Smart City Networks | Q4 2022 | Pinnacle

PINNACLE

MARK HALEY PRESIDENT

Smart City Networks

From the Desk of the President

We Care and Give Back!

The end of the year is always a special time for Smart City Networks. November is our Month of Service, where our team dedicates their time to giving back to their local communities. We work in over 30 communities across the country, and every one of them has a need that we can assist with. Being of service is in our DNA. We’re grateful for the opportunity to get back on track with our Month of Service after being limited by the pandemic. We’re excited to share some of our teams’ volunteering experiences in our latest Pinnacle issue.

But that’s not all. This issue also highlights a few incredible Smart City accomplishments from the last few months. This includes adding and expanding key leadership roles that will help us continue to rise to the very top. We welcomed Ken Schmidt, our new Director of Regional Operations in the Southwest, and our Orange County Convention Center General Manager, Tim Overall, was recently promoted to Director of Operations for our Florida Region. Both roles highlight the significant growth Smart City has experienced in this last quarter and 2022 overall, and we look forward to continuing that trend in 2023.

Show-wise, Smart City Networks has been fortunate enough to provide telecommunication services for a wide variety of large, unique events throughout 2022, and the last few months were no different. Smart City’s goal is to provide unparalleled customer service to help events run as efficiently as possible, which our teams accomplished in Q4. We offered a blank canvas for Art Basel to shine in Miami. We stepped up for Sneaker Con in Santa Clara. We went a little nuts over the Almond conference in Sacramento, and our network was truly tested at the VSTE conference in Virginia Beach. We thrive with variety and are thankful for the opportunity to continue supporting such extraordinary events.

As I reflect on the end of 2022 and welcome 2023, I am truly appreciative of our entire team, both at our corporate office and in the field, who continue to make Smart City the company it is today. Here’s to a wonderful new year! Smart City’s motto is “in a Hectic world, we provide Peace of Mind.”

To the Top!

2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

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

SCN 101 HIGHLIGHTS COMPANY’S STRENGTHS IN CINCINNATI

Class is in session! Arnold Chavez, our General Manager at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH, conducted an immersive ‘SCN 101’ with Visit Cincy in November of 2022. The Visitors Bureau works to promote the Greater Cincinnati area and focuses on strategic marketing that emphasizes unforgettable experiences for the meetings and conventions industry. Smart City Networks works in partnership with the Duke Energy Convention Center to provide state-of-the-art technology services and unparalleled customer support. This meeting showcased how our company plays an integral role in producing a successful event in the Cincinnati community.

There was much to discuss as Arnold mapped out Smart City Networks’ unique position in this industry and specifically highlighted the recent changes and improvements to the on-site wireless services available at the Duke Energy Convention Center. At Smart City Networks, we collaborate closely with our communities’ Visitors Bureaus to ensure a positive working relationship and to highlight our incredible services.

GOOD RAPPORT IS VITAL FOR ANY TEAM!

Smart City Networks would like to congratulate Tami Perez and Michelle Dolph-Gualtieri for being our latest Rapport graduates. Rapport builds strong leaders within our company, and we are incredibly proud of the work both Tami and Michelle put into this program. Tami is the General Manager for the Santa Clara Convention Center, and Michelle is our Customer Service Manager for the Anaheim Convention Center.

Arnold Chavez leading a discussion during SCN 101

L TO R: Paul Russel, Tami Perez, Michelle Dolph-Gualtieri, Kevin Patch, and Julia Slocombe.

Tami Perez with Rapport Certificate

TO THE VERY TOP!

Smart City Networks would like to congratulate three members of our team for well-deserved promotions going into 2023. Tim Overall, our General Manager at the Orange County Convention Center, has been promoted to Director of Operations, Florida Region. He will provide leadership to the Miami, Tampa, and Orlando accounts. Over on the corporate side, Eric Mowrey has been promoted to Senior Director of Engineering Technology, and Rob Cartagine has been promoted to Senior Director of Software Development. Congratulations, we look forward to seeing all they accomplish as they help move Smart City to the very top!

ANAHEIM BRINGS THE SPOOKY!

