the Q 4 2 015
“IT’S THE PEOPLE”
A PPRECI ATING THE TE A M MEMBERS W HOSE H A RD WORK POW ERS SM A RT CIT Y At Smart City, we have great people who want to do well, who are capable of doing great things, and who come to work fired up to achieve them. It is because of the enthusiasm and dedication of our team members that Smart City is able to continue its success as a company. These individuals highlighted below are just some of the many Smart City team members whose hard work every day shows that it really is the people who make the difference. LONGEVITY: In the back of each Pinnacle, we publish a list of employment anniversaries to celebrate the longevity of our team members across the country. It is not uncommon to see Smart City employees celebrating 15, 20, or even 30 years with the company. Bob Sutton, our Director of Systems Development, recently celebrated his 40-year anniversary with Smart City. Bob is the brains behind our order processing and customer service database. He is responsible for many of the behind-the-scenes processes that we use in the field to operate on a daily basis and deliver quality event telecommunications and utilities services. The loyalty shown from employees like Bob is what powers Smart City and encourages other team members to strive to do their best every day.
VERSATILITY: To operate in the meetings and events industry, one often takes on the responsibilities of many roles. Tommie Beltz is no exception. A Customer Sales & Service Representative (CSSR) at our corporate office in Las Vegas, Tommie previously worked as an Event Coordinator with the Smart City Las Vegas Convention Center team. In addition to providing event assistance for the Customer Support Department, Tommie has traveled to Atlantic City to work as the acting General Manager for the Smart City Atlantic City Convention Center team. He also serves as the main point-of-contact for the Smart City Virginia Beach Convention Center team. He combines his hands-on experience from working in the field with his knowledge of customer support operations to assist multiple convention center clients at once. Tommie is just one of many employees within Smart City that understands the importance of “think fast, move fast” and going above and beyond to support customers.
COMMUNITY SERVICE-MINDED: At Smart City, we believe that with success comes the responsibility to give back to our communities. All year long, our team members participate in organizations that make the communities in which we live and operate better places to live. Whether it’s partnering with the Houston Habitat for Humanity to build a house in honor of Pope Francis, serving up food at the Van De Walle Fajita Corral, lacing up a pair of walking shoes for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, or planting trees and sorting recyclables to boost the convention center’s sustainability efforts, our team members across the country are always eager to show that “we care and give back.”
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CONTENTS
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
02 P R E S I D E N T ’ S CORNER
HOLIDAY W ISHES
WITH SUCCESS COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE BACK
Quarterly overview from Smart City’s president, Mark Haley.
To all of our customers, clients, friends, and team members: Happy holidays to all and best wishes in the New Year. Enjoy the Smart City version of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” as written by Dan Dobson, our General Manager in Louisville, Kentucky.
07 W E CARE & GIVE BACK
Highlighting the community service efforts of our Smart City teams across the country.
08 C E N T E R U P D A T E S What’s new in our buildings? Special updates from the field.
12 E M P L O Y E E O F THE MONTH
Recognizing this quarter’s outstanding employees.
14 T E A M U P D A T E S Team member milestones and new arrival announcements.
16 A N N I V E R S A R Y LIST
Anniversaries of team members throughout the company.
’Twas the holiday season from LA to Kentucky, the buildings are quiet and the teams feel quite lucky. Cat 5 cables and fiber were all hung up with care and the gaffer’s tape was packed with plenty to spare. The kids ask for toys and we hear all their plea, but how will we input that into our CRM? Let’s see. The networks are dreaming of bandwidth galore, until the NOC calls to tweak them some more. Up north, it is cold and there may be a storm, but Billing will soon call to say Vegas is warm. We think of the shows that have come in the past, and know we’ve done well as we think and move fast. There are those customers that make memories quite fond, but for all of them we Speak, Listen and Respond. All of our safety officers are very happy, you see, for their portion of QA is done completely. Our GMs are quite happy with smiles ear to ear, looking at customer service, it’s been a good year. Songs may be sung as we gather together and hope that all travelers encounter nice weather. We’re following compliance in making our snow, for into the shredder our paper documents go! I don’t have much time to read from my scrawl. We just want to say Happy Holidays, all! We hope that your houses are decorated and pretty, and wish the best to you from Smart City.
