The Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD), which covers the premium seat marketplace, has partnered with Soccerex, who have brought together the global soccer (football) industry for over 20 years, connecting the game’s key stakeholders from over 40 countries around the globe.

Bill Dorsey, Chairman and Founder of the 29-year-old ALSD with 1,300 members explains:

“The ALSD is doing its first international conference in London, where Soccerex is located, this October 10-12,” said Bill Dorsey, chairman/founder of ALSD. “Soccerex is doing a major conference in Miami this November 15-16. We are complementary to each other, and do not compete. So, we simply decided to partner to market, promote, provide materials, and support the conference at Soccerex in November; they in turn will assist the ALSD in reaching its global audience in much the same way.”

The collaboration makes further sense because of the FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 2026, and the enormous growth of MLS and USL soccer leagues in the U.S. Soccerex partners with global leaders in the soccer marketplace, such as Concacaf, LaLiga, and MLS.

“The sports world is getting smaller. We are seeing major leagues in the United States encroaching upon the rest of the globe. At the same time, soccer is now firmly established in the United States,” Dorsey said.

“The growth of premium seating is phenomenal,” Dorsey added. “In 1990, only 3% of the seats were considered premium. Today, 20% of a major venue’s seats are considered premium, which can account for nearly 40% of the ticketing revenue. It’s our assertion that premium seating or rather a premium experience will grow exponentially around the globe, and in all soccer venues.”

Soccerex have delivered 44 events across the world over 22 years taking in 17 cities in 13 countries, connecting over 60,000 senior attendees from clubs, leagues, federations, and venue and supplier sides of the marketplace.

The November conference will cover topics such as stadia technology and design, growth of soccer in the U.S., fan culture, digital fan engagement, social influencers, and esports.

“In today’s soccer industry, revenues from VIP, corporate and hospitality services are an important part of a club or federations commercial model,” said David Wright, Soccerex marketing director. “Working with ALSD, we will be able to call upon their expertise and unrivalled network in this sector to ensure a better experience for stadium professionals attending Soccerex USA in November in Miami through tailored topics and networking opportunities. In exchange, we are delighted to be supporting ALSD in our home city of London, a city with world-class stadiums that are home to some of the best Premier League clubs and The FA.”

SearchWide Global, an executive search and recruitment firm in the travel, tourism, venue management, experiential marketing, tradeshow and exhibition, sports, and entertainment industry, announced the promotion of Mark Gnatovic to executive vice president and Kellie Henderson as senior vice president. Both joined SearchWide Global in 2006.

Gnatovic will continue to lead the venue management, experiential marketing, and tradeshow and exhibition practices and take a leadership role in sports and entertainment. He will also continue to play an important role in the areas of training and mentoring within the organization. Prior to SearchWide Global, Gnatovic spent 15 years in the hotel and convention industry and currently serves as a Board of Trustee for IAVM.

Henderson will continue to be a leader within the destination organization search segment and will elevate her focus on diversity and inclusion for all of the industries SearchWide Global serves. She will also continue to play an important role in the areas of training and mentoring with Connect (SearchWide Global’s mid-level management search service) and the research department. Prior to SearchWide Global, Henderson worked within the DMO and hotel industries and is actively involved with Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP).

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in July 2018. 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.