The annual Pumpkin Carving/Decorating Contest is a staple of the Anaheim Convention Center. Different center and permanent tenant departments work together to compete against other departments to see who has the best pumpkin carving skills, and this year did not disappoint! Participants were given one week to turn the provided pumpkin into a monstrous masterpiece to compete for four awards: Most Creative, Scariest, Best CARVED Pumpkin, and 1st Place Best of Show. It is a great team-building exercise overall, as it promotes the perfect balance of creativity and logistics. Not just anyone can turn a pumpkin into a masterpiece, though. It takes plenty of prep, time, and extraordinary patience! Tania Ramos, Kevin Romero, and Bryan Flores took the lead on the project for Smart City. The results were spooky!

The team planned and prepared a split-personality pumpkin based on the Halloween classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas. For those of you who can never pick between Jack or Sally when it comes down to choosing a favorite character, this pumpkin was tailor-made for you! But the actual carving of the pumpkin was only half the battle. The rest of the team took time out of their busy schedules to decorate the display table for judging. Overall, it was a great experience, and Smart City looks forward to competing again next year!

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

ERIC MOWREY Senior Director of Engineering Technology

TIM OVERALL Director of Operations, Florida Region

ROB CARTAGINE Senior Director of Software Development

JULLYMEY GARCES Event Coordinator Miami Beach Convention Center

SMART CITY SPOTLIGHT

Jullymey Garces is the Event Coordinator at the Miami Beach Convention Center. She is hands-on with Exhibitors, making sure all their needs are met in an orderly manner. As she puts it, “I like to be [Exhibitors’] Aleve tabs first thing in the morning.” And overall, Smart City is grateful for all her hard work. We caught up with Jully and asked her to reflect on her time with Smart City.

WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO SMART CITY?

J: I was in my final weeks of school for Technical Writing when I fell upon a bit of active research and ran into Smart City Networks. I was completely moved by how expansive Smart City was, yet still [located in] one city. I knew it was a great opportunity for me to get experience in the field while expanding my knowledge alongside great people.

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL?

J: I provide tailored customer service to Show Management… all smiles! Exhibitors are my primary focus. I like to be their Aleve tabs first thing in the morning. A lot of them forget or unknowingly underestimate how important internet can be for their event, and my job is to work with them to form a connection and achieve the best results. That said, I enjoy lurking through the Exhibit Hall jungles and the show floor savannah. Picture me like a melanistic jaguar – on the prowl.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE EVENT THAT HAS COME THROUGH YOUR CENTER AND WHAT WAS YOUR ROLE?

J: Being that I am new, all events bring me excitement. Rather than favorite, I can tell you one that has been very memorable for me. Miami Plastic Surgery 2022. This was my first event in May, and I had to become [our General Manager] Enric’s shadow. So, on my third day as a Smart City employee, Enric throws me straight into the pit of fire, surrounding me with flames! Although tough, it allowed me to invoke one of Smart City’s key business principles, Speak, Listen, and Respond. I’m grateful that Enric did this as it taught me that listening is only the first step. Responding is just as important and it overall contributes to the quality of the conversation.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING AT THE MBCC?

J: Working at the Miami Beach Convention Center is truly funny. Everyone here has a vibrant personality and are quite the comedians. My cheeks end up hurting from all the laughing whenever we are all together. The energy here is best described as a High School Performance Arts Club. We all respect each other for being different. We all act, we all are talented, and we all know our roles.

WELCOME ABOARD!

Ken Schmidt is the latest addition to the Smart City Networks executive team, and overall, his presence is exciting. He has joined our company in a new role as the Director of Operations, Southwest Region. His position is designed to provide leadership to our Southern California and Phoenix accounts. His hiring represents our company’s continued growth over 2022, and we sat down with him to discuss his background and goals for the company.

WHAT DOES YOUR NEW POSITION ENTAIL?

K: So, there are five centers in my region with five very wellestablished managers. I’m excited to come in and see how I can help in any way. Hopefully, I can take some of the pressure off them to keep things running smoothly.

BEFORE SMART CITY, WHAT WAS YOUR HISTORY WITH THE MEETINGS AND EVENTS INDUSTRY?

K: Ten years ago, I found myself working at McCormick Place where eventually I became the Director of Technology Services. In that role, I was responsible for leading a highly technical and diverse staff of 40 members in 4 different teams including Administrative Network, Telecom, Event Infrastructure, and Customer Sales and Support. One of the first things my boss told me when I got there was that I would either fall in love with the industry and never leave or be done with it quick, and 10 years later… I’m definitely leaning toward the former.

