The NAIA announced the second year of the NAIA National Championship Host Excellence Awards. Seven honors were awarded to championship site hosts that have gone above and beyond in the execution of their event during the 2017-18 school year. Glenn Walinski has received the Championship Legacy Award for his role in NAIA tournaments at the Spectra-managed Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Championship Legacy Award is given to a person who has advanced NAIA National Championships and has helped elevate the NAIA brand.

“Our hosts deserve every bit of recognition for all of the work that they put into making our NAIA Championships better each year,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. “The 2017-18 season is no exception with another outstanding group of hosts that did an excellent job of creating experiences for our student-athletes that will last a lifetime.”

Walinski has been at every NAIA Tournament in Sioux City since his arrival in 2005 (10 volleyball, 14 DII WBB, 2 softball) up until his retirement in December 2017. The long-time IAVM member was the primary facilities contact and was always willing to do what needed to be done to make sure that the student-athletes, coaches and fans were safe and able to have an even better championship experience.

“Glenn worked closely with his staff, local committee members and championship coordinators to make sure each event was championship caliber,” said Mike Skaggs, Women’s Volleyball and DII Women’s Basketball Championships Co-Tournament Director. “He worked tirelessly to make sure that the arena and playing surfaces were championship ready. He strived to provide first class treatment to all players, coaches and fans during each tournament. Glenn was always available to make any adjustments that any coach or player felt needed to be made in order to improve the experience and provide maximum safety.”

Georgia and Florida Fans traveling to TIAA Bank Field now have access to premium, reserved pre-game tailgating packages through Tailgate Guys.

Tailgate Guys is expanding its presence in the state of Florida as the official tailgate provider for the historic Georgia-Florida football rivalry at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville on October 27, 2018. This partnership will provide Tailgate Guys’ renowned, hassle-free premium tailgating service to Georgia Bulldog and Florida Gator fans traveling to Jacksonville for the 2018 game and beyond. These offerings will bolster the game day experience for fans and reinforce one of the best pre-game environments in college athletics.

For the first time in Jacksonville, Tailgate Guys’ premium tailgating service will be located in the outfield of the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Their tailgating packages are suitable for various group sizes and needs ranging from corporate hospitality events to small groups of family and friends. Georgia and Florida fans will now have access to various gameday packages in Tailgate Guys’ reserved community which include amenities such as tents, DISH Media packages, coolers of ice, tables, chairs and more. All packages also have access to bellhop services, onsite concierge, exclusive catering by the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and a unique tailgating atmosphere before, during and after the game. Only steps away from the TIAA Bank Field, the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville is the ideal location for this inaugural Georgia-Florida Tailgate experience.

“We love serving Gators and Jags fans already, so it’s only natural that we would open up our premium experience and services to Georgia-Florida in Jacksonville,” said Parker Duffey, CEO of Tailgate Guys. “We also look forward to introducing Georgia fans to our premium services, and it’s exciting for us to be part of one of the best rivalries in all of sports.”

“On behalf of the City of Jacksonville and SMG, we look forward to another exciting year of Georgia-Florida Football,” said Bill McConnell, General Manager of SMG Jacksonville. “In an ongoing tradition to create unforgettable events for fans, we are thrilled to partner with Tailgate Guys to offer a one-of-a-kind tailgating experience – which fans won’t want to miss.”

Happy Foundation Friday from wonderful Chicago!  IAVM staff members have been in Chicago since Wednesday for a sight visit for VenueConnect 2019.  From everything I’ve seen, toured, and tasted, it looks like next summer’s conference will be FANTASTIC.  I had my first taste of Chicago-style deep dish pizza last night with Chicago local and Foundation Trustee Bill “Sparky” Bavirsha, Brad Mayne, and Amy Fitzpatrick. THAT will definitely be on the list for my VC19 experience!  Thank you to Sparky for taking me to see the probable golf course for the VC19 golf outing. It’s going to be amazing!  More on that another time.

It’s a very exciting and energizing time in the life of your Foundation.  Next week will be time to get busy on finalization of the Foundation Strategic Plan.  Members of the Board of Trustees Executive Committee will be heading to IAVM Headquarters in Dallas for a work session on September 12^th facilitated by Steven Foster of Foster and Fathom. The strategic plan will be honed down and completed so that the Foundation and the trustees can move forward with firm guidelines in place for the ongoing forward momentum in support of our member’s professional development and the industry as a whole.  A huge thank you to our executive committee, and all of our trustees, for the commitment and dedication you have shown towards the Foundation.

Your Foundation continues to work for you and your colleagues so that you might excel in your career with the support of a strong public assembly industry.  Won’t you please consider lending us your support by investing today in the Foundation?  It truly is YOUR Foundation…YOUR Future.  Invest Now!

Members tell us why they invest in their IAVM Foundation –

“I give back to our Foundation to support our members who may not to be able to attend the amazing educational opportunities IAVM provides without scholarships. The Foundation had provided me with scholarship opportunities in the past that have helped me further my education and network with some of the best in the industry.”

