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Welcome to the Next 25 Years!

Our IAAM leaders in the early ‘80s had a broad vision of the future, and while they had no idea of some of the challenges we would face today as facility and event managers, they knew that perpetual funding would be critical to ensure the professionalism of the industry and the safety of the public.

In their 1980 report following The Who concert tragedy (1979), the Cincinnati Task Force made a heartfelt request to IAAM to develop and implement crowd management safety standards so that venues across the nation could learn from this devastating tragedy. As a result, the IAAM Foundation was propelled from the drawing board to a focused existence—and the industry, eager for this assistance, took notice and began its support.

The International Crowd Management Conference, now also in its 25th year, got its start through the IAAM Foundation — as have many meaningful and significant programs, such as the schools at Oglebay, the Certified Facilities Executive program, the college textbook, industry profiles, alcohol management standards, the ViSAT, the Academy for Venue Safety and Security, Web-based training and more.

Since 1982, Foundation supporters have made gifts of more than $2.7 million in support of our mission. As I ceremonially kicked off our 25th anniversary this year in April at the District 4, 6 & 7 meeting — with groundbreaking financial support from its attendees and a milestone gift presented by Ticketmaster — it became clear that the IAAM Foundation has significant momentum for the future. To celebrate, please join us in the pages that follow by paying tribute to the Foundation’s legacy of volunteer leaders and highlights of great ideas that became reality under their watch.

The world will never stop changing. New opportunities and hazards alike will challenge us continually to stay ahead of change by educating ourselves, learning new skills and relying on those we respect who can provide support. We will continue to contribute to the important work in our industry by funding the development of people, programs and projects to help you develop local your economies and social networks — thus bringing safe, secure, transformational experiences to our citizens in the communities we serve around the world. Thank you to all who have contributed in so many ways to make the past 25 years such a success — and welcome to the next 25 years. May they bring you health and happiness as you continue to assist in the important work of the IAAM Foundation.

With gratitude to all,

Joan LeMahieu, Chair,
IAAM Foundation

Seed Funding: Public Assembly Facility Management School at Oglebay
“This school, taught by facility managers, brings a new professionalism to the industry while letting students learn from their peers,” said Walter Schatz, then vice chair of the IAAM Foundation, reflecting in a 1987 interview on the very first year of PAFMS at Oglebay. “The first year was an unquestionable success, and the program enjoys enthusiastic, across-the-board support from the industry.”

Since then, more than 2,000 professionals have graduated from PAFMS at Oglebay, which began as an IAAM Foundation program, with tens of thousands invested in the continuing education of facility managers. It is now a financially self-sustaining school managed by the IAAM Board of Regents.

“I love Oglebay. We all say Oglebay instead of the name of the school, when in fact Oglebay is a place,” said Oglebay faculty Scott Williams, CFE. “But emotionally we talk about it. I gravitated to this school because as an instructor I have an opportunity to stand in front of people who really want to learn. They bring great information, and I learn as much from them as they learn from me, maybe more.”

Oglebay got off to a fast and furious start. The nucleus of the school began with its founding leadership faculty, who put the plan together: Al Antee, CFE, Dexter King, CFE, and Walter Schatz, CFE, with the encouragement of Roy Saunders, CFE, who was IAAM president at the time; and the following individuals, who also joined the planning group as inaugural faculty members:

• Donna Dowless • Bob C. Mayer, CFE
• Charles Neustadt • Steven Peters, CFE  • Truman Reed
• Frank Russo Jr., CFE • Don Logan

Seed Funding: Senior Executive Development
From its inception, the IAAM Foundation has supported the continuing education of public assembly executives, beginning with a $21,527 grant made for the Executive Development Series in 1982.

Executive education offered by IAAM has continued to evolve to meet the needs of a more complex operating environment, as well as the time constraints of those at the senior level — and today, that evolution has resulted in a format known as Senior Executive Symposium (SES). SES, a three-year program held annually at Cornell University, provides the high-level, strategic perspectives needed by a seasoned professional to stay ahead of change. The IAAM Foundation provided program development and scholarship funding for this high-demand and fully sustainable program, now in its 11th year.

Scholarships for Students
Over $30,000 in student scholarships has been given to at least 100 worthy students studying the public assembly industry. Many of them have gone on to successful careers in our industry, like Eric Staufer, events coordinator for Orlando Venues. Eric was a scholarship recipient for four years, while he studied for his bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science with a minor in business administration, and then onto his Master of Science, both at University of Florida.

“Although any scholarship is financially important to college students, I believe the Annual Conference Scholarship is the cornerstone to getting one’s foot in the door with industry peers throughout the association at a global scale,” Staufer said.