SO YOU GREW TO LOVE THE INDUSTRY?

K: Yes, I just adore events. They’re so much fun and have so many moving parts. Every single one of them is different, and I’ve had the opportunity to work on them on the largest stage for it in the country.

WHAT DREW YOU TO SMART CITY NETWORKS?

K: Well, initially it was dealing with Smart City people. Every time I’ve dealt with anybody from Smart City Networks, it’s been this incredibly positive experience. My former boss gave my resume to Mark [Haley] years ago, and it was just about waiting for the right situation. The way this came together was just so organic and natural. Really, what it came down to was networking. It was 100% networking. I mean, people wonder why we should network? This is Exhibit A!

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE SO FAR WORKING AT SMART CITY?

K: If I had been plotting or planning it, I don’t know how it could have gone better. I feel so aligned with everyone. It’s just so edifying to know that the cool people that I met are actually cool people. I just feel like I’m landing where I belong.

KEN SCHMIDT Director of Operations, Southwest Region

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER

“Once again, thank you for being a critical part of the IMPACT team. Out of everyone, the event literally COULD NOT have been successful without your persistence and diligence both early on when trying to get a handle on the scope and the wrangling and interpretation of multiple vendor + Schwab requirements during what turned out to be a ridiculously compressed and complex, last minute planning cycle. I would have seriously cried if you hadn’t been you...your attention to detail and flawless followthrough made the spaghetti requests into a network(s) that worked!”

IMPACT 2022

Amanda Louria – Event Staff

Colorado Convention Center

TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER

“Madison Grimes was great to work with. As well as, Mike that was onsite to install, he was great as well!”

Wise Employee Conference

Chad Irwin – Event Technical Producer

Tampa Convention Center

GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER

“We are writing to thank you for the quality of service provided by your staff, you and your team, at the 2022 Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference. We sincerely appreciate your efficient, gracious customer service, the level of detail and accountability that was demonstrated, and the way you conduct business, was outstanding. We have and will continue to provide positive feedback of Smart City’s service to other companies and contacts. Our team could not be more satisfied with your work, and we look forward to continuing this relationship in the future.”

Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference 2022

Jack Marchbanks – Director

Greater Columbus Convention Center

MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER

“Brian Clear and TJ Taylor are great representatives and a great team. Brian was exceptional from beginning through to the end. He was a very calming force, ensuring he would make things right even if we had to make adjustments along the way. It was my first time in this role and Brian made it a breeze. He was extremely flexible and simply enjoyable to talk with. Exemplary service through and through. I/We appreciate his high quality work, professionalism and ever-positive attitude.”

Psychological Association Annual Convention 2022

Michael Bellinghoven – Manager of Support Services Minneapolis Convention Center

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We believe that with our success comes the responsibility to give back to our 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 whenever possible reinforce our business objectives. We Care and Give Back. We

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

BUILDING BICYCLES AT

GEORGE R. BROWN

Smart City employees volunteered to join dozens of other organizations at the George R. Brown Convention Center to build bicycles benefitting Child Advocates at the 21st Annual Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston Bike Build event. The program has been held at GRB since 2004, and has donated over 1,250 bikes and helmets to children throughout the Houston community. The Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston is a non-profit organization that consists of 300 members comprised of general managers of hotels and motels, suppliers, service companies, and consultants who sell and service the hospitality industry. Overall it is a fantastic event, and Smart City was proud to participate!

ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER ADOPTS A FAMILY

For the holiday season, the Anaheim Convention Center team adopted a family through the Orange County Family Justice Center Foundation, which provides direct victim assistance, empowerment, and prevention resources for victims and families whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and elder abuse. This non-profit is one of 15 partners of the Orange County Family Justice Center, which co-locates employees of local law enforcement and social services under one roof to facilitate access to the services that victims need to protect themselves and their families from further violence. With the provided list of practical and fun items, the team shopped for and wrapped presents for the adopted family.

