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 Name:
Al Lomas, CMP, CMM, CFE, CEM
Title: VP National Sales and Marketing
Facility/Company: Destination:San
Antonio
City-State-Country: San Antonio, Texas
Year CFE obtained: 2003
Email:
alomas@destination-sanantonio.com
What facilities have you worked in?
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Municipal Auditorium,
Alamo-dome and Lila Cockrell Theater.
What is your favorite food or restaurant?
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant, New York City, is my favorite restaurant
outside of San Antonio. I also enjoy the Dim Sum at The Golden Wok in San
Antonio.
What book are you currently reading?
I don’t read for pleasure but for education. I’m currently reading The Guide
to Successful Destination Management.
What CD or cassette is in your car right now?
Forty Licks by the Rolling Stones.
What is the weirdest event you ever had in a
facility you’ve worked in?
Texas Lesbian Convention.
Strangest merchandise?
The offering of onsite tattoos and body piercing.
Strangest anything?
While working a concert, I was asked by a patron if I had any
rolling paper on me. Upon replying “no,” she followed up by asking me if I
knew where she could buy some blow.
What is a motto, inspiration or quote you try to
live by?
“It’s just another day in paradise.” I picked it up from a song by
Phil Collins many years ago. It gives me hope that everything positive is
possible each day, with the right attitude.
Why did you choose to pursue the CFE?
After having received my CMP from the CIC in 2001 and my CMM from MPI
in 2002, I felt I had the ability to pursue the coveted CFE. The decision
was especially easy when my buddy, Steve Zito, CFE, and I decided to apply
for the designation at the same time.
Did you find the process to obtain the CFE challenging?
Yes. I read each IAAM-recommended reference book, visited and interviewed
personnel working other venues, and reviewed all of the PAFMS modules and
crowd management material in preparation for the exam.
Which part of the process did you find most
challenging?
The interview by my peers was the final step of the process and the most
daunting. Once into the interview, I knew I was dealing with industry
professionals with a sincere interest in my professional development. Within
moments, they made me feel at ease — and the rest is history.
What advice would you give to other colleagues?
Make each day a learning experience. Too often we get too involved in
the minutia and forget to have fun. We should all be at work because we want
to, not because we have to.
What has been a benefit or is a benefit of
having a CFE?
Earning the designation provides a higher level of self-confidence, which
leads to improved motivation.
Would you recommend attaining CFE to other
international colleagues? Why?
Being a CFE says that you have mastered the body of knowledge and possess
the required discipline and dedication to make a difference in your field of
expertise. Most of all, it says you’re committed to our industry and that
you’re closer to your goal of self-actualization.
What couldn’t you live without?
The answer to this question is easy: It’s my family. My family keeps me
grounded and on track. They laugh at my jokes, though they have heard them
many times before. My wife tolerates my many quirks and just nods her head
in disbelief each time I’m off to some other city for a concert of my
favorite musical groups.
What’s your most prized possession?
I’m not much into possessions, but my 12-pound Pekingese, Chewy, is my bud.
When we met in 1999, she jumped into my arms, licked my face and hasn’t
stopped since. Chewy doesn’t ask for much and is always happy to see me. She
doesn’t much care whether I conquered the world that day or fell flat on my
face. The “Forty Licks” just keep coming.
What’s your favorite place on earth?
I’m fortunate to own a beachfront condo in Corpus Christi, Texas. The condo
is exactly two hours away from front door to front door. Each sunrise is
different, and I enjoy watching the boats come into the harbor. At the Texas
coast, I feel like I’m thousands of miles away from my daily routine and
environment. I spend time at the Blue Marlin (a local watering hole), where
the restrooms are labeled “Inboard” and “Outboard.”
What’s your most favorite moment in sports history?
I was fortunate to be invited to the Miami Super Bowl by some dear friends
in 1999. Two days before the game, I had the opportunity to lean against the
goalpost with no one else on the playing field. I thought to myself, “How
great is this?”
What’s the one thing most people would be
surprised to learn about you?
I attended seven Rolling Stones concerts during their tour of the United
States this year. Someone asked my why, and I replied, “Because I can!”
Seeing the Stones perform at their age gives me hope that when I reach that
age, I may have grown older, but I don’t have to feel or act old.
Is there anything
else you would like to add?
This industry has been very good to me, and I’ve tried to give back as much
as possible to those coming up the ranks. We get to visit many beautiful
cities; we’re treated to the best food; we drink hosted premium alcohol; and
we get to enjoy all of it with our industry friends and colleagues, year
after year. Never a day goes by that I take any of the perks for granted.
It’s just another day in paradise!
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