Behind the Scenes is a bi-annual newsletter published by FFMA. Some of the topics discussed in Behind the Scenes include: FFMA event news and recaps, news around the state, facility news, legislative updates, employees "on-the-move", job postings, and sponsor spotlights.

Archived newsletters:
Jan 2004, Dec 2004, Feb 2005, May 2005, Nov 2005, Mar 2006, June 2006, Oct 2006
Mar 2007, June 2007, Dec 2007.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

I can hardly believe it is January and the holidays are behind us.  Now is the time that most of our seasons hit “high gear” in Florida and work becomes a never-ending blur of shows, games and events.  Happily, down the road in June is our conference where we will discuss all sorts of issues and common interests.  Allen Johnson is hard at work finishing up details on the site for the conference.

In December Mike LaPan hosted an excellent Operations Seminar that a number of our staff attended. The seminar focused on ADA issues and included a variety of excellent guest speakers. Special thanks to Mike and everyone from the USF Sun Dome for providing us with an outstanding educational and networking event.

Our Executive Board is planning another trip to Tallahassee to meet with our legislators in March.  We will deal with a number of legislative issues as well as planning for the June conference.  Please feel free to reach me or our Executive Director, Cherie Worley, with any ideas you would like us to discuss or topics we could embrace at the conference.  I look forward to speaking with all of you in the near future. Please let Cherie and I know if FFMA can help in any way.

Wishing you much success in the Spring.

Mary Bensel, President, FFMA

SAVE THE DATE

FFMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

 JUNE 2005

 CHECK WEBSITE FOR UPDATES ON DATES & LOCATION

2004 FFMA OPERATIONS SEMINAR RECAP

DECEMBER 7, 2004,
USF SUN DOME

Tampa, Fla. (January 24, 2005) – Eighty-eight industry professionals from around the state attended the 2004 Florida Facility Manager’s Association Operations Seminar at the USF Sun Dome on Tuesday, December 7 th, 2004. The event had been postponed twice due to the hurricanes that ravaged Florida during the fall.

With a theme of “Back To Basics”, the day long program featured presentations by Dr. Mel and Rod Jurado (‘People 101’), Kevin McGuire, CEO of McGuire Associates (‘Emergency Evacuation Planning For The Disabled’) and Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Jay Feaster (‘Teambuilding 101’). After a lunch catered by Carrabba’s, there were a variety of breakout sessions on industry topics, including marketing, operations and ticketing. The last scheduled event of the day, the always-popular Facility Managers Round Table discussion was led by Allen Johnson of the Orlando Centroplex, with Elmer Straub of the St. Pete Times Forum and Robert Rose of the Tampa Convention Center. The day concluded with a social and networking mixer catered by Margarita Mama’s in the Sun Dome lobby.

FFMA would like to thank attendees, sponsors, and especially the USF Sun Dome Staff, for their part in making the 2004 FFMA Operations Seminar a success!

FFMA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

FFMA SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE - The Scholarship Committee encourages members to inform their student interns and/or employees of the various FFMA student scholarships available and their respective deadlines. Students may go to the FFMA Web site at www.floridafacilities.com to find out more information about the scholarships, or download the application forms. The Committee will be awarding one scholarship each for the following:

$500 – FFMA Annual Meeting, plus waived registration fee, deadline April 15th
$500 – College Scholarship, deadline June 1st
$500 – IAAM/UVMC Annual Conference and Trade Show, deadline June 1st
$75 – FFMA Operations Seminar plus waived registration fee, deadline twenty (20) days prior to the Seminar

Submit completed applications to:

Cherie Worley, Executive Director
Florida Facility Managers Association
4431 SW 101st Drive
Gainesville, Fl 32608

cworley@atlantic.net

For additional information feel free to contact any member of the Scholarship Committee:

Lionel Dubay, Chair @ ldubay@ufl.edu
Rick Hamilton @ rhamilton@oceancenter.com
Jon Dorman @ jdorman@ci.orlando.fl.us

ON THE MOVE…

LAPAN NAMED DIRECTOR OF THE LAKELAND CENTER

LAKELAND , FL (December 14, 2004) -- The City of Lakeland is pleased to announce Mike LaPan as the newly appointed Director of The Lakeland Center. LaPan has been the President of Sun Dome, Inc. for the past 10 years where he has served with the current administrative team for over 17 years. LaPan graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management.

