Wayne Zronik
VP, Facilities & Live Entertainment
Air Canada Centre, Toronto
HOMETOWN: Brantford, Ont., home of Wayne Gretzky.
UNIVERSITY: Wilfrid-Laurier Univ. in Waterloo, Ontario, where I earned a degree in business administration.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: I worked in film and TV for nine years and moved to Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in its television division seven years ago. I started working with Patti-Anne Tarlton when we were working on a partnership with Live Nation. I had put on some music festivals of my own outside of work as a personal interest, so I was familiar with the concert promotion business.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: Ultimately, we’re in the business of creating great experiences, moments of truth for our fans.
MENTORS: Patti-Anne Tarlton taught me the value of relationships. Riley O’Connor, chairman of Live Nation in Canada, who has been doing this since bands started touring, taught me about deals, how to negotiate hard. Bob Hunter taught me the value of the fan experience.
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: I split my passions between Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto FC. For real. Brantford is not far from Toronto.
BEST ADVICE: Be fearless.
(416) 815-5926
Jen Sandstrom
VP of Event Services
Staples Center, Los Angeles
HOMETOWN: San Clemente, Calif.
UNIVERSITY: Cal State Fullerton where I majored in Communications with an emphasis in Speech Composition. Everyone’s given a natural gift in life and mine is the gift of gab.
FIRST JOB IN THE BUSINESS: I interned with the L.A. Kings and I never left. In 1996, they hired me for the game night crew at $50 a game. When it was confirmed Staples Center was going to be built, I moved over and worked first in the merchandise department.
FAVORITE PART OF JOB: It’s all about the people – co-workers, clients, fans, artists.
IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO: Marketing and repping my husband, Adrian, who is a ceramicist.
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Kansas City Chiefs – I’m a big NFL girl.
FREE TIME PURSUITS: I love to entertain friends and family. I love to go out to good dinners. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it has to be delicious.
PET PEEVE: People don’t use the phone enough. I hate to read 18 e-mails to get what matters to you.
TOP AND MOST EMBARRASSING SONGS ON YOUR IPOD: Merry-Go-Round by Motley Crue is top. And “Let’s Hear it for the Boys” from the Footloose soundtrack. I don’t think you should print that.
BEST ADVICE: Listen.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU: I am very old school in the sense of motherly. I have a little June Cleaver in me.
(213) 742-7277
Johnna Boxley
General Manager
Spokane (Wash.) Convention Center
UNIVERSITY: Eastern Washington Univ., Cheney
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: It was here at Spokane Convention Center in 1992 where I started as an event manager.
FAVORITE ASPECT OF JOB: Every day is really diverse and you learn something new. I’m a lifelong learner and it’s so interesting to meet all different kinds of people and see the diverse events.
SIBLING RIVALRY: I grew up in a family of 12 on a farm in Albany, Wash. I’m the second oldest and was the first to go to college.
FAVORITE TRAVEL SPOT: My husband and I have gone to Kauai every year for the last eight years.
PET PEEVE: I don’t like it when people aren’t present, like when they’re sitting in meetings but are checking email or on their phone. These days you see families go out to dinner and they’re all looking down at their phones. They’re not even talking — unless maybe they’re all texting each other.
FIND YOUR ZEN: I’m into yoga. It’s a great way of thinking. It’s a change in not only what you’re doing with your body, but with your breathing and your mind, too. I also like the outdoors and enjoy hiking, geocaching and swimming.
BEST ADVICE: Listen more than you talk. That way, you really understand something before you speak.
GUILTY PLEASURE: My staff would tell you that it’s good, high-quality dark chocolate. They know I need good chocolate from time to time, and some keep little stashes in their desks.
(509) 279-7000