Brooke Adamson, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), Charlotte, NC
Luis Roberto Aguilar, Expo Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
Jatzin Alvarado, AEG|L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, CA
Saul Ancona, Centro Internacional de Congresos Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
Lisa Angelo, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH
Cristina Arciniega, ICC Baja Sur, Los Cabos, Mexico
Paco Bayer, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Trenton Becker, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX
Michael Becker, STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
Jenna Bell, Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis, Davis, CA
Gilberto Benítez, Baja California Center, Tijuana, Mexico
Morgan Benjamin, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO
Sarah Bertsch, Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN
Matthew Bettenhausen, AEG Worldwide, Los Angeles, CA
Julie Bilyea, City of Overland Park, Overland Park, KS
James Boschken, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Joseph Bower, Dewitt Stern Insurance & Risk Advisory, New York, NY
Jeffery Boyd, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison, WI
Kevin Brown, Harman, Kansas City, MO
Gary Bryant, Ontario Bollards Inc., Georgetown, ON, Canada
Randy Buescher, Epstein, Chicago, IL
Andrea Burgoyne, Bell MTS Place / True North Sports & Entertainment Ltd., Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Maylee Carr, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX
Danielle Chabot, AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL
Paul Chandler, Germantown Performing Arts Center, Germantown, TN
JR Cook,Manhatten, KS
Tiffany Cooper, Portland’5, Portland, OR
Gary Costa, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
Cameron DeBose, American Airlines Center/Center Operating Company, Cedar Hill, TX
Loretta DeGrazia, Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Andrea DeLaune, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Kate Devine, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Danielle DiMeglio, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Desiree Dixon, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO
Eric Duncan, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Nicholas Dunn, , Chester, VA
Lance Ewing, Cotton Global Restoration, Houston, TX
Sonya Fedorko, WesBanco Arena, Wheeling, WV
Lisa Feigenbaum, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Jose Miguel Fernandez, ICC Baja Sur, Los Cabos, Mexico
Demetria Ferrouillet, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
Alvaro Flores, Expo Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Oscar Garcia, Palcco Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Oliver Garcia, Centro Internacional de Congresos Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
Vania Garza, Delking, Monterrey, Mexico
David Gilbert, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Jose Antonio Gomez, WTC Veracruz, Boca del Rio, Mexico
Jorge Gonzalez, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ
Michele Gonzalez, Austin Convention Center, Austin, TX
Fatima Goretti, Palacio De Convenciones Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico
Ashley Gormley, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Karen Graham, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Raul Granados, Palacio De Convenciones Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico
Laura Gutierrez, Centro Citibanamex, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
Fernando Gutierrez, Centro Cultural y de Convenciones del Estado de DURANGO, Durango, Mexico
Rob Hall, The Uplands, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
Dean Hannula, Chandler Center for the Arts City of Chandler, Chandler, AZ
Nathan Hasty, FELD Entertainment, Palmetto, FL
West Hatae, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Gabriel Hedgepeth, , ORLANDO, FL
Laura Henigson, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Seattle, WA
Shawn Hensler, Kentucky Venues, Louisville, KY
Mariana Herrera, Fiestas de Octubre, Jalisco, Mexico
Kayla Hicks, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Paula Hobbie, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Jake Hoffman, Centennial Management Group, Inc, West Valley City, UT
Catherine Hollingworth, Revolution Place, Grande Prairie, AB, Canada
Chris Hunsaker, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
John Jacobs, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Trevor James, SaskTel Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Alejandro de Jesus Jimenez, Fiestas de Octubre, Jalisco, Mexico
Hyeonji Jo, Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games Organizing Committee, Pyeongchang County, Canada
Stewart Johnston, Newnan Centre, Newnan, GA
Mariah Jones, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Andrew Jones, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Roxanne Jorgensen, Dee Events Center Weber State University, Ogden, UT
Eric Jubinville, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA
Jeff Kiltie, The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, Aventura, FL
Shelby King, Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
Paraskevas Kokkonis, Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games Organizing Committee, Pyeongchang County, Republic of Korea
Kelly Laing, Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Melissa Leung, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Samasoni Liua, AEG, San Diego, CA
Lacey Long, Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo, UT
Briana Mackow, SaskTel Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Blake Malcom, STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
Ruth Mason, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA
Jenna Massaro, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Juan Carlos Mata, Poliforum Leon, Leon, Mexico
Tanya May, Maverik Center, West Valley City, UT
Thomas McAfee, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Michael McGuire, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Jason McKay, WinSport, Calgary, AB, Canada
Marlo McKinley, Sports and Entertainment Services, Phoenix, AZ
Jesus Medina, Centro de Convenciones San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
James Minella, PlayStation Theater, New York, NY
Ron Miranda, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA
Jon Moore, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Wilford Mortensen, Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo, UT
David Moss, Tampa Sports Authority, Tampa, FL
Altagracia Murillo, Baja California Center, Tijuana, Mexico
Andrew Nicholson, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Luis Gerardo Ortiz, Poliforum Leon, Leon,
Cinthya Pablos, Delking, Monterrey, Mexico
Heather Peron, Pasadena Center Operating Company, Pasadena, CA
Jozee Perrelli, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Jennifer Phillips, Fredericton Convention Centre, Fredericton, NB, Canada
Brian Proud, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH
Hector Quintero, Queretaro Centro de Congresos, Queretaro, Mexico
Benito Reyes, Centro Cultural y de Convenciones del Estado de DURANGO, Durango, Mexico
Rebecca Richardson, Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo, UT
Patricia Rodriguez, Expo Santa Fe Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Juan Rodriguez, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Lauren Rowland, Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
Rodrigo Saavedra, SMG/Charleston Area Convention Center Complex, North Charleston, SC
Jose Andres Salinas, Centro de Convenciones WTC Morelos, Xochitepec, Morelos,
Sergio Cesar Salmeron, WTC Veracruz, Boca del Rio, Mexico
Kyle Sanders, Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Kenneth Schmidt, McCormick Place/ SMG, Chicago, IL
Catie Scott Thompson, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Jonathan Serret, City of Thousand Oaks – Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Thousand Oaks, CA
Aaron Shapiro, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
David Sherrill, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Paul Silverman, Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Jordan Smith, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Israel Sosa, CIEC WTC Cd. de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Linda Stack, Harris Center for the Arts, Folsom, CA
Trevor Stowers, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX
Johanne Thibodeau, Olympic Park, Montreal, QC, Canada
Dave Thomas, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Lindsay Timmermans, Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, City of Prince George, Prince George, BC, Canada
Martha Irene Trujillo, Fiestas de Octubre, Jalisco, Mexico
Jason Velez, Priava, New York, NY
Miguel Angel Villalba, Expo Reforma, Ciudad de México, DF, Mexico
Margarita Vital, Centro de Convenciones San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Rebecca Walton, Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Covington, KY
Daniel Walton, AEG Management Glendale, Glendale, AZ
Kaitlin Wilkinson, BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center, Tupelo, MS
Jennifer Willison, Seafair, Seattle, WA
Dean Yarborough, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA
Allison Yee-Garcia, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Sean Young, Rose Quarter, Portland, OR