LaPan started his career in facility management at the University of South Florida 's Sun Dome located in Tampa , FL. He became a full-time employee of the Sun Dome in 1981, and has held various positions there including Business Manager and Director. LaPan said, "I am ecstatic about this incredible opportunity. The Lakeland Center has a great reputation in the industry and I can not wait to be a part of that rich history." He added, "The facility has the distinct advantage of having four separate buildings under one roof and I consider myself lucky to lead The Lakeland Center's great staff into the future."

City Manager, Doug Thomas said, "We conducted a national search and we are very pleased with the quality of the applicants. Mike is very familiar with Lakeland and the operations of The Lakeland Center." He added, "We feel that his knowledge and industry experience will be a great fit for our facility." The Lakeland Center was originally built in 1974 and received a major face-lift in 1996 with a renovation project that included the addition the Exhibit Hall as well as a redesign that connected all four buildings under one roof. The Lakeland Center includes the Jenkins Arena, Youkey Theatre, Sikes Hall and the Exhibit Hall. The facility offers over 100,000 square feet of convention and exhibit space, a grand ballroom, a 2,296 seat theatre, a 10,000 seat arena and an all suites on-site hotel.

TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ANNOUNCES TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS

TAMPA , Fl. - The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center announces the hiring of Mary Beth Rossi, vice president of finance, and Colleen Cartmill, human resources manager. Mary Beth Rossi is well versed in business and finance. She holds degrees in finance and accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology and Nazareth College of Rochester, and is a certified and licensed CPA in New York and Florida . Her experience includes almost 20 years of accounting, finance management, and planning and analysis for multi-million dollar corporations. Before her appointment as Vice President of Finance, Rossi worked as a key financial advisor and controller for various divisions of Cardinal Health, BF Goodrich and Johnson & Johnson.

Colleen Cartmill earned her degree from Eastern Illinois University and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. Her experience includes acting as the human resource manager and director for eight large companies including US Oncology, Global Imaging Systems and Wadley Regional Medical Center . Before her appointment to Human Resources Manager, Cartmill was a Human Resources Generalist for Florida Metropolitan University – Online in Tampa.

GLOBAL SPECTRUM PROMOTES ADAM SINCLAIR TO DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT UM CONVOCATION CENTER

CORAL GABLES, FL - Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field and operators of the University of Miami Convocation Center, promoted Adam Sinclair to the position of Director of Operations. Sinclair will be responsible for maintaining an effective and cost-efficient venue by controlling the operating budget and coordinating all elements of facility operations, including staff management, overseeing vendor contracts and maintenance of the facility.

"We are extremely excited about promoting Adam to this position," said Global Spectrum's Patrick L. McGrew, general manager for the Convocation Center . "Since joining our staff as an intern and then moving up to Operations Manager, he has demonstrated consistent enthusiasm and a hands-on, can-do attitude towards each of his responsibilities. His creative problem-solving skills and fresh ideas will help Global Spectrum make the Convocation Center one of the finest facilities of its size in the country."

Sinclair graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Sports Management and resides in North Miami, Florida.

THE FLORIDA THEATRE PRESENTS JENNIFER LEE MORGAN

Welcome to the newest member of our Florida Theatre family. Jennifer began in September as House Manager. She graduated from the University of North Florida with a B.S. in Communications and has over six years of restaurant and hospitality experience. Look for Jennifer at our next event. She is eager to coordinate awesome events and make your Florida Theatre experience even more exciting.

ORLANDO CENTROPLEX HIRES NEW MASTER ELECTRICIAN

ORLANDO , FL – The Orlando Centroplex has hired Ron Rosenke as a master electrician for the complex. Ron has served in the same capacity for the City of Orlando with the Wastewater Department for nineteen years. The Orlando Centroplex would like to welcome Ron to the Centroplex family.

THE LATEST FROM FFMA LOBBYIST -
WAYNE R. MALANEY, P.A.

The 2005 Legislative Session is rapidly approaching. A number of bills have already been filed which will be of interest to the association. Most are repeats of bills that were filed last year but, obviously, did not pass.

There has already been an organizational session and one special session. The Legislature is currently conducting committee meeting and has started the process of holding hearings on bills. In fact the bill containing the language on use of pyrotechnics will be heard the week of Jan. 24th, 2005.

