Photo source: dignitymemorial.com

John Fredric Bolin, former General Manager of the University of South Carolina’s Carolina Coliseum, passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the age of 81.

Bolin was born to parents Ambers Lee and Elizabeth Gold Bolin on November 12, 1944, in Gaffney, S.C. “He was often described as ‘a boy of high adventure,’” according to his obituary. “His constant delight in learning about life’s bounteous opportunities to grow in knowledge, savor experiences, and discern differences in how other people move through life, made John a happy and delightful person to know.”

He began his professional career in education, teaching children with special needs. After a few years, he returned to his alma mater of North Greenville Junior College as Associate Director of Admissions, where he was later promoted to Director of Admissions. Bolin was then invited to the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia, S.C., to serve as Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Administration Projects Manager.

In 1993, Bolin became General Manager of USC’s Carolina Coliseum and an Adjunct Professor of Sports and Entertainment.

Michael Marion, CVE, GM of Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Ark., was Director of the Tupelo Coliseum at the time. Marion, who worked as a talent agent before becoming a venue manager, recalls Bolin fondly.

“In my agent days, Columbia was always on the route,” he said. “When I started in Tupelo, we stayed in touch. In 1996, we had Reba and Brooks & Dunn do rehearsals for three weeks. At the end she did a press conference that made the national AP, talking about how nice the Tupelo Coliseum was.”

Bolin responded via fax:

“It is unusual for me to get exercised over such — tolerant and thick skinned arena manager that I am — but there comes a time when even I — John Bolin (aka Master of the House, Promoter, Presenter and Hey You, Yeah You the Short Guy) HAS IT UP TO HERE WITH ALL THIS MICHAEL MARION STUFF. It’s bad enough that I have to see you in ABOUT EVERY [expletive] POLLSTAR AND AMUSEMENT BUSINESS because you’ve SOLD ALL THE FRIGGING TICKETS IN MISSISSIPPI AND CONTIGUOUS STATES to some attraction that I can’t give away but now I pick up my own State Newspaper in my own hometown and I GET TO SEE YOU ONE MORE [expletive] TIME.

Please take this in the spirit in which it is scrawled — and go play golf or something and GIVE IT A REST.”

It is a testament to Bolin that Marion has held onto the letter for the past three decades — and serves to reinforce that “the ‘boy of high adventure’ enjoyed it all and loved being a part of something greater than himself,” according to his obituary. “He loved the work and the people who shared his work until the end of his life.”

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Pearce; two daughters, Angela Nichole (Niki) and Heather Dawn Bolin Francis; a son-in-law, John Francis; and grandson, Niko Francis.

Bolin’s Celebration of Life will be held at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church in Columbia, S.C., on July 12, 2026, at 3:00 PM with a reception to follow.

For the first time, the event venue industry has a shared sustainability benchmark — and the data is already in. Now it’s time to learn how to use it.

In April 2026, Venue Sustainalytics — a first-of-its-kind sustainability benchmarking program developed by IAVM, Trade Show News Network (TSNN), and Honeycomb Strategies — released its inaugural results. The free, publicly available dashboard and industry report offer an unprecedented snapshot of where the event venue industry stands on sustainability today.

Raw data only becomes useful when people know how to read it, compare against it, and act on it. That’s exactly what this webinar is designed to do. Join us Tuesday, June 23 at 1:00 p.m. Central Time for an informative session on Venue Sustainalytics.

What This Session Covers

Moderated by Danica Tormohlen of TSNN, the session brings together Tim Trefzer and Daniel Foster of Honeycomb Strategies and Trevor Mitchell of IAVM — the founding partners behind Venue Sustainalytics — for a practical, results-focused walkthrough of the program’s tools and findings.

Whether you manage a convention center, arena, or performing arts venue — or you’re a planner, vendor, or destination professional — this session will show you how to put the benchmark data to work across your planning, operations, compliance, and even your sales and marketing efforts.

What You’ll Take Away

• A clear overview of industry-wide sustainability data from Venue Sustainalytics’ first year
• A practical ability to navigate the free public dashboard and interpret the results
• The tools to compare your venue’s individual performance against the benchmark
• Guidance on preparing your data for the 2025 Venue Sustainalytics survey submission
• Knowledge of where to find help and what to expect from the process

This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the minds behind the program — and to ask the questions that matter most to your venue and your team.

Reserve Your Spot — It’s Free

Join venue professionals, event planners, and industry leaders for this live session on navigating the Venue Sustainalytics dashboard and benchmark data.

>>Register for the Webinar<<

Free to attend  ·  Live Q&A included  ·  Recording available to registrants

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
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 Arts
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
Caroline Link, National Sales Manager, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
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
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.