Smart City Networks | Q1 2023 | Pinnacle

PINNACLE

TEAMS Work

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

PEEK UNDER THE HOOD: CAR SHOWS AT SMART CITY

FLEXING OUR MUSCLES: INSIDE THE ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL A NEW SMART CITY SPOTLIGHT

From the Desk of the President

Teams Work!

A team is more than just a group of individuals working toward a common goal. A real team is an interconnected network striving to grow together and support one another to be their best selves in everything they do. A successful team can accomplish anything they set their mind to and reach extraordinary heights that a single person cannot. That is why Teamwork is the backbone of Smart City Networks. We’re excited to share many remarkable instances of Teamwork in our upcoming Pinnacle issue but let me give you a few examples here.

Donnita Butler in Washington, D.C. was honored for her services at the United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit, but the first thing she did was mention how her whole team deserved the award. Teamwork was also at the forefront of our latest Hosted Voice installation at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston as well as for the opening of the Seattle Convention Center’s Summit expansion. These endeavors required the local and corporate teams to work closely together for weeks, months, and years as they prepped for the completion of these critical projects. The spirit of Teamwork was strong throughout this quarter as Smart City helped provide technology solutions to various major sporting events like March Madness in Kansas City, the XFL in St. Louis, and of course, Super Bowl related events in Phoenix.

The Super Bowl Fan Fest and Media activities at the Phoenix Convention Center deserve a special shoutout. It’s a great example of Teamwork between the field operations team and the Technology and Accounting teams. They worked closely with the cellular carriers and the City of Phoenix staff to ensure our temporary DAS was ready to go and provide the coverage these significant events needed. It was a massive undertaking, perfection was expected, and we thank everyone who made it possible.

That is just a glimpse of what will be inside this month’s Pinnacle. Thank you to everyone for submitting stories and pictures of these outstanding accomplishments that we produce each day for our customers and clients. I am proud of our work throughout this first quarter of 2023 and look forward to what the rest of the year brings.

To the Top!

MARK HALEY PRESIDENT

Smart City Networks

It’s the people...

It’s the People. 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. Great people flourish in an environment that liberates and amplifies their energy. It’s the People. 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. Great people flourish in an environment that liberates and amplifies their energy. It’s the People. 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. Great people flourish in an environment that liberates and amplifies their energy. It’s the People. 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. Great people flourish in an environment that liberates and amplifies their energy.. It’s the People. We have great people

DONNITA BUTLER ACKNOWLEDGED

The United States-Africa Leaders Summit 2022 took place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. in December, and Smart City is honored to announce one of our own was acknowledged for their hard work both before and during the event. Customer Service Manager Donnita Butler received a certificate of appreciation, that was hand delivered and presented by the Secret Service. Handling such an important event, that not only included delegations from 49 invited African states and the Africa Union, but also President Biden and Vice President Harris, meant that building security was a top priority, putting the building on complete lockdown.

Donnita did a fantastic job working through the heightened security measures to ensure services were installed, tested and ready on schedule. When asked about her thoughts on the recognition, Donnita said that the award should have been given to her entire team due to all their tremendous efforts. Congratulations to Donnita and her team!

ESTABLISHING GOOD RAPPORT

Smart City would like to congratulate Antoinette Ibarra (GM, Kansas City Convention Center) and Tammera ‘Tammy’ Clark (Customer Service Supervisor, Corporate) for graduating from Rapport Leadership Breakthrough One (LB1) this quarter. Their tenacity and commitment to leadership is admirable.

STELLAR LEADERSHIP TEAM

OFC 2023 was a great conference, hosting over 11,500 participants and 515 exhibiting companies. An event this size takes team work and a great leadership team.

Smart City would be nowhere without its remarkable onsite teams, and we wanted to give a special shout-out to a few of our West Region leaders.

Looking forward to OFC 2024!

Donnita Butler - Walter E. Washington Convention Center

L to R: Tommie Beltz, Tammera Clark, Christy Hogan at Rapport Graduation

L to R: Mark Haley, Antoinette Ibarra, Tim Wortman at Rapport Graduation

L to R: Ken Schmidt, Heidi Alcantara and Julia Slocombe

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Chris DeLane, a Smart City veteran of over 13 years, represents the best of Smart City. Chris is always willing to share his technical knowledge and assist others when asked, while going the extra mile to ensure the job is done. His work ethic and friendly nature make him an asset to Smart City and the Charlotte Convention Center. In February, Chris was presented with a gift card from the CRVA IT team as a token of their appreciation for his help fixing an issue with the center’s digital signage system. Way to go Chris!

SHARING THE LOVE!

At Smart City, we believe in sharing the love! We are honored to be friends and partners with these incredible people and are thrilled to share their recent success. We want to give a special shoutout to Mike Testa and Howard Chan, both individuals who do incredible work in Sacramento alongside Smart City venue partner, the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center (SCUCC).

Mike Testa is the CEO and President of Visit Sacramento and was awarded the 2022 Businessman of the Year by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Mike and his team work tirelessly to promote and enhance the tourism and event industry in Sacramento, and from the beginning stages of our partnership, Mike has been an asset to Smart City. He has a great understanding of his client’s needs which translates into success when planning for future events.

Howard Chan is the City Manager for the City of Sacramento and was awarded the City Manager of the Year by the California City Management Foundation. Being owned and operated by the city of Sacramento, the SCUCC falls under Howard’s purview, and he has done a great job overseeing the center’s massive renovation project. The Smart City team would like to congratulate Mike and Howard for their awards and thank them for their partnership as we continue to enhance the customer experience in Sacramento.

Chris DeLane - Colorado Convention Center

Mike Testa (left) pictured with award

Check out our blog to read the full Spotlight!