10 © 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

SMART CITY LA TEAM PARTICIPATES AT LA FOOD BANK

The LA Regional Food Bank is an organization that helps fight hunger by serving more than 800,000 people every month. Their programs benefit low-income families, elderly citizens, and individuals struggling to make ends meet. The Smart City team at the Los Angeles Convention center used their Month of Service to volunteer with the organization and lent a helping hand on none other than POTATO DAY! It was a humbling experience, and as an overall team, the group bagged close to 18,000 lbs. of potatoes! Volunteering is a great team-building exercise and a great way to give back to the local community, and the LA team is excited to do it again soon.

THE DALLAS TEAM MEETS DALLAS LIFE

Dallas LIFE is a nationally recognized homeless recovery center and the largest homeless shelter in North Texas. They are dedicated to offering help, hope, and health to those in need and provide ample volunteer work opportunities for those able to donate their time. The Dallas team at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center used their Month of Service to volunteer at the organization by helping clean and serve lunch. The team had a memorable experience helping where they could, and it reflects our company’s core values and commitment to service.

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

MINNEAPOLIS FEEDS THE HUNGRY

Smart City’s Minneapolis team used their Month of Service to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children, an incredible organization whose core mission is believing that all hope starts with food. As they put it, they are dedicated to seeing every child whole in body and spirit. They work with local communities to set up food preparation volunteer events, and the results were terrific. The Minneapolis team volunteered for close to two hours and, in that time, packed 92 boxes of food. If you break that down, that equals 19,872 meals, which feeds 54 kids for a year. It was a fantastic way to give back to those in need!

WASHINGTON D.C. GIVES BACK WITH PROJECT GIVEBACK

Thanksgiving is a special time of year to spend with loved ones, but it is also crucial to stop and give thanks for all we have. Thankfully, Smart City has been blessed with so much and can encourage teams across the nation to volunteer their time for our annual Month of Service. For the Washington D.C. team at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the idea of “giving back” was easy while working with Project GiveBack. The organization is dedicated to building community through service, and this event was located at the D.C. Armory, which Smart City services. Our team, including Jim Erickson, Donnita Butler, Tyshon Reid, Marlon Brown, and Nycole Smith, assisted in packing boxes with a turkey plus all the sides, for those who may not have had a Thanksgiving Dinner. Thanks to everyone on our team, and thank you, Project GiveBack, for the incredible work that you do for the community!

12 © 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

THE SEATTLE TEAM VOLUNTEERS FOR

A GREAT CAUSE

The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for families whose children undergo treatment at the Seattle Children’s Hospital or the Alaska Native Medical Center. It provides temporary housing that allows loved ones to be near and not have to worry about traveling when medical care is needed. It is truly a wonderful organization. Smart City’s Seattle team wanted to get involved during our November Month of Service, and plans to go back this summer to volunteer again. This team embodies all the servicerelated business principles that Smart City constantly strives for, and we are so proud of the work they have accomplished!

CARROTS GALORE IN SAN DIEGO

Feeding San Diego is an organization dedicated to tackling the hunger issue in San Diego head-on. According to their website, hundreds of thousands of people in San Diego County currently face hunger, and approximately 35% of food produced ends up wasted. It is an organization that the Smart City team in San Diego was honored to spend time helping. On the day of volunteering, Smart City and the other groups gleaned and packed 5,600 pounds of carrots for various programs, including the School Pantry Program. This volunteer event was extra special as our Senior Vice President of Operations & Industry Relations, Julia Slocombe, was on hand to assist the teams.

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

Jacoby’s Jabber

A WYNN-WIN Situation

Enric Escuer is my hero. There I was, assisting in the General Managers’ Day of Service at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas for the Feed the Funnel event. I was stationed at the sealing machine, which required me to take the bags of food my team had prepped and seal them shut using the provided hot sealer. It should have been a piece of cake. Behind me at another station, I am pretty sure Ben Behnkendorf, General Manager of the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, had entered some type of Terminator mode as he was grabbing and sealing bags like some sealing savant, so I knew it was possible. But I could not figure it out. I could not keep the bag’s top tight while simultaneously pressing down on the sealer.

My life flashed before my eyes. I technically was not even supposed to be there. I originally just came to the volunteering event to snap some pictures and document our General Managers’ Day of Service, but once I got there, we were told no cameras or phones were allowed on the floor. So, I thought I would just dive in and start helping.

But I couldn’t seal correctly! My group consisted of Jim Snook, Henry De La Rosa, Karl Seeba, Tim Overall, Adrian Juarez, and Enric Escuer, all of whom were pulling their weight. Unfortunately, I was the one holding everything up. I will have nightmares about that sealer for the next few years. But then, when our supply of bags started to get backed up because I was not moving fast enough, something miraculously happened. Enric stepped in to help. He recognized I was seriously struggling and left his station to help me out. We then

developed a solid system of him making the top of the bags line up correctly, followed by me pressing down on the seal and passing it over to Adrian to box up.

In a microcosm, I think this moment highlights how well our Smart City team works together. Our General Managers from across the country were together for one special volunteering event, and I saw many of our core business principles in action. Obviously, while we wore our funny squid hats and packed food bags, we were honoring our We Care and Give Back principle, but that is not all. I thought Think Fast, Move Fast, as Enric came and assisted me in this fast-paced setting to find a better solution. I

14 © 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

thought Teams Work, as I saw our group come together to form a well-functioning machine to maximize our time effectively. I saw Speak, Listen and Respond as we all had to communicate with each other about what needed to be done to pack the most boxes. And finally, I saw Continually Improve Processes as we started in a bit of a rough spot but gradually found a great rhythm.

Overall, this was a fantastic volunteering event, made even better because this was the first time we had been all together since the pandemic. Being united as a team and helping do some good for those in need made this entire event incredibly special.

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

LONG BEACH HONORS A FEW GOOD MEN

The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center hosted the 8th Annual A Few Good Men Gala, which honored and highlighted the charitable achievements of men who reside or work in the Long Beach area. Every honoree worked closely with their communities and deserved recognition for their accomplishments. The expected attendance was close to 1,200 people, so Smart City Networks had to bring their A-game. With such an important event, we knew that our sponsored Wi-Fi services needed to be reliable no matter what.

INDIANAPOLIS STOPS AND SMELLS THE FLOWERS

Indianapolis and the Smart City team stationed there took a unique approach to their Month of Service event. The team volunteered at Random Acts of Flowers, a charitable organization that focuses on improving the emotional health and well-being of individuals in healthcare facilities.

Random Acts of Flowers is described as delivering recycled flowers, encouragements, and personal moments of kindness. Indianapolis’s active volunteering with this organization highlights what Month of Service ultimately stands for. Because Smart City has a nationwide reach, we encourage our centers to go out and find different ways to volunteer. Random Acts of Flowers allows for various volunteer opportunities ranging from bouquetmaking to van drivers.

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

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!

OCTOBER

Brandon Cooper

Keivionshae Wright

Joe Melancon

Brainard Pabalan

Jonathan Sosnowski

Christopher DeLane

Stephen Whitley

Jonathan Guzman

Robert Manning

Adolfo Ramirez

Elard Flores Mitchell Hughes Carlos Reyes

Ethan Cantu

Genesis Lozano Jalen Thomas

NOVEMBER

Kevin Romero Enrique De La Rosa

Allegra Quiban

Earvin D. Claros

Jesse Macias

Jacqueline A. Ripplinger Michael L. Rupprecht II Davinnson Escobar-Ruiz Paul Russell Andrew McCoy

Michael Brown Antoinette Ibarra Jontel Scott Gregory Smith Tania Ramos

Justin Dominquez

Eric Mowrey

Courtney Diem

Dan Castleberry

William Heyer

Dave Nagel

Liliana Rios-Montoya

Jessica Torres-Cruz Tommie Beltz

Ian Prince Jr. Alice Taylor

Cyril Yumang Alvaro Zapata Jr.

DECEMBER

Dennis O’Gara

Matthew Toledo

Mohamad Sumren

David Bachler

Christopher Clark Andrew West

Jesse Gallegos Laszlo Berta Donnita Butler

Patricia Duncan Orianna Mendoza Albert Kwong Mark Graham Nicholas Gwinn Marlon Brown

Sarah Finnegan

Chris Pendleton

As we work to continue to fill open positions within our company, it is crucial to analyze the data when it comes to recruiting and use that to our advantage going forward. It is vital to understand the market and the US workforce to find the most qualified individuals. It is reported that 72% of employers find it challenging to find skilled candidates, and 41% of companies say entry-level positions are the hardest to fill. But did you know 59% of candidates have abandoned an online application due to issues or bugs with the website? That is potentially the cause of skilled candidates moving on to another employer. At Smart City, we are constantly striving to fill our ranks with the best people who make the right fit for our company culture, and overall, we are thrilled at our progress in 2022. We continue to show incredible growth in Q4 with over 20 New Hires being welcomed to the Smart City family.

