This week’s finale spotlight of recipients in the IAVM Foundation’s inaugural class of 30|UNDER|30 are asked, “What influenced you to get involved in the venue industry?”

Natalie Barrow
Director of Arts Education and Community Outreach
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Atlanta, Georgia

“There are two main reasons I got involved in the venue industry, which are my passion for arts and entertainment and serving the public.”

Bill Enkhbayar
Event Manager
Global Spectrum – Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, New Jersey

“I was a grad student at Temple University, and I was working for an arena there. While I was working, I got bitten by the bug and I never looked back. It’s something that I’m very passionate about.”

Ashley Keen
Technical Director – Ikeda Theater
Mesa Arts Center
Mesa, Arizona

“I got involved in the industry when I was given the amazing opportunity to be part of the team that put together the CNN Republican national debate.”

McKenzie Rowley
Premium Seating and Suite Sales Manager
SMG – NRG Park
Houston, Texas

“The thing that influenced me the most was definitely my undergraduate degree. Students were encouraged to get experiences through internships and co-op opportunities.”

The latest trend in the drone world involves cables to help them with battery life and to keep them from flying away.

“So-called tethered drones use ultrastrong-but-lightweight cables connected to the ground to provide power, a data link and a physical restraint,” Jack Nicas and Tarun Shukla reported for the Wall Street Journal. “That gives them distinct advantages over their free-flying cousins, including hourslong flight times, fast data transmission and an assurance that they won’t fly into an airliner.”

Nicas and Shukla wrote that these tethered drones can be used as surveillance devices and as ways to consistently collect data. Some professional football teams are looking into using the devices.

Please read the Wall Street Journal article, “Some Drones Are Put on a Leash” to learn more about tethered drones.

IAVM reached a notable membership milestone this year with Candice De Hont, an event manager at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, becoming the association’s 5,000th member. We briefly spoke with De Hont at VenueConnect to learn more about her.

Why did you join IAVM?

“I joined through the encouragement of my boss, Mindy Corr, and it’s a good way to meet all of my peers and interact with them face to face instead of just over email and the phone, which I’m used to. It was a good opportunity, and I took it.”

What’s the most surprising aspect of attending VenueConnect?

“The most surprising thing is how many people here I’m familiar with. I work a lot with them over the phone, over email, through LinkedIn. Now I can put a face with a name.”

What are you looking forward to with your membership?

“Continuing those relationships. I’ve moved from a couple of venues now. It really helps to have those relationships. If I ever want to move up or move on or move to a new city, I’ve got a family here I can reach out to and get some help from.”

Congratulations, Candice, on becoming our 5,000th member!

(Image: Orange Photography)

Betsy Myers has always been curious about what people do and why they do what they do. This curiosity has driven her to research what it means to be a leader and the most effective ways to lead. And it was during her opening keynote address at VenueConnect that she shared some of her findings with attendees.

“Leadership is about results and what matters to you,” Myers said. “Leadership, today, is about getting the heart of an employee.”

Myers is the founding director of Bentley University. Previously, she was executive director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She also was former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s senior adviser on women’s issues and a senior adviser on U.S. President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

During her keynote, she asked attendees to imagine if leaders brought out the productive feelings in the people around them.

“We are human beings first, and our feelings determine our motivation, engagement, and how we connect,” Myers said. “When people feel valued, supported, appreciated, and understood, they do their best work.”

She suggested that attendees be specific with praise.

“Take time to thank people around you,” she said. “Successful leaders have a walking around strategy. The strength of your leadership comes from the willingness and curiosity to ask questions, seek input from those around you, and build relationships.”

In the end, though, there’s one thing a leader can do that offers a greater pay back than anything else.

“Be nice.”

(Image: Orange Photography)

Fifty-two VenueConnect 2015 attendees visited Matthew A. Henson Elementary School in Baltimore on Friday, July 31, to participate in the IAVM Foundation’s Legacy Project.

There, they made more than 200 casserole dishes that created 1,600 individual servings, feeding up to 125 families. The event overall was a success, with many volunteers happy they signed up for the project.

“I enjoyed spending time helping making a small difference in someone’s life,” said Jason Blackwell, director of operations for the Portland’5 Centers for the Arts. “We attendees come from all across the country and to band together to help a city is an amazing experience. We brought four-star energy to the community, and I’m proud that Portland’5 is one of the sponsors of this great event.”

Jabari Earl, with the University of Texas San Antonio, echoed Blackwell’s sentiments.

“I wanted to give back to the community and help out,” Earl said. “It was a really great experience. It was good to get everyone together, making food for people who need it.”

Peggy Daidakis, executive director of the Baltimore Convention Center, said that she appreciated the hard work and effort the volunteers displayed.

“Personally, an event like this solidifies and validates that there’s so much more good that’s happening in our community,” Daidakis said. “To be able to give back to the people who need it most is very heart warming and rewarding.”

Thank you to Sodexo, Aramark, Spectra by Comcast Spectacor, Centerplate, and Portland’5 Centers for the Arts for helping fund the IAVM Foundation’s Legacy Project. Below are some select photos from the project.

[Show as slideshow]

(All images: Orange Photography)