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BOOSTS MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER
“George Cagle (General Manager), thank you for your help. It is very appreciated. It was also a pleasure working with Dustin Unger (Technician). He was very attentive to our needs and always making sure we had what we needed.” Jackie Koepsell, MLT Vacations
C O R P O R A T E - L A S V E G A S
“I have been working with Tammy Clark (CSSR) on my orders for an upcoming show in Houston. She has been such a wonderful help – responsive, caring, and patient. I just wanted to let you know what a pleasure it has been for me to work with Tammy. Two (or more) thumbs up!” Tracy Orpin, International Association of Administrative Professionals
C O L O R A D O C O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R
“We really enjoyed having our Online Learning 2015/Allen Experience Conference here! Debbie Olivas (General Manager), you have the patience of a saint. I have been doing this for 20+ years and I ALWAYS breathe a sigh of relief when I find out Smart City is the in-house Internet provider.” Leah Nelson, Training Magazine Events
SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER
“I wish to convey my personal thanks to you for the wonderful job you did for our Congress. I commend your efforts put forth at all times. Your ability to accommodate, even when it wasn’t easy or convenient (pre- and on-site during the event), contributed to a successful relationship. All of your patience, understanding, and efforts were greatly appreciated. My best to you and hope that our paths meet again.” Darlene Seta, IDA World Congress and Technical Programs
K AY BA ILE Y HUTCHISON CON V ENTION CENTER
“Dear Chris Pendleton (General Manager), Kasandra Williams (CSSR), and Rey Crespo (Operations Manager): Thank you for working with us on the 2015 High Horsepower (HHP) Summit. The team appreciated your assistance and impromptu troubleshooting that resulted in very successful sessions, workshops, and registration processes. We cannot thank you enough! You were wonderful. Thank you for everything!” Karen Rauda & Kimberly Klonoski, HHP Summit
PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER
“The local crew was always able to help us with our last minute changes in a very timely manner. There wasn’t a time when they couldn’t fulfill our requests. Todd Zuccato (General Manager) and his staff did an excellent job of taking care of our needs and requests. Would definitely look forward to working with these folks again the next time we come to Phoenix.” Rick Daniell, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
WA SHINGTON STATE CON V ENTION CENTER
“Whoever set up the wi-fi at #summit15, this is for you. Excellent work.” @thedouglane
SMART CITY BOOST - LOS ANGELES
“I would like to give a boost to the entire Smart City Los Angeles team for the LA Auto Show. The show was the largest to date, and the team did an exceptional job with the installation. Great job, team!” Matt Chavez, Operations Manager, Smart City Los Angeles
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BOOSTS ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER
“The service and professionalism of the Smart City staff exceeded [our] expectations! Everyone was responsive, flexible, and critical to the success of the expo. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with the staff again. We really appreciate the flexibility of everyone with the last minute changes.” D-23 show management survey
WA LT ER E . WA SHIN G T O N C O N V EN T I O N CEN T ER
“Ms. Brice, On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, I would like to thank you and your staff for your assistance as partners in making our 45th Annual Legislative Conference a great success. As our technology and internet services provider, Smart City, serves as an invaluable partner for the conference which hosts nearly 9,000 attendees who participate in more than 128 events including issue forums, signature events, and a massive exhibition hall and showcase. You and your staff’s ability to be flexible and accommodating to our ever-changing needs is truly valued and appreciated. Your staff’s courteous and quality service is an integral part of our pursuit to showcase state of the art presentations, and provide an excellent customer experience for our conference attendees. The Annual Legislative Conference is our premier public policy conference, and with the support of corporations, organizations, and individuals, like you, the CBCF is able to provide opportunities for students and scholars through its internship, fellowship, and scholarship programs. It also produces timely research and policy analyses and forges meaningful linkages with businesses, community and civil rights organizations. Once again, thank you for your support as partners. We look forward to working with you on what will be an even better Annual Legislative Conference in 2016.” Krisa Haggins, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
SMART CITY BOOST - LAS VEGAS
“I wanted to give Mike Hertweck (Wireless Network Administrator) a huge boost for the time and effort put into our Dynamic Summit 2015 event in October. He worked with us through the entire night to get the show up and running the next morning. We ended up working 36 hours straight to ensure success! The show was a great success due to his amazingness.” Andrew Gutierrez, General Manager, Smart City Reno
CORNING CERTIFIED
Ben Behnkendorf, Smart City Indianapolis’ General Manager, recently received his Corning Fiber Installation Certification. Ben’s certification will give the 288 strands of newly installed single mode fiber at the ICCLOS a 25year warranty. “It was a fun course to go through and I gained a ton of knowledge and insight,” he said. Congratulations, Ben!