CFE Program Development
Over 225 Certified Facilities Executives — the “best of the best” — have proven themselves through rigorous standards and professional performance. Initial development of these standards was funded through the IAAM Foundation.

ViSAT
In 2005, the IAAM Foundation was awarded its largest grant ever by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), for public assembly facility manager training on how to use the Vulnerability Identification Self-Assessment Tool, or ViSAT. This tool was co-developed by the DHS and IAAM using IAAM’s Best Practices for Safety and Security. It helps a facility self-assess its strengths and vulnerabilities related not only to preparedness for terrorist attacks, but also for all hazards.

Once complete, the facility has a better understanding of areas of improvement needed, as well as access to better comparative data, more industry resources, and access to DHS funding through local and state homeland security agencies.

“The knowledge I gained about the safety and security capabilities of my facility is invaluable,” said Brad Mayne, CFE, president and CEO of the American Airlines Center, who completed the assessment. “The ViSAT is a tool that should be embraced by all facility managers.”

Seed Funding: Academy for Venue Safety & Security (AVSS)
Steve Pelham recalls when emergency funding for the program was made during his term as chair of the IAAM Foundation in 2001-2002. “IAAM president Lionel Dubay called me with his idea to proactively make aware, train and be prepared for any unforeseen event at an IAAM facility. The Association was in desperate shape financially, and the Trustees voted unanimously to support the initial development. It helped define the IAAMF as a provider of seed money to get programs started rather than ongoing dollars for programs that were already profitable.”
Since AVSS began delivering instruction in 2004, more than 280 public assembly professionals have been trained on managing risk related to their venues. This program is now financially self-sustainable in its current form, thanks to high-quality programming and the seed funding provided by the IAAM Foundation.

Dexter King, CFE, IAAM executive director, agrees. “The Academy is likely the single most important initiative funded, because it deals with protecting and strengthening the underpinnings of the venue business across the whole industry, and impacts the public confidence of a safe and secure environment.”

Mega Shelters
As part of continued IAAM Foundation funding, the IAAM Life Safety Council published Mega Shelters, a best practices guide to planning, activation and operation of mega-shelters, responding to an industry-wide need for shared expertise in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Mega Shelters is distributed worldwide and is also part of the curriculum for the Academy for Venue Safety & Security.

24/7 Post 9/11 Security For PublicAssembly Facilities
World events continue to shape the IAAM Foundation’s response through funding of high-value and high-impact resources. This training package includes a DVD, as well as a Facilitator’s Guide and a handout for students’ use in employee training sessions. The video was developed through a grant by the IAAM Foundation, in partnership with Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, and the National Hockey League.

Crowd Management
The Dec. 3, 1979, Who concert tragedy in Cincinnati ranks as the most horrific rock concert incident in the United States. Eleven rock fans were crushed to death and scores injured because of gross crowd management failings. A landmark report on concert safety, “Crowd Management: The Report of the Task Force on Crowd Control and Safety,” was published in 1980 by a special Cincinnati citizen task force. Among the critically acclaimed report’s most important recommendations: “The International Association of Auditorium Managers should develop national crowd management standards for facility operators and event promoters.”

IAAM delivered on that request, thanks to the genesis of IAAM Foundation funding, beginning a new era in best practices, as well as the start of 25 years of the successful International Crowd Management Conference.

Alcohol Management
IAAM Foundation-funded work in alcohol management best practices began in 1985 as a complement to the continuing crowd management best practices. The Responsible Alcohol Management series and seminar was part of a larger project initiated by the IAAM Board of Directors and Trustees in July 1985 to form the TEAM Coalition and develop the TEAM training program. This important area of public safety preparedness and prevention continues to be an area of IAAM focus and influence.

Body of Knowledge Textbook
Chair of the BOK Frank Russo, CFE, said it best in a June 2006 interview: “Professional development is critical. It is a life-long commitment to an industry that you feel passionate about. It’s not only what you can learn from others but also what you can teach others.”

Funded by the IAAM Foundation, Public Assembly Facility Management: Principles and Practices is the first-ever collegelevel textbook written for the development of future leaders in the industry. The text is used by countless aspiring leaders in academic programs at 36 colleges and universities throughout North America. A 2006 multiple-year grant by the IAAM Foundation will result in a completely new, fully revised version of the textbook, expanding into emerging topics.

1982-1983 Robert Sigholtz, CFE (deceased)
In the February 1982 issue of Auditorium News, the IAAM Board of Directors and president Dean Phillips expressed “unanimous thanks … for contributing so much … time and energy to this project … with no thought of recompense.” President Phillips commented further that his “only return has been the good of our industry.”

