Mark Haley, president of Smart City – Corporate, spoke Tuesday morning at a Tech Huddle session as part of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ (IAEE) EXPO! EXPO! 2017 in San Antonio. Prior to leaving for San Antonio, Haley talked some about just exactly what he would be talking about. Later this week, IAVM President and CEO Brad Mayne, CFE, will be a panelist at an EXPO! EXPO! session entitled “Protect Our $280+ Billion Exhibitions, Meetings and Events Industry” with a special nod to the Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI).

What will be some of the highlights in your presentation?

Key highlights will be the benefits to all mobile device users at high density events including show managers, exhibitors, and attendees.

Who will most benefit by attending the session and why?

I think event planners will benefit most in understanding that this is not an attempt to restrict them or their exhibitors, but rather how well educated attendees and exhibitors of an event can contribute to an excellent wireless experience in a high density situation. While the rules are guidelines on how to ensure better connectivity in a high density environment, by including them as part of the venue and exhibitor license agreement, it provides an avenue to correct any situations in which a rogue device is disrupting other exhibitors or attendees.

Where do things stand right now with regards to Common Sense Rules?

The FCC has accepted the recommendation from IAVM’s WiFi Coalition to employ the Wireless common sense rules. This was after the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau had created confusion a few years back with its enforcement activity in hotels and convention centers. Venues can employ and enforce the Common Sense Rules without fear of being cited by the FCC.

What are just some of the industries/associations this impacts?

These rules were crafted mainly to assist the convention and meetings industry and the venues that those events are held in.

What was the genesis behind this situation?

In 2014 the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau had decided to interpret part of the 1929 Communications Act regarding radio station jamming as applying to wireless network security protocols built into all manufacturers wireless equipment. While the Enforcement Bureau was very clear that convention centers and hotels could NOT utilize these automatic security protocols, they did provide any guidance on how we in the industry could manage wireless traffic in events in our venues. No one wanted to take any action for fear of getting cited and/or fined by the FCC.

Later this week, IAVM President and CEO Brad Mayne, CFE, will be a panelist at an EXPO! EXPO! session entitled “Protect Our $280+ Billion Exhibitions, Meetings and Events Industry” with a special nod to the Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI).

The Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI) is supported by more than 60 industry organizations. As noted in the session description, a top priority of meetings and conventions industry is the safety and security of attendees, members, exhibitors, and employees. U.S. convention centers are aligning with the only nationally recognized security guidelines and best practices through the U.S. Federal Government and the Department of Homeland Security and Safety Act Office.

Mayne will speak in part to how the EMSSI program developed as an industry initiated effort to enhance safety and security at U. S. convention centers; guidelines that would need to be supported and implemented in order to become a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Safety Act Office accredited center; and why EMSSI is important to all exhibitions industry stakeholders including general service contractors, center management, show organizers, and more.

You, as an IAVM member, are our most important asset. Without your commitment to the association and to the venue management industry, we wouldn’t be here. Because of your support, we are featuring member profiles in our I Am Venue Management series. If you are interested in participating in the I Am Venue Management series, please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story.

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Robbins Sports Surfaces announced the promotions of two strong contributors and developing leaders in the organization.

John Puening has been promoted to the position of Product Manager for Recreational Wood. Puening will manage the Rec Wood segment that includes Portables and Performing Arts and

will work closely with Marketing, Sales, Technical Service and Operations. Hehn will also continue to oversee Wood R&D. During his 18 years with Robbins, Puening has always shown initiative in the performance of his duties, regularly going above and beyond to ensure that Robbins delivers innovative products to the market and quality customer service. Puening will deliver the same level of dedication and commitment in his new position.

Kevin Price has been promoted to the position of Sales Team Leader. Price celebrates five years with Robbins this month but his experience in the industry is extensive including eight years managing the Indianapolis office of Cincinnati Floor Co., managing the sports surface division of Jack Laurie Floors and he also worked as a Regional Sales Manager for Polytan USA. In this newly created position, Price will work closely with Marketing and Product Management and will serve as a leadership representative for the Sales Organization. Price has been a successful Regional Sales Manager and brings a strong sales and business acumen to the team.

Brad Feichter has been named event manager at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (MCCNO) – the sixth largest convention center in the nation. In his new capacity, he will be responsible for managing all aspects of the event planning process. As a liaison between the Center and clients, he will guide clients through event preparation and show set-up, monitor in-house events and oversee all related activities for his clients to ensure successful events.

Feichter comes to the MCCNO after serving for three years as a senior banquet manager for the Convention Center’s food and beverage contractor, Centerplate. Previously, he sharpened his skills as the banquet manager for the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.

Prior to becoming an event manager, Feichter positively impacted the MCCNO by overseeing the daily operations of Centerplate’s Banquets Department. He played a key part in orchestrating food and beverage functions from start to finish, and will have an even greater role in ensuring the success of tradeshows and conventions at the MCCNO in his new position. A model of professionalism, Feichter has received recognition from both clients and staff at the Convention Center for his reliability, responsiveness, and accountability.

Feichter attended Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he served as their Student Government Association’s treasurer. He graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Hotel Management.

Feichter currently serves as treasurer for the canine Mardi Gras krewe, the Mystic Krewe of Barkus.

The Darwin Convention Centre won the Business Event Venues category for the 2017 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards, the highest accolade in the Northern Territory tourism industry. The awards ceremony took place on November 11 in Alice Springs, where the industry’s leading tourism businesses and individuals were competing for recognition across 27 categories.

The Business Event Venue category was judged on business strategies and outcomes, contribution to the tourism industry, customer service standards, sustainability and innovation. The judging panel comprises a cross section of industry experts, selected for their knowledge and experience.

“Our passion is always to showcase the Darwin Convention Centre as a modern, world-class venue with outstanding dining experiences and exceptional service,” said Darwin Convention Centre General Manager Janet Hamilton. “I want to particularly thank the talented and enthusiastic team at the Centre for their constant commitment to excellence in customer service and always trying to exceed client expectations.”

One of the highlights in the award submission was that the Darwin Convention Centre received certification for ISO 22000, which ensures the Centre delivers the highest standard of food safety to its delegates. The Centre is the only hospitality venue in the Northern Territory to receive this certification for food safety management, demonstrating its commitment to being a world-class venue.

The Darwin Convention Centre also introduced more targeted marketing strategies to effectively reach national and international clients and installed a new LED external lighting system that can project 16 million different colours across the Centre.

Beyond boosting business tourism, the Darwin Convention Centre is also a catalyst for innovation and economic growth in the Northern Territory. The Centre draws industry leaders, innovators, scientists, and academics nationally and internationally to come and exchange knowledge and ideas in Australia’s strategically located northern most capital city.

The Darwin Convention Centre is now a finalist in the 2018 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards – the industry’s most prestigious event of the year, which will be hosted in Perth in February.