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Over the span of the past 30 years that I’ve
been in the public assembly management industry, I’ve witnessed tremendous
growth in new facility design. Today’s facilities offer an array of sports
and entertainment for a total experience. Public assembly facilities are
places where one can go to escape the hassles of work or home. They are
places where one can get reenergized by passively or actively participating
in an event. The sports and entertainment profession is the great social
equalizer, and we all play a role in setting social standards.
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Larry Perkins, CFE, CPP,
CMP
IAAM President |
To meet these industry and social challenges and
membership growth, we built a world headquarters in Coppell, Texas, that
serves the needs of our members by providing greater resources and services.
We set new benchmarks in educational programming for professional
development with our Core Tracks presented at District Meetings; our
Certified Facilities Executive program; the Public Assembly Facility
Management School at Oglebay; our Senior Executive Symposium at Cornell; and
the Academy for Venue Safety and Security. In addition, quality assurance
programs, coupled with multi-services from super premium to basics, have
become a mainstay across our industry.
In the coming year, we will continue to experience change and take on
industry and world challenges. As the acknowledged industry leader, our role
on the world stage is shifting. This new paradigm demands that we provide an
opinion on world affairs that affect our industry, such as the work done by
our Life Safety Council with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and
our humanitarian efforts and aid provided through the Shelter Management
Task Force.
Our partnership with the DHS and other allies will become more vital than at
any time since the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001. Our work in Europe and the
Asia/Pacific Rim through the Industry Affairs Council, and our Principals
and Practices textbook developed through our Board of Education are
important components of IAAM’s makeup and growth. We’ll continue our
obligation to inform the public on such matters affecting the quality of
life for our members, and their communities and countries in which they live
and serve. Further, I outlined several initiatives that I believe will help
meet these challenges for today and for the future.
Business Development and Services.
I have appointed a Business Development
and Services Committee, which has been tasked with providing a central
location where our members can have great access to product and services.
Moreover, this initiative will help our Allied members and other industry
partners profile their business and services, putting a face on their
commodities, while at the same time adding greater value and expanded
services for our members. The Business and Development Committee will
evaluate and establish, where feasible, an affinity program that effectively
exercises the buying power of membership, i.e., products, services and
insurance.
IAAM Press and Publications. As part of the Body of Knowledge Committee, I
have appointed an IAAM Press and Publications Committee, which will work to
create an alliance with an online (on demand) publishing resource, i.e.,
Lulu Inc., to provide a central entity with member value for publishing
books, employee manuals, training material, etc. A percentage of royalties
will go to the IAAM Foundation. The IPPC will work to qualify control
guidelines and to identify resources that can offer ghostwriters, copy
editors, and collaborative authors for members and IAAM’s intellectual
properties. The IPPC will work to engage IAAM members in fundraising by
producing an industry cookbook. This grassroots initiative will provide
every member an opportunity to participate in this project.
International Steering Committee. While the sports and entertainment
industry continues to expand, this growth creates a need for quality
professionals and services worldwide. The International Steering Committee
will assess those needs on a global basis, through research and data
analysis, international interest, resources available and return on
investment.
The Sports and Entertainment Business.
During the coming year, we will seek
to brand IAAM to the world outside our realm. First, however, much work and
data is needed — information such as how many people are employed in our
industry. How many events are hosted annually? What is the economic impact,
by event type and collectively?
Technologies Committee. The Technologies Committee will focus on the new age of technologies as it
relates to our industry, to include but not limited to ticketing, smart
cards and cashless systems. The committee will assess technology's
applications, costs, life span and environmental impact. Further, it will
survey our members to determine the average usage and cost of energy at
their facilities each year; to determine buying power as a collective
industry; to explore ways to reduce energy consumption; and more.
I would like to close by saluting all those who have volunteered to serve
our peers and industry. There is no greater honor than to serve. The one
thing that makes IAAM a great association is the willingness of our members
to share their knowledge and experiences for the benefit of those to follow.
As your president, I am confident that with our collective teamwork the
initiatives I have proposed will pave the way for success and growth. I’m
most appreciative and humbled by this opportunity to serve you, our members
and this great association. I will do my best to live up to the legacy of
those who have served before me.
Sincerely,
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Larry
Perkins, CFE, CPP, CMP
IAAM President
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