By Claire Koenig

The Board of the Wisconsin Center District (WCD), which owns and operates the Wisconsin Center, Miller High Life Theatre and UW-M Panther Arena, authorized the WCD to finalize an agreement with Baird to become the official naming rights partner of the Wisconsin Center.

“The WCD leadership team and I are dedicated to leveraging our core values to Be Bold. Be Proud. Be Experience Obsessed. to guide every business decision we make,” said WCD President and CEO Marty Brooks. “Since our Board trusted our bold vision and authorized the expansion project in 2020, we knew that a naming rights agreement would follow. The ideal naming rights partner would be homegrown, have a world-class reputation and, for the greatest possible success, share our core values and commitment to the city of Milwaukee. Baird meets and exceeds those qualifications and will give our convention center, and our city, yet another spectacular reason for visitors to add Milwaukee to their list of not-to-be-missed destinations.”

“This agreement fits with our ongoing efforts to build Baird’s brand across our global footprint and reflects our longstanding commitment to giving back to the communities where we live and work,” said Baird Chairman and CEO Steve Booth. “The new state of the art convention center will enhance Milwaukee’s growing reputation as a modern, forward-looking city, and we are honored to support and be part of its success.”

The expansion of the Wisconsin Center, a $456 million project, broke ground on October 28, 2021, and is anticipated to open in May 2024. Upon completion the combined north and south buildings will house 52 meeting rooms, a 300,000 contiguous sq ft exhibit hall, 22 total loading docks, a 400-stall indoor parking garage, and a spectacular new rooftop ballroom with seating for 2,000 and sweeping outdoor terraces. The expanded venue will also include quiet rooms, nursing mother’s rooms, dedicated gender-neutral restrooms and a robust public art program telling the story of Milwaukee. Fixtures such as wayfinding, carpeting and lighting will be consistent through the north and the south buildings to enhance the guest experience, and the venue is pursuing LEED Silver certification. The WCD has self-mandated rigorous minority-owned business inclusion goals on the project of 25 percent minority-owned businesses, five percent women-owned businesses, and one percent disabled veteran-owned businesses, as well as a 40 percent residents preference program (RPP) goal, mandating that a minimum of 40 percent of the labor workforce on site reside in Milwaukee’s most underserved zip codes.

Founded in 1919, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Baird has provided trusted financial advice and services through changing market cycles and across generations. Today Baird serves individuals, families, and public entities throughout the United States as well as corporations and institutions around the world. Notably, since its inception Baird has followed the principles of integrity, transparency, teamwork, and keeping clients first. Together these ideals form the foundation of their unique culture and approach to doing business – also known as The Baird Way.

“Since the vote to authorize the expansion of the Wisconsin Center in April of 2020, the WCD Board has acted boldly to continue to enhance Milwaukee as a world-class destination,” said Jim Kanter, Chairman of the WCD Board. “For us to now sign-off on a long-term partnership with a hometown institution like Baird is a tremendous representation of how the Board and the entire WCD Leadership Team continue to work together to move things forward and make Milwaukee a destination for conventions and events for many years to come.”

Brokered by Legends, a global premium experiences company, the agreement will formally initiate when the expanded convention center opens in May 2024. The balance of 2023 will be used as a transition year as the branding and logo package for the venue is designed and rolled out. The new mark for the venue will be revealed at the formal Topping Off ceremony, April 11, which will commemorate the placement of the last piece of structural steel and start a new phase of construction of the expanded Wisconsin Center.

Claire Koenig is Director of Communications at VISIT Milwaukee.

BSE Global, the parent company of the Brooklyn Nets and the Barclays Center, has brought on Keia Cole as chief digital officer. In this role, she will oversee all technology, digital products, information systems, and analytics for BSE Global. Before joining BSE Global, Cole held a number of roles across technology and customer experience at MassMutual. Most notably, Cole was the head of digital experience, leading a team focused on driving MassMutual’s digital transformation efforts, including the design and development of modern technology solutions for customers, financial professionals, and employees.

By Mirali Patel

Georgia Expo Manufacturing Corporation announced the addition of Betty Kinney to its sales team in the role of Sales Manager. Kinney will manage and grow client relations and maximize the Georgia Expo customer experience. She comes to Georgia Expo with extensive industry experience including working for Fortune 500 companies and Silicon Valley startups. Kinney’s experience in strategic sales and marketing has earned her great success as an individual performer and in leading teams.

As Georgia Expo grows, so has its team. Georgia Expo’s sales department directly reflects its customers’ needs and aligns with increased market demands. For clients, this means having dedicated Account Executives trained in specific markets along with additional customer service support staff to speed up the rate of answering requests, manage growing e-commerce sales, and provide additional and cross-trained support to the Account Executives.

