Awards

Venues Today offers a number of annual awards to honor excellence in the venue industry. Have an idea in mind? Visit our nominations page, or email dave@venuestoday.com.

Women of Influence

In July, Venues Today honors three professional women for their contributions to the live entertainment industry. Considered to be one of Venues Today’s most prestigious honors, the Women of Influence are given out each year during the International Association of Venue Manager’s annual conference.

Past Winners

2011

  • JoAnn Armstrong, Honda Center, Anaheim, Calif.
  • Sydney Greenblatt, Sydney Greenblatt Event Marketing
  • Sally Roach, Township Auditorium, Columbia, S.C.

2010

  • Liza Cartmell, Aramark
  • Tammy Koolbeck, VenuWorks
  • Christie Castillo, Staples Center and Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live

2009

  • Nicole Feld, Feld Entertainment
  • Sandie Aaron, SMG
  • Patti-Anne Tarlton, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment

2008

  • Jane Kleinberger, Paciolan
  • Claire Rothman, The Forum, Inglewood, Calif.
  • Peggy Daidakis, Baltimore Convention Center
  • Brenda Tinnen, Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.
  • Shura Lindgren, St. Charles (Mo.) Convention Center

2007

  • Donna Dowless, XOXO Media Group
  • Robyn Williams, Portland (Ore.) Center for the Performing Arts
  • Carol Wallace, San Diego Convention Center
  • Kim Bedier, Comcast Arena, Everett, Wash.
  • Barbara Hubbard, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces

Hall of Headline Awards

Each 2 December, Venues Today hands out its most prestigious honor, the Hall of Headline Award. The award is given to members in four different categories – News, Bookings, Marketing and Concessions. The awards are given to individuals who have made a difference in the facilities industry in the last 12 months, and recipients are nominated and elected by Venues Today readers.

2010

  • News – Jay Roberts, Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh
  • Bookings – Jon Bon Jovi
  • Marketing – Paul Hooper and Matt Johnson at Rupp Arena in Lexington
  • Concessions – Norb Bartosik, California State Fair, Sacramento

2009

  • News – Lee Zeidman, Staples Center Los Angeles and Nokia Theatre, L.A. Live
  • Bookings – Gregg Perloff with Another Planet Entertainment, Marc Geiger from William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and Brad Parsons, Arena Network
  • Marketing – Ed Snider and Peter Luukko, Comcast-Spectacor
  • Concessions – Steve Zahn, Centerplate

2008

  • News – Kenneth Feld, Feld Entertainment
  • Bookings – John Bolton, BOK Center, Tulsa, Okla.
  • Marketing – Jeff Blosser, Oregon Convention Center, Portland
  • Concessions – David Padilla, Puerto Rico Convention Center, San Juan

2007

  • News – Wes Westley, SMG
  • Bookings – Bruce MacTaggart and Brad Parson, Walking With Dinosaurs
  • Marketing – Larry Wilson, John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, Va.
  • Concessions – Key Young, Ovations

2006

  • News – Peter Sullivan, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
  • Bookings – Mike Scanlon, Rose Quarter, Portland
  • Marketing – Terry Barnes, Ticketmaster
  • Bookings – Ken Young, Ovations

2005

  • News – Doug Thornton, Louisiana SuperDome, New Orleans
  • Bookings – Brad Parsons, ArenaNetwork and Ron VanDeVeen, Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.
  • Marketing – Dennis Scanlon, Rose Quarter, Portland
  • Concessions – Peter Luukko, Comcast-Spectacor
     

Stewards of Sustainability

In our August “Green” issue, Venues Today honors three executives or facilities for their stewardship toward the environment, whether it’s a venue that has achieved LEED status, or an executive who has reduced waste.

2010

  • Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta
  • Target Field, Minneapolis
  • Eric Ritz, Global Inheritance

2009

  • Jim Tripp, Aramark at Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center
  • Target Center, Minneapolis
  • Leonard Bonacci, Philadelphia Eagles

Box Office Stars

Each January, Venues Today honors three box office professionals for excellence in the ticketing industry, whether it’s a new innovation that has improved the ticket-buying experience, or an idea that leads to a bump in revenue. The awards are given out during the opening luncheon for the annual International Ticketing Association conference.

Past Winners

2011

  • Anita Guerricabeitia, Boise State, Idaho
  • Bernie Berry, WolfTrap Performing Arts Center, Vienna, Va.
  • Sharon Dunaway, BOK Center, Tulsa, Okla.

2010

  • Brian Sayre, PlayhouseSquare, Cleveland
  • Tom Benson, Tickets.com
  • Diana Bullion, Staples Center, Los Angeles

2009

  • Sherry Caldwell, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Josh Logan, Houston Rockets
  • Russ Stanley, San Francisco Giants