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GM INSIGHT KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNICATION ARE KEYS FOR SUCCESS MITCHELL HUGHES | GENER A L M A N AGER, SM A RT CIT Y TA MPA
As I reflect on the last 10 years of my career, I try to think of what the most valuable takeaway from this industry (either personally or professionally) has been. What do I enjoy the most about being in this crazy world of both IT and hospitality? For me, ultimately, it is something that has always been a part of me as a person: I have learned more and continue to learn and grow every day. When Sir Francis Bacon said “knowledge is power,” what was he talking about? What is knowledge? Is it knowing just enough to get by? In my opinion, having knowledge of something is much more than just being aware of its existence and what it is on the surface. I like to educate myself, and learn about most or all of the things that I work with on a daily basis. What happens when we educate ourselves? For me, knowing something in its entirety or at least well enough to be selfsufficient means gaining more than just knowledge of a subject. With understanding comes confidence. The effectiveness of your communication is increased when you can confidently speak to a subject, because that confidence is felt by others. Confidence can effect everything: when I am sure of my understanding of a subject, I can sell better, provide better service and support, and confidently explain it to someone who is learning. I can also be a better leader and improve upon processes or make suggestions for improvement. Another key part of effective communication is being versatile. Understanding how to adapt your communication style is important because not everyone will interpret what you are saying the same way. (Just like how not everyone reading this will get the same message or agree with me – but that’s okay.) When you can adapt your communication style, you can reach a wider audience of people with your message. We have a diverse group of individuals within Smart City. We all learn and communicate at different levels and in different ways. If we take steps to just learn a little more, push the boundaries of our knowledge, communicate, and grow individuals within our company as well as our industry, we will continue the great success that is Smart City. To The Top!
GM INSIGHT MOVE OVER, WIFI - LIFI IS HERE!
BILL DUKE | GENERAL MANAGER, SMART CITY COLUMBUS
An emerging new wireless technology called LiFi has exhibited speeds 100 times faster than existing WiFi technology. Like WiFi, LiFi is wireless and uses similar 802.11 protocols. Unlike WiFi, however, LiFi uses visible light communication (VLC), which has a much wider bandwidth. In lab tests, scientists have achieved speeds of 224 gigabits per second (Gbps). Real world tests have already been carried out by an Estonian startup company achieving transmission speeds of 1 gigabit per second. So how does LiFi work? An LED lightbulb produces a constant stream of photons which we observe as visible light. If we vary the current to the LED, the intensity of light can be modulated. This modulation can be detected by a photodetector and converted into an electrical signal. The electrical signal can then carry the data stream to a computer or mobile device. But don’t worry about the office lights flickering – VLC operates between 400 and 800 terahertz (THz), so the modulation is invisible to the naked eye. In addition to the increased capacity, LiFi can be more secure as well. Since the data is transmitted by visible light, the signal cannot penetrate walls. This might also mean less interference between devices. One drawback to this is that the technology will not currently work outdoors. Another issue for consumer use is that the lights have to be on for this technology to work. While that shouldn’t be an issue at the office, home use could be problematic. So should you trade in that WiFi router? Probably not just yet. While the technology does seem promising, it will likely be used in conjunction with current WiFi technology. One possible use is the employment of a WiFi network for general use, coupled with LiFi hotspots for high bandwidth users. Although no one can say for certain how LiFi will be used in the future, it is certainly an exciting new breakthrough in technology.
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CONTRACT ANNOUNCEMENTS Smart City is proud to announce the renewal of three contracts with our convention center partners across the country:
DUKE ENERGY CONVENTION CENTER
The Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC) in Cincinnati has extended its contract with Smart City for an additional seven years. Under the extended contract, Smart City will offer a full suite of services at the venue, including high-speed Internet access, network cabling, WiFi, telephone services and turnkey data networking services. Smart City recently installed new equipment throughout the venue, including the addition of nearly 150 Cisco 3702 access points and upgraded core and edge switches. Installed just in time to provide enhanced wireless support for the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest at the venue in July, this new equipment provides visitors with a robust, higher-density wireless network for accessing the Internet at increased speeds.