SMART CITY SPOTLIGHT

Smart City celebrates International Women’s Month! For this Smart City Spotlight, we want to highlight two phenomenal women. Both of these women are incredibly talented and set a high standard not only within our own company, but across the entire industry.

Alexis Mayfield and Crystal Daniels: this is your spotlight!

As Customer Service Manager at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Alexis Mayfield has been with the company for almost 10 years and in that time has showcased an incredible knack for understanding what our customers need and making sure they get it. We find Alexis and her work inspiring!

WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO SMART CITY?

A: I had recently moved back to Houston from college in San Antonio and finished my contract with the Houston Zoo. I was looking for something more challenging with more opportunities to have an impact. The job posting briefly mentioned working with trade shows and conventions and since project management was always an interest of mine, I knew this would be a great opportunity to expand on that.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WORKING WITH SMART CITY?

A: When I first started, I knew nothing about technology, electricity, or plumbing. Learning those things was absolutely a challenge in my first few years, but not being afraid to ask questions really helped. I’ve made sure my team feels as comfortable as possible in being able to ask me for help or clarification if needed. I remember once being afraid to ask the same question more than once, so there were times I did things without really understanding the why behind it. I’ve strived to eradicate that for my team.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW HIRES WHO ARE STARTING WITH SMART CITY?

A: Take notes and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If they’re new in the industry and have no prior knowledge of technology, I’d ask them to give themselves some grace while they’re learning. I remember being hard on myself because I thought I was never going to grasp it, but you will. Just breathe and remember that you were hired for a reason.

WHAT’S SOMETHING FUN THAT PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

A: I’m an actor! I have an agent so when I’m not working here, I’m auditioning. I’m currently filming a web series.

ALEXIS MAYFIELD Customer Service Manager

George R. Brown Convention Center

Crystal Daniels is the Operations Manager for the Seattle Convention Center. Although she’s only been with Smart City for a couple years, she has already made a huge impact and we thank her for her service!

WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO SMART CITY?

C: What first drew me to Smart City is the desire to learn more of the in-depth details as to how internet works and how we provide it to our convention customers. I previously worked in the Exhibitor Services Department at the Seattle Convention Center back when it was the Washington State Convention Center, where we were responsible for organizing all services ordered by exhibitors. It was interesting to learn how Smart City would deliver services to exhibitors.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE EVENT THAT HAS COME TO YOUR CENTER?

C: I enjoy most of the events, but my favorite event would have to be the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. I am always amazed at the time it takes to haul in tons of dirt to build the exhibits and then it only takes one to two days to remove it all. It is an amazing and beautiful show!

WHAT IS AN INSTANCE YOU CAN THINK OF WHERE YOU’VE USED ONE OF OUR 10 BUSINESS PRINCIPLES?

C: On a daily basis working so many different events, I try to keep business principle #2 in mind; “Do Right by All Our Customers”. I strive to treat all our customers in a kind, professional, and empathetic manner. We understand that technology can be confusing, so we put ourselves in the customers’ shoes when it comes to communicating and working with them on their order. Because every event is different from the last, we are consistently provided the opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life and ensure that we treat them with care throughout the entirety of the event planning process as well as when they arrive onsite.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW HIRES WHO ARE JUST STARTING WITH SMART CITY?

C: The convention business is not like most industries where you work MonFri 9-5, so it has a learning curve, but with hard work and determination, you will not only adapt but succeed.

WHAT IS SOMETHING FUN THAT PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

C: I won the youngest rider award when I was 3, riding in the Saltgrass Trail ride, a weeklong trail ride in Texas for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

CRYSTAL DANIELS Operations Manager Seattle

A message from our Cristo Rey Student Intern

My experiences while interning at Smart City Networks have been great so far. I am part of an intern program through my school called Cristo Rey St. Viator. The corporate Work Study Program is a program where students get the opportunity to work and get experience in the workplace. When I first started at Smart City, I was very nervous and shy because I am only fourteen years old. Being exposed to a completely new and different work environment that I have never been in before was especially hard at first. Of course, they showed me the way around and eventually I got the hang of things. Most of the things I do now have become second nature to me at this point, even though I only come to the office once and sometimes twice a week.

Throughout my time at Smart City, I have been in three different departments, the NOC (Network Operations Center), Accounting and now I am currently in Marketing. I also work at the front desk in the afternoons, where I open the door for guests and clients, check and deliver the mail around the office, receive checks from clients, and scan final billing statements. I also occasionally offer to restock both kitchens in the office because I like to do tasks around the office. It is something that I can do at my own pace, and it is very calm and quiet whenever I restock around the office.

In Accounting I would help process invoices, refunds, and the whole process of customer billing. When I would work in the NOC, I mostly cleaned and stocked in the back warehouse area. I would help break down boxes for recycling. I would also sort wires and computer cables for recycling. I also learned to degauss hard drives which is a method of permanently erasing data from working and non-working hard drives, tape, and floppy disks. In Marketing I fold and sort company shirts and take pictures of them for the company store. I am currently writing this article for the upcoming Pinnacle that the Marketing Department publishes every quarter. I also help with fun things like decorating goodie bags for office events.

Throughout the day my workplace gives me specific tasks based on which department I am working in. At the end of the day when I get off work, I must complete my timecard which my school and workplace assign to me. My timecard is basically a summary of what I did throughout the day and the hours I worked. Overall, my experiences while interning are good, and I really enjoy working at Smart City. The staff are all very kind and respectful towards me and each other.

