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 Name:
John K. Smith
Title: General Manager (Retired)
Facility: Georgia World Congress Center
City/State:
Atlanta, GA
Year CFE obtained: 2004
Tell us a little about
your facility manager background.
I suppose my first experience as a facility manager was in
college as president of my fraternity. All the essential disciplines of
catering, security, finance, maintenance, liquor liability, etc., were
pressed to the limits. These were refined in my service as a 1st Lieutenant
in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and after that in my career as a civil engineer
in the construction industry. My first introduction to public assembly
facilities came during the construction of the GWCC Phase II Expansion,
which began in 1981. I was chosen to be the State’s construction project
manager for this major project.
When work was nearing completion in 1983, I was
given the opportunity to join the management staff of the GWCC as assistant
director to Dan Graveline, CFE. This 100 percent expansion of the facility
with proportionate increase in staff provided a unique opportunity to
develop new policies, procedures and programs to meet the growing needs of
this facility and my background in the engineering and military fields
prepared me for this challenge.
In 1989, the GWCC began a second expansion
(Phase III) simultaneous with development of the Georgia Dome. With these
expansions, the organization was changed to create general manager positions
over each facility – the position I have held until my retirement on October
31, 2004 having earned the State’s maximum 34-year service plan.
You have been in the
industry for quite some time and a long-time IAAM member as well as Past
President. Why go for the CFE now?
As with many members who have not yet taken the
plunge, I had many excuses for procrastinating on this important
certification but they were just that – excuses. In my earlier years with
IAAM, I did not feel I had the qualifications and especially the
extra-curricular and community activities required. Then sometime later
during service on the Board and at PAFMS (Oglebay), times were very busy and
I took my focus off of the future and the value of the CFE within the larger
industry. Now that I am older and wiser, it became quite obvious to me the
value of the CFE designation and I began the process.
What do you think are
the benefits of having a CFE?
For me the CFE confirmed the years of management practice and
professional development were retained and understood. As IAAM strives to be
the acknowledged leader as our professional association, it only makes sense
their members and leaders should share this common goal and strive for this
certification. CFE brings acknowledgment to the knowledge, skills and
abilities of the individual and brings credit to his or her facility and the
IAAM organization, which sponsors this program. As I leave the prestige and
reputation of both my position and facility, CFE had an even greater value
to me as an individual. This is especially important as I enter a new phase
of my career in academia and consulting.
What is your favorite
restaurant?
Casadoras is far from the best or most desired but this small
Mexican restaurant in a strip shopping center has the best fajitas and
margaritas (made from an old 7/11 slurpee machine) around. Given the
opportunity to return to France, however, the Jacky Michel restaurant in the
l’Hotel d’Angleterre in Chalons Sur Marne is our favorite.
What is your favorite
book? What book is currently at your bedside?
One of my favorite books is “A Solders Story” by General Omar
Bradley. At my bedside is “Master and Commander” by Patrick O’Brian. What is
in your CD player right now? “The Best of Elvis Presley”
What is the weirdest
event you ever had in your facility? Strangest merchandise? Strangest story?
One of the “weirdest” events we had was an association of
ex-secret agents (names withheld) who required absolute secrecy, closed all
doors, windows, etc., and no one knew for sure what they really did or
discussed during the several days of their meeting. Of course as with any
meeting facility, we have had our share of “weird” motivational events and
fashion shows – many of which were definitely “not ready for prime time.”
What motto,
inspiration, or quote do you try to live by?
I really got stuck on the Army’s tag line “Be all that you can
be.” That definitely got me through college, Officer Candidate School has
pushed me in my professional career with GWCC and with IAAM. President Jimmy
Carter also wrote a book entitled “Why not the Best.” I never read the book
but liked the title that inspired my IAAM presidential theme of “Expect the
Best.”
What couldn’t you live
without?
My wife and family. Sharlene and I have been married for 34 years
and soon will have our sixth grandchild. What is your most prized
possession? Our health. The hurricanes in Florida have once again shown how
insignificant material things really are.
What is your favorite
place on earth?
We are still working on this one… To date, the Scottish Highlands
are right up there at the top with the plains of Spain a close second.
What is one thing
people would be surprised to learn about you?
That as director of engineering for the Georgia Department of
Corrections in the late 70’s, I arranged and oversaw the design,
construction and testing of a new electric chair for executions which were
restarted after clearances from the Supreme Court.
What advice would you
give to long-time IAAM members who have NOT gone after their CFE?
It’s a very confidential process. If for any reason you do not
pass the test or oral interview, you won’t be embarrassed. But that aside,
the process is very invigorating and personally rewarding. Those who have
more experience have an advantage in completing the process. Some members
may feel it is not necessary for their career advancement but who among us
can really say what opportunities are around the next bend?
Is there anything else
you’d like to add?
For the past two years, I have been teaching Hospitality
Administration at Georgia State University on the adjunct faculty. Within
the course material are subjects on the value of belonging to professional
associations and acquiring professional certifications. As we teach these
principals to these future hospitality managers, one cannot help but reflect
on the privileges and opportunities many of us have had from our employers
and from our professional association, the International Association of
Assembly Managers. It is truly a pleasure to be a part of this dynamic and
rewarding industry. |
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