INDI A N A CON V ENTION CENTER & LUCA S OIL STA DIUM
The Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium (ICCLOS) in Indianapolis has extended its partnership with Smart City for an additional 10 years. The new contract will allow Smart City to provide additional services and upgrades for the venues. The contract includes the installation of 288 strands of single-mode fiber optic cable between the convention center and the stadium. It will also allow for an upgrade of the facilities’ core network, the central piece of a telecommunications network that provides service to customers. Smart City will also provide Cisco Wireless LAN Controller upgrades and a Cisco Mobility Services Engine. This upgrade will allow for a greater number of guests and their wireless devices to access the Internet at ever-increasing speeds and for the implementation of location based services. Smart City will also develop a mobile app utilizing this upgraded technology.
GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER - UTILITIES
The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRBCC) in Houston has extended its partnership with Smart City for an additional five years after a competitive bid process. Under the extended contract, Smart City will continue to offer temporary electrical and plumbing services for all of the venue’s events. This contract does not include telecommunications services for the facility, which are provided under a separate contract. The contract includes a number of infrastructure upgrades, which will provide additional support for the upcoming large-scale events at the venue, including the 2017 Super Bowl and the 2016 NCAA Final Four. These upgrades are provided under both an initial capital fund as well as a post-construction fund received by Houston First Corporation, the convention center’s management company.
CE N T E R U PDAT E S HOUSTON:
TEEING OFF FOR THE OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
On November 5, Smart City team members from the Houston region participated in the second annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Golf Tournament, held in appreciation of OTC’s 46 years in Houston. Pictured left to right: Tim Wortman (Smart City’s Vice President, Regional Operations, East Region), Codey “Ike” Eichenour (General Manager, Smart City NRG Park), and Luther Villagomez (Chief Operating Officer, George R. Brown Convention Center).
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GREEN SPOTLIGHT The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) is a LEED-certified venue and one of the largest convention centers in North America to earn this prestigious distinction. Here are a few of the convention center’s environmentally friendly practices used in the building’s operations. ROOF TOP GARDEN A 2,000 square-foot garden with an array of plants and herbs located on top of the Arena Box Office • This garden’s harvest supplies ARAMARK, ACC’s caterer, with fresh tasty herbs including rosemary, thyme, parsley and lavender that are used in ARAMARK-prepared dishes throughout the year. SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING • The acquisition of goods that meet 1 or more of the following criteria: • At least 10% post-consumer and/or 20% pre-consumer material • At least 50% rapidly renewable materials • At least 50% materials harvested or extracted and processed within 500 miles • At least 50% Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products • Use of rechargeable batteries Approximately 85% of ongoing consumable purchases, 95% of electronic purchases and 78% of cleaning product purchases meet strict LEED guidelines for sustainability.
BOOSTS COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER
“Debbie Olivas (General Manager), we hope you had a great and relaxing weekend! We want to extend our biggest THANK YOU for all your help and assistance during World Workplace. It was easily one of our top experiences that we have had at a convention center. We appreciate all your quick responses, helpful suggestions, and positive attitude.” Taylor Michele Clark, International Facility Management Association (IFMA)
SMART CIT Y BOOST - WASHINGTON, D.C.
“Team: Our customer from CBCF 2015 sent over a thank you letter a few days ago. Although it is addressed to me, I know that without the hard work from our entire team this couldn’t happen. There were many moving parts to this event from Radio Rentals, Live Streamed Sessions, Overflow, Channel Insertion, White House circuits, media circuits from Verizon and more! Thank you all for a wonderful execution of services, a professional demeanor, and sticking with any issue we faced until the bitter end. Let’s keep the same momentum throughout the rest of AUSA, into AAP, American Dental, Green Build and Neighborworks! TO THE TOP!” Necayla Brice, Event Coordinator, Smart City Washington, D.C.
MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER
“George Cagle (General Manager), I hope you had a lovely weekend. We were delighted with how everything went last week. You were an important part of that success. Thank you for all that you did for us. I have truly enjoyed working with you over the last two years. We head back to Chicago for two years but I look forward to our return in 2018.” Maureen Macke, Path to Purchase
SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER
“Great team to work with. Very professional! Love working with Smart City!” Jeannie Callahan, Nihon Kohden America
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CE N T E R U PDAT E S ORLANDO:
SM A RT CIT Y TE A M GOES RED FOR WOMEN’S DAY In November, the Orange County Convention Center hosted the American Heart Association – Scientific Sessions. The Smart City team wore red for “Go Red for Women’s Day,” which brings awareness to heart disease for women. Pictured left to right: Pablo Martinez (Operations Manager), Volodymyr Polusmak (Data Operations Manager), Patrick Sarcinella (Senior Director, Regional Operations, South East Region), Jamila Brooks (Event Coordinator), Jennifer Way (Operations Manager), Courtney Brannon (Assistant Manager, Marketing and Sales), Tim Overall (General Manager), Jennifer Mezquita (Event Coordinator), and Jessica Torres (CSSR Supervisor).
