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 Name:
Dan N. Saunders, Jr., CFE
Title: Managing Partner
Facility: Global Image Concepts
City-State-Country: Cincinnati,OH
Year CFE obtained: 1977
Email:
dnsaundersjr@aol.com
Tell us a little about your facility manager background.
I started in this business as Roy Saunders’ assistant in
Tulsa. Roy is a very knowledgeable guy and I learned a lot from him. We
remain good friends.
From Tulsa, I went to Oklahoma City to manage the state fairgrounds and
after a couple of years I was promoted to Public Events Director with the
management responsibility for the fairgrounds, the Civic Center Music Hall
and the yet-to-be-built Myriad Convention Center.
After nearly 10 years in OKC I took the position of Director of Convention
and Cultural Facilities in San Jose, CA. My charge was to organize the first
city department with combined responsibility for the Theater for the
Performing Arts, the new Convention Center and the Civic Auditorium.
I was in San Jose two years and then moved to my home town of Kansas City,
Missouri to head the Convention Facilities Department which managed the
Municipal Auditorium, the Governor’s Expo building, the American Royal
Arena, Kemper Arena and the Bartle Convention Center.
After three years in Kansas City I was offered one of the top jobs in the
country: President/CEO of the New Orleans Convention Center. This big league
convention center opened with many meeting rooms, a ball room and three
large exhibit halls and it was a big hit with the customers all across the
country. Before I left, we were set to expand to four exhibition halls.
Today, under the direction of my friend Jimmie Fore, the NOCC has more than
tripled in size and it is still expanding and is at the very top in customer
preference.
I was in New Orleans for more than six years when I was offered the job as
President/Managing Director of the Hong Kong Convention And Exhibition
Centre, a beautiful facility located right on the harbour and situated
between two first rate hotels. The HKCEC is a high profile international
venue that is privately owned and one that turns an annual operating profit.
As the MD, I was responsible for the 680 employees as well as the operation
of the in-house service groups which provided restaurants and catering,
electrical contracting, audio-visual contracting, exhibit booth cleaning,
security services, a commercial printing company and a full service
advertising/public relations agency. Each of these enterprises was headed by
an experienced department head who reported directly to me. As a result of
the efforts of this remarkable staff, the centre was named the world’s best
convention center two of the five years I served there.
I returned to the US 10 years ago and started my own public assembly
facility management consulting firm, Global Image Concepts, and I have
worked with facilities in Africa, Canada, Korea, Japan, Germany, England,
Mexico, and in a number of US cities.
What do you think are the benefits of having a CFE? The CFE
designation shows the manager has cared enough to spend the time and effort
to be the best. I would recommend the CFE program to all of our
international members. The CFE will be the “gold standard” certification in
the public facility business.
What is your favorite food or restaurant for favorite food?
My favorite restaurant is Brennan’s in New Orleans and my favorite food is
baked salmon.
What is your favorite book? What book is currently at your bedside?
The Secret Service: The Hidden History of an Enigmatic Agency
by Philip H. Melanson, Peter F. Stevens.
What is in your CD player right now?
My CD player is currently empty, but my favorite music is classical or
anything on the 50’s station.
What is the weirdest event you ever had in your facility? There
have been many but try these: 1. In Oklahoma City we held the National
Finals Rodeo on a dirt floor which was on top of the hockey ice and the
compressors quit a number of times. 2. A famous evangelist failed to appear
on stage in Kansas City because he was locked in the men’s room. A miracle
saved the evening. 3. In Hong Kong it was customary for the centre manager
(me) to hold an annual “thank you” party for the employees to salute their
hard work during the year. While planning my first such party I was told
that I would have to bow to and then drink a toast to each individual
employee. We did the party in two shifts each with more than 300 employees
present. To pull this off and stay sober I had to clink each glass, put mine
to my lips, tip my head back and keep my mouth tightly closed. It worked,
thank God.
What motto, inspiration, or quote
do you try to live by? “Never give up.” No matter how
bad things get, never give up.
Why did you choose to pursue the
CFE? My boss and mentor got his CFE and recommended I
do the same. Certification is important in all professions. It recognizes
the top, the most distinguished members. It acknowledges those who have done
“the max” in preparing themselves to serve in the industry. I believe it is
becoming more and more important in the facility management industry.
What has been a benefit or is a benefit of
having a CFE? The CFE designation shows that you have
invested time in becoming the best. In the future, I believe more jobs will
go to CFE’s – those who cared enough to do the work and become the best.
Would you recommend attaining CFE to other
international colleagues?
Absolutely. I recommend the CFE wholeheartedly to IAAM’s international
members.
What couldn’t you live without?
My kids: daughters Linda Kay and Porsche Kathleen and my son Gregory and my
sense of humor.
What is your most prized possession?
My Porsche 911
What is your favorite place(s) on earth?
The Scottish coast, New Zealand and the USA.
What is your most favorite moment in sports
history? When Bud Wilkinson and his Oklahoma Sooners
football team won the national title in the early 50’s. I was still in high
school and Bud was an inspiration to me.
What is one thing people would be surprised to
learn about you? I’m a religious person and I pray many
times during each day.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Venue managers make a very positive impact on the lives of
everyone in the community.
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