Tension is one of those words that usually carries a negative connotation. If one is feeling tense one is not likely preparing to spend a day at the beach. Tension, however, has its place on the job and can actually be healthy. Not convinced? You will be after hearing Tim Arnold speak in a keynote at VenueConnect in Toronto on July 24 from 9:15-10:15 am, followed by a Executive Track workshop he will conduct from 10:45-11:30 am.

Arnold’s keynote, “The Power of Healthy Tension,” and subsequent workshop on servant leadership, are both guaranteed to send attendees back home with an overflowing toolkit to better engage with the day-to-day events that happen in any business and any industry.

Arnold points out that the mere concept of tension is acknowledged in a way never before in the workplace.

“I’m finding there is interest in the concept of tension now more than ever,” he said. “I speak about the benefits of leveraging healthy tension; things like embracing diverse perspectives, getting the best from each person on your team, and getting unstuck by challenging an either/or mindset. This is very different than the unhealthy tension that results from inappropriate behavior and a toxic work environment. Effective leaders know the difference.”

The world of public assembly venue management is similar to many other industries that Arnold has addressed, including The United Nations, Citibank, KPMG, Toyota, and Siemens, in that, well, tension and problems bubble to the surface every day.

“My guess is that your members have to solve problems each and every day,” Arnold said. “I also would be confident that they deal with many chronic issues that are in fact unsolvable problems. Things like cost vs. quality, embracing innovation vs. holding on to what works, or structure vs. flexibility. Having the ability to distinguish between a problem to solve and a tension to manage can move a leader (and a venue) to provide a significant competitive advantage. Going beyond this awareness and actually identifying a few key tensions each member experiences will allow them to move from surviving to thriving.”

Arnold believes that while the public assembly industry has some common tensions, there are others somewhat unique to the profession.

“As I learn more about the public assembly industry it seems that beyond facing some of the classic tensions that are unavoidable in all industries, you also have a few unique tensions to manage as well such as Grounded or Logical vs. Gut-Feeling and Visionary, Competing with Others vs. Collaborating with Others, Managing Cost vs. Quality of Experience, Focusing on the Short Team vs. Focusing on the Long Term, and Taking Risks on Trends vs. Banking on What Works.

“It seems to me that that these are make-it-or-break-it tensions for your industry to manage, and having the skill to manage them in a healthy way can have you stand out in highly competitive crowd.”

For more than two decades, Arnold has had the privilege of helping the aforementioned businesses. Beyond leadership and team development, he spent 10 years overseeing a 40-bed homeless shelter, and a social enterprise that helps people transition from the streets to gainful employment through the production, distribution, and sales of amazing jams and jellies.

He now wants to do his part to ensure that attendees to his presentation do not enter into their own jams in the workplace.

“Tapping into the Power of Healthy Tension will allow members to a) unite their team by providing the shared language needed to move from conflict to collaboration, where everyone is heard and understood, b) spark change and find out why it is hard for people to shift their thinking, and c) break through chronic issues and conflicting values to get unstuck,” he said.

Now that is healthy.

Long-time IAVM member Robert U. “Bob” Reid, passed away Friday, March 30, 2018, in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was 86.

Bob loved to tell a good story, sharing (and hearing) jokes, the Chicago Cubs, and tapping his toes to Big Band and polka music. He was a “doer,” and an outstanding role model with an exceptional work ethic.

He was born June 12, 1931 in Minneapolis, to the late Robert S. and Meryl Reid. Bob grew up in the Edina-Morningside neighborhood, graduating from St. Louis Park High School in1949 and the University of Minnesota, class of 1953, earning a degree in Radio Speech. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity.

He married Eleanor “Elie” Weld on Feb. 2, 1962 in Minneapolis. She claimed sharing the date with Groundhog’s Day would ensure Bob couldn’t forget their anniversary. Together they raised two children, Fritz and Julie.

Bob’s professional career was centered on sports and entertainment management, enjoying a variety of notable roles.