SANTA CLARA:
COUNTDOWN TO SUPER BOWL 50 - THE BIGGEST EVER HELD The 50th playing of the Super Bowl will be held on February 7, 2016 in the City of Santa Clara at the state-of-the-art Levi’s Stadium, which is the greenest and most technologically advanced professional football stadium in the country. Situated across the street from Levi’s Stadium, the Santa Clara Convention Center is currently gearing up to support multiple facets of the Super Bowl Experience. Smart City is working with the center to ensure infrastructure support throughout the coming weeks as pre-game events unfold.
NRG PARK:
35TH A NNUA L NUTCR ACK ER M A RK E T STE A L S THE SHOW AT NRG CENTER
In November, the Houston Ballet held its 35th annual Nutcracker Market at NRG Center. “Putting on the Ritz” was the theme for this year’s highly anticipated holiday shopping extravaganza. Over 100,000 passionate shoppers shopped until they dropped, and gave back at the same time! The proceeds from each admission ticket, plus 10% of the merchandise purchased, are donated back to the Houston Ballet Foundation and its Academy and Scholarship Programs.
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CE N T E R U PDAT E S DENVER:
VOTERS A PPROV E COLOR A DO CON V ENTION CENTER E XPA NSION
(As originally published by Meetings & Conventions magazine) By a 65-35 margin, Denver voters approved a measure to spend more than $700 million to expand the Colorado Convention Center and to build a new National Western Center for equestrian events such as the National Western Stock Show. No new taxes will be created for the projects, as funds are still being collected by current levies that won’t expire until 2023. The convention facility celebrated its 25 anniversary in June. “We’re thrilled to have the support of the people of Denver behind our city’s convention and tourism industry,” said Richard Scharf, president & CEO of Visit Denver, The Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are just completing a master plan for the Colorado Convention Center, and now with the voters’ approval we should be able to put out an RFP for an architect by the end of the year. We have established what we need, and now we will move ahead with the final design and construction.” A description of the additions for the convention center that was provided to voters includes up to 85,000 square feet of breakout and ballroom space; 120,000 square feet of pre-function space, including a 50,000-square-foot rooftop outdoor terrace; technology upgrades; and new and upgraded network spaces. Following recommendations from a feasibility study conducted by the Strategic Advisory Group, the city already has hired MIG and Fentress Architects, the original architects of the Center and its expansion in 2004, to create a master plan for the facility, whose annual economic impact is more than $500 million. The city not has nearly 2,200 hotel rooms within a block of the convention center, more than 8,600 hotel rooms within walking distance and will have more than 10,000 downtown rooms total by the end of 2016. Because the expansion will grow from the root of the existing Colorado Convention Center, the work should have very little impact on other business in the building. “We’re very fortunate that in 1999, the architects and the City had the foresight to reinforce the roof during the expansion of the center to allow for vertical growth,” said Rachel Benedick, vice president of sales and services at Visit Denver.
ORLANDO:
THIRD EDITION OF AIMEXPO RIDES INTO ORLANDO
In October, AIMExpo was back at the Orange County Convention Center once again. The motorcycle expo has become an annual event for the building, resulting in an enjoyable partnership with the show management team. The Smart City Orlando team was able to pose for a photo with members of the AIMExpo team during the event. Pictured left to right: Kevin Nixon (AIMExpo’s Marketing Manager), Courtney Brannon (Assistant Manager, Sales and Marketing), Frank Loyke (Senior Event Coordinator), Jack Young (AIMExpo’s Operations Coordinator), Cinnamon Kernes (AIMExpo’s Show Director), Mark Thompson (Manager, Digital Marketing), Tim Overall (General Manager), and Mike Webster (AIMExpo’s President, Trade Show Division).
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WE CARE KENTUCKY:
SM A RT CIT Y VOLUNTEERISM AT LOUISV ILLE ZOO SOA RS For 20 years, Karen Nelson (CSSR, Smart City Kentucky) has been a docent at the Louisville Zoo. Docents (volunteer teachers) assist the Louisville Zoo Education Department in teaching classes to school groups, sharing information with zoo visitors, reaching out to our community through outreach programs, and helping “to better the bond between people and our planet.” With over 3,500 volunteer hours logged already, Karen spends a few hours every weekend teaching and learning about the animals she holds so dear. Although she has worked in almost every area of the zoo, her favorite area is the bird department.