At the top of FFMA’s agenda this year will be a bill to put in place permanently the tax exemptions implemented in 2000, but with a sunset, now set for July 2006. Our sponsors will be Sen. Victor Crist (Tampa) and Rep. Jennifer Carroll (Jacksonville). If you are in either of these cities or the surrounding metropolitan area please make the effort to call these legislators personally and thank them for their efforts. If time permits take the time to personally visit and tell them how much this means to your facility, not to mention the industry. If you are need additional information before visiting with them send me an e-mail or call me. As for the rest of you, once I have the bill numbers I will send out a broadcast e-mail with this information. The FFMA then needs you to contact your legislators (not only those in your district, but also those serving the surrounding areas where your patrons live) and ask them o sign on as co-sponsors of the bills. KEEP THIS NEWS LETTER HANDY AS A REMINDER THAT ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL. The more support these bills have the easier to pass and the harder for the Governor to think about a veto. We will deal with inundating the Governor with letters in support of these measures after it passes the legislature.

Similarly, Democratic House members are behind a bill (HB 9) and a concurrent resolution (HCR 11) to establish a Joint Legislative Stales and Use Tax Exemption Review Committee. The name speaks for itself. It is similar to an ill-fated measure proposed years ago by Sen. McKay, but more limited in scope.

As I mentioned, the pyrotechnic language has been filed. It is a part of a larger bill filed by Rep. Quinones and Sen. Constantine. The bill is primarily addresses fire fighters and their training. The House Bill is # 69 and the Senate Bill is # 108.

Rep. McInvale and both Sen. Siplin and Sen. Constantine have filed bills (HB 163 and SBs 156 and 66, respectively) to return half of certain sales, use and other transaction taxes to the local government owning certain sized convention centers (currently more than 60,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space-but this has changed annually) located in a county levying a tourist development tax levied pursuant to s.125.0104, F.S. If your building is one of the eligible buildings you will want to contact your area’s Senators and Representatives. There is a cap on how much a building can receive per fiscal year as well as a statewide cap on the total amount of tax that can be “siphoned” off general revenue.

A bill has, once again, been filed by Sen. Posey (SB 368) to remove the sales tax exemption on skybox rental.

Two House members (Stansel and Grimsley) have filed a bill (HB 135) to limit the liability of certain entities with regard to the duty to provide adequate street lighting or security lighting. You will be impacted if your ownership is by a political subdivision of the state.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

BIG CHANGES IN ST. PETERSBURG

ST. PETERSBURG , FL - Over the past year the City of St. Petersburg has conducted several studies to determine the future of the Bayfront Center . Well - the future is here. The 8,000-seat Times Arena at Bayfront Center is almost completely gone. Demolition began in early November 2004, and the site will be clear at the beginning of February.

The 2,000-seat Mahaffey Theater will remain, and in fact will undergo a $20 million renovation. With the demolition of the arena, the entire south end of the building will be opened up. Renovation plans include a new three-story glass entry facade, doubling of the lobby space, new restrooms and concession areas, a new box office and dressing room enhancements. The theater will close May 23, 2005 and re-open in January 2006. Aude, Shand & Williams, AIA and Hennessy Construction Services are spearheading the project.

An RFP for private management of the theater is currently being advertised. Proposals are due in early March 2005.

Additionally, the world-renowned Salvador Dali' Museum is taking advantage of the opportunity to relocate to the site formerly occupied by the arena. City residents voted to allow the move to the prime waterfront property. Following the vote, the Dali Museum began its capital campaign, and construction of the 50,000 square-foot facility could begin in 2006.

NEW ACOUSTIC SHELL SET TO DEBUT AT MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Daytona Beach, FL - The newly installed acoustic shell, which focuses sound throughout a hall without the need of amplification - will be used to enhance the sound of the college's Concert Chorale when it performs Rhapsody of Christmas at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, December 5 at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center. The shell delivers lush, full-stage acoustics for improved on-stage ensemble and sound projection to the audience.

The purchase of the Wenger Diva Shell, which cost over $170,000, was made possible by a 2004 grant from Volusia County 's ECHO Grants-In-Aid program. The Program provides funds for construction, renovation or restoration of Environmental Learning, Cultural, Historical/Heritage, and Outdoor Recreation facilities. The college received a $500,000 grant, which is also being used to install an art gallery in the lobby and a video system throughout the center.

TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Tampa , FL ( December 2, 2004 ) - The Tampa Convention Center has received one of the hospitality industry's most prestigious awards, The MeetingNews 2004 “Planners' Choice Award." The award recognizes the Tampa Convention Center for delivering superior service to meeting planners and convention attendees. Criteria for the award includes design and quality of exhibit and meeting space, knowledge of on-site convention center staff, quality of food, technical capabilities and location. Over 60,000 professional meeting planners, association executives and corporate executives make up the magazine's circulation. Planners nominated Tampa Convention Center by email, fax or personal letters.

Tampa Convention Center Administrator John Moors said, "This award exemplifies the dedication and professionalism of the staff at the Tampa Convention Center . They are among the best in the industry and it is gratifying to see them recognized by our clients and attendees.” Tampa Convention Center , located on the waterfront in the heart of downtown Tampa , has recently completed renovations, boat docking facilities and meeting room additions. The center is owned and operated by the City of Tampa .

LYN CREASER MARRIES

Lyn Creaser, Director of Tours for White Stallion Productions Inc. in Oviedo, Florida, was married November 27th, 2004 at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Lyn has been with the Lipizzaner Stallions since January 1988 and during her visit to Hawaii where the show performed last year she met her husband, Roderic "Rocky". Although her new name is Edralin, Lyn will continue to use her "business name" of Lyn Creaser. Rocky and Lyn plan to make their home in Oviedo, Florida. FFMA would like to with Lyn and Rock all the best in the years to come.

UCF ARENA MANAGED BY GLOBAL SPECTRUM

The UCF Arena, now managed by Global Spectrum the fastest growing firm in the public assembly facility management field, has new additions. The former university employees who joined Global Spectrum are Matt Mustoe who has been named Assistant General Manager/Director of Operations, Erik Waldman, Event Coordinator, and Scott Stella, Event Coordinator. Other new additions include Frank Vecchio, Building Mechanic, Brandon Gusler, Equipment Rental Manager, and Mike Terrell Operations/Turnaround Manager. The UCF Arena is in the process of finalizing the positions of Marketing Manager, Custodial Supervisor, and Box Office Manager. The UCF Athletic Ticket Office and Arena Box Offices have combined and now operate from the UCF Arena. Plans for the new 10,000 seat UCF Convocation Center are underway and groundbreaking looks to start Summer 2005 with completion in Fall of 2007.

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO PARTNERS WITH ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER TO PROVIDE ULTIMATE SERVICE TO MEETING PLANNERS

ORLANDO, FL - Universal Orlando resort has entered into an unprecedented partnership with Florida 's Orange County Convention Center to offer "one-stop entertainment shopping" for meeting planners, show managers and exhibitors.  Beginning February 3, 2005 Universal Orlando will have an on site office at the Orange County Convention Center from which it will provide prospective clients full-service entertainment associated with this world-famous resort, whether it is selling park tickets for one or 10,000; or private events at their theme parks, the on-site hotels or at the CityWalk entertainment and dining complex.  "This first-of-its-kind partnership makes it extremely easy for clients to accomplish all of their meeting and conference, from business objectives to great entertainment" said Paul Rothenberg, Universal's vice president of event sales, group sales and CityWalk marketing. "Meeting planners get a better sense of the strength of this community when they call the OCCC and can immediately be dialed into all the great opportunities offered by Universal Orlando."  

The Universal Orlando resort is the first theme park destination to have precedence on site at the Orange County Convention Center .  "We continue to explore new and innovative ways to provide added value and new services to our clients.  Through this unique partnership, the OCCC can offer clients the opportunity to enjoy the benefits and convenience of Universal Orlando," states Yulita Osuba, Marketing Manager.

PALM BEACH COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER CELEBRATES ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

West Palm Beach, FL – First came Goldie Hawn. Then John Kerry, John Edwards, Dick Cheney, and Jay Leno. Joining them were hundreds of hurricanes’ homeless. And there was this magic moment: City Commissioner Ray Liberti on bended knee before his girlfriend for a very public marriage proposal. All were part of 144 events that took place during the Palm Beach Convention Center ’s opening year.

In total, the $84 million center accommodated about 225,000 visitors in its first twelve months. Across the country, convention centers historically lose money during the first years of operation. Palm Beach County ’s center was no exception. It lost nearly $1.3 million through the end of the county’s budget year. Not quite as bad as expected. It was projected to lose an additional $152,000.