Brandon Cooper - Technician - Orlando

David Georger - Ops Manager - Houston

Aussie Black - CSSR II - Corporate Jennifer Engelhart - CSSR I - Kansas City

Ojhani Jackson - Technician I - Seattle Kristian Kammermeyer - Technician I - St. Louis

Jonah West - Technician - Phoenix Kristyna Mendez - Event Coordinator - San Diego

Giovanna Recinos - Event Coordinator - Long Beach Emily Whinery - Event Coordinator - San Diego

Jesse Macias - CSSR I - San Diego Madison Chester - CSSR - Phoenix

Austin Schriver - Data Ops Professional - Indianapolis David Daumit - Data Ops Professional - Los Angeles

Joseph Estrada III - Technician I - San Diego

Tyshon Reid - CSSR I - Washington DC

Nathaniel Backus - Technician I - Seattle

Jontel Scott - Technician I - San Diego

Ken Schmidt - Director of Regional Operations - Corporate

Emily Castellanos - CSSR - Los Angeles

Brian Givens - CSSR I - Washington DC

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!

18 © 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

Anniversaries

OCTOBER

KEVIN PATCH - 24 YEARS

CHRISTOPHER WHARRY - 21 YEARS

TIMOTHY WORTMAN - 20 YEARS

CHRISTOPHER PENDLETON - 16 YEARS

JAMES ZARHARCHUCK - 7 YEARS

CHRISTOPHER ENCK - 5 YEARS

TERRELL COLLINS - 4 YEARS

ROBERT SUTTON - 47 YEARS

DAVID NAGEL - 34 YEARS

JOE MELANCON - 24 YEARS

DENNIS O'GARA - 21 YEARS

JAMES SNOOK - 18 YEARS

TODD ZUCCATO - 14 YEARS

JESSICA TORRES-CRUZ - 12 YEARS

MATTHEW CHAVEZ - 11 YEARS

DEYVIDMARK DIEGO LAZARO - 4 YEARS

KARL SEEBA - 3 YEARS

DAVINNSON ESCOBAR-RUIZ - 4 YEARS

ANGEL HERNANDEZ - 1 YEAR

NATHAN REEVES - 1 YEAR

STEPHEN WHITLEY - 1 YEAR

ISAAC VAZQUEZ - 1 YEAR

NOVEMBER

DAVID BACHLER - 6 YEARS

AMY STONE - 6 YEARS

PATRICIA DUNCAN - 1 YEAR

LESTER MICHAEL - 1 YEAR

LILIYA PISKUNOVA - 1 YEAR

LASZLO BERTA - 1 YEAR

SHARON CRUZ - 1 YEAR

DECEMBER

HENRY DE LA ROSA - 27 YEARS

BEN BEHNKENDORF - 13 YEARS

GENESIS LOZANO - 4 YEARS

HEIDI ALCANTARA - 3 YEARS

JENNIFER WOOD - 1 YEAR

2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

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.

ART BASEL PUTS THE “ART” IN SMART THIS YEAR

The Miami Beach Convention Center recently held its most anticipated event of the year, with the illustrious Art Basel livening up the convention center with beautiful works of art. Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Art Basel put on its most immense interactive experience yet! Nothing about the event was small, with international collectors, well-known art institutions, and A-list celebrities attending the threeday event. Those lucky enough to be on-site might have caught a glimpse of Leonardo DiCaprio, Venus Williams, Jennifer Lopez, or Kim Kardashian admiring masterpieces! Over 76,000 people attended, and nearly 300 Exhibitors made it an incredibly successful event.

With a theme of “How to Grow in Times of Change,” there was a huge emphasis on multimedia art, including sculptures, photographs, art installations, and art performances, all of which highlighted different artistic expressions beyond the traditional medium. The theme carried over behind the scenes as well. Art Basel has been a steady and reliable institution at the Miami Beach Convention Center for years, and Smart City has built up familiarity with the show. We knew the ins and outs necessary to make Art Basel shine, but this year was different.

Prep time began two months in advance of the show’s opening, and we already knew that this year was going to change our established formula. With digital artists increasing the demand for high-speed connectivity, Show Management had to adapt and update their methods of operation to align themselves better with Exhibitor’s needs. Likewise, as the show evolved into something new, Smart City had to evolve along with it. Exhibitors needed a new level of connectivity in their booths, and Smart City rose to the occasion to deliver gamechanging service.

The most thought-provoking piece at Art Basel came from one of our customers. At first glance, it appeared relatively simple: An ATM. Installed by Smart City at the Perrotin Booth by Brooklyn based art collective MSCHF, this display proved to be one of the most thoughtprovoking. It was a fully functional, fee-free ATM with a serious catch. Whenever a user withdrew cash, it snapped their photo and displayed their remaining account balance on a leaderboard for all to see. Smart City was honored to have played a part in such a unique and innovative work of art and is thrilled to have continued our partnership with the Miami Beach Convention Center and Art Basel throughout the years.

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

Robin Kid, aka The Kid, God Bless Our Broken Home (2022)

Jonathas de Andrade’s installation in Art Basel: Meridians

Perrotin with an interactive project by art collective MSCHF, a nested solo presentation by Kaikai Kiki.

Calida Rawles A Dream for My Lilith

GOING NUTCRAKERS

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The Houston Nutcracker Market is one of Texas’s signature holiday fundraising shopping events. It transforms NRG Park into its own winter wonderland as exhibitors fill the convention center with an array of holiday items, including home décor, food, toys, accessories, and so much more. Attendees from all over the state make the trek to NRG Park for this massive convention that supports an overall great cause. Since its beginnings in 1981, the Nutcracker Market has contributed over $80 Million to the Houston Ballet. It is a landmark piece of Houston history with which NRG Park and Smart City Networks are proud to be associated.

KANSAS CITY HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL LEADERS

Kansas City was privileged to host the NLC City Summit at the Kansas City Convention Center this past November. It was a citywide collaborative effort to pull off this successful event, and what a success it was! The NLC City Summit is the most extensive learning environment for local government leaders across the United States. Its mission is to unite industry leaders and experts to highlight how cities lead the future.

The Smart City team at the Kansas City Convention Center was responsible for most of the technical work for this event. This included live radio broadcasting, simultaneous phone, and in-person interviewing. With mascots and cheerleaders from their professional football, baseball, and soccer teams all in attendance, this event was a great representation of Kansas City flair.

SANTA CLARA STEPS UP WITH SNEAKER CON

Sneaker Con walked into the Santa Clara Convention Center in November, bringing a massive gathering of sneaker enthusiasts and shoe connoisseurs. For two days, attendees were able to peruse over 400 vendors as they bought, sold, and traded the best and newest kicks in the world. On top of over 250,000 sneakers, apparel, and accessories, Sneaker Con also featured live auctions, an assortment of shoe-related games, the most popular shoe influencers in the business, and previews for upcoming and unreleased sneakers.

22 © 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

COURT SQUARE IT LEADERS VISIT HENRY

B. GONZALEZ

The annual Court Square IT Leaders Conference was held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center (HBGCC) in San Antonio in September. It is the first time that Court Square has had the opportunity to host this event in a Smart City operated facility, and we could not be happier with the result. The meeting was attended by Chris Pallack, Smart City’s Chief Digital Officer and David Langford, Smart City Network’s Vice President of Technology. It was a fantastic opportunity for David and Chris to meet with some of the brightest minds from the various Court Square portfolio companies and listen to valuable insight regarding the tech landscape. The event utilized the Meeting Room of the Future, HBGCC’s Cantilever Room.The Cantilever Room features stunning views of downtown San Antonio thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the cityscape. It also features a wide array of presentation capabilities, allowing the room a level of customization that is optimal for the next generation of meeting planners.

“The Court Square team was excited to host our annual conference at the Smart City San Antonio Convention Center, which included a technical facility tour and fun facts about the center’s history. Feedback from the tech leaders on the location – and the extra “perk” of being so well taken care of by one of our “own” – was enthusiastically positive. We hadn’t previously considered convention centers for our conferences, usually winding up in a dark, partitioned hotel ballroom. The Cantilever room was a great surprise – light-filled, plenty of space, and great support from the facility leadership and AV team. Thanks to the Smart City and San Antonio teams for their partnership!”