As a raptor docent, Karen has received specialized training in the handling and care of birds of prey such as hawks, vultures, and owls, including the zoo’s Hawaiian Hawk, Kalani. After 18 years, Karen and Kalani (pictured above) have formed a very special bond that many believe goes beyond that of a simple caregiver/animal relationship. “The Louisville Zoo is the only facility outside of Hawaii with this species of hawk,” she said. “Our relationship is truly remarkable. I am blessed each moment we are together.” Karen also enjoys working with the zoo’s Rockhopper Penguins and has enlisted the help of the Kentucky team to collect boxes used for enrichment in the Australian Exhibit, “Lorikeet Landing.”
SAN ANTONIO:
SM A R T CI T Y BRING S HO L ID AY CHEER T O T HE EL DERLY
On December 3, a holiday luncheon for the elderly was held at the Sunset Station in San Antonio. Guillermo Huerta, Smart City San Antonio’s Customer Sales & Service Manager, dressed up as Santa’s helper and spent the afternoon bringing holiday cheer to everyone in attendance.
BOOSTS SMART CITY BOOST - LOS ANGELES
“Matt, I wanted to say thank you for letting Rodger Mosqueda (Technician) assist us with Art Basel 2015. Rodger was very respectful, hardworking, and dedicated to make sure we had a successful event. He is always welcome back to MBCC for any event support. Thanks once again and great job, Rodger!” Andrew Brown, General Manager, Smart City Miami Beach
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& GIVE BACK ANNUAL HOLIDAY DONATION:
TE A MS ACROSS THE COUNTRY GI V E BACK AS PA RT OF A NNUA L HOLIDAY DON ATION
Every year, Smart City selects charities from across the country and gives back to each organization for the holiday season. Six charities from Dallas (The Bair Foundation), Columbus (Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio), Houston (The Rise School of Houston), Phoenix (City of Phoenix Community Service Fund Drive), Orlando (Heart of Florida United Way), and Las Vegas (Women’s Cancer Center of Nevada) were chosen to be a part of this year’s holiday giving initiative. In addition to receiving a monetary contribution, each organization was also featured in Smart City’s holiday card.
HOUSTON: Kyoko Clark (Customer Sales & Service Supervisor, Smart City GRB), Jan Stailey (The Rise School), and Andy West (Operations Manager, Smart City GRB).
ORLANDO: Frank Loyke (Senior Event Coordinator, Smart City Orlando), Tim Overall (General Manager, Smart City Orlando), Patrick Sarcinella (Smart City’s Senior Director, Regional Operations, South East Region), and Dean Treuren (OCCC United Way Coordinator).
K AY BA ILE Y HUTCHISON CON V ENTION CENTER
“Thank you so very much for your generous donation to the children at the Bair Foundation. This will enable us to make our foster children’s Christmas one they won’t forget! Your assistance is so appreciated.” Tori Masters and Dallas Staff (The Bair Foundation)
DALLAS: Chris Pendleton (General Manager, Smart City Dallas), Rey Crespo (Operations Manager, Smart City Dallas), and team members from The Bair Foundation.
