Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in February 2025. 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 here to share your story and photo.
Ariana Allison, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Bonnie Almond, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC, United States
Michelle Anderson, Hordern Pavilion, Paddington, NSW, Australia
Giorgio Arbisi, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Boston, MA
Janelle Augustine, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
James Avery, Stadiums Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
Silvana Avramoski, VenuesWest, Floreat, WAu, Australia
John Balkovic, Steelhouse Omaha – Omaha Performing Arts, Omaha, NE
Nicola Barrow, Australian Turf Club, Randwick, NSW, Australia
Rick Basdeo, Blumenthal Arts, Charlotte, NC
Lauren Benesh, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Scott Berkley, Pointr Maps and Wayfinding, US Ltd., Boston, MA
Em Bertelli, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Jazmyne Blanding, Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Ben Boggio, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh, PA
Cynthia Boyd, accesso ShoWare Center, Kent, WA
Brandi Brinker, Greensboro Coliseum Complex – OVG, Greensboro, NC
Ashley Bronson, TITAN Global Enterprises Inc, Atlanta, GA
Torben Brookman, The Queens Theatre, Mile End, SA, Australia
Matt Brown, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Bri Buchanan, CAPS Payroll, A Cast & Crew Company, Burbank, CA
David Burger, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ
Shane Buzza, Blu Event Productions, Brunswick East, VIC, Australia
Wayne Cadet, MassMutual Center, Springfield, MA
Bec Campbell, Ticketek Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Alisa Carlson, Popejoy Hall, Albuquerque, NM
Louise Carruthers, HBF Stadium – VenuesWest, Floreat, WAu, Australia
Luis Castellano, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Nathan Chambers, Greensboro Coliseum Complex – OVG, Greensboro, NC
Hannah Charman, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Jimmy Chaudry, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Boston, MA
Sarah Chen, Taipei International Convention Center (TICC), Taipei City, , Taiwan, Province of China
Amy Christie, Adelaide Venue Management Corporation, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Ben Chuha, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
David Claringbold, Claringbold Consultants, Barragga Bay, NSW, Australia
Monty Clifford, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Eric Colby, Cal Performances, Berkeley, CA
Connor Coleman, TITAN Global Enterprises Inc, Atlanta, GA
Emma Collyer, MI Global Partners, North Sydney, NSW, Australia
John Cook, Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), Troy, NY
Antoni Costa, Cricket Tasmania, Bellerive, TAS, Australia
Dani Crain, Oak View Group, Denver, CO
Janelle Daniel, Royal Caribbean Group, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Tony Daou, ISEC, Alexandria, NSW, Australia
Ray Deal, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Houston, TX
Jeff Dean, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
Matt Dettmer, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Hartford, CT
Kenneth Dixon, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY
Aoife Doherty, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Olivia Eaton, Optus Stadium, Burswood, WAu, Australia
Charles Evans, Greensboro Coliseum Complex – OVG, Greensboro, NC
Lee Evans, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Hartford, CT
Marcellus Fails, Oklahoma City Convention Center/ASM Global, Oklahoma City, OK
Belinda Findlay, Suncorp Stadium – ASM Global Pty Ltd, Milton BC, QLD, Australia
Hannah Foster, Live Nation, Beverly Hills, CA
Ashley Frolich, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Stephen Galeotalanza, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Boston, MA
Carissa Gariss, Popejoy Hall, Albuquerque, NM
Lizette Garza, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX
Andrew George, ICC Sydney – ASM Global, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Jessica Gillen, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Dan Glass, Suncorp Stadium – ASM Global Pty Ltd, Milton BC, QLD, Australia
Edward Gonzalez, OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA
Nick Gurney, BAI Communications, Chatswood, NSW, Australia
Kyle Hamman, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
Bill Hanousek, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Rashik Hashmie, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Markets, NSW, Australia
Sherif Hassan, Prime Protection, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Tasheem Hayes, Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Jaxon Heath, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Amelia Heisler, The Fabulous Fox Theatre, Saint Louis, MO
Nicole Hellyer, Dunedin Venues Management Ltd., Dunedin, New Zealand
Traleena Higgins, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN
Cassy Howe, Popejoy Hall, Albuquerque, NM
Matthew Hunter, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA
Chris Hutchinson, REAL District, Regina, SK, Canada
Ginnie Jackson, Oklahoma City Convention Center/ASM Global, Oklahoma City, OK
Staum Jeffries, Australian Catering Services (ACS), Nathan, QLD, Australia
Elise Jenkins, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
Steven Johnson, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA
Frank Jones, Australian Catering Services (ACS), Nathan, QLD, Australia
Robert Jurcec, OneKloudX, Collingwood, VIC, Australia
Rachel Kaldveer, Popejoy Hall, Albuquerque, NM
Amardeep Khasariya, Montana Group, Hamilton, New Zealand
David Kirk, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Timothy Kline, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, WI
Owen Kortlang, MA Services Group, Keilor Park, VIC, Australia
Andy Kraus, Cal Performances, Berkeley, CA
Bridget Lacey, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Boston, MA
Mallory Ladd, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Steph Langdon, Humanforce, North Sydney, NSW, Australia
Jeff Lapsansky, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