The center hosted 33 more events than expected. The bulk of its bookings were meetings, conferences, and banquets. Still missing, though, are the large conventions the center was built for: the ones that draw people from across the country and fill hotel rooms throughout the area.

Many say those large-scale events won’t happen without a convention center hotel, and a deal for one is tied up in court in two separate lawsuits. Ocean Properties of Delray Beach was awarded the deal, but it was challenged by the runner-up CityPlace Partners. CityPlace Partners has alleged the selection process was rigged. The matter was scheduled for trial in January.

In September, the convention center stayed full – full of unexpected hurricane victims and displaced county employees. Part of the center’s exhibition hall was turned into temporary offices for Palm Tran and the property appraiser after their offices were damaged in Hurricane Frances . They stayed for 51 days. More than 14,000 meals were served to hurricane victims when Red Cross shelters shut down. “Convention centers, they’re traditionally made to help with economic impact…One day this facility will do that. But it’s also nice to know that we can provide assistance to the community when we need it,” said Dave Anderson, the center’s resident manager.

Anderson and Foster, the center’s general manager, were pleased with the convention center’s first yea and credited watching expenses and the dedication of the staff for making it happen. “I think the good news is that we showed in year one that we could be fiscally responsible, beat the deficit,” Anderson said. “And I’m pretty confident that we can beat that in year two.”

Convention center officials expect nearly three times as many events to take place in the facility over the next year. An international pastor’s wives conference took place in the end of January and was expected to use 13 hotels. The event was expected to draw thousands and be broadcast to the world via satellite and the internet. “This is really the economic kick that you want from a convention center,” said Warren “Mac” McLaughlin, president of the county’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s going to do better and better and better.”

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CONVOCATION CENTER CELEBRATES 2ND ANNIVERSARY

Coral Gables, FL- Since the University of Miami Convocation Center opened its doors to the public in January 2003, the spotlight has been on great entertainment. From basketball hoops to hip-hop groups; and from family shows to spiritual and political prose, visitors to the 7,000+ seat multipurpose entertainment facility have seen it all. As we prepare to commemorate our 2 nd Anniversary, we will not only be celebrating our successes over the past two years, we’ll be looking toward a future of continued success as well.

From L to R: City of Coral Gables Vice Mayor Rafael Cabrera, City of Coral Gables Mayor Donald Slesnick, Coral Gables Commissioner Wayne E. Withers, Jr., University of Miami President Donna Shalala, Coral Gables City Manager David Brown, University of Miami Convocation Center Director of Marketing Heidi M. Palmer, Coral Gables Commissioner Maria Anderson, Coral Gables Commissioner William H. Kerdyk, Jr.

The venue got off to a great start by selling out its very first concert featuring British rock group Coldplay. Playing in large-part to a college-aged audience, Coldplay delivered a performance that was not only memorable but set the bar for other events. Additionally, a number of South Florida radio stations have made themselves at home here by hosting multiple artists including Kanye West, Ja Rule, Sean Paul, and Wayne Wonder at events such as the sold out 103.5 Beat Down concert and Power 96’s Reggae-fest. The UM Men’s and Women’s basketball teams are also a permanent fixture at the Convocation Center and draw a consistent crowd of Canes fans out for high-flying hoops action, especially since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference recently.

The goal of the UM Convocation Center has been to bring a new energy to the University of Miami Coral Gables Campus and provide the growing South Florida population with exciting, quality events. Our 2 nd Anniversary celebration did just that as well. On Wednesday, January 19 as the UM Men’s basketball team prepared to face off against top ranked Duke University, patrons were treated to a 2 nd Anniversary pre-game celebration including prize giveaways and special guest appearances from City of Coral Gables officials including Mayor Don Slesnick, Vice Mayor Rafael Cabrera, City Manager David Brown, Commissioners Maria Anderson, William Kerdyk, and Chip Withers and University of Miami President Donna Shalala.

THE ORLANDO CENTROPLEX SETS A RECORD SEASON

ORLANDO , FL - TD Waterhouse Centre hosted Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band’s first hurricane relief benefit concert to raise funds for hurricane survivors. “Surviving the Storm – Hurricane Benefit Concert” was presented by Bank of America, Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Outback Steakhouse. The proceeds went to the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund and the endowment is responsible for distributing funds to hurricane survivors in Florida, Alabama and the Caribbean. This was the most devastating hurricane season in Florida history and we are grateful for Mr. Buffett’s efforts to reach out to the needs of our community and others.