-Abby Jo Lady | Marketing Director | Show Me Center

“I see support for the IAVM Foundation as my duty.  My career has been super, and the ongoing ability for the next generation to present the arts, entertainment and sports to enhance the lives others is paramount.  Our Foundation offers support, opportunity and education to help ensure the stability and credibility of our industry.  My duty is to support the future of the industry”.

-John Siehl, CVE | VenuWorks | VP and Chief Operating Officer

“The Foundation creates and maintains the programing that indoctrinates venue management into the DNA of the leaders of our industry. I’ve benefited from the fruits of the Foundation and I refuse to allow future venue managers to miss out on the same opportunity.  I make a monthly pledge in support of the existing and future programing stemming from the Foundation’s hard work and strongly urge others to as well.”

-Mac Campbell, CVP, CTA | Deputy Director | Baltimore Convention Center

“My career success has always begun with the support of IAVM. When we come together we can do unimaginable and powerful, great things to change the next career. For me, giving my donation dollars to IAVM is an easy choice to make.”

-Kerry Painter, CVE, CEM, CMP | Assistant General Manager | Cox Business Center 

“Why do I invest in the Foundation?  Simply put, it’s the right thing to do.  Over thirty years ago the Foundation invested in an idea now known as Venue Management School.  Without that seed money, the greatest educational program in IAVM history wouldn’t exist.  That one move has directly impacted thousands of us, from front line staff to venue executives.  That’s why I support our Foundation.” 

-Todd Hunt, CVE | Executive Director | BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center
 

“The Foundation is something I have great passion for. Given my experiences at both Venue Management School and Senior Executive Symposium, I have seen first-hand the impact that these programs have had on people’s careers. The Foundation continues to invest in our member’s career development and does so much to keep our biggest talents in the business.”

-Bob Hunter, CVE | Chief Product Development Officer | Scotiabank Arena

“30 years ago, in 1988, I had a boss who took a chance on me, got me involved in facility management and introduced me to IAVM.  I can’t imagine not being involved in facility management and I couldn’t have reached my goal as GM of a performing arts venue without the support and education I’ve received from being a part of IAVM. I am the “I” in IAVM, and so are you!   For every dollar you donate to the Foundation, you will reap the benefits ten-fold!   I have and I know you will too. Invest in yourself and your career today by donating to your Foundation.”

-Leslee Stewart | General Manager |Paramount Theatre
 

“I value the experiences and opportunities the Foundation provides to IAVM Members through scholarships and educational opportunities. I support 100 Women of IAVM so the Foundation can send future leaders to sector conferences and expose more women to IAVM events. When I was a student and young professional member, I received scholarships from the Foundation. Now is my opportunity to pay it forward.”

-Kathryn Carlson, CVP | Guest Services & Front of House Manager | Infinite Energy Center

So, why do YOU invest in the Foundation?  Tell us!  Send your story of why giving back to your Foundation is important to you!

When I was asked to share some thoughts about the Foundation and being a new trustee, I have to admit, I stared at the computer screen for a while.  I thought back to the first time I was approached about serving the Foundation… I had about a year under my belt in a new position, at a new venue and in new surroundings.  My personal life was undergoing some radical changes.  So yeah, it seemed like a pretty normal and manageable time for me to take something else on… ha!  In all seriousness though, even though I’d never thought critically about the Foundation, when people like Mark Gnatovic, Stephanie Curran and Robyn Williams talk, you listen.  You learn.  You do some research, and what I realized was how transformative the Foundation has really been for my career.

Truth be told, the most thought I’d probably given the Foundation over the last several years extended to my 100+ Women donations.  But when I looked further, and read into why the Foundation exists, I realized how critical its formation and contributions to the venue industry have been.  Did you realize the Foundation was formed as a response to The Who concert tragedy in 1979 to implement crowd management safety standards?  And that, since then, it has provided over $4 million in funding for professional advancement and education, research and best practices development?

I am over 15 years into my career as a venue manager; it’s the only career I’ve ever really pursued in my adult life.  I am steeped in education, experience and evidence that speaks to the importance of a strong “foundation” for one’s career. And our Foundation, the IAVM Foundation, has provided for those moments and relationships that have shaped my path.  From the flagship programs, like Venue Management School, to the development opportunities, like professional certification programs, the Foundation is not the Association’s piggy bank.  Quite the contrary.  It is meant to be a force that lobbies for our membership and boosts our academic resources and industry influence.  The Foundation must be nimble in how it supports and strengthens our assets and promotes the special characteristics of our unique business.   

Yes, those enormous responsibilities and goals are best achieved through funding and contributions.  Your investment in the IAVM Foundation increases our industry’s capacity to respond to a changing world that demands a workforce more prepared and capable than ever.  And now that I better understand all this, my personal hope in serving as a trustee is that I can help provide ideas and advancement opportunities for the Foundation to do the valuable work it was designed to carry out.  I hope to educate more of our membership about its worthy mission, because IAVM Foundation supporters demonstrate that they value the future of our profession and, perhaps more importantly, that they value all who enter their venues and are thus taken into their care.

Alexis Berggren

Trustee, IAVM Foundation