The July/August VenueConnect issue of Facility Manager magazine will include a special section to honor the memories of several industry members who have passed away in recent months, including Ray Ward and Bill Cunningham, two former IAVM presidents who had a huge impact on so many in the profession.

Only you know how either of these industry giants moved along your career or just said something that has remained with you to this day. We would love to capture those thoughts or any brief stories you have to share about Ray, Bill, or both.

Please submit by email those tribute memories to Facility Manager Senior Editor R.V. Baugus by June 8 at rv.baugus@iavm.org. If you have a photo you would like to include with your comments, we welcome and encourage those as well.

Help us honor and remember these true industry legends and the role they played in shaping the Association and the profession.

During my years as education director at IAAM, I worked continuously with Ray on many projects. We warmed up to one another, he in a mentor role to me. Am I the only person Ray mentored? I worked briefly with Bill Cunningham in the mid-90s when IAAM was collecting its history for its 75th anniversary. At lunch in Austin, Texas after visiting the IAAM archives at the University of Texas, Bill told the story of his decision to hire Ray at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum as his assistant. I believe Ray had recently finished a master’s degree at the University of California-Santa Barbara and included in his job application a reference from some sports-related agency he had interned with. Bill called the reference and received a glowing recommendation except that Ray sometimes seemed to be too much of a perfectionist. With that warning, Bill said he knew Ray was the right man and hired him. So these two perfectionistic, Type A personalities, by all accounts were masterful as facility managers and as longtime leaders of IAVM.

Editor’s Note: Don Hancock will share more about these industry legends in the July/August issue of Facility Manager magazine. We invite anyone who has a memory of Ray Ward and/or Bill Cunningham to please email your brief comments to R.V. Baugus at rv.baugus@iavm.org to be part of the tribute package that we will be paying to honor these men.

The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) officially announced it has rolled out a new initiative to help meeting planners understand the environmental impact of their events. Customized client sustainability reports provide detailed analysis on energy and water usage, as well as how much material was recycled by each specific conference, meeting, or tradeshow. The MCC is a leader in sustainability, achieving a recycling rate of 61% for 2017.

“Limiting our environmental impact is extremely important, and our success is interconnected with the groups that hold their events with us,” said Director of Facility and Event Services Mark Zirbel. “Waste is sorted and accounted for, so we have the data available. Sharing that detailed information with meeting planners and event coordinators arms them with valuable insights. It also allows them to see their success or how they could be more proactive in making a positive impact on the environment.”

The Midwest Poultry Federation, which held its 2018 Annual Convention at the MCC in March, was among the first to receive a tailored event sustainability report. Their report showed sustainability efforts reduced the carbon impact of the annual meeting by 50%, or the same amount of carbon offset by 30,345 trees in one year. The MCC sustainability report uses visuals, including trees, to help planners put their numbers into context.

“Our attendees are poultry farmers and they work hard every day to reduce their carbon footprint on the farm,” said Lara Durben, assistant executive director for the Midwest Poultry Federation. “They will be very interested to see how the responsible use of water and energy along with the recovery of waste from our show makes a big difference to MCC’s overall sustainability program.”

MCC numbers:

• In 2017, the Minneapolis Convention Center produced 1,037 tons of waste, equal to the weight of 259 elephants. Staff recycling efforts recovered 61% of that waste, or 158 elephants.
• MCC used enough energy in 2017 to power 790 U.S. homes for one year. Through energy conservation, the MCC has reduced energy use by 13% since 2009, or enough to power 116 U.S. homes for one year.

“The Minneapolis Convention Center is a 1.6-million square foot facility that hosted 380 events in 2017,” said Executive Director Jeff Johnson. “By using our resources responsibly, we make a positive impact on our natural environment in this beautiful state.”

Tracking of the MCC’s recycling efforts began in 2012, when its recycling rate was 41%. By posting quarterly results, employees – who are integral to the success of the recycling program – see how their efforts can significantly impact the facility’s sustainability numbers. Staff embraced the program, which has allowed the MCC to reach its goal of a 60% recycling rate.

In addition to the client sustainability reports, ongoing initiatives include a roof-top solar array, a storm water run-off system that can divert 5 million gallons of untreated run-off from the Mississippi River every year, LED digital signage, and water bottle refilling stations to discourage the use of single-use water bottles. The Minneapolis Convention Center is also LEED certified, and has earned a coveted Green Meetings Industry Council certification.

The finish line is in sight for Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) $200-million expansion site, which is under two months away from opening.

Once completed, the new space will cement MCEC’s position as the largest convention and exhibition space in Australia, with an increased total size of over 70,000 square meters. The 20,000-square-metre expansion includes 9,000 square metres of exhibition space plus additional flexible, multi-purpose event space, 1,000 seat plenary theatre, multiple meeting rooms, a banquet room, and the Goldfields Café and Bar.

MCEC Chief Executive Peter King said customer experience was front of mind when planning the design. “We want to ensure our facilities suit the needs of our customers, rather than constraining them to fit within our space. A multi-purpose area with a retractable 1,000-seat theatre and adaptable meeting rooms are just two of the many flexible features throughout the new building.”

More than 300 events have been confirmed or are being negotiated for the new expansion space, between July 2018 and the end of 2024.

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Hon. John Eren, said the expansion will cement Melbourne as the business events capital of Australia. “Not only will this redevelopment boost tourism, it will create more than 900 new jobs and provide a massive boost to our visitor economy by attracting more events and thousands more visitors to Victoria each year.”

The 1st Malaria World Congress will be the first event held in Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s expansion space, from July 1-5. Malaria is one of the world’s leading health problems, causing death and severe illness to millions each year across the world. “It’s a privilege to bring together the global community who are working to help eradicate malaria, as our inaugural event in the expansion,” King said.

Club Melbourne is owned and led by Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre with support and collaboration from Melbourne Convention Bureau and the Victorian State Government.

Daktronics has continued a long-standing relationship with Mississippi State University to provide two new LED video displays on campus in 2018. Bulldog soccer and volleyball fans will see the visual improvements at home games this fall as Mississippi State Soccer Field and Newell-Grissom Building are receiving new technology.

“The installation of new videoboards at soccer and volleyball will provide an enhanced game-day experience for our fans and student-athletes,” MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen said. “We’re thrilled to partner with Daktronics as we continue to elevate the Mississippi State brand at our venues.”

The new display at Mississippi State Soccer Field will measure 18 feet high by 32 feet wide and will feature a 15HD pixel layout with wide angle visibility to bring crisp, clear imagery to Bulldog fans at every game. It features industry-leading environmental protection to survive the elements while operating as expected.

Inside at Newell-Grissom Building, Bulldog volleyball fans will be looking at a new display measuring 10.5 feet high by 16.5 feet wide featuring an in-ward curvature to add extra appeal. It will feature 6-millimeter line spacing to provide an excellent picture with great contrast. Additionally, stat panels will be installed on each side of the main display to keep fan informed during the match.

“These installations expand the LED video technology on campus for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, their student-athletes and fans,” said Andrew Rice, Daktronics sales representative. “They will be game changers in terms of the overall fan experience at volleyball and soccer matches. We’re looking forward to seeing the impact when the displays are up and running later this year.”

Each display is capable of variable content zoning allowing them to show one large image or to be divided into multiple zones to show any combination of live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.

In addition to the LED products being installed, the Bulldogs will also receive digital content from Daktronics Creative Services to help bring the displays to life. Content will be produced and delivered at the request of the university.