Jimmy Buffett also helped the Orlando Centroplex make its own mark in the history books by setting a new concert record of $170,000 in gross sales. Other record breakers include the annual Florida Classic set a new record in both sales and per capita (per person) spending by over $26,000. The Orlando Magic per caps is nine percent higher with attendance remaining the same.

What do Elton John and Josh Groban have in common? Well, their tours stop in Orlando and they’ll be playing our very own TD Waterhouse Centre to SOLD OUT shows. The prolific musician/songwriter Elton John performs on Sat., March 19 and Josh, whom is nothing short of spectacular, had his show on Monday, January 31.

What’s in your wallet? We had the SOLD OUT Capital One Bowl and record-breaking concession sales. We surpassed last year’s Capital One Bowl’s total gross concession sales by 20%, which is over $103,000. That’s what is in our wallet! Some interesting stats about the game:

• over 52,500 beer/liquor drinks were served, which equates to
  6,400 gallons
• over 36,200 soft drinks and bottled water were served
• beverage sales accounted for 85.2% of total concession sales
• 10,750 hot dogs were consumed (1,789 pounds)
• $27,500 was donated to not-for-profit groups working the concession stands. These funds are used in our community to support high school bands, choral and dance groups and high school athletes.

THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU RECEIVES CONVENTIONSOUTH MAGAZINE’S INAUGURAL READERS’ CHOICE AWARD

In December 2004, The Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau was presented with ConventionSouth magazine’s inaugural Readers’ Choice Award. ConventionSouth has been the recognized leader in covering the South’s meetings industry for the last 21 years. After more than a decade of recognizing some of the most talented meeting professionals in the nation through its annual “Meeting Professionals To Watch” designation, ConventionSouth editors turned the tables by asking meeting professionals to name the convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), convention centers, conference centers, hotels, resorts and other meeting sites that they believe display exemplary creativity and professionalism to groups. Only the top vote getters out of approximately 2,000 meeting sites and CVBs received this recognition. Readers’ comments ranged from the very simple, “Great facility to work with,” to the very detailed, with some readers even bestowing accolades to particularly outstanding staff members.

“The value in receiving this recognition is that it comes from the United States ’ top meeting planners who book events in the South. These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have determined that the recipients of ConventionSouth’s Readers’ Choice Awards do indeed display the commitment to professionalism, creativity, excellence and outstanding customer service they require,” said ConventionSouth President and Publisher J. Talty O’Connor. “It is an honor to announce that The Palm Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau was selected by these planners as one of the best in the South.”

OCCC DOES IT AGAIN – PRIME SITE AWARD WINNER!

ORLANDO , FL - Orange County Convention Centerhas once again won Facilities & Destinations Magazine's 2004 Prime Site Award. This is the OCCC's fifth Prime Site Award. "What an honor," exclaims Tom Ackert, OCCC's Executive Director. "This award is based on the publication's readership which means the word is out...we are a world-class facility.  Meetings hosted at the Orange County Convention Center are a success for so many of our clients, and once again we have the award to prove it." Prime Site Awards are part of the first excellence recognition programs to be created and presented by event management publications.

Prime Site Awards are based on the opinions of those in the hospitality industry who are directly involved with site selections, such as association executives, meeting planners and tradeshow managers. Award-winning facilities range in size from smaller venues to multi-million square feet complexes like the Orange County Convention Center. The awards are presented yearly and are based on recommendations of the publication's leadership of 16,000 association meeting planners nationwide as well as those in Canada. There are a number of ballot categories that include a facility's food & beverage service, professionalism of the staff, proximity to nearby hotels, technical capabilities, architectural design, versatility of meeting space and similar factors. Prime Site Awards are part of the first excellence recognition programs to be created and presented by event management publications.

OCCC #1 IN HOSTING THE INDUSTRY’S FASTEST GROWING SHOWS

ORLANDO , FL – Orange County Convention Center is proud to announce that it has hosted more of Tradeshow Week's Fastest-Growing 50 Shows in 2003 than any other venue.