Sebastian Carrillo - Freshman

HOSTED VOICE IS CHANGING THE GAME

At Smart City Networks, the emphasis is always on the user experience. Our team constantly goes above and beyond to ensure that exhibitors, attendees, and our administrative clients all have the ability to communicate with the most up-to-date technology services on the market. That is why we have been so excited to introduce Smart City’s Hosted Voice Solution across the nation at our partnered convention centers. Hosted Voice is a cuttingedge telecommunications platform designed to replace outdated PBX systems with a cloud-based VOIP solution that providescrystal-clear call quality, user-friendly features, and unparalleled integration to better adapt to the demands of a modern marketplace.

After successful launches at I-X Center in Cleveland, Events DC in Washington D.C., and even our corporate office in Las Vegas, we were ready for more Hosted Voice implementation nationwide. Most recently we completed the installation of our Hosted Voice Solution for Houston First, the organization responsible for promoting tourism in the city of Houston and managing the city’s premier convention, arts, and entertainment venues. The project included the installation of over 600 phones throughout seven different properties managed by the Houston First Corporation, including George R. Brown Convention Center, Wortham Theater, Jones Hall, Miller Outdoor Theater, and Partnership Tower, all simultaneously.

This project required our team to test functionality for weeks to ensure the system was ready for our launch time. This installation switched Houston First’s system from a traditional phone line to an internet line, so the team had to install additional internet jacks throughout each facility to ensure they could handle deployment. Because of its cloudbased setup, an internet connection is all that’s needed to maintain successful business continuity. By the time it was operational, techs were situated all over the city, covering more than 15 city blocks, working together to get the system online successfully without any downtime. It was an enormous undertaking that will positively impact the entire downtown Houston First community and keep them at the forefront of the latest technology trends.

The switch to Smart City’s Hosted Voice Solution is one of the most cost-effective decisions that Houston First could have made. Outdated PBX telephone systems require more expensive maintenance the older they get, resulting in weaker, less efficient communication. Our Hosted Voice Solution reduces capital investment by 75-90% while streamlining operating expenses. With this product, the emphasis is on availability, integration, and accessibility. Its design offers a vast number of new features that will increase the end-user’s productivity. Because this is a cloudbased service, it doesn’t matter if your team works from home or halfway around the world. We will make sure everyone stays connected no matter what and each user has the tools to communicate effectively and efficiently.

Smart City would like to give a special shoutout to our Corporate Network Operations Center and Smart City’s local team in Houston, who worked to make this launch a complete success. Their expertise and commitment helped the process immensely, and we congratulate everyone involved on a job well done. We look forward to more Hosted Voice installations in the future!

L to R: Jesse Gallegos, Hector Gonzalez, and Chris Wharry

Teams Work!

Teams Work. Teamwork means focusing on the team’s success, realizing ultimately that the teams success if you success. It also means that you succeed by helping other members of the team to succeed. Teams Work. Teamwork means focusing on the team’s success, realizing ultimately that the teams success if you success. It also means that you succeed by helping other members of the team to succeed. Teams Work. Teamwork means focusing on the team’s success, realizing ultimately that the teams success if you success. It also means that you succeed by helping other members of the team to succeed. Teams Work. Teamwork means focusing on the team’s success, realizing ultimately that the teams success if you success. It also means that you succeed by helping other members of the team to succeed. Teams Work. Teamwork means focusing on the team’s success, realizing ultimately that the teams success if you success. It also means that you succeed by helping other members of the team to succeed.

WE CAR-E AND GIVE BACK

It was a vehicle enthusiast’s paradise this quarter! Smart City Networks was on hand to service some of the country’s biggest car expos and auto shows of the year. This included the Washington D.C. Auto Show, Cleveland Auto Show, and Lowrider Super Show in Long Beach. Luxury and class were fully displayed as classic cars, new models, game-changing electric vehicles, and other interactive experiences helped thrust 2023 into high gear. Thousands of individuals witnessed next-level beauty and craftsmanship unlike anything else in the world! Although we are not auto mechanics, Smart City thinks servicing a car is a lot like servicing an event. An automobile engine is like a buildings’ network infrastructure. Both require expert technicians who understand every moving part and keep it well serviced and properly maintained to ensure it runs at peak performance.

Washington D.C. Auto Show

WALTER E. WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

Lowrider Super Show

PINNACLE - Q1 2023 TEAMS WORK!

VICTORY CHEER!

Sports have always been an integral part of Smart City, and this quarter was no exception. From the Big Game to March Madness to Volleyball Championships and even a few Golf shows, we have seen various sporting events that highlight the competitive spirit and passionate enthusiasm that defines our love of the game. Obviously, the biggest sporting event of the year was the Super Bowl, and although our Eaglesloving Smart City President Mark Haley might not have been happy with the game’s result, it was still a tremendous honor providing services to all the events leading up to the Big Game. Things came full circle quickly, in March, Smart City serviced the NFL Combine, providing a perfect environment to foster next season’s superstars. And, as an added bonus we also got to highlight some XFL love!

BIG GAME

NFL COMBINE INDIANA CONVENTION CENTER & LUCAS OIL STADIUM

PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER

MARCH MADNESS KANSAS CITY CONVENTION CENTER

But it wasn’t all football. We provided stellar technological solutions to the Kansas City Convention Center, where the Women’s Big 12 Championship, Men’s and Women’s MIAA Championship, and Men’s NAIA National Championship were all held. Over in D.C., the Walter E. Washington Convention Center got to take part in the 17th annual Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic, which saw over 10,000 athletes compete in one of the largest youth volleyball tournaments in the world.

We also provided services to several golf events like the Choice Bank Minnesota Golf Show, the Midwest’s largest golf show, and the exclusive PGA Show in Orlando. That is quite the variety! Although we, the employees of Smart City, cannot spike a volleyball, dunk a basketball, or survive a tackle from a defensive lineman, we do still consider ourselves a strong team. We work as a team to ensure our customers always score a win!