“We’re in a relationship-based business and needed to grow and reposition our staff to ensure every customer walks away with the best possible experience. With the uncertainties of COVID behind us, we are excited to come back stronger and more organized with a team of both veterans and newcomers who are eager to provide the exceptional customer service and timely response Georgia Expo has always been known for,” said Amanda Gray, VP of Sales & Marketing.

These new changes include four new members of the customer service team, all of which are bilingual. Along with Kenney, Georgia Expo welcomes Wendy Luna, Wendy Gutierrez, Karen Cevallos, and Johanna Cevallos to the Georgia Expo family.

Mirali Patel is Social Media Manager at Georgia Expo Manufacturing Corp.

From NHL.com

The Pittsburgh Penguins, in partnership with OVG360 management, have unveiled plans for over $30 million of investments and upgrades to PPG Paints Arena.

Highlighting the team’s plans are the addition of two new bunker suites at ice level and an all-inclusive VIP event-level club to provide premium experiences for hockey fans and concert guests. Populous, the original architects of PPG Paints Arena, designed the plans, which are being implemented this summer by the Penguins and OVG360, the arena’s management company. Construction is set to begin during the off-season and fans can expect to be able to enjoy the new spaces and upgrades for the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.

“We are committed to maintaining PPG Paints Arena as a world-class destination not only for Penguins hockey, but for concerts and marquee events,” said Penguins President of Business Operations Kevin Acklin. “We are investing millions to replace our entire in-game entertainment technology as well as building exciting new premium spaces to offer immersive experiences for our fans and guests that will be truly unique to our Pittsburgh market.”

The team plans to build two additional bunker suites next to the Penguins’ runway and bench adjacent to the Suite 66, the existing premium space honoring Hall-of-Famer and hockey legend Mario Lemieux. These improvements will offer premium lower-bowl seating as well as dining and entertainment space, full-service bars, and private restrooms. All three suites will have an exclusive view of the areas outside of the Penguins’ locker room on the event level.

In addition, the team is building a new all-inclusive VIP event level club located in the Penguins’ double-attack zone with access to Section 109 for hockey games and special premium seating next to the stage for concerts. The new club can accommodate up to 300 people, and converts underutilized areas of PPG Paints Arena into a large high-quality VIP event club.

Capping off the planned arena improvements is the investment to upgrade the entire in-game entertainment technology system at PPG Paints Arena. These improvements include a new 50-foot by 33-foot state-of-the-art center hung scoreboard, about twice as large as the existing scoreboard, new LED ribbon boards, sound system, control room, and content management system. These improvements include financial support from the arena owner Sports and Exhibition Authority, and are targeted to enhance the overall fan experience.

From MLB.com

Evolv Technology, a leader in AI-based weapons detection security screening, announced its partnership with the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park.

“America’s Most Beloved Ballpark” will feature Evolv’s state-of-the-art Evolv Express® screening solution beginning on Opening Day, March 30, when the Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles. Fans will be able to seamlessly flow through security screening with less interruption for unnecessary alarms, reducing the backups and long lines that have historically developed at the entry gates. The partnership also joins two Boston-area organizations, as Waltham-based Evolv becomes a proud partner of its hometown team, the Boston Red Sox.

“The fan experience begins with creating a safe and secure environment at Fenway Park,” said Pete Nesbit, SVP Ballpark Operations, Boston Red Sox. “This partnership with Evolv enhances our overall security program with innovative weapons detection technology and the added benefit of a quicker, more efficient entry process.”

Evolv Express uses powerful sensor technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to provide safer, more accurate threat detection at unprecedented volume and speed. It allows security officials to tell the difference between threats and the everyday items people carry in their pockets and bags in a free flow manner. Fenway Park is one of ten Major League Baseball parks partnering with Evolv as the 2023 season begins.

“The Red Sox are always working to create one of the best fan experiences in all of sports,” said Peter George, CEO of Evolv Technology. “Fenway Park is already partnering with JCI to keep the historic ballpark more efficient, sustainable and ready for the future through their smart buildings platform. We are thrilled to add to a level of innovation in safety without sacrificing that experience that makes Fenway such a great place to visit.”

Between the Red Sox and Fenway Park and the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, Evolv screens fans in New England all year long. Both teams are part of an ever-growing roster of facilities in all sports across the country partnering with Evolv to provide a safer, faster, and more fan-friendly entrance experience. Evolv’s technology is used at dozens of MLB, MLS and NFL stadiums from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to Nissan Stadium in Tennessee and is partnering with a growing roster of professional sports teams around the country.