1. Winners will be those shows with the greatest percentage of growth from 2002-2004.
2. Net square footage will be the primary determining criteria.
3. Shows must have been held in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
4. Biennial and triennial shows may have been held in 2001.
5. Shows must have been held within the United States or Canada .
6. Collocated shows must be submitted as one show, and will be considered if the collocation existed for all years under review.
7. Shows that are collocated in certain years may submit for all years without the collocated space.
8. Only temporary space will be considered.
9. Number of exhibiting companies will be used as a tie-breaker if needed.
10. Shows under consideration will be required to submit floor plans for each year and permit verification of net square footage and number of exhibiting companies by the service contractor.
11. An officer of the show management company or association official will be asked to certify growth figures.
12. Shows that are not verifiable will be removed from consideration.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Florida Facility Managers Association would like to take this opportunity to recognize White Stallion Productions for their outstanding support and involvement. In 1970 Gary Lashinsky of White Stallion Productions created a new family arena attraction starring the World Famous LIPIZZANER STALLIONS. The Lipizzaner Stallions are celebrating their 35th Anniversary Tour in 2005.

History and Highlights of the Show

Many horses and riders were brought from Europe to perform in this unique family oriented arena attraction. Over the years, twenty-three million people throughout North and South America , Great Britain , Europe , Australia and Hawaii have seen this internationally acclaimed spectacle.

2005 represents the 35th Anniversary season of The Lipizzaner Stallions. All new music, choreography and routines have been incorporated in this anniversary edition with a major emphasis on the historical background and foundation of the Lipizzaner breed, from its original breeding and use as a horse of war to a horse of nobility and aristocracy to a living form of equestrian art. The show emulates the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, in its presentation of Lipizzans, and maintains a traditional as well as entertaining performance similar in many ways to what you would see at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.

Also included in the performance is a segment called the "Airs Above the Ground." These are the spectacular leaps and maneuvers, once used by riders in saddle to protect and defend themselves on the battlefield, which are now preserved as an equestrian work of art. When you see the Lipizzans perform, it is like stepping back four hundred years and viewing one of the greatest equine ballets in history.

The Lipizzan is a rare and unique breed; its history and culture is known worldwide. The Walt Disney movie The Miracle of the White Stallions, depicting General George S. Patton saving them at the end of World War II from certain extinction, created an even greater world-wide interest in the Lipizzaner breed. Had it not been for Patton, there would be no Lipizzans today.

Although the Lipizzans star in this presentation, the ancestral forefather of the Lipizzan, the Spanish Andalusian, is featured in a high school presentation with special wardrobe themed to traditional Spanish music.

Not only is the Andalusian shown in saddle, but also in a unique presentation where the rider performs all the maneuvers of the Grand Prix Olympic level dressage on the longline, while walking behind the horse and guiding him through his paces.

The current tour features 12 to 14 stallions performing selected maneuvers as described above in an exciting presentation.

The conclusion of the performance of The Lipizzaner Stallions is the traditional Grand Quadrille, featuring six to eight Lipizzaner Stallions with their riders performing an intricate, equine ballet, exhibiting maneuvers through the highest level of dressage. The Lipizzans prance, march and intricately weave their way across the floor to the music of the Masters in a spectacular ballet of four-footed white dancers.

Harkening back to time when the horse was a symbol of grace and majesty, the Lipizzaner Stallions are truly a great experience to be enjoyed by the entire family. One does not need to be a horse lover to enjoy "The Equestrian Treat of the Century"!

More information about White Stallion Productions and The “World Famous” Lipizzaner Stallions can be found at www.lipizzaner.com.

Family Business/Friend to FFMA

White Stallion Productions books and produces a number of shows in Florida facilities each year. The White Stallion friends we have come to know include:

Gary and Elizabeth Lashinsky, Owners
Lyn Creaser, Director of Tours
Michael Lashinsky, Marketing Director
Barb Borer, Booking Director
Brandi Wygal - Technical Operations Director

White Stallion Productions has enjoyed a long standing relationship with the Florida Facility Managers Association. The “World Famous” Lipizzaner Stallion is one of the longest running family shows currently on tour. Gary Lashinsky and White Stallion Productions have been “horsing around” for thirty-five years. He fondly remembers the the development of the association. He proudly supports the fine work of the FFMA.

Florida Facility Managers Association salutes White Stallion Productions for their continued support and involvement.

NEWS OF FFMA FRIENDS

BILL BECKER REPORTS BACK FROM THE “LIFE OF LEISURE”

Ava and I have been traveling and taking it easy. We leave next week on a cruise to Hawaii with my parents.  We plan to sell the house and move over to the west coast of Florida this spring. Retirement is treating us well. I look forward to getting a chance to try out the clubs FFMA was so kind to present to me. I guess the easiest way to let you know how retirement is treating me is to tell you that the other day my BP was 107 over 74 and that is without taking any medication.   Ava and I look forward to seeing everyone at FFMA if you all allow “old goats” to attend. - Bill

WWE VP, ED COHEN, RESIGNS (story reprinted from Venues Today)

A major administrative shakeup on the live side of events at World Wrestling Entertainment Monday, Jan. 3, found Ed Cohen, Executive Vice President of Live Events, resigning, and Mike Franks, vice president of live events promotions, exiting as well.Cohen, reached at home, cited a reoccurrence of cancer, which he has been fighting for many years. “I’m going to have to fight this as I have fought the other battles. It will involve all my time and energy, so I resigned today [Jan. 3]. I start the procedures tomorrow,” Cohen said.

He had been with WWE for 22 years. He can be reached at 86 Weed Ave., Norwalk, CT, 06585.

Franks, who joined WWE a year ago (Venues Today, February 2004) and is a veteran of family show promotions, declined to discuss the circumstances of his departure. He is still negotiating severance pay.

Sally Prescutto, WWE director of booking, confirmed that Cohen had left Nov. 12 on a paid leave of absence and Franks left Monday. Prescutto has worked with Cohen for 14 years and is taking up some of the slack in dealing with booking arenas. Brett Hart, a promoter for WWE in Tampa , will also help out, she said. — Linda Deckard

SYMPATHY FOR THE PASSING OF RICHARD “DICK” BORROUGHS, LONG TIME FRIEND OF THE FFMA

It is with deep sympathy that we bid farewell to Dick Borroughs. After a two and a half year battle with cancer, Dick passed away Dec 2, 2004 . He was a supporter and sponsor for the Florida Facility Manager Association from the early days and throughout the years. Dick was also a respected past chair of the Allied Committee and a member of the IAAM Board of Directors. Burroughs is survived by his wife, Denise; sons, Brian and his wife Lori and their children Kyrsten and Danielle of Green Bay, WI; Kevin and his wife, Jennifer and their children, Cale, Ian and Grace, also of Green Bay; and brother, Gary and his wife Linda of Lititz, PA. Memorial services were held on December 6 at the First Presbyterian Church in Guthrie Center , IA. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or First Presbyterian Church. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Denise, and family at this difficult time. Dick Burroughs will be missed by his friends at the FFMA.

FFMA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UPDATES

FFMA WEBSITE UPDATE

Please remember that the FFMA website (http://www.floridafacilities.com) has an online bulletin board system for job postings, people seeking employment, and for facilities wanting and selling equipment. The bulletin board can be found under the "Classifieds" link on the left side of the FFMA website. User registration for the bulletin board is suggested, but it is NOT required. For information on how to register, please view the "Welcome" message located in any of the discussion forums. This bulletin board system has the potential for being one of the most valuable tools of the website, and it is currently being under-utilized.

FFMA WELCOMES THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS…

Colin Bissett, Manager of Largo Cultural Center, Largo
Paul Cazzolla, General Manager of Lyric Theatre, Stuart
John Mazzola, Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center, Okeechobee
Lisa McDevitt, Director, Flagler Auditorium, Bunnell
Lynn Parfitt, Deputy Director, City of Daytona Beach/Peabody Auditorium
Colin Turey, Assistant Director, University North Florida, Jacksonville
Mike Weglicki, Assistant Director, University North Florida, Jacksonville

FFMA’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President: Mary Bensel, General Manager, Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
VP: Lionel Dubay (also a Past President), Director, Stephen C. O'Connell Center
Secretary/Treasurer: Terry Genovese, Assoc. Director, UCF Recreation & Wellness Ctr
Member At Large: Rick Hamilton, Director, Ocean Center (Daytona Beach)
Past Presidents: Mike LaPan, Director, The Lakeland Center (Lakeland)
Roger Englert, Deputy Director, Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center
Bill Becker, Retiree
Allen Johnson, Director, Orlando Centroplex
Ron Spencer, Director, Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center