1983-1984 Dan A. Graveline, CFE, Executive Director, Georgia World Congress Center Authority “The accomplishment of gaining recognition within our own membership that a Foundation could accomplish a lot of things, but when it came to fundraising, we had to raise money from within in order to convince outside corporations and other Foundations to contribute. Developing this understanding and support within IAAM (our name in those days) was very challenging, even among the board.”

1984-1985 Carol T. Jeschke, CFE, President Carol T. Jeschke & Associates
“During my term as chair of the IAAM Foundation, much of the work was dedicated to building a foundation for future IAAM operations and services to members while delving into the study of the need for and development of educational programs for members. Key to all of that was the public education component that focused on ‘professionalism’ in a relatively new field of public service. It’s hard to imagine today that an untrained crony of a mayor or a governor could be appointed as the manager of a public assembly facility. That was then. Through the development of educational programs and subsequent certification for IAAM members, public assembly facility managers earned professional status.”

1985-1986
Lee W. Fehrenkamp
Retired
Not available for comments.

1986-1987 Alfred (Al) Antee, CFE, Vice President of Entertainment Services, Xentel Inc.
“We accomplished quite a few things in my term. We changed the bylaws to allow Allied Members to serve on the Foundation; not hold office, but serve as a voting member, and to allow the Trustees to change the bylaws without the IAAM Board’s approval. Prior to this any changes in the bylaws required the IAAM Board to approve. We started the first fundraiser at the annual conference in Washington, D.C. We started the School for Public Facility Management at Oglebay, Wheeling, W.V., and we started a long-range plan for the Foundation.”

1987-1988
Walter Schatz
Unable to locate for comments.

1988-1989 Richard (Dick) Shaff Sr. VP / General Manager, SMG/Moscone Center
“During my term as chair of the Foundation our primary accomplishments were related to fund raising. We initiated the first sports day fundraising event and the first silent auction.”

1989-1990 Beth Wade, CFE General Manager, The Berry Center
“The Foundation’s first fundraising project was to sell big orange buttons on the trade show floor for $20 that said ‘I Support the IAAM-F.’ We knew this ‘bake sale’ approach to fundraising would not get us the types of funds we needed to be able to provide funding for programming for our members. During my term as the chair, 1989- 90, the Trustees hired its first consultant, who created a Foundation Case Study that served as the basis for the major fundraising campaign in the early ’90s. Also during my year as chair, the Foundation assumed the responsibilities for coordinating Sport’s Day as another fundraising initiative for the Foundation.”

1990-1994 Leonard Zerilli, CFE (4 terms), Retired
“Over the four years that I served we strengthened the relationship between the Foundation and the Public Assembly Facility Management School through the development and signing of a formal contract. We created and supported Sports Day and Silent Auction during the annual trade show and conference and we initiated Education — Tickets to the Future.”

1994-1996 Bill Waldo (2 terms), Director of Major Projects, Irwin Seating Co.
“My most important accomplishment was the realization of our fundraising goals utilizing ‘Tickets to the Future,’ in excess of $1.5 million. These goals were not only met but exceeded from the Allied side of the IAAM membership.”

 


1996-1997 Carol C. Wallace President & Chief Executive Officer, San Diego Convention Center “During my time as Trustee, our biggest accomplishment was working with the Foundation and IAAM to launch the ‘Tickets for the Future’ campaign, which established a foundation for funding future education and construction dollars for the IAAM headquarters office. As chair, I stood on the shoulders of many giants who had gone before me to help IAAM/IAAMF reach its goals. All that IAAM and IAAMF have accomplished has been through the collective hard work of many people.”

1997-1998 Frank E. Russo, Jr. CFE, SVP Business Development and Client Relations, Comcast- Spectacor
“During my term as chair, we planted the seed for the formation of the Board of Education and for the IAAM text book, Public Assembly Facility Management: Principles and Practices.”

1998-1999 Mina Y. Boyd, CFE Director, Roanoke Civic Facilities
“During my term as chair, we engaged a financial advisor to make better use of Foundation funds. This was a very wise strategic move that enabled funds to grow and support more qualified IAAM programs.”

1999-2000 Robert C. Mayer, CFE, Tulsa, Okla.
“The most significant accomplishment for my year was the creation of an IAAM Strategic Plan. The plan included many things that have come to fruition today and/or are still on going.”

2000-2001 Frank Roach Senior Lecturer, University of South Carolina, Dept. of Sport & Entertainment Mgt.
“I think during my term the most important accomplishment was taking the first step toward starting a real annual giving campaign. We did a personal appeal to then IAAM leaders, i.e. Board members, officers, major committee chairs, etc., and secured pledges for about $47,000 annually from approximately 60 leaders—an average gift of around $750.00 per year.”