© 2023 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

GOLF SHOW MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER

PGA SHOW ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER

17TH ANNUAL CAPITOL HILL VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC WALTER E. WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

THE STRONG CHOICE!

When you have the muscles, do not be afraid to flex them! The Arnold Sports Festival made its epic return to the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) at the beginning of March, and it was a weekend positively bursting with testosterone and adrenaline. Over 12,000 athletes strutted their stuff on stage as they benched, broke, threw, and lifted all sorts of heavy objects that would crush the arms of any normal person. It is one of GCCC’s most popular annual events, and Smart City loves participating in it. No, Smart City probably could not compete in any strong-man competitions, but we do know how to apply our sturdy expertise to allow these athletes to lift in peace. As always, the former Governator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was on hand to oversee the expo. Now excuse us, we are suddenly inspired to hit the gym…

GET YOUR GEEK ON!

The Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) was extremely special this year for multiple reasons. Not only was it ECCC’s 20th anniversary and absolutely packed with out-of-this-world cosplay and costumes, but it also took place at the Seattle Convention Center’s new state-of-the-art Summit building, which completed construction and had its grand opening in February. An incredible event in an incredible building!

SMART CITY SADDLES UP!

The world’s largest livestock show returned to Houston at the end of February and stayed through most of March, proving that, yes, everything is bigger in Texas. Everything a cowboy or cowgirl could want was available at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, ranging from bull riding extravaganzas, rabbit costume contests, and even celebrity goat milking competitions. The Rodeo is a phenomenal event for highlighting the best of Texas culture and its commitment to educating youths across the state. This year, the event pledged over $22.5 million to support Texas youth and statewide educational programs throughout 2023. Obviously, this is a large-scale event with many moving parts, which means Smart City had to hike up their boots, let out their best ‘Yee-Haw,’ and get to work!

HONOLULU FESTIVAL SPARKS JOY

One of the most rewarding aspects of partnering with convention centers nationwide is when we service local events and gain a hands-on cultural experience. For example, the Honolulu Festival is one of Hawaii’s premier cultural landmarks, which strives to promote mutual understanding, respect, economic cooperation, and ethnic harmony between Hawaii’s people and the Pacific Rim region. It is a beautiful celebration highlighting diversity through events like dance performances and traditional art demonstrations. Smart City was honored to play a small part in this immensely impactful event.

IT’S HUNTIN’ SEASON

The Dallas Safari Club Convention and Sporting Expo (DSC 23) is one of the largest fundraising events in Texas. It highlights and promotes wildlife conservation through well-regulated hunting and sustainable use. It allowed attendees to listen to fantastic guest speakers, browse all the latest merchandise, and suit up in their best camouflage outfits. It was quite a sight to behold! Or... quite a sight NOT to behold on account of all the camouflage. At Smart City Networks, we like to think we wear camo as well. Whenever an event like DSC 23 moves in, our local team has to be ready to throw themselves into the installation. We pride ourselves on our efficiency and our ability to get the job done.

IS IT PLASTIC? THAT’S FANTASTIC!

Saying the Plastics Show is a big deal would be a massive understatement. Every three years, bold visionaries from all over the world descend on the Orange County Convention Center for the largest plastics trade show in the country and one of the most important business events in the world. No, it is not just about plastic Tupperware you find in your kitchen cabinet, but rather it is an in-depth exhibition highlighting the future of humanity, including discussions on robots, 3D printing, industrial polymers, and so much more. It is a global phenomenon, and planning is already underway for the next gathering in 2024. Although it is over a year out, the Orange County Convention Center recently hosted the NPE2024 space draw. It allowed the center to engage with exhibitors, present new technologies, and offer cost-saving tips to ensure a great experience in 2024. Smart City Networks is so excited for this event and is doing what it does best by preparing early and giving exhibitors the right tools for success.

SMART CITY ANCHORS THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

Smart City got its sea legs thanks to the annual Miami International Boat Show. The 5-day event brought in over 100,000 attendees, showcasing more world and U.S. boat debuts than any other boat show in the country. Over 1,000 incredible boats were displayed, with specialty events happening throughout the boating extravaganza. This included afterparties like Yachts After Dark and the Progressive Boat Show Experience at Pride Park, which combined the fun of a carnival boardwalk with the charm of an old port town. It truly was a magical experience.

Preparing for this event took a lot of work. We knew Pride Park would be an extraordinary challenge, but Smart City was more than ready. Months of preparation led to the successful deployment of hidden Access Points across all corners of the park. The installation was tricky, but our team’s vision for success trumped any challenge that got in our way. Thanks to keen observations and a creative approach by our team, we brought our ideas to life and provided a seamless connection and an unforgettable experience for attendees. As a result, Smart City can proudly proclaim that Pride Park is open and ready for business…. or ready to set sail in this case.

Mark Thompson - OCCC

L to R Jennifer “Jenny”

Mezquita and Jessica Torres  Mark Thompson - OCCC

AU NATURALE

Informa Markets’ Natural Products Expo West was held at the Anaheim Convention Center in March. This full facility event, with tens of thousands of new products on display, is the natural and organic industry’s largest annual event featuring new health foods, supplements, and other products presented by leading brands, startup companies and worldwide manufacturers. 2023 marked the 42nd occurrence of the event, which boasted an attendance of 67,000+ attendees, and more than 3,000 exhibits, an increase of over 10,000 attendees and 300 exhibits from 2022. Themed areas included Supplements, Organic Products, Natural & Specialty Foods, Lifestyle Products and Hot Products, where attendees perused herbs, organic coffee, dairy products, freeze-dried ingredients, and much more.

