Not only has Shura Lindgren-Garnett been GM of Missouri’s St. Charles Convention Center since 2003, but she has also served as regional VP of Global Spectrum for the past four years.
With more than 25 years of convention center management experience and her contributions to the industry as well as to the International Association of Venue Managers, Garnett has been honored with the IAVM’s 2014 Charles A. McElravy Award.
“I believe Shura has been successful in her professional career because she is the total package,” said Lionel Dubay, assistant VP for the Business Services Division at the University of Florida. “She possesses outstanding leadership and management skills. She is intelligent, articulate and goal-oriented and has an incredible work ethic.”
Garnett has been an active IAVM member since 1988, earning her CFE in 2000. She also served as the association’s Board Chair from 2009-2010 and has worked with numerous volunteer committees for the association.
“It’s hard to remember a time when I wasn’t involved with IAVM, it’s been such a critical part of my life,” Garnett said. “When I left the Amarillo (Texas) Civic Center to work at the Midland (Texas) Convention Center back in 1988, the last thing my boss said to me was, ‘The minute you get there, I want you to take out a membership in IAVM. That will be the best thing you’ll ever do to advance your career.’ He was right.”
Her involvement with the association includes serving as Chairman of the Convention Center Committee from 1999 to 2001; assistant district vice president for IAVM District VI from 2000 to 2002 and vice president from 2002 to 2004; 2nd vice president in 2007 and 2008; 1st vice president in 2008 and 2009 and IAVM’s chairman in 2009 and 2010.
She was instrumental in purchasing and implementing VenueNet, still considered one of IAVM’s core member communication platforms. She led efforts to change the association’s name in 2009-2010 from the International Association of Assembly Managers. Garnett also worked to rebrand the annual conference and trade show to its current title, VenueConnect. In 2005, she received the IAVM Presidential Citation, which recognizes extraordinary contributions of individuals who personify the IAVM commitment to the task of transforming lives.
Garnet entered the industry as an event manager at Amarillo Civic Center in 1987. After being promoted to director of the convention center a year later, she increased revenues by 108 percent in eight years.
In 1996, Garnett served as CEO of Midland Convention Center and Midland Convention & Visitors Bureau. During her tenure, she increased room nights booked by 400 percent and visitor spending by more than 100 percent in a three-year period.
In 2003, Garnett was named general manager of Missouri’s St. Charles Convention Center for Global Spectrum. She opened the154,000-sq.-ft. facility two years later, after overseeing all aspects of the construction. Under her watch, the convention center has exceeded budgeted gross revenues and net operational performance since opening.
In 2010, the venue’s management company promoted her to regional vice president. Garnett still retains her role as the convention center’s general manager while supervising general managers and monitoring operational performance and client relations for several convention centers for Global Spectrum.
“We are all particularly proud of Shura and the fantastic work she does for our clients and our customers,” said Global Spectrum President John Page. “Shura’s outstanding work ethic is contagious. She continuously provides our facilities with her terrific enthusiasm and work knowledge. Shura and her team have done a terrific job of partnering with the convention and visitors bureau in luring and attracting visitors and events to St. Charles.” Kim Bedier, director, City of Tacoma, Public Assembly Facilities, Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center/Tacoma Dome has been Garnett’s professional colleague through IAVM as well as Global Spectrum.
“I have known and admired Shura for years,” she said. “She is smart and incredibly hard working. She also really cares about the people who work for and with her. She is an incredible role model for our industry.”
In addition to the McElravy Award, Garnett received Venues Today’s Women of Influence award in 2008 and was nominated in 2007 and 2008 for the GMA’s Dove Award, which is given in recognition of outstanding female role models. She also received the Zonta Yellow Rose Award in 2008 for her commitment to serving the community and advancing the status of women.
“The IAVM award is definitely one of the highlights [of my involvement with the association] in terms of achievements, but so are the relationships I’ve established in this industry,” Garnett said. “It’s like being a part of a larger family, because we don’t have 9-to-5 jobs. We do it because we love it, and it’s a part of who we are.”
Interviewed for this story: Kim Bedier, (425) 418-7778; Lionel Dubay, (352) 392-0306; Shura Lindgren-Garnett, (636) 669-3005; John Page, (215) 389-9558