2001-2003 Stephen M. Pelham (2 terms) Director, U.S. Sales, Reveal Imaging Technology
“The most important accomplishment during my first term was the emergency start-up funding of what is now the Academy for Venue Security & Safety. It helped define the IAAMF as a provider of seed money to get programs started rather than ongoing dollars for programs that were already profitable. “In the second term, a focus on working together really took us to the next level. The IAAMF Trustees worked together to hire new IAAMF staff, worked with IAAM on expenses, initiated the Tickets II fundraising campaign, put together a short/long term financial strategy for the IAAMF endowment and created awareness to where the Foundation was headed.”

2003-2004 Peggy Daidakis Executive Director, Baltimore Convention Center
“As chair, I had the opportunity to work with a wonderful group of people who were committed to the development of our future leaders. As chair, I worked to enhance a public awareness campaign that encouraged more individual members to contribute to the Foundation. Personal contributions have a major impact on our efforts to raise corporate dollars for the Foundation.”

2004-2005 Mich F. Sauers Senior VP, Business Development, Comcast-Spectacor
“There are two accomplishments that took place during my term as chair of the IAAM Foundation of which I am most proud. The first was our ability to successfully negotiate an agreement between IAAM and the IAAM Foundation establishing a more equitable arrangement for the cost of services provided. The other accomplishment was our ability to significantly increase the number of IAAM members who contribute each year to the funding of the IAAM Foundation. In past years, less than five percent of the total IAAM membership gave to the Foundation. I am proud to say that during my term we saw that number increase to more than 15 percent.”

2005-2006 Chris Bigelow President, The Bigelow Companies Inc.
“During my tenure as chair, the Board voted to hire a fundraising professional to manage the Foundation. It was a huge step to take us from an all-volunteer organization sharing resources and personnel with IAAM, to establishing a self-managed Foundation, still closely aligned with IAAM for programming, personnel and resources, but acting independently to invest and improve the education of our entire industry.”

2006-2007 Joan LeMahieu President, The Parade Co.
“I think the two greatest accomplishments so far in my term are the creation of Chairs Advisory Council, which provides continuity and enhanced development for the Foundation; and the hiring of our first full-time professional Foundation director and fundraiser, Jill Dotts, CFRE, who in her first six months on the job is transforming our operations. My predecessors—all now involved in the Chairs Advisory Council — have paved the way with a number of strategic actions, and Jill’s hiring is a key to the implementation of the strategic planning that has taken place in the past several years.”

2006 Annual Giving Campaign Donors: $1,000 or more Chris Bigelow Denis Braham John E. Christison, CFE Dean Dennis Fisher Dachs Associates Chris L. Harmon IAAM District II IAAM District V Dexter King, CFE Jane Kleinberger Klaus A. Lahr Joan A. LeMahieu Richard A. Martin Brad Mayne, CFE Mike McGee, CFE Jay W. Parker Mich F. Sauers John Siehl, CFE Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP

Craig H. Skiem Michele Lotterio Swann Michael S. Taormina, CFE John Vingas Steven L. Peters, CFE Venues Today 2006 Golf Tournament Sponsors: $1,000 or more 360 Architecture American Seating Bigelow Companies Boston Culinary Group Carts of Colorado Daktronics Inc. Hunt Construction Imperial Parking Miller Brewing Co. Milliken Carpet PC Sports Robbins Sport Surface

Thornton Tomasetti Ticketmaster Turner Construction Venue 1 Whiteway Sign & Mnt. Winstead, Sechrist & Minnick 2006 Donors of Silent Auction Items: Raising $1,000 or more Pollstar TD Banknorth Garden 2006 Special Philanthropic Gifts to the IAAMFoundation: $1,000 or more Daktronics, Inc. FELD Entertainment Inc. Global Spectrum Oglebay Alumni Association Ungerboeck Systems Inc.

