OM THE CROWD
cousin – a dramatic masterpiece which no doubt led to the demise of the graduation night skit tradition. If you missed our Foundation fund- raising auction, you missed a record setting donation, mostly funded by the generous Chris Bigelow as convinced by his new friend and We were introduced at VMS to the pioneers of our industry includ-
ing Ray Ward, Brad Mayne, Kevin Twohig and Denny Magruder. The Canadian girl managing a hockey rink in northern Alberta sum- moned the courage to ask Big City Bob Hunter whether there might be a spot for her in his new venue in downtown Toronto. I became a poster child for networking at VMS when that November I started my new job at Air Canada Centre. Oglebay was a rustic retreat in those days, no cell coverage, dial up
internet (OMG), wood paneled rooms with twin beds, dark musty cot- tages. Oglebay, VMS, and all of us have come a long way. What hasn’t changed experience that plucks you out of your daily work grind, and for one special week, focuses on your industry, your network, your success. We all speak in terms of “lifelong” – that Wheeling Feeling that never leaves you, those life- long friendships and networks, the life- long aversion to chocolate martinis and goober burgers. The echoing choruses of Alouette interrupting your studying at the library. Waiting out the lightning siren in the little golf hut, while being entertained by Rich- ard Andersen in his improvised raingear. Basking in the glow of the Dancing Waters light show. Marveling at the rings of Saturn thanks to a chance encounter at the Speidel Observatory – thank you, Universe. Oh, and then there were the monographs (I still have those binders), the Very Early morning classes, and The Exam. With that graduation Since my time as a student at VMS, I have had the extreme hon-
or of returning as an instructor, regent, and ultimately Chair of the School. Perhaps my greatest professional honor has been receiving the Ray Ward Award from the man himself, second only to the opportuni- ty to participate in our sister school at VMS Australia. Happy Birthday VMS - and thank you for giving ME the gifts. – Kim Bedier, CFE
A “Dumb” Idea back in the mid-1980’s, I thought it was one of the dumbest ideas ever. A couple of years later, Frank Russo invited me to come in as a “guest lecturer.” I went still thinking “This is a dumb idea, but I’ll go.” That experience changed everything for me. I realized how valuable this ex- tended interaction with venue managers was for me in my position at that time with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows,
“Knowing how far this project has come, and how it was a work of the heart, is truly an endeavor I take pride in. I collaborated with the best and the brightest of this wonderful industry and we got a great outcome.”
trips to Australia, including two as the keynote speaker for their Con- gress, and to friendships with each that continue today. The teaching experience at PVMS is what led me to my career change in 2003, when I joined the faculty of the Department of Sport and Entertain- ment Management at the University of South Carolina. - gested that I bring students with me to their Congress the following year. My wife and I made that trip with 22 students, a group that formed a very strong bond, and many of which I am still in touch industry. Serving on the faculty there allowed me to meet and develop friendships with people in the perform- ing arts and convention center segments of the industry, people with whom I was rarely in touch on my day job. I asked to join the IAAM Foundation, because I wanted to help strengthen the orga- nization that made PVMS possible. Many things that have happened in my life and career since the mid-1980’s is directly attributable to my time at Ogle- bay. I owe a lot to this “dumb idea.” – Frank Roach
Let’s Make A Deal When I learned that I was going to teach at Oglebay, I went to my At- on Interstate 70 between Pittsburgh and Oglebay and being amazed at the number of deer that had been struck by automobiles, which I As an instructor, and later as a member of the Board of Regents, I
grew to understand the importance of the VMS, not only to IAVM, but to the live sports and entertainment industry. In my opinion, it is value proposition to its membership. VMS provides a true smorgas- bord of venue operational knowledge, which allows each student the opportunity to explore and learn about many new and old areas of a networking “black book” of individuals that touch on all phases and levels of the industry. One year, Frank Roach and I were chosen to team teach a course on contract negotiation. At the time, Frank was the EVP of Feld Routing and Tours, and I was President and General Manager of The Summit in Houston. It just so happened that we had been negotiating the re- newal of the Ringling Bros. Circus contract for The Summit prior to that year’s school and decided that it might be fun to actually conclude
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