Venues Today will feature their accomplishments in the July issue and present awards at our reception during IAVM VenueConnect in Baltimore, Md. on Sunday, August 2nd from 5:30-7pm.
2015 WOI and first Hall of Famer
Carol Pollock, Hoyt Sherman Place/VenuWorks (Posthumous)
Pollock was a longtime facility manager who currently serves as executive director of Hoyt Sherman Place, a historic theatre in Des Moines, Iowa. She increased the number of ticketed events by over 75 percent per year while controlling expenses since joining VenuWorks. Her work led to the financial stability of HSP during recent economic challenges faced by organizations dependent upon endowment funding. She was runner up in the Booking category of the VT 2009 Hall of Headlines Award. This past year, Pollock developed and executed “For the Love of Art,” which included an Adopt a Painting program to raise $65,000 in funds to restore 51 pieces of 18th century art housed at HSP.
Leslee Stewart, General Manager, Paramount Theatre, Oakland, Calif.
Since taking over the stewardship of the Paramount Theatre, Stewart has operated the theater with zero subsidy from the City of Oakland. The theater business has contributed a surplus to their endowment fund all but two of the 15 years of Stewart’s tenure. Under her leadership, the theater replaced carpet with historically correct product, has a new roof and sound system, painted the exterior with historically correct colors and is in the process of revamping the dressing rooms to period specifications in keeping with the historical nature of the venue. Under her guidance the venue increased bookings and maintains its position and sustainability in a very competitive market. She is a graduate of IAVM’s Senior Executive Symposium.
Kerry Painter, Assistant General Manager, Cox Business Center, Tulsa, Okla.
Painter joined SMG Tulsa as the assistant general manager of Cox Business Center in February 2014. Painter most recently served as the president of the Niagara Convention and Civic Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario, for six years. Painter is an accomplished leader known for developing high-performance teams who excel in award-winning facility management and quality service. With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Painter has held positions in a variety of venues including convention centers, theatres, arenas and stadiums. She is an expert in overseeing and facilitating construction and grand openings after her experience at five facilities. In the past year, Painter has started teaching Crisis Management for Niagara College online, graduated from AVSS, joined the education task force for PCMA, created the ‘100 Women of IAVM’ campaign and earned her CMP accreditation.
Karen Totaro, General Manager, Atlantic City Convention Center, 1st Vice Chair IAVM
With over 30 years in venue management, Totaro continues to forge ahead, making a positive impact on our industry and individuals. She is serving her third term on the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Board of Directors and will be taking the helm as Chair of the Board July 2015. Totaro is one of fewer than 300 Certified Facilities Executives through IAVM. She has a history of building strong, customer-focused teams, be it at the venues where she has held executive positions or in her numerous committee roles with IAVM. She knows how to encourage and engage others and get things done in a unique way mixed with fun. For her contribution in leading IAVM’s educational efforts, she was awarded IAVM’s Chairman’s Citation, designed to recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals. She chaired the Planning Committee for the 2014 Venue Connect.
Thank you to our 2015 Women of Influence Sponsors:
