If I wasn’t doing this I’d be a: Zoologist, probably! Or at least an animal attendant at a zoo.

Most impressive person I’ve ever met: The late Dan Kubiak, former member of the Texas House of Representatives. He was a wonderful champion for public education and a really nice guy. His niece was a close friend and he worked closely with my grandpa, who was the Sheriff of Bell County, so I thought he was just “some guy” until he passed away while I was in high school. I was pretty surprised to know that someone who did such great work for the State.

I unwind by: Listening to Broadway soundtracks (Waitress and Hamilton are my most played right now) or binge watching something on Netflix.

On my desk right now is: A lot of pens! I have a bad habit of grabbing a new pen from my drawer each time I need to write something and then leaving it laying around.

My favorite IAVM program/conference/event/session I ever attended was: I’ve only been to one so far – Region 6 Conference in South Padre. It was amazing!

If I were on the other side of the seats, I’d be a: Broadway performer! One that dances poorly.

One trait an up-and-coming venue manager should have is: Compassion. I don’t think it’s possible to care too much, but you can certainly care too little.

One up-and-coming venue star in the arena industry is (name/venue): I’ve been keeping my eye on the BOK Center in Tulsa! They really seemed to set out on a mission to host the most amazing shows … and they’re doing it!

One of my goals for this year is to: Knock out a lot of CVP points!

How do you plan to help elevate the profession? I’m dedicated to the guest experience and want to make every moment in my venue memorable. I’d love to help us shape our customer service skills around our evolving industry and changing culture so that all patrons feel comfortable, entertained, and invited.

Where do you see new growth opportunities in the profession? I’m front of house, so I like to pay attention to the first five minutes a patron spends inside of our buildings. What do they see? How are they treated? What’s that first impression? I think we all have things we can do to improve those moments by just thinking outside of the box and keeping an improv-esque manner of thought: “…yes, and then?”

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments? I read the Facility Manager magazine and pay a lot of attention to LinkedIn!

Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party and why: It would take a little time travel, but I’d love to hang out with P.T. Barnum, P!nk, and Emma Thompson. They’ve changed their respective fields in so many ways!

Melinda Landry is event manager of the Amarillo Civic Center Complex in Amarillo, Texas.

Allied members want more engagement opportunities for their corporate and sales employees to connect with venue professionals. IAVM’s new Allied Group Membership program delivers two options to have more employees involved in IAVM with additional perks to enhance the value companies receive as a member.

A firm can attend numerous events year round to make connections with influential decision-makers from venues around the world to increase sales revenue potential while building relationships as a member exhibitor, member partner or member sponsor of IAVM.

Hospitality and food & beverage leader Centerplate knows the value well and holds the proud honor of becoming the first IAVM Allied member to secure a group membership.

“Centerplate is looking forward to working with IAVM in the year ahead with its newly minted company group membership,” said Paul Pettas, communications director for the Stamford, Connecticut, industry leader. “This will help the company continue to forge close ties with the industry and the venues we serve through increased professional participation.”

Just this past week, SVP of Sales and New Business Development, Kay Towner, VP of Operations Richard Ginzel and Executive Chef Daryl O’Donnell spoke at the San Diego Convention Center for the IAVM Region 7 meeting about the guest satisfaction and financial benefits of integrating local ‘hometown’ purveyors into a venue’s culinary experience.”

Centerplate was founded in 1929 and partners with more than 300 public assembly venues across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, serving more than 115 million guests.

“In addition to having a presence at industry events, Centerplate’s vast network of managers keep updated with the latest IAVM news and trends, thus staying a step ahead as we fulfill our mission of making it ‘better to be there’ for guests, clients, and employees at our hundreds of venues all around North America,” Pettas said. “Centerplate looks forward to working with IAVM in the year ahead, as we continue offering best-in-class hospitality solutions to the U.S. and Canada’s leading venues.”

Learn how to get started with Allied Group Membership here.

Venue Solutions Groups is pleased to welcome Richard Andersen, CVE as Chief Illuminations Officer. In his new role, Andersen will be responsible for the VSG Advantage Training, a portfolio of customizable training programs designed to maximize human potential. Andersen will draw on his 35 plus years of experience in professional sports, venues and hospitality management to design and facilitate leading edge training and development programs.

