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by Lynda Reinhart

This year marks the sixth annual University Venue Management Conference. This “conference within a conference” came out of the chutes with a bang at the 2000 Annual Conference & Trade Show in Nashville, TN. Since then, the Universities Committee has faced the challenge of making each year better than the last and this year is no exception. How do you improve on the hoopla associated with the 5th Anniversary Celebration last year in Reno? With a lot of hard work and planning, the Universities Committee fully expects this year to be one of the best.

The UVMC will once again feature stimulating speakers, thought provoking educational and professional development sessions, research paper presentations and venue-specific town halls. This year’s keynote speaker will be none other than industry veteran Frank Roach. Following a 30-year stint in live events and facility management, Frank is now serving as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management at the University of South Carolina, making him an ideal speaker for this conference.

In his opening address entitled “Making your University Venue a Success,” Professor Roach will be discussing approaches venue managers can use to succeed beyond mediocrity. If you are already acquainted with Frank, then you know he is a seasoned speaker with great insight into the facility management industry. His dynamic yet home-spun delivery approach will not only leave you better educated and prepared to operate your facility, but also keep you entertained.

For a third consecutive year, the UVMC will include research paper presentations. This session was developed to encourage academic participation in IAAM and stimulate research within the public assembly facility management field. Earlier in the year, a “Call for Papers” was sent out to colleges and universities and the best and most pertinent papers will be selected for presentation at the conference.

The UVMC has received rave reviews on its luncheon speakers for their entertainment and inspirational value and the tradition continues this year with leadership consultant Robert D. Gaylor. In his presentation entitled “Nothing Succeeds Like Success!” Bob will use humorous anecdotes to review the importance of goal setting, recognizing opportunity, increasing aptitude and maintaining a positive attitude. Those who have heard him speak before say he has the ability to make you laugh, make you think, and make you feel proud to be who you are. What better way to spend your lunch hour?

Saturday’s educational programming is also top-notch, creating some tough decisions for participants when deciding which sessions to attend. The day begins with breakouts on “Developing Non-Traditional Events to Fill Dark Days,” “New Buildings and Renovated Facilities,” and “Creating Quality Customer Service on Campus.” At the venue specific town halls, attendees are encouraged to bring their burning questions for discussion. Most managers find that they are not alone with the problems they are facing and often someone else has some good ideas to deal with increasingly common situations. Next, we dive back into the educational sessions with “Operating in an Academic Business Environment: Entrepreneurial Businesses Working Within the Bureaucratic Environment,” “Sponsorships: Packaging, Pricing and Evaluation,” and “Changing Times, Changing Deals: Co-Pro’s and Buying Shows.” The final breakouts of the day feature a performing arts focused session on “Balancing Your Resident Companies” and “Rental Customers” and a joint session with the “Annual Conference on Fan Behavior” and its impact on sporting events.

For those that are attending both the UVMC and the Annual Conference & Trade Show, don’t forget to participate in the UVMC Trade Show Bingo Game. All conference registrants will receive a bingo card listing the UVMC sponsors. Players receive stamps on their cards by visiting the sponsors’ booths on the trade show floor. Once your card is filled, you can turn it in at the IAAM booth for a chance to win a free UVMC registration for next year’s conference in San Antonio, TX!

Finally, don’t forget the added benefits of the entertaining opening reception and invaluable networking opportunities. It is important to note that people other than venue managers can benefit from this conference. It is an excellent opportunity for students to meet industry professionals and practice their networking skills in a more intimate environment prior to the kickoff of the Annual Conference. Academicians are also encouraged to attend to not only stay in touch with current trends in the industry, but to develop contacts for their own students in search of internships and eventually job placement. Also, all UVMC attendees are invited to the President’s Reception on Friday night as well. All of this adds up to a conference that can’t be missed!

Lynda Reinhart is assistant director of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. She can be contacted at lyndar@ufl.edu.