 

Introducing the Legacy Award The Chairs Advisory Council established eligibility criteria and selection process for the IAAM Foundation’s prestigous new Legacy Award. The purpose of the Legacy Award is to recognize significant financial and/or non-financial contributions to benefit the mission and objectives of the IAAM Foundation, leaving a legacy for the advancement of the public assembly industry. The Board of Trustees approved the Legacy Award in January 2007, and the first award will be presented in July 2007 at the 82nd IAAM Annual Conference. Mich Sauers, Chair of the Foundation’s Chairs Advisory Council, which led the creation of the Award said, “Many people and companies throughout the years have made important and significant contributions to the growth and achievements of IAAM Foundation. The Legacy Award will be the most prestigious award that IAAM Foundation can bestow upon an individual or company. It proudly proclaims the appreciation and gratitude that IAAM Foundation and its members hold for the Legacy Award winner each year.” IAAM Foundation Chair Joan LeMahieu agrees. “Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘Everyone has the power for greatness ... because greatness is determined by service.’ The IAAM Foundation Trustees are delighted to have the opportunity to acknowledge some of the greatness that is so much a part of our history, through this Legacy Award.” Nominee criteria: • The nominee may be from any membership category of IAAM or from outside of the Association in a related field. • Any current or past contributor to the IAAM Foundation may make a nomination, which must provide, in writing, specific examples of the nominee’s outstanding contributions to the IAAM Foundation. • At least three letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination. • No President of IAAM or Chair of the IAAM Foundation is eligible for consideration until the third Annual Conference following his/her term of office. • Previous recipients are ineligible. • The award may be given posthumously

Tickets to the Future Major Gifts Campaign, Act I and Act II
 

GOLD $50,000 and above Anheuser-Busch ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment Centerplate Coca-Cola FELD Entertainment Live Nation Miller Brewing Co. Ogden Entertainment Services San Diego Convention Center Corp. Ticketmaster Turner Construction Co. SILVER $15,000 - $49,999 Comcast-Spectacor Compass Facility Management Contemporary Services Group Country Roads Delaware North Companies Global Spectrum HNTB Architects Engineers Planners Irwin Seating Leisure Management Intl.

Levy Restaurants Skydome SMG White Stallion Productions Inc. WWF, Titan Sports BRONZE $750-$14,999 A & C Welding American Seating Anaheim Convention Center Jerry Barshop Bass Tickets Boston Concessions Group Caddy Products Doan Electric Co. Ellerbe Becket Sports Fine Host Globe Facility Services HOK Sports Horrow Sports Venture Hussey Seating Inc. IAAM District I IAAM District II IAAM District V IAAM District VI

IAAM District VII Interkal Lansdowne Park Mabee Center Arena Mike McGee, CFE Metro Centre Oglebay Resort & Conference Center San Diego Concourse San Mateo County Expo Center Snyderburn Spokane Center Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback and Associates Tower Theatre VEE Corp. Venue 1 VIRCO Manufacturing Corp. Washington State Convention Center WCW, Turner Broadcasting Wise Brothers Inc.

 

Chair’s Advisory Council The Chair’s Advisory Council was established in 2006, inviting those who have served as Chair to continue their service in an advisory role. All Past Chairs who are still with us today have agreed to serve, further strengthening the Foundation’s capacity for innovation and progress. Mich Sauers, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Comcast-Spectacor, serves as the first Chair of this Council. When asked to comment on its formation, he said, “The Chair’s Advisory Council provides the entire IAAM Foundation with a group of individuals who possess the knowledge, resources, experience and commitment to view and assess the total scope and many parts of our organization. The CAC will bring strength and direction to the IAAM Foundation, and continued growth, relevance and professionalism to the public assembly industry.”

 

Joan A. LeMahieu Chair President The Parade Co.	Brad Mayne, CFE Vice Chair President/CEO American Airlines Center	Michael S. Taormina, CFE Treasurer Managing Director Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre	Chris Bigelow Past Chair President The Bigelow Companies Inc.
Jay W. Parker Trustee Exec. Cmte. National Sales Manager Daktronics Inc.	Denis Clive Braham Trustee Chairman & CEO Winstead PC	Dean Dennis Trustee Vice President Business Development & Client Relations Global Spectrum	Jane Kleinberger Trustee Founder & Chairman Paciolan Inc.
Rick Martin, AIA Trustee Senior Principal HOK Sport Venue Event	Craig Skeim Trustee President CSL Intl.	Michele Lotterio Swann Trustee General Manager & CEO Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority	John Vingas Trustee Vice President Corporate Catering Centerplate
Mich Sauers Ex-Officio Chair Chairs Advisory Council Senior Vice President Business Development Comcast-Spectacor	Larry Perkins CFE, CPP, CMP Ex-Officio Assistant General Manager RBC Center	Steven L. Peters, CFE Ex-Officio President Compass Facility Management	Robyn Williams, CFE Ex-Officio Executive Director Portland Center for the Performing Arts
Rick Haycock, CFE Ex-Officio General Manager Lansdowne Park			Jill Dotts, CFRE IAAM Foundation Director of Foundation & Fund Development

© 2004-2007 International Association of Assembly Managers  635 Fritz Dr. 
Coppell, TX 75019 USA  Phone: 972/906-7441 Fax: 972/906-7418