Attendees were encouraged to watch for emerging industry trends at the event, including the intersection of health systems, delivering on climate commitments, radical transparency, and sustainability. The event also offered expertled conferences, workshops, receptions, and other events presenting the latest trends and innovative solutions in the healthy lifestyle industry. The Smart City Networks team provided a full facility wireless network with an assortment of wired services and telephone line drops for Show Management. The on-site team also installed wired, wireless and telephone services for over 55 exhibitors on the show floor, and throughout several meeting rooms. The installation was intensive and the expo a huge success.

I <3 THE 80s

Sam’s Club recently celebrated their 40th anniversary at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. To commemorate the decade Sam’s Club was founded, the theme for the event was “Back to the 80s,” and what is more ‘80s’ than an exact replica of the DeLorean from the 1985 hit movie Back to the Future? Just like the movie, the car came equipped with a fully functional flux capacitor and may or may not have been capable of time travel when it hit 88mph.

SMART CITY NETWORKS KEEPS PACE FOR HOUSTON MARATHON

The 51st Annual Chevron Houston Marathon and the Aramco Houston Half Marathon were held at the start of 2023, with the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) set as the essential hub. Hundreds of individuals braved the elements, to journey to downtown Houston for an epic event. There is something about seeing the dedication and enthusiasm from the participants that highlights the best that Houston has to offer.

Besides serving as the start and finish line, GRB was also honored to host the Houston Marathon Health & Fitness EXPO, which featured numerous vendors promoting a wide variety of health and fitness merch.

Jacoby’s Jabber

WHO’S GOT SPIRIT?

David Bachler told me I was rocking some solid Blade Runner/Captain America vibes. Not to overexaggerate, but that was probably the best compliment I had ever received in my entire life. What David didn’t realize is the leather jacket I was wearing that day was actually my wife’s jacket, which meant it was 3 sizes too small for me and slowly cutting off the circulation to my brain. But that was a small price to pay for a successful Spirit Week.

I don’t come from a corporate background. My previous experience mainly involves making (terrible) independent films as a freelancer, so involving myself into a company’s culture this past year has been a whirlwind adventure that’s taught me a lot. Something I’ve learned in my time here is that a company’s culture goes way beyond just the work you do. It’s the people around the office that you interact with daily, and the healthy, friendly environment that your office promotes. It is such an important part of the work environment, and I would say our corporate office tries tremendously hard to have plenty of activities that are fun, exciting, and overall encourages employee participation.

We have done a lot of specialty events here in our office, but the one

I wanted to specifically highlight for this Jacoby’s Jabber is our Spirit Week. This occurred the week leading up to Super Bowl Sunday and it was packed with different themed days. Monday was Company Pride Day, Tuesday was Dress Like a Tacky Tourist Day, Wednesday was Sports Day, Thursday was

Decade Day, and Friday was Crazy Hat Day. And I’ll be honest, we had way more participation than I thought we would.

People were really getting into the spirit of Spirit Week and we got to witness the glorious image of Albert’s Socks and Sandals, and Doug’s Tourist Map. Decade Day brought out the best of the 90’s, 70’s and 50’s (which is when I rocked the too-small leather jacket and decided most definitely that I should hit the gym a bit more).

But there was another element to Spirit Week that I really enjoyed. During our Sports Day, our committee put together a Jeopardy match. Again, this was an event that we were worried not a lot of people

Jacoby Bancroft - Corporate

Jacki Miller - Corporate

would want to participate in, but I should have known better. The trivia match definitely revealed how competitive spirited our office can get. But it was a great time. Here’s a secret about me. I love trivia. I even participated in a professional Movie Trivia league in Los Angeles, so getting the opportunity to write out trivia questions and then present them to my colleagues was a highlight of my time on the events committee. And hearing that these types of games would be something that our office wants to do again down the line made me feel incredibly happy. Not quite as happy as David Bachler saying I was giving off Blade Runner/Captain America vibes in my tiny leather jacket, but pretty close!

Kara Roessner - Corporate

Gamil Abd-Elmalek - Corporate

L to R: Jacoby Bancroft, Jacki Miller, Michael Hertweck, Albert Kwong, Doug Sowell, and Kara Roessner

L to R: Jacoby Bancroft, Jacki Miller, Michael Hertweck, Albert Kwong, Doug Sowell, and Kara Roessner

SM-ART CITY NETWORKS GETS CREATIVE

Los Angeles has always been a hub for arts and culture, with a strong emphasis on diversity and out-of-the box thinking. It is a world-class destination for showcasing new talent and highlighting the indescribable ways we connect with one another through art. With that, the LA Art Show continues to be a beacon to the art world, offering a one-of-a-kind experience that celebrates the works of over 120 galleries, museums, and non-profit art organizations from around the world. Nothing was off limits as paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations, designs, and immersive performances were all on display. Smart City likes to think of themselves as artists too. We paint with a different sort of brush, crafting specialized custom network designs for each unique client and event! A big shout-out to the Smart City LA Team who made the LA Art Show a success again in 2023!

GRAB A SLICE (OR TWELVE…)

Do not read this on an empty stomach! Pizza Hut recently teamed up with YouTube star Airrack to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest pizza ever made. We are beyond ecstatic that the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) was chosen as the location to craft this incredible work of art. The humungous pizza was made using over 13,600 pounds of dough, close to 5,000 pounds of marinara sauce, over 630,000 pieces of pepperoni, and more than 8,800 pounds of cheese. Only a convention center like the LACC could be capable of handling such a unique and delicious request!

All the raw ingredients were put together to form a single pizza, then it was cooked in sections under the watchful eye of an appropriate health inspector. Thankfully, the pizza was not just for show. Guinness World Records requires that all record attempts involving food be distributed or donated for human consumption and the mondo-pizza was donated to charities that deal with food scarcity in the greater Los Angeles area.