While attending the U of M, he worked for the Athletic Department’s Intramural and Sports Information offices. After graduation, he was part of the Minnesota Centennial Commission’s publicity team. He became the publicity director for the Minneapolis Lakers basketball team from 1955-58, then joined Max Winter Attractions as an associate until 1963, where he provided public relations support for the Harlem Globetrotters, the Hawaiian State Fair and the Midwest Auto Show.

He became a partner with Padilla, Sarjeant, Sullivan and Speer Public Relations for four years, representing clients like the Grain Belt brewery and the Ice Follies. His connections led him to join the fledgling Minnesota North Stars, where he served as the team’s first administrative director from 1967-1972 and then became the Met Center building manager until 1985, expanding his duties to oversee the building that hosted not only the hockey team, but numerous rock concerts, the Barnham & Bailey Circus and the Ice Follies. He loved to talk about his experiences hosting the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and other major bands. During this time, he was involved with the International Association of Auditorium Managers, as it was known, serving on its board of directors and on various committees. His last career move found Bob working for the Vee Corporation organizing the Sesame Street Live stage shows as its director of booking from 1985-1997.

Bob’s interest in sports found him also serving for 42 years as the lead public address announcer for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) state hockey, baseball, softball, football and wrestling tournaments; for the MSHSL as a baseball umpire; for the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as publicity director and lead statistician, and also as a statistician for the Minnesota Vikings. He was also part of a group — and one of the first coaches — that started the Edina Little League organization in the 1950s.

Bob and Elie lived in Edina until 2003, when they moved to Wausau to be closer to their daughter Julie and her family.

Bob’s volunteer work was extremely important and fulfilling to him. While living in Minnesota, he was part of the Edina Recycling Commission, VEAP, Edina-Morningside Church, Loaves and Fishes, Edina High School PTA, Walk for Mankind, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Friends of Edina Public Library and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. After moving to Wausau, he was part of The Grand Theater board of directors, Friends of the Marathon County Public Library, St. John’s Episcopal Church and Mobile Meals.

As a former public relations man, he took great pleasure in collecting newspaper clippings for friends and family and keeping detailed travel diaries of the adventures he and Elie had traveling overseas to visit 46 countries and all seven continents.

Bob is survived by his son, Frederic “Fritz” Reid, partner Kim Forrest and son Forrest Hansen, Shingle Springs, Calif., daughter Julie Bliss, husband Jim, and children Reid Baker and Charlotte Bliss; siblings, older brother John M. “Jack” Reid, Seattle, Wash. and “baby” sister, Betty (Reid) Kuechle, Chanhassen, Minn, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Elie, in 2009.

Fritz and Julie would like to thank the warm and supportive staff at Colonial Manor for taking such loving care of Bob over the past year.

A memorial will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 7 at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 330 McClellan Street, Wausau, with The Rev. Meredyth Albright officiating. Visitation with Fritz and Julie will be at 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum or St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church.

Chuck Steedman, COO, AEG Facilities, announced the appointment of Hugh Lombardi as general manager of the AEG Facilities-operated Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addition to serving as general manager of Target Center, which just completed an 18-month, $145 million renovation, Lombardi will have cross functional responsibilities serving as a regional vice president of AEG Facilities where he will oversee other venues in the AEG Facilities network, as well as assisting with other initiatives undertaken by the company.

It was also announced that Target Center’s David Schmid was promoted to assistant general manager Target Center, and Tom Reller has been elevated to regional director of operations for AEG Facilities.

“We are thrilled to have Hugh join the AEG Facilities and Target Center team in Minneapolis,” Steedman said. “Hugh brings a great depth of knowledge and industry experience and will play a key role in the continued success and stellar reputation of one of the country’s premier destinations for sports and entertainment. His documented success in all areas of venue management will be a real asset for the Target Center and AEG Facilities.”

