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SMASHING


VenueConnect Produces A Winning Hit By R.V. Baugus


For VenueConnect 2017, Nashville was a smash(ville). No, that’s not original. My walk every day during IAVM’s recently concluded annual conference took me from the Renaissance Hotel to the Music City Center with the Bridgestone Arena in between. There, plastered on the venue’s exterior was sizable signage reading WELCOME TO SMASHVILLE, a nod to the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals in which the local Nashville Predators participated before fall- ing to the Pittsburgh Penguins. So, Smashville for hockey? Check (literally, into the boards). Smashville for VenueConnect? Checkmate. In a town where smash hits come in both the hockey and music


variety, IAVM joined the party and came away with a successful con- ference and trade show that had the whole public assembly venue profession talking. There was plenty to like, as the Association returned to the Music


  sector conferences under the overall VenueConnect umbrella. Much of the buzz, as expected, centered around safety and se-


curity, topics that were plentiful in meeting rooms and part of the Opening Session, as Department of Homeland Security Acting Sec- retary Elaine Duke spoke not only about potential threats, but the role of public assembly venues as havens for Americans who seek opportunities to enjoy the myriad of events held at the facilities. She even made it personal by talking about some of her experiences as a consumer of live entertainment. As always, VenueConnect was a time to celebrate the achievements


 - berger was named as the Joseph J. Anzivino Award recipient, and then John Siehl, CFE, as the Charles A. McElravy Award winner, gave stirring speeches. Kleinberger expressed her gratitude at the passage of One Mem-


ber, One Vote, an initiative that now gives equal voting rights to all members of IAVM. Siehl had a large section of family members who arrived unbeknownst to him to celebrate his winning the in- dustry’s most prestigious award and named after the founder of the Association.


 ended on July 17, but its impact wasted no time being felt in Nash- ville.


An elite panel of female NBA executives, including Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kim Stone of the Miami Heat and Donna Julian of the Charlotte Hornets, answered several questions during a Women in Leadership session. It should be noted that the panel played out before a packed room late one afternoon, a time when many begin making plans for the night out. Not this time.


 


at the Diversity in Leadership Reception, which was held in a room that was clearly overwhelmed by the number of attendees. This re-           Robyn Williams, CFE, the Energizer Bunny of the industry, gath-


            chair. After a few obligatory comments and expressions of thanks, she noted that the committee will work in tandem with the IAVM Foundation to raise money to enable people of diverse backgrounds to attend future VenueConnect conferences. At that point, Williams acknowledged Troy Thorn, CTA, of the Chesapeake Conference Center, for his donation to the Dollars for Diversity initiative. What happened next could have been straight from any auction setting. Another hand went up with a pledge for a donation, then another, and another, and another. The room was a mix of quiet calm followed by whoops for ev-


ery donation. Leave it to Steve Peters, CFE, to speak up after eight pledges came in to say he would match the total from the original eight. The only thing missing was a soundtrack with “It’s A Celebra- tion!” by Kool & The Gang. The committee was back. An initiative bolted out of the gates. One Member, One Vote will clearly be more than just some bal- lot-box fodder. If that was not clear enough, Doug Booher, CFE, hammered it home during his introductory remarks as IAVM’s new chairman, having taken the gavel from Mark Mettes, CFE, who en-    Member, One Vote. Memorable moments from Music City. They were varied and there were plenty. FM


IAVM 5


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