YouTube link https://youtu.be/LrTKeT8xBRg

Carole A. Feuerman

We Care and Give Back. We believe with our success comes the responsibility to give back to your communities. We seek to contribute to our communities in ways that reflect broadly held values, have meaningful impact, draw on our unique strengths as a company, and wherever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe with our success comes the responsibility to give back to your communities. We seek to contribute to our communities in ways that reflect broadly held values, have meaningful impact, draw on our unique strengths as a company, and wherever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe with our success comes the responsibility to give back to your communities. We seek to contribute to our communities in ways that reflect broadly held values, have meaningful impact, draw on our unique strengths as a company, and wherever possible reinforce our business objectives.

WE CARE AND GIVE BACK CHECKS

At Smart City, our commitment to the communities we work and live in is a top priority. We encourage and support our local teams and the organizations that work to serve their communities. Because of this national reach, Smart City is uniquely situated to commit our support to some truly great organizations. Over this quarter, we had the honor of presenting donations to a few of these incredible charities. We are constantly inspired and amazed by the work they do every day!

Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (Las Vegas, Corporate)

United Way (St. Louis, America’s Center)

Long Beach Rescue Mission (Long Beach, Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center)

D.C. Central Food Kitchen (Washington D.C., Walter E. Washington Convention Center)

Mamatoto Village (Washington D.C., Walter E. Washington Convention Center)

Feeding San Diego (San Diego, San Diego Convention Center)

SMART CITY GIVES BACK

Although November is our Month of Service, we strive to honor that same spirit of giving back all year long. Therefore, we wanted to give a special mention to two of our centers who spent time supporting their local communities this quarter. At the Duke Energy Convention Center, Smart City provided the wireless network for staff and donors at the Annual Queen City Blood Drive. We are proud to be part of their efforts to save and improve lives in the Cincinnati community with safe and reliable blood. Also deserving of a special shoutout is our team at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Not only did the city of Miami Beach begin 2023 by banning cigarette smoking and other tobacco products from public beaches and parks, but the MBCC got involved with an organized beach clean-up. Smart City joined forces with members of the convention center to clean up the beach for better public use. Way to go team!

Tommie Beltz with United Way

Long Beach Rescue Mission

Heidi Alcantara with Feeding San Diego

Miami Beach Convention Center Clean Up Team

THANKS FOR THE SOAP-PORT!

The Smart City Networks corporate office rolled up its sleeves and got a little soapy! Thanks to two fantastic organizations, our employees were able to get involved and give back to the local Las Vegas community. We received hygiene kits from the Clean the World organization, which included individual soaps, socks, and other assorted hygiene items. After we assembled all the kits, we donated them to the Shine a Light Foundation, which assists in helping the hundreds of people living in the underground flood channels of Las Vegas. Altogether, Smart City donated 500 hygiene kits. The truly amazing part is how fast we accomplished our task. Our corporate office set aside the entire morning to assemble the kits, but enough volunteers donated time that we were done in less than 30 minutes. Thank you to our incredible team, and thank you to Clean the World and Shine a Light!

Seek the Best!

Seek the Best. We seek the best in two ways: We cast wide nets to find the best people to hire and the best ideas to adopt, and we base decisions regarding them on facts. We acknowledge, appreciate, and capitalize on our diverse work force. Seek the Best. We seek the best in two ways: We cast wide nets to find the best people to hire and the best ideas to adopt, and we base decisions regarding them on facts. We acknowledge, appreciate, and capitalize on our diverse work force. Seek the Best. We seek the best in two ways: We cast wide nets to find the best people to hire and the best ideas to adopt, and we base decisions regarding them on facts. We acknowledge, appreciate, and capitalize on our diverse work force. Seek the Best. We seek the best in two ways: We cast wide nets to find the best people to hire and the best ideas to adopt, and we base decisions regarding them on facts. We acknowledge, appreciate, and capitalize on our diverse work force. Seek the Best. We seek the best in two ways: We cast wide nets to find the best people

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!

JANUARY

Raquel Chavez

Jan Brooks

Isaac Tobar Sr.

Jullymey Garces

Kara Roessner

Alexus Gammage

Debra Green

Jennifer Wood

Ojhani Jackson

Michael Newton

Tina Shields

Tammera Clark

Mary Bonds

Kyle Rainey

Christopher Lewis

Hector Gonzalez Jr.

Esteban Wences

Austin Black

Tim Wortman

FEBRUARY

Vanessa Cauthen

Taylor Harris

Kasandra Williams

Alison Kirkland

James Snook

Liliya Piskunova

Emily Whinery

Charlton Pitman

Brian Givens

David Georger

Jzamere Jenkins

Ryan Martin

Michael Hertweck Jr.

Walter Quintanilla

Ken Schmidt

Derek Richardson

MARCH

Jesus Cabral

Michelle Dolph-Gualtieri

Enric Escuer Godas

Kara Lowry

Kyoko Sarchet-Hicks

Bob Sutton

Mark Haley

Kristian Kammermeyer

Cara Kroenke

Eleazar Martinez

Navaneetha Ayyappan

Kelvin Reynolds

Nycole Smoth

Amy Stone

Myles Perez-Jara

Nivia Lopez

Brian Cox

Kristyna Mendez

Christian DeJesus-Cruz

Todd Zuccato

Karl Seeba

Alex Graham

Corner

One thing has become abundantly clear as we wrap up Q1 of 2023. The demand for skilled talent only continues to grow. This is evident nationwide as job openings are near historic highs and the pool of job seekers continues to shrink. This is according to research published by Robert Half Talent Solutions and provides an interesting perspective of our current workforce needs. Smart City Networks continues its upward trend of hiring incredible individuals all across the nation, adding new Technicians, Customer Service Representatives, and Admin positions, just to name a few. We have hired 26 people since the start of 2023 and look forward to hiring even more throughout the next quarter. We currently have 10 open positions, additional openings may become available as we continue to explore new business opportunities! We want to welcome all of our new employees and also provide a special thanks to our team, who have gone above and beyond to make all the new hires feel like part of our family.