David Large, Stadiums Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
Darryl Leach, Prime Protection, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Kim Lembo, Cal Performances, Berkeley, CA
Ali Lenhard, Oklahoma City Convention Center/ASM Global, Oklahoma City, OK
Sahcil Llamas Gonzalez, Holmes Center – App State, Boone, NC
Marvin Lopez, Renasant Convention Center, Memphis, TN
Mackenzie Mallon, University of Southern California, Lafayette, CO
David Manley, Oklahoma City Convention Center/ASM Global, Oklahoma City, OK
Tom Manning, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
Stephen Marquez, Island Grove Regional Park, Greeley, CO
Allen McCallum, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC
Jeff McGarr, Greensboro Coliseum Complex – OVG, Greensboro, NC
Olivia McGrath, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Boston, MA
Todd McQuade, Marin Center, San Rafael, CA
William Melendy, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Houston, TX
Lauren Milsop, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf, VIC, Australia
Sam Mufti, ISEC, Alexandria, NSW, Australia
Gabi Munro, Sunshine Coast Stadium, Bokarina, QLD, Australia
Dave Namesnik, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
Bella Nguyen, WeOz Pty Ltd, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Matt Norman, Cal Performances, Berkeley, C
Sam Owens, Megatix, Perth, WAu, Australia
Alicia Palmer, Royal Caribbean Group, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Bridget Parish, Laramie County Events, Cheyenne, WY
Vishal Parmar, Australian Catering Services (ACS), Nathan, QLD, Australia
Alexander Parson, Missouri State University, Festus, MO
Victoria Paz, Northshore Harbor Center, Slidell, LA
Lizzi Pearson, Montana Group, Hamilton, , New Zealand
Alexis Perales, Missouri State University, Grapevine, TX
Cindy Perkins, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
Tammie Petch, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf, VIC, Australia
Dylan Pike, The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
Frank Polselli, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh, PA
Dean Pramualphol, Arup, Bundall, QLD, Australia
Tara Preshong, Central Florida Fair/Orlando Amphitheater, Orlando, FL
Lee Puklowski, ISEC, Alexandria, NSW, Australia
Greg Purcell, SKG, Miranda, NSW, Australia
Tim Purdy, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Nashville, TN
Caroline Quinn, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Joel Radatz, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA
Carri Radford, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota, FL
Lori Rausch, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN
Taylor Redfearn, Greensboro Coliseum Complex – OVG, Greensboro, NC
Reagan Reedy, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Rodney Reese, Greensboro Coliseum Complex – OVG, Greensboro, NC
Jose Rivera, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Houston, TX
Jay Rogan, Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport, Currimundi, QLD, Australia
Lindsey Ruehl, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC
Matt Saril, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ,
Cole Scheler, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA
Steve Scott, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Houston, TX
Betty Siegel, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC
Jay Silva, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Hartford, CT
Charlene Speyerer, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Hartford, CT
Jade Stevens, Ticketek Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Jessika Streat, TEG Live, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Colton Sullivan, Spokane Public Facilities District, Spokane, WA
Kelsi Swinson, Holmes Center – App State, Boone, NC
Parker Tanner, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS,
Thyra Tavil, Australian Catering Services (ACS), Nathan, QLD, Australia
Emily Taylor, Ticketek Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Linda Taylor, Placemaking NSW, The Rocks, NSW, Australia
Scott Taylor, Praesidium Risk and Resilience, Narellan, NSW, Australia
Michael Tedford, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Boston, MA
Morten Therkildsen, Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, Denmark
Judah Thomas, Kuranda Amphitheatre, Kuranda, QLD, Australia
Dave Thorne, OVG Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
William Throne, The Slover, Norfolk, VA
Dominic Tierno, Levy Restaurants, Houston, TX
Shelbi Vandiver, Saenger Theatre Pensacola, Pensacola, FL
Marcel Vernon, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Boston, MA
Brian Walker, MATCH – Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston, Houston, TX
Bryce Walker, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Matthew Walton, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Frances Ward, Ticketek Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Dave Wilkinson, Kingston Arts, Moorabbin, VIC, Australia
Andrew Williams, Humanforce, North Sydney, NSW, Australia
Christopher Williams, Oklahoma City Convention Center/ASM Global, Oklahoma City, OK
Laura Winkler, Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Appleton, WI
Michael Woods, Southern Aluminum, Magnolia, AR
Jacob Workentine, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Emily Wright, Marriner Group, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Jackson Wright, Ticketek Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Mark Wylie, Montana Group, Hamilton, New Zealand
David Zaw, ISEC, Alexandria, NSW, Australia
Patrick Zazzaro, F&M Bank Arena, Clarksville, TN
Photo courtesy of Monumental Sports PR
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), Entertainment Gang, and U.S. Figure Skating yesterday hosted Legacy on Ice, a live figure skating tribute held at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington D.C. Proceeds from the event will support the families and loved ones of the 67 lives lost in the tragic aviation incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025, and the first responders and aviation professionals who responded heroically to the tragedy.
The sellout event of more than 15,000 – including nearly 500 first responders and approximately 150 family members of victims in attendance to honor their loved ones – has raised nearly $1.2 million to date. That figure is expected to increase throughout this month with the live national broadcast on NBC taking place on March 30 where viewers will be encouraged to donate throughout the broadcast and upon the conclusion of an online auction featuring sports memorabilia, culinary and entertainment experiences, among other items. Anyone interested in donating to the Legacy on Ice program, benefiting affected families, loved ones and first responders, may do so at www.LegacyOnIce.com.
“We continue to be in awe of and grateful to this community, whose compassion and support was out in full force for the ‘Legacy on Ice’ event,” said Ted Leonsis, Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “Against the backdrop of this massive tragedy, this region has provided a light in showcasing its generosity and empathy for the victims, their families, and the heroic first responders, and I encourage people to continue to donate if they can.”
The event was announced just one week after the tragedy and was pulled together in just over 30 days and included 37 of the figure skating community’s most iconic athletes and decorated stars. The athletes and production team had only scant hours of in-person rehearsal time before going live. Still, the two-hour program came together in nearly flawless execution, pulled together by hundreds of staff working behind the scenes.
Generous contributions from eight organizations were instrumental in the success of yesterday’s Legacy on Ice event, including CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Venture Global, American Express, DXC Foundation, MGM National Harbor, Clark Construction, Giant, and Kendra Scott. Funds from these corporate sponsorships significantly lowered all associated costs for the event, in turn increasing the proceeds that will benefit victims’ families and first responders through the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation’s Legacy on Ice program.
Guests at yesterday’s event were treated to a series of engaging activations taking place outside of the arena, on the concourses and in the bowl at Capital One Arena:
To find additional information on the Legacy on Ice program and to donate directly, please visit www.LegacyOnIce.com.
The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is excited to announce the rooftop farm is now officially known as ‘Steel Farm’ in honor of chief executive officer Alan Steel, who will be retiring next month. Steel has been chief executive officer for the last 13 years – guiding Javits Center through the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the unknown of the Covid-19 pandemic and the excitement of the North Javits expansion.
“I’m honored to have my family name on at the Javits Center farm,” said Steel. “Before the Industrial revolution, my family were farmers on the border of England and Scotland, and as a gardener myself, the farm has always held a special place in my heart. As a living demonstration of how sustainable initiatives can be beneficial for the environment and the bottom line. I hope whenever an employee strolls through Steel Farm or eats produce grown there, they remember all the amazing work we carried out together during my 13-year tenure.”
The Steel Farm is on the North Javits rooftop and opened in 2021 as part of the Javits expansion. The farm spans one-acre and grows more than 50 diverse crops throughout the year. The produce is used by Javits Center’s in-house catering team, Cultivated, for a true farm-to-table experience. In 2024, Cultivated used over 80% of the produce generated by the farm for their catering operations. Unused produce is donated to a local organization addressing food insecurity or composted to be used on the farm. Steel Farm is managed by Brooklyn Grange.
Alan Steel was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation, which runs the Javits Center on Manhattan’s West Side, in February 2012. Under Steel ‘s leadership, 1n 2021, the Javits Center completed a historic expansion project that added more than 1 million square feet of state-of-the-art space. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Steel played a pivotal role in the design, construction and operation of the nation’s largest field hospital and vaccination center. During his tenure, Steel also led the completion of a comprehensive renovation and operational overhaul at the Javits Center that included significant investments in energy efficiency, security and technology. As a result, the convention center has emerged as a nationwide model of sustainability, partnering with research institutions and community groups to study and reinforce the building’s positive impact on the local environment.
Prior to the Javits Center, Steel spent more than 30 years as an event management executive. He is the former President of George Little Management (GLM), a major producer of trade shows in the United States and Canada. Before joining GLM in 1982, Steel worked for more than 15 years with the British government in several trade-related positions at the Department of Trade and Industry in London, the British Consulate in Chicago and the British Trade Development Office in New York.
Steel has received numerous awards for his accomplishments, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from NYC Tourism + Conventions as well as recognition from the International Association of Exhibitors and Events (IAEE), New York Society of Association Executives (NYSAE), American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), The American Society of Civil Engineers, Sing for Hope and New Yorkers for Parks. An avid environmentalist, Steel currently serves on the Executive Committee for NYC Tourism + Conventions, as well as on the Advisory Council for NYC Bird Alliance, Board of Directors New Yorkers for Parks and the Board of Trustees for The Climate Museum. Steel has also been appointed to the New York New Jersey Host Committee for the 2026FIFA World Cup.
Alan Steel will be succeeded by Joyce Leveston, who will assume the role of chief executive officer on March 10, 2025.
The Exhibitions Industry Collective is pleased to announce the launch of a nationwide workforce development initiative aimed at introducing students and young professionals to exciting and fulfilling career opportunities in the exhibitions and events sector. This initiative seeks to address the workforce gap by collaborating with schools, universities, and educational institutions to enhance awareness of careers in event planning, logistics, marketing, and more.
The exhibition and events industry is a vital economic driver that connects businesses, fosters innovation, and creates jobs across various sectors. The Exhibitions Industry Collective is committed to equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in this fast-paced field through informative presentations, mentorship opportunities, and industry resources.
The future of our industry depends on educating and inspiring emerging professionals. By directly engaging with students, we can showcase the diverse career paths available and provide a clear roadmap for entering the industry.
To further amplify the impact, the audience can scan a QR code to take a brief survey and provide feedback on the presentation. This will ensure continuous improvement of outreach efforts. To access the full set of resources, including presentations, speaking notes, and key messaging points, visit exhibitionsindustryawareness.com/workforce-initiative.
About the Exhibitions Industry Collective
The Exhibitions Industry Collective is a collaboration of leading industry organizations, including ECA, EDPA, ESCA, IAEE, IAVM, and SISO. Together, these organizations are committed to nurturing talent, promoting workforce development, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the exhibitions and events industry.
About the U.S. Exhibitions Industry
The U.S. exhibitions industry contributes more than 90 billion dollars to the U.S. GDP annually (stat courtesy of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research – CEIR) and provides employment opportunities in event planning, show production, logistics, venue management, and technology. As demand for skilled professionals continues to grow, the Exhibitions Industry Collective is committed to ensuring that the next generation is equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed.
For media inquiries, interviews, or further details, please contact: info@exhibitionsindustryawareness.com
Wendy Zajack, PhD, Faculty Director & Associate Professor of the Practice, Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies, will be presenting “Multigenerational Communication” at SES 2025.
With over 20 years of experience in public relations, marketing, media relations, and internal communications, Dr. Wendy Zajack thrives on making complex topics easy to understand, exciting, and relevant to broad audiences. Wendy is a faculty director and associate professor of the practice for a master’s level Integrated Marketing Communications and the Design Management Communications program at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. She is an active blogger and enjoys speaking at industry conferences and universities about the power of branding and communications, personal branding, salary negotiation, business marketing trends, the importance of ethics, online education, and education technology as well as educating millennials and Gen Zs.
Read on for our Q&A with Wendy.
I plan to explore one of my favorite topics, multi-generational communication in the workplace. Communication is always a challenging part of life, but once you add generational differences to the mix things really can get complicated. In my session we will talk about the different communication styles of each generation, but also how they may be alike as well. We all bring our generational (and cultural) ideas about what good communication looks like, but like love languages, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. This will be an interactive session where we will workshop real-world problems we are having and work together to find solutions that work.
I have always believed this, but now more than ever … in today’s over-scheduled, time-challenged, distracted world … you have to communicate more than you think you do. You need to work harder to get the attention of anyone—even your employees—so repeating the message multiple times, in multiple ways matters. I have often said to executives even though you might be saying something for the 10th time it may be the first time someone you are saying it to is hearing it. We need to be clear, concise, and constant 🙂
Stay curious. The older I have become the more I have leaned into this. I find that the more you explore the more you want to continue to learn and the more you are interested in.
I love reading and yes while I do read on my Kindle—I prefer paper. The last fiction book I read was “The Ferryman” by Justin Cronin and the last non-fiction book I read was “Revenge of the Tipping Point” by Malcom Gladwell. I read every night before bed—it is the best way to calm down my extremely messy brain.
When: April 6-9, 2025
Where: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
“Multigenerational Communication”
Wednesday, April 9 | 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM