LE: WENDY RIGGS AND MAX LONG By Max Long & Wendy Riggs


hip, and knowledge of veterans. These relationships are ongoing between the individuals they dispense. One such relationship is mentor Wendy Riggs and mentee Max Long.


What will people be surprised to know about you? I was a ballroom and Latin dancer for 11 years. I made it all the way to the collegiate national championship before retiring.


What was your experience with mentor/mentee rela- tionships prior to the IAVM Mentor Connector Pro- gram? I have had great experiences with mentoring. It is nice to have someone to reach out to in case I need help tackling a tough 


What made you want to pursue the IAVM Mentor Connector Program, and what are you hoping to achieve through the opportunity? I was looking for support in dealing with challenges in my current po- sition. I also needed a sounding board to assist me in thinking about my career and the future. I wanted to walk away with a sort of to-do 


What do you believe are the benefits of a mentoring pro- gram?


I think mentoring programs give mentees organization and guidance to help set and reach career goals. They also give them someone to talk to about any challenges they are facing. For mentors, they provide a way to give back to the future of the venue industry.


What advice do you give others interested in a mentor-


ing partnership? Do it! Getting involved can help you move forward in your career and reach your goals. You’ll be introduced to a venue professional who can help you see issues from new perspectives and help you learn about the industry by sharing their experiences.


Mentor Wendy Riggs, Vice President – Operations, Walton Arts Center / Walton AMP, Fayetteville, AR


Why did you pursue this industry, or what led you to your career in the venue industry? I have always been the “rebel without a cause” in my family, and since everyone else was focusing on jobs in the medical profession, I ended


up going in the exact opposite direction when I chose entertainment. My career started with acting in shows in my small private high school. When I arrived at college and saw how much training everyone else had, I realized I was going to starve as an actor. I went to my advi- sor, completely broken, because I did not love ANYTHING like the arts. He said, “What about technical theatre? We have never had a girl graduate with that degree.” That was it – I was hooked!


What is your background? What path did you take to your current position and have you worked at other venues?   only female out of 77 technicians. After a few months, I was promot- ed to stage manager where I ran three stages, and my love for venue management began. I have worked as the general manager at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, managing director at Cobb Energy Centre, direc- tor of entertainment for the Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre and as a project manager at several Walt Disney World venues. My current job is vice president of operations at the Walton Arts Center / Walmart AMP.


What would you like to achieve personally or profession- ally in the next year? Professionally, I plan to apply for CVE in 2019-2020. On the personal  barn mom to my youngest.


IAVM 61


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