BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION
of University Venue Leaders. By Frantzer Le Blanc, CVP UNIVERSITIES:
Throughout my career and at every place I have had the pleasure of
working, I always had someone to mentor and direct me. It started for me at American University. Rob Andrey, who gave me
took the time to meet with me every week, and he also shared his experience and life with me. I was lucky enough that this tradition of mentorship followed me at my next two jobs at Wagner College and Hofstra University. It was at Hofstra University where my mentors helped build my
career the most. Through all of the words of wisdom I have been me a recommendation for my current position at the University of need to thank me, but when you have the opportunity to help someone else out, help them.” One of my favorite movies is a
great feel-good movie called “Pay it Forward.” The concept of this movie student made to pay forward a favor and the impact that concept had on his town and on a greater level the nation. movie. I always enjoyed that movie, and it always reminded me of two things: First, how great it feels to help people, and, secondly, the impact of helping people get into a position to help others as well. Although I have helped develop employees and mentees in the past, I felt a need to do much more. I looked over the landscape of the Uni- versity of Delaware and had my eureka moment. There are hundreds may not know much about venue management. I came up with a plan. and/or hire as interns.
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” – John Wooden
Those of us who are fortunate enough to work at universities have
my opinion, that it is our duty. A lot of the universities that we work in have Tourism and Hospitality and Sports and Recreation manage- ment programs. Within these programs, these students have to obtain
industry hours prior to their graduating. Many of us use students as For us arena and stadium venue managers, why not hire Tourism and Hospitality majors to be a part of our guest services department or premium seating areas? We can also hire the Sports and Recreation Management students to be a part of our conversion and front of lines of venue management. We can do even more! We can develop internships that will not only help the students obtain industry hours, but design these internships in the student’s area of interest. Also, make the internship an intensive leadership training program for them throughout the semester. Give students opportunities to take part in planning for events. Give
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” – John Wooden
them chances to lead small groups of employees and, when possible, lead events. Guide them through their successes, but more importantly, guide them through their mistakes. Make sure they do not waste a mis- take, but make them learn from every mistake or failure they make. Become their friend, invest in their lives, their goals, and their dreams. Teach them and help them develop their own lead- ership styles. Meet with them weekly to assess their progress, and guide them to changes they can make to become
better leaders. Build on their strengths, and show them areas in which they to need to develop. The goal of this program is to not have interns to help your venue.
The goal is to create a program where these students not only help your venue, but give you the opportunity to build a leader and a men- tee that you can help develop throughout their careers. I speak with most of the people who interned for me every month, whether or not they are in our industry, but know I can do more to make sure that number is 100% of the interns that have worked for me. opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming - dents that we can invest in and build to become the next wave of lead- ers in this our profession. Before they leave your facility, make them that was made in them. FM
Frantzer Le Blanc, CVP, is assistant athletic director, Bob Carpenter Center Opera- tions, Events and Facilities, at the University of Delaware in Newark.
IAVM 41
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