Robert Bowman - CSSR Manager - Denver

Jesus Cabral - Technician - Los Angeles

Christopher Collins - Ops Prof - Atlantic City

Adam Dang - Technician - San Diego

Travis Dunkley - Technician - Houston

Nicco Evans - Event Coordinator - Seattle

Kelly Fisher - Electrician - Houston

Curtis Graham - Technician - Houston

Sadoria Graves - CSSR II - Corporate

Bobby Hawkins - Technician - Houston

Jzamere Jenkins - QA Professional - Corporate

April Juneau - Payroll/HR Assistant - Corporate

Ryan Keenan - Technician II - Cleveland

Taylor Leabhart - Technician - San Diego

Chris Lewis - Electrician - Houston

Kara Lowry - Event Coordinator - Phoenix

Michael Malone - Network Admin - Corporate

Alyson Pastor - CSSR II - Corporate

Myles Perez-Jara - Technician - Houston

Kristin Reed - CSSR - Anaheim

Derek Richardson - Technician - Washington DC

Gabriel Sanchez - Technician - Los Angeles

Allan Wu - Technician - Hawaii

Larry Zavala Jr. - Technician - Houston

Frank Lopez - Technician - Houston

Robin Alexander - Technician - Minneapolis

At Smart City Networks, we are all about empowering our teams and creating an environment where solutions are architected through collaboration. We have learned that everyone thrives when we celebrate team success, recognize innovation, and embrace individuality. To learn more about a career at Smart City Networks click here!

Phoenix Convention Center

Taylor has spent the last several months working the overnight shift escorting various vendors throughout our center during the upgrade DAS project in preparation for the Super Bowl events. He really “took one for the team” in sacrificing his daily life activities and working 6 days a week no complaints. He became an important point of contact for vendors and established a great working relationship with them during this process. He helped install a few events during his shift as well when we couldn’t get any services installed due to availability. We are extremely grateful for him volunteering to work these shifts to ensure the update project was completed on time. We can’t thank him enough for this!

Andrew is always up to the task and goes above and beyond to ensure our client’s needs are met. He does right by all customers and collaborates with them onsite to make sure they are set up for success. Which, in turn, sets Smart City up for success! Andrew is a huge asset to SCN KC! He is always jumping in to help, works hard in the process and is continually improving. He just completed 216 hours of IT Networking and Security training where he used his Veteran benefits and became certified. He is always willing to put in the extra hours and takes his role very seriously. We are lucky to have Andrew in KC!

Ever since Jullymey started working for Smart City she has been extremely helpful to the Miami Beach team. She always has the event schedules updated for us techs and management. She knows how to keep the clients happy and keep them informed of any changes that need to be done to make their experience a great one. She has been able to capture the experience of every major event at the Miami Beach Convention Center with amazing photos that have also been featured in our quarterly pinnacle multiple times. This is just a small token of what she actually deserves because her work ethic and knowledge is one of the key driving forces for us at MBCC.