BOOSTS ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER
“Tammy Espinosa (Manager, Customer Sales & Service) and Smart City staff, it’s been a pleasure working with you. This meeting would not have come to fruition without your assistance and guidance. Thanks for everything! You are more appreciated than you know.” AABB Team
MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER
“George Cagle & Brian Clear (Technician), it was great working with you! Thank you for making our Internet process so easy and smooth. Looking forward to next year. Thank you for making the first annual NerdCon: Stories so awesome!” Team NerdCon
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EMPLOYEE OF MI CHEL L E G U A LT IER I
SEPTEMBER
Event Coordinator - Anaheim Convention Center Michelle Gualtieri is an Event Coordinator at the Anaheim Convention Center. She has been with Smart City for 10 years. During those 10 years, Michelle has exemplified many of our Daily Basics and Business Principles. Michelle is a very dedicated, honest employee. She is our first line of contact with most of our incoming clients and can quickly put them at ease with her positive attitude. She always is there to understand the customer’s needs and to do her part in providing services that exceed their expectations. I often receive comments from our exhibitors and facility management about how great and accommodating she is and what a pleasure it is to work with Michelle. Michelle is always ready to accept any assignment and will usually be the first to volunteer for special projects and extra tasks. There is never a time when you have to question if something will be done and done correctly when Michelle is on the task. Michelle is always looking for a solution and never shows a negative attitude. Michelle has a way with a person that no matter whom she comes in contact with, that person walks away with the assurance that whatever they discussed it will be taken care of. Michelle is deserving of the honor of Employee of the Month as a result of her commitment to “getting things right the first time.” Michelle always jumps right to it and does so with a smile on her face. Her professional attitude is reflected not only through her work, but also her actions. Michelle can always be counted on to get the job done no matter what or when it is. Never one to complain or make excuses, Michelle exemplifies the attitude of being an ambassador of our company for all of her co-workers, building personnel, and our show clients to see. She takes pride in her work and it shows. We are proud and honored to have a person like Michelle as an event coordinator and employee. Nominated by: Tammy Espinosa
BOOSTS SMART CITY BOOST - LAS VEGAS
“Recently we needed a presentation for Reno as well as Denver. Kristen Halliday (Marketing Associate) simply is amazing! She worked tirelessly to help Andrew and me ensure a solid deck was delivered to a group of meeting planners in Reno. She also helped with a very critical presentation that occurred yesterday in Denver. I know she had many other obligations during these last second requests but she never complained and was very attentive and timely as she always is. I know my entire region has relied on her with many requests and she comes through for all of us all the time. She is a rock star!” Jim Snook, Smart City’s Director of Regional Operations, Northwest Region
SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER
“Deborah Jackson (Event Coordinator), thank you for your hard work and dedication to make our show such a success. You were a pleasure to work with.” Jeff Schulz, American Society of Anesthesiologists
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THE MONTH T O MMIE BELT Z
Customer Sales & Service Representative - Las Vegas Corporate Office
OCTOBER
Tommie was a Senior Event Coordinator at our Las Vegas Convention Center before coming to our corporate office as a CSSR II. Tommie Beltz is a strong leader within the Customer Support Department. Tommie is continually offering his knowledge not only to customer support but the field as well. Tommie Beltz is currently the acting General Manager in Atlantic City. While Tommie has been in Atlantic City there he has worked with the convention center team with regards to upcoming events, he has also worked closely with show management and their requirements. Tommie has assisted with training the new tech on AESOP and CSSR duties prior to a show, setting up their office. Tommie also provides customer service support for the Duke Energy Center, assisting where necessary from the corporate office. Tommie will be the main contact in Virginia Beach for the next six months. Tommie will assist show managers with show requirements and work with installers regarding services at the center. Tommie will also work with AES to make sure the exhibitors in Virginia Beach receive the correct services and assist with any questions they may have. Tommie is always the first to volunteer whether it is at corporate or in the field. Nominated by: Christy Hogan
NECAY L A BRICE
NOVEMBER
Event Coordinator - Walter E. Washington Convention Center Necayla Brice is an Event Coordinator at the Walter E. Convention Center. She was first introduced to the Washington, D.C. team as an employee for the digital signage company. This is where we saw firsthand her capabilities to engage with both internal and external customers with professionalism, courtesy and knowledge. When the opportunity presented itself, it was no question that she would be a valuable asset to our team; and she has not disappointed. She just celebrated her one-year anniversary on October 27. During this year, Necayla has been instrumental to the success and forward movement of the team. Her ability to learn quickly has allowed her to assist with training other customer service team members. Her leadership and awareness of how to motivate and rally the team is impeccable. She has a keen sense of the industry and she does everything in her power to ensure the success of the customer as well as Smart City. Her commitment to customer satisfaction has garnered her several letters and comments of appreciation from show management. Necayla is always sharing her ideas on how we can operate and perform to best of our abilities as team. She is action and solution oriented. The integrity and pride that she takes in her job performance is to be admired. She does not make excuses for herself and always looks for ways to become better. Nominated by: Sekisha Brown