“Richard brings that rare combination of insight, creativity and relatable experience, combined with specialized adult learning techniques, to deliver those ‘aha moments’,” said VSG Managing Partner, Russ Simons. “He is an outstanding addition to our VSG team. Richard fits our culture and mirrors our commitment to the industry.”

Andersen was most recently President and CEO of Seafair, a premier festival management organization in Seattle. He previously served as President and CEO of Northlands, one of Canada’s largest multi-purpose entertainment and meeting complexes, and as Executive Vice President of the San Diego Padres and General Manager of Petco Park.

“I am excited to be joining the Venue Solutions Group Team as we launch Advantage Training,” Andersen said. “The true ‘Advantage’ is our ability to tap into a wealth of experience in professional sports, venue, and hospitality management, coupled with leading-edge programs that deliver those ‘aha moments.’ Nothing cookie cutter – our customized facilitations focus on issues identified by you. Because we know the business, our training is uniquely relevant and specific, leading to illuminating results.”

Andersen is highly respected throughout the venue management industry for his leadership as Chair of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Venue Managers and Chair of the Board of Regents of the IAVM Venue Management School. He serves on the faculties of VMS and the Venue Management Association (VMA Asia Pacific) School and Leadership Institute in Australia. He also led classes in Business Operations and Strategic Planning at San Diego State University.

Formed in 2011 by three former senior facility managers, VSG advises clients in all aspects of venue operations, including but not limited to, design and startup, budgeting, organizational assessments, facility condition assessments, guest experience benchmarking programs, security & safety, and expense reduction.

Claude Molinari, general manager of SMG/Cobo Center, announced an unprecedented partnership in Detroit as the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) has awarded the naming rights of Cobo Center to Chemical Bank, the largest bank headquartered in Michigan. Chemical Bank and the DRCFA will announce the new name of the world-class convention center by the end of 2019, and the name will remain Cobo Center until that time.

“This unprecedented naming rights agreement is a great win for all parties,” Molinari said. “Chemical Bank makes a strong statement of commitment to the region and secured naming rights to a convention center that is growing in notoriety every day.”

The 22-year, $1.5 million-a-year agreement gives the bank exclusive naming rights for the center and sets a new industry standard reflective of the world-class facility and Detroit’s rise in the national market.

“This is the kind of unique collaboration and long-term commitment to the city of Detroit and greater region that can make a real, meaningful difference for Michiganders,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I’m eager to partner with the business community to make sure we bring more investment to our state, boost local economies in cities like Detroit, and connect more Michiganders to good-paying jobs.”

Chemical Bank being warded the naming rights of Cobo Center comes at an exciting time for the company. Chemical Financial Corporation recently announced its merger with TCF Financial Corporation which will be headquartered in a new 20-story building in downtown Detroit. The combined holding company and bank will operate under the TCF name and brand following the closing of the merger.

“Today’s announcement continues to build on our bank’s investment in the city, its neighborhoods, the region, and our state,” said Gary Torgow, Chairman of the Board for Chemical Financial Corporation. “Along with our recently announced merger with TCF Financial Corporation that will bring the headquarters of the combined company and the TCF brand to downtown Detroit, we look forward to contributing to make this Center a vibrant destination for our city and our region for many years to come.”

“Our world-class convention center now has a world-class corporate partner in Chemical Bank,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “We couldn’t be more proud of the investments Chemical Bank is making in our city, from its new headquarters to its support for our Strategic Neighborhood Fund. Today’s announcement will help ensure our convention center remains a facility Detroiters will be proud of for years to come.”

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has named Rocsean Spencer as Small Business Program Director. The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority, the Convention Center’s governing board, created the position to promote the importance of diversity, inclusion, and small business development at the convention center. Spencer will be tasked with managing the Business Opportunity Program, and will serve as a liaison between the Authority, internal stakeholders, and the community.

Spencer comes to the convention center from the City of New Orleans, Office of Supplier Diversity. She served as Certification Officer, where she reviewed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification applications and attended State and Local DBE (SLDBE) program outreach events. She was later promoted to Compliance Officer, where she managed a portfolio of $150 million of Public and Private Sector funds. In that role, she also supervised the DBE program, where she managed the SLDBE Certification Department as SLDBE Certification Coordinator.

Spencer recently earned certification as a Certified Compliance Administrator from the American Contract Compliance Association (ACCA) through Morgan State University in Baltimore.