TAYLOR HARRIS Technician

JULLYMEY GARCES Event Coordinator Miami Beach Convention Center

ANDREW MCCOY Technician Kansas City Convention Center

Anniversaries

MARLON BROWN - 19 YEARS

GUILLERMO HUERTA - 18 YEARS

MARK GRAHAM - 16 YEARS

WILLIAM HEYER - 12 YEARS

KYOKO SARCHET-HICKS - 9 YEARS

STEPHEN MARTIN - 9 YEARS

TAYLOR HARRIS - 6 YEARS

RAQUEL BOYD - 4 YEARS

JANUARY

KARA ROESSNER - 3 YEARS

AMON CARTHAN - 1 YEAR

ROBERT GILLIAM - 1 YEAR

TRACY GORMAN - 1 YEAR

ROBERT MANNING - 1 YEAR

ANDREW QUESADA - 1 YEAR

JENNIFER ROEDER - 1 YEAR

ISAAC VAZQUEZ - 1 YEAR

FEBRUARY

ADRIAN JUAREZ - 28 YEARS

MICHELLE DOLPH-GUALTIERI - 17 YEARS

REY CRESPO - 16 YEARS

DEBBIE OLIVAS - 14 YEARS

ARNOLD CHAVEZ - 10 YEARS

NETFALI MENDOZA - 10 YEARS

CHARLTON PITMAN - 9 YEARS

RYAN MCCART - 7 YEARS

ANGELA ARREAGA - 1 YEAR

RENSOL CHENG - 1 YEAR

HECTOR GONZALEZ JR. - 1 YEAR

KENNETH NGUYEN - 1 YEAR

ADOLFO RAMIREZ - 1 YEAR

JONATHAN SOSNOWSKI - 1 YEAR

MARCH

VANESSA CAUTHEN - 28 YEARS

MICHAEL PROSSER - 21 YEARS

MITCHELL HUGHES - 18 YEARS

DYLAN PHU - 16 YEARS

DEBRA GREEN - 13 YEARS

CHRISTY HOGAN - 12 YEARS

BILL DUKE - 10 YEARS

ALEX GRAHAM - 8 YEARS

ELARD FLORES - 8 YEARS

AARON MICHAEL - 7 YEARS

DONNITA BUTLER - 6 YEARS

SHAWN LOWERY - 6 YEARS

ALBERY KWONG - 5 YEARS

JALEN THOMAS - 4 YEARS

FRANCISCO CRUZ - 3 YEARS

ENRIC ESCUER - 1 YEAR

MARCO FIERRO - 1 YEAR

RYAN MARTIN - 1 YEAR

BREANNA OSBERG - 1 YEAR

JASON PAGTOLINGAN - 1 YEAR

LILIANA RIOS - 1 YEAR

KEVIN ROMERO - 1 YEAR

ESTEBAN WENCES - 1 YEAR

DAYSHAUN WOMBLE - 1 YEAR

Continually Improve Processes

Continually Improve Processes. How do we know if a process needs improving? The answer: It always does. We can always get better. We strive continually to improve our processes, help people do their jobs better, and produce higher quality at lower cost. Continually Improve Processes. How do we know if a process needs improving? The answer: It always does. We can always get better. We strive continually to improve our processes, help people do their jobs better, and produce higher quality at lower cost. Continually Improve Processes. How do we know if a process needs improving? The answer: It always does. We can always get better. We strive continually to improve our processes, help people do their jobs better, and produce higher quality at lower cost. Continually Improve Processes. How do we know if a process needs improving? The answer: It always does. We can always get better. We strive continually to improve our processes, help people do their jobs better, and produce higher quality at lower cost.

IAEE’S WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP FORUM

Smart City was honored to participate in the IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum in March of 2023. The WLF serves an opportunity to examine topics that are unique to women in the exhibitions and events industry today. It is an in-depth discussion designed to share knowledge, discuss strategies, and overall inspire participants to take their careers to the next level. Smart City Networks has been supporting the WLF for close to a decade, and that includes overseeing and participating in a series of different panels. This year, our Sr. VP of Operations and Industry Relations Julia Slocombe was on hand to moderate Celebrating Women of Influence.

SMART CITY’S DRIVE TO CHANGE THE GAME

A fundamental business principle for Smart City is to Continually Improve Processes. That means always embracing the chance to learn and grow through different experiences. Smart City prides itself on its ability to network and spark conversation between our fellow industry leaders at these events. One recent example would be the 2023 Change the Game Luncheon presented by Farmers Insurance at the Farmers Insurance Open. It was an opportunity to talk with the change makers of today to create a more diverse, equal, and inclusive workplace and overall, the event was a huge success. Members of Smart City’s leadership team who were in attendance included Director of Regional Operations Ken Schmidt, Operations Manager Mike Rose, General Manager Heidi Alcantara, and Sr. VP Operations and Industry Relations Julia Slocombe. We strive to be a positive force in our industry and would like to thank our team for always striving to reach the very top!

From L to R

Felicia Baker – Sr. Fiduciary Advisor Specialist & VP, Wells Fargo, Sylvia Harrison – Director of Sales, San Diego Convention Center Corporation, Ken Schmidt, Mike Rose, Michael Brown – VP Marketing & Communications, The Port of San Diego, Julia Slocombe, Heidi Alcantara

Julia Slocombe with Lynn Miles Sales Manager, Ocean Center Convention Center

L to R: Lynn Miles, Julia and Kellie Shevlin, CEM Exec. Director Craft Beverage Expo

STRIVING FOR SUCCESS!

People are excited to be back together again, and Smart City Networks is ready and capable of handling any attendance influx we see across our partnered convention centers. Looking at the data from the last two years, it is no secret that the pandemic brought attendance levels to an all-time low. As a result, people could not enjoy their favorite events like they did in the past. But now, as we transition to a new normal, Smart City is thrilled to see attendance numbers at record highs. It has been an incredible turnaround and promises a bright future for the meetings and events industry.

The 2023 Pool and Spa Show at the Atlantic City Convention Center is an excellent example of stellar growth. Smart City has been partnered with the ACCC since 2014, and we are proud of the relationship we have built with the building’s team. It may not be the biggest center Smart City is partnered with on the East Coast, but it is still an extraordinary convention center. It is a hub for some of the largest events on the east coast, and the building has been featured as one of North America’s top convention centers in the nation. In addition, our local team at the ACCC show an unparalleled commitment to service. They always go above and beyond what is asked of them to deliver the best experience for show management and attendees. With all that said, the pandemic had a significant impact on the ACCC. Still, throughout 2022 and 2023, it is clear that attendance is not only returning to normal but exceeding all expectations.

Regarding the Pool and Spa Show, the event has seen a major turnaround across the board. An increase in square footage and Wi-Fi usage has made this year’s event the biggest it has ever been. The show floor grew more than 11,000 sq. feet from 2022 and more than doubled its simultaneous device usage. In 2022 the peak was 503 simultaneous devices, and in 2023 the peak was 1061 simultaneous devices. It represents how Smart City is always ready to handle any expansion or surge a show may experience now that we return to a new normal, and we congratulate our Atlantic City team on all their success.

Again, this is more than just a phenomenon specific to the ACCC. We are seeing a massive increase in show attendance nationwide and have made it our mission to be ready as we embrace a bright future.

FROM THE PINNACLE

TRIVIA TIME!

1. What convention center helped house the world’s largest pizza?

2. What event strives to promote mutual understanding, respect and ethnic harmony between Hawaii’s people and the Pacific Rim region?

3. What is the name of the XFL team from St. Louis?

4. Who were our two Smart City Spotlights this issue?

SMART CITY 101

1. What city did Smart City Networks first get its start in?

2. What West Coast city has a convention center with venues that include Memorial Auditorium and Performing Arts Center?

3. What year was Smart City founded?

4. What three convention centers have installed Hosted Voice?

POP CULTURE

1. What app is a video sharing app that allows users to create and share short form videos on any topic, often times jazzed up with filters and music?

2. What is the most common street name in the United States?

3. What tablet-shaped, slightly tart candy has been around since 1949?

4. How many seasons did Keeping Up With the Kardashians have?

TEAMS WORK

Teamwork means focusing on the team’s success, realizing ultimatley that the team’s success is your success. It also means that you succeed by helping other members of the team to succeed.