The Charles A. McElravy Award may be awarded annually to a Professional, Honorary, or Retired member of IAVM who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors has made the greatest lifetime achievement to the welfare of the Association or profession.

The following criteria are established for the McElravy Award nominees:

1. The nominee must have been a Professional, Honorary, or Retired Member of the IAVM in good standing for at least fifteen (15) years total (though not necessarily consecutively).
2. The nominee needs to meet the minimum service to IAVM requirements for Honorary Membership, but is not required to be retired. The following criteria must be met for a member to be eligible for consideration for Honorary Membership:  1) Attendance at no fewer than 10 Annual Conferences (VenueConnect) during the past 15 years; 2) Attendance at no fewer than 5 Region Meetings during the past 15 years;  3) Service as chair of at least three international or two Region committees during the past 15 years;  4) Service as:  Director of IAVM or officer in a Region at least once during the member’s tenure with IAVM or b) Program chair for an IAVM venue-specific or specialty meeting during the member’s tenure with IAVM or c) Member of Board of Regents, Board of Trustees, or Board of Governors during member’s tenure with IAVM.
3. Any member in good standing may make a nomination, which must provide, in writing, a minimum of three examples of the nominee’s outstanding contributions to IAVM and/or the industry (for example: leadership, accomplishments, professional service/activities, projects/results).
4. At least three letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination letter.
5. No Chairman of the Board (or Past President) of IAVM is eligible for consideration until the third Annual Conference (VenueConnect) following his/her term of office.
6. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Awards).

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to Brad Mayne, CVE, President & CEO and submitted to Rosanne Duke electronically.  The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business November 23, 2018.  If you have any questions, please contact Rosanne Duke at 972.538.1025.

Deadline to submit nominations for the 2019 Charles A. McElravy Award is November 23, 2018.

The IAVM Foundation Legacy Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Trustees to an individual or organization who, in the opinion of the IAVM Foundation has made a significant financial and/or non-financial contribution to benefit the mission and objectives of the IAVM Foundation. The Foundation Chief Executive Officer will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria.

The following criteria are established for the Legacy Award nominees:

1. The nominee may be from any membership category of IAVM or from outside of the Association in a related field.
2. Any current or past contributor to the IAVM Foundation may make a nomination, which must provide, in writing, specific examples of the nominee’s outstanding contributions to the IAVM Foundation.
3. At least three letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination.
4. No Chair of IAVM or Chair of the IAVM Foundation is eligible for consideration until the third VenueConnect following his/her term of office.
5. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Awards).
6. Nominations must be submitted to the Director of Governance & Operations no later than November 23, 2018.
7. The award may be given posthumously.

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to Brad Mayne, CVE, IAVM Foundation CEO and submitted to Rosanne Duke electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business November 23, 2018. If you have any questions, please contact Rosanne Duke at 972.538.1025.

Deadline To Submit Nominations For The 2019 IAVM Foundation Legacy Award Is November 23, 2018