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BOOSTS SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER
“Donna Kacmarcik (Manager, Customer Sales & Service), I want to thank you and your staff for the professionalism that your team displayed in support of our convention. You and your team were on top of any request thrown at you. Our IT staff really appreciated all of your timely support.” Jeff Morrison, National Association of Realtors “Donna, I second that. You and your team did a great job! You all went above and beyond.” Don Ortinau, National Association of Realtors
SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER
“Ms. Kacmarcik, on behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, I want to thank you for your part in making the 2015 National Minority Supplier Development Council Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange a resounding success. NMSDC received many kudos. When we all work together, the synergy is evident. Our appreciation extends to you and all those who helped to assure the success of the conference. Again, our thanks for a job well done. We all can take pride in this year’s conference.” Joset Wright-Lacy, NMSDC
SM A RT CIT Y BOOST - CORPOR ATE
“Thank you so much for sending Bea Rivera (CSSR) down here. She is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I know our CSSR learned a lot and I even learned a few things from her.” Todd Zuccato, General Manager, Smart City Phoenix
SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER
“Deborah Jackson, you did so much with so little, and I cannot thank you enough. You have been a pleasure to work with, and I appreciate all you did to make our meeting a success. I look forward to the next opportunity to work with you! Thank you!” Krys Slovacek and the whole ASA team
SM A RT CIT Y BOOST - CORPOR ATE
“I’d like to boost Lou Hoffman (CSSR). He has been such a big help to me, most recently in assisting the ICIS show manager with wireless buyout and free wireless verbiage for her to make signs to display throughout the facility for her attendees. Thanks, Lou, for all of your hard work. Teams Work!” Janae Tinsley, General Manager, Smart City Fort Worth
INDI A N A CON V ENTION CENTER & LUCA S OIL STA DIUM
“Ben Behnkendorf (General Manager), with our fifth Big Ten Football Championship Game in the books, I wanted to thank you for your assistance leading up to the event and on-site for the execution. As you know, when it comes to media, as long as the phones and wireless Internet work and they have free food, they’re pretty happy, so thanks for all of your assistance. And hopefully we have even more usage numbers to update our needs for next year.” Scott Chipman, Big Ten Football Championship
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TEAM MEMBER
MILESTONES
20 YEARS Smart City Electric’s Master Electrician, Albert Janak, celebrated his 20-year anniversary at the George R. Brown Convention Center in October. Thanks for all of your hard work over the last 20 years, Albert!
40 YEARS Bob Sutton, Smart City’s Director of Systems Development, has seen it all. He’s fulfilled nearly every role in every department and he’s been doing it for 40 years now. This unsung hero has been diligently tapping away at his keyboard to create our customized solution known as Aesop since before the cell phone became ubiquitous. I’m sure we speak for everyone when we say that we’re privileged to have him on our team. We hope to benefit from his integrity, leadership, and skills for many years to come. Congratulations, Bob, on your achievement and thank you for your years of service at Smart City!
N E W A R R I VA L S
Smart City Washington, D.C. Event Coordinator Necayla Brice welcomed a daughter into the world on Sunday, November 29. Zoey Brice weighed in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and was 20 inches long. Congratulations, Necayla!
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ANNIVERSARIES
EMPLOYEE OCTOBER 2015 Albert Janak Kevin Patch Terry Grass Chris Wharry David Ramsay Tim Wortman Michael Noska Deborah Jackson Matthew Causas
20 years 17 years 17 years 14 years 13 years 13 years 12 years 12 years 10 years
Chris Pendleton Timothy Boyer Lisa Paul Robert Garner Richard Hancock Mohammed Nouwass Forrest Berndt Carlos Rosario-Robles Necayla Brice Brian Fairbanks
9 years 9 years 8 years 7 years 4 years 3 years 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year
40 years 17 years 15 years 14 years 11 years 9 years 7 years
Maria Gomez Jessica Torres-Cruz George Cagle Matthew Chavez Carolyn McDonald Nicole Clark Melissa Luckey
5 years 5 years 5 years 4 years 4 years 1 year 1 year
21 years 13 years 10 years 9 years
Michael Terry Benjamin Behnkendorf Darryl Galmon Nathaniel Cornelius Aaron Kahn
6 years 6 years 3 years 1 year 1 year
NOVEMBER 2015 Bob Sutton Joe Melancon Patrick Nelson Dennis O’Gara Jim Snook Marlon Brown Todd Zuccato
DECEMBER 2015 Henry De La Rosa Kyle Libby Elvira Gabriel Yandi Lodos
BOOSTS CORPOR ATE - L AS V EGAS
“Bill Gunz (CSSR), thank you so much for your incredibly helpful customer service today. It is refreshing and comforting to know there are some people in the numerous tradeshow corporations who care to listen to customers’ concerns and help answer their questions. You did this for me today and I am very grateful to you.” Alicia Green, Aerial Adventure Technologies
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