In Lombardi’s new role, he will be responsible for the management of all of the newly renovated arena’s business operations, the creation of new events and the development of new revenue opportunities for the multipurpose 20,000-seat sports and entertainment arena which serves as the home to the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. Lombardi will activate numerous AEG Facilities’ proprietary initiatives including AEG S.A.F.E., AEG 1Source, AEG 1EARTH, AEG 1Force, AEG Encore and AEG Energy Services, in addition to working closely with AEG Global Partnerships and other divisions of the company.

“I am looking forward to working with the great group of professionals in Minnesota with AEG Facilities,” Lombardi said. “Target Center is an incredible facility and I am excited to continue to build upon the success they have created.”

Prior to joining AEG Facilities and Target Center, Lombardi spent the last 16 years in executive roles and as general manager for numerous arenas around the country, including Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena, home to the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder and the adjacent Cox Convention Center, Boston’s TD Garden, home to the NHL’s Boston Bruins and NBA’s Boston Celtics, and in Nashville, at the Bridgestone Arena, home to the NHL’s Predators.

Darren G. Mire, the director of valuation for the Orleans Parish Assessor’s Office, has been appointed Commissioner to the Board of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority (Authority) by Governor John Bel Edwards. The Authority’s 12-member Board of Commissioners governs the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana.

Mire is succeeding Commissioner Jay H. Banks, who has resigned and will begin his tenure as New Orleans City Councilman after being elected to the position in 2017.

Mire served two terms as the elected Assessor of the First Municipal District of Orleans Parish from 2002 to 2010. He is a member of the Louisiana Board of Regents, and a former member of the Southern University Board of Supervisors. He also serves as president of the Black Organization for Leadership Development, or BOLD.

“We are pleased to have Darren Mire join our board at such an important time in the Authority’s history,” said Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Chairman Melvin Rodrigue. “He brings valuable experience and a record of accomplishment that will serve the Authority and our convention center very well.”

A life-long resident of New Orleans, Mire earned his B.A. in Political Economy and a Masters in Professional Studies in Political Management from Tulane University.

SeatGeek has closed a primary ticketing agreement with NFL giants the Dallas Cowboys, the most valuable sports franchise in the world.

Under the deal – SeatGeek’s second primary NFL partnership in the past four months – the operator will serve the American football team, AT&T Stadium and Ford Center.

SeatGeek will allow fans and teams to access and manage tickets through the mobile app. Fans can purchase tickets and easily transfer them to others and use their device to scan into the venue.

SeatGeek also signed the New Orleans Saints in November, making the Cowboys the second team to opt out of the league-wide deal.

“The Dallas Cowboys organization is always on the cutting edge, and it was critical that we select a ticketing platform that has the best technology on earth to power an incredible fan experience. SeatGeek provides that and more,” said Dallas Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones. “We’re excited to truly partner with SeatGeek to shape the future of the industry together.”

SeatGeek will ticket all events at the 100,000-capacity AT&T Stadium, as well as events at Ford Center, a 12,000 seat facility located at The Star, the Cowboys complex in Frisco, Texas.

“The technology that SeatGeek had developed – from its rules-based engine to its fan-facing features – is unlike anything I have seen before,” said Dallas Cowboys vice president of ticket service and sales, Doug Dawson. “We’re thrilled to work alongside SeatGeek for years to come.”

As part of the NFL’s new open ticketing ecosystem the Cowboys will be able to use SeatGeek’s technology to integrate with other official league ticketing partners, selling verified tickets in more places than ever before.

Other events at AT&T Stadium and Ford Center will be able to use SeatGeek Enterprise’s open distribution to sell tickets directly to fans in places across the internet where they are already spending time.

SeatGeek recently partnered with Facebook to allow SeatGeek Enterprise clients to sell their tickets directly through the social network.

“The Dallas Cowboys are the pinnacle of professional sports, and we are thrilled to work with their innovative team to give one of the best fanbases in all of sports a better experience,” said SeatGeek co-founder Russ D’Souza. “We are excited to take a massive step forward in transforming the live events industry with this partnership.”