Jessica Pizzo Resource Partner at Court Square Capitol Partners

LONG BEACH TAKES A RIDE ON THE WILD SIDE

The Long Beach Convention Center hosted the Long Beach Motorcycle Super Show in October 2022. It is one of California’s biggest indoor motorcycle extravaganzas where individuals from across the country could bring their motorcycles to display for eager enthusiasts. It is truly a gathering of the best of the best bikes in the world and an excellent opportunity for motorcyclists to interact with one another, share knowledge, admire the merchandise, and swap stories. With over 100 vendors, Smart City Networks needed to remain ready for any situation to ensure the event did not veer off course. But we approached the Motorcycle Super Show like we approach all of our events, meaning we hit the pedal to the metal and never let off the gas!

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

EXPO! EXPO! WAS GREAT! GREAT!

Smart City Networks had a fantastic time at IAEE’s Expo! Expo! in Kentucky this December. It provided us the opportunity to network and discuss the latest big ideas and game-changing trends for the events and exhibitions industry. Our President Mark Haley and almost the entire executive team, (pictured left to right), Chris Pendleton, Dennis O’Gara, Tim Wortman, and Julia Slocombe were in attendance, and had the chance to swap insight and knowledge with the brightest minds in our field. Expo! Expo! is always a terrific event and this year was no different. It not only helped us reconnect and communicate with key members of our industry, but also help set the stage for an even better 2023.

SACRAMENTO GOES NUTS!

The 50th Almond Conference was held December 6-8 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, just a few blocks from Blue Diamond Almonds’ headquarters. This year’s conference brought together more than 3,700 people over three days. The attendees displayed technological innovations in growing and maintenance equipment, presented research completed over the past year, and held sessions discussing various topics such as building global demand, reducing water usage, and managing escalating input costs.

VIRGINIA BEACH IS PUT TO THE TEST

The Virginia Society for Technology in Education Conference is held every even year in December at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. It primarily focuses on the professional development of educators in Virginia and highlights emerging technologies promoting technology’s role in education. This massive event takes up most of the facility and is the largest show the VBCC puts on during the year.

Being a show emphasizing the latest tech trends, the technology behind the event needed to be perfect. This event had over 1100 simultaneous devices on the Wi-Fi and used over 400 Mbps of bandwidth. Thankfully, Smart City’s team and the overall network infrastructure were ready and capable of handling any exhibitor or customer’s need. It was a true test of our network’s capabilities, and overall, the VSTE Conference was a huge success.

24 © 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

PROCESSES

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.

PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER CELEBRATES 50 YEARS!

Smart City Networks has been partners with the Phoenix Convention Convention (PCC) since 2012, but the center has been around for much longer. In September, the Phoenix Convention Center celebrated 50 years since its grand opening in 1972. With such a monumental achievement, it is important to reflect on all the center has gone through. A lot has changed since the 70s. Initially, the space started as the Phoenix Civic Plaza building, which had the trendy arts venue Symphony Hall inside. During the mid-80s, the building underwent a $30 million renovation. This helped the area expand and continue to be a driving force for tourism in the city.

Shortly after, the Phoenix Civic Plaza had another renovation, only this time it was for a $600 million expansion that tripled the size of the venue. When the work was completed in 2008, and the building reopened, it became the Phoenix Convention Center. Today it has become a staple of the downtown Phoenix area, and continues to generate over $300 million in direct visitor spending annually.

The Phoenix Convention Center honored its landmark achievement with a 50th Anniversary Celebration highlighting the center’s past, while also looking ahead to the future. There are plenty of exciting developments happening at the PCC, one of which includes the construction and installation of a new DAS for the upcoming Super Bowl event in February. It is a massive undertaking, but one that Smart City Networks and the Phoenix Convention Center are thrilled to be working on. This type of project, along with others, will help the Phoenix Convention Center thrive for 50 more years!

GONE FISHIN’

Sometimes Teams Work is represented by group activities, so Smart City wanted to highlight the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce’s 5th Annual Fishing Tournament. This opportunity allowed our Orange County Convention Center General Manager, Tim Overall, to have a great day out on the water and spend some time casting lines and seeing who could catch the most fish. On their team this year included the convention center’s friend and client, Billy Deal of the Landscape Show, who caught enough to land them in first place. Congratulations Tim and team!

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

CHