapped locations of all CO sensors and exhaust fans is located in the engineering control room and watched by team members.

The OSHA rating from acceptable CO levels in a garage is between 25-100 PPM. The TCF Center engineering team makes adjustments in areas reading CO at 4-12 PPM to ensure healthy air quality in the vaccine distribution center. Warning texts are sent to all team members for immediate modification if necessary.

In 2019 TCF Center was the first venue to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Gold certification under the new v4.1 O+M standard and is now the largest LEED certified facility in Michigan. TCF Center received the 2020 U.S. Green Buildings Council Leadership Award for Building Performance and is the only convention center in the history of the award to do so.

Mary Klida, is Senior Marketing & Communications Manager at TCF Center.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in February 2021. 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 http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story to share your story and photo.

Shaun Albrechtson, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Adam Alfia, Feedback, Dallas, TX
Roxanne Ancona, OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA
Mike Anderson, Churchill Downs Racetrack, Louisville, KY
Rob Auten, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Tyler Barrett, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Timothy Berry, Berry Consulting, Mankato, MN
Michaela Boruta, New York University, New York, NY
Terrick Bostic, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Kelvin Broughton, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Aldo Cardenas, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Jacob Carlisle, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Vanessa Cherry, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Odette Cimino, Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga, ON
Tori Coleman, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Adrienne Crowe, Overwatch TN Security Inc., Dickson, TN
DeAnna D’Egidio, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Bruce Daniels, Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center, Tallahassee, FL
Johnny Davis, SurfaceGuard, Washington, DC
Dave DiSalvo, Owensboro Convention Center, Owensboro, KY
Ramin Djaved, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Reymundo Dominguez, OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA
Talina Gilbert, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Jennifer Green, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Taylor Haas, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Amy Harris, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Jennifer Hellman, 22nd DAA/Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, CA
Maddie Heywood, Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo, UT
Thane Hollman, OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA
Mike Hudson, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Lily Johnson, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Susie Jones, CN Centre/Exhibition Park – City of Prince George, Prince George, BC
Kimberly Joseph, Churchill Downs Racetrack, Louisville, KY
Shelley Kemp, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Dylan Keville, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, TX
JongHun Kim, Grossinger Motors Arena, Bloomington, IL
Robert Landers, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
Daniela Lencioni, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Delilah Lewis, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Justin Magistrale, University of South Carolina Department of Sport & Entertainment Management, Columbia, SC
Warren Mather, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Kelley Mattlage, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Frank McCrady, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Colleen McGough, Appetize Technologies, Los Angeles, CA
Paul McManus, Vancouver Civic Theatres, Vancouver, BC
Lindsey Miner, Inventory Smart, Englewood, CO
Kim Minick, 22nd DAA/Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, CA
Creg Mixon, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Brandon Nash, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Anna Nikolas, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Raymond Nugent, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Joe O’Connell, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Kemper Owens, Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo, UT
Nile Owens, Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center, Tallahassee, FL
Ashley Partain, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Mesita Partridge, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Ron Pellerine, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
Jeff Pillon, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Jessika Searles, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Scott Secore, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Sandy Seeyle, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Alice Silva, National Event Services, Mission Hills, CA
John Stancato, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
Ben Sterling, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Brandi Stevens, Owensboro Convention Center, Owensboro, KY
Jessa Sudduth, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Sam Teegarden, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Brandon Wagner, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Regina Wells, Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, Sandy Springs, GA
Scott Wiley, Lucid Drone Technologies, Charlotte, NC
Kelvin Williams, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Monique Wise, Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Mike Ziegler, Churchill Downs Racetrack, Louisville, KY