Industry veteran Jason Rittenberry, the former chief strategy officer for Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, has been named the president and chief executive officer for the Kentucky State Fair Board, which manages the Kentucky Exposition Center and the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville.

“Jason is a go-getter and brings new energy and insight to the work of the Kentucky State Fair Board and its two properties,” said Dr. Mark Lynn, chairman of the board. “Jason is a proven venue, entertainment and sports professional and the board was drawn to him as a forward-thinking executive. The board recognizes the benefit in his experience with entrepreneurial revenue generation and strategic business development.”

Rittenberry will oversee the operations of the two venues as well as the shows operated by the Fair Board — the Kentucky State Fair, the North American International Livestock Expo and the National Farm Machinery Show. In his new position, Rittenberry serves in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet for the Commonwealth, on the Louisville Convention & Visitors Commission, and on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Derby Festival.

“The board is confident that Jason can bring additional bookings and business, and increased revenue while improving the guest experience at the venues,” said Amanda Storment, vice president of communications of the board.

The Fair Board is charged with contributing to the economic progress of the Commonwealth and advancing Kentucky’s agriculture and tourism industries through conventions, trade shows, public gatherings, and other events at the Kentucky Exposition Center and the downtown convention center.

I drove from the IAVM Headquarters near Dallas back in early 2013 to visit Dean Justice, CFE, in Austin and to view the association’s archives that he oversaw at an off-campus location from the University of Texas at Austin. As the former IAVM president in 1981-82 greeted me, I could tell that he did not want to waste any time in showing me the mammoth collection from the industry that ran decades and decades back into a history that Justice devoured and loved.

More than three years later, Justice would pass away peacefully from colon cancer on October 29 with his son, Blake, daughter, Tracy, and wife, Sharon, at his side at home. He was 88.

“He loved the industry even to the end,” Sharon said. “The minister would come out every 10 days or so and Dean would often talk about the entertainment industry. He would talk about shows that had been at the Erwin Center and about the IAAM and the membership. It was nice to hear him tell those stories of different acts and stay positive.”

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The IAVM iCommit campaign is still going strong. You have just over a month to refer a friend or colleague for your chance to win some amazing prizes! Do you have interns, students or young professionals working for you now? Is there a long-time employee who hasn’t gotten involved yet? Encourage them to become a part of our network. If you know of a venue in your community that is not a part of IAVM, encourage them to consider Group Membership. As of today, 112 active venues are participating as group members.

What’s In It For You?

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I am grateful for the opportunity to serve IAVM’s diverse membership. It’s been an eye-opening experience to move from being a member to actually working in the association industry. I always thought I knew what IAVM staff members did, but have learned that they do so much more. I am proud to say I am part of a team of professionals who are passionate and want to serve our member’s needs.

I want to thank our members and let you know what a phenomenal resource you are to the betterment of our association. Separately, our members individually support one another. Together, and more importantly, our members are strong economic and social influencers and difference makers. Your collective work and success in the local community give us all additional strength in our communities.

My successful career was made possible through participating in IAVM committees, task forces, boards and special projects, and many of you have accomplished the same results. Those of you who have not participated in giving your resources are missing out on the rewarding feeling of serving others in the association. In my 30 years of IAVM membership, I learned that as I gave my time, talents, and funds that I experienced a greater return on my investment than I have in many of my other endeavors.

As we journey into the thanksgiving holiday, I hope you’ll consider giving to others, and that you’ll consider giving some of that to the International Association of Venue Managers.  

Enjoy your family, friends, and colleagues during the Thanksgiving holiday. Be a fountain, not a drain, and make our world a better place to reside.

Brad Mayne

As we roll into the holiday season, giving becomes a second nature for many of us, and there is no better time than right now to exercise our desire to give back.

“#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.” (Information from givingtuesday.org)

On or before Tuesday, November 29, we are asking sectors and individuals/groups to give to your IAVM Foundation. Giving is a simple yet rewarding endeavor, and you can even make it enjoyable.

AND in the spirit of giving, we are offering the organization or individual who donates the most money and the venue with the most participants one complimentary registration each to the 2017 VenueConnect Annual Conference and Trade Show in Nashville, Tennessee.

Think of it like buying a lunch for a friend or a colleague. And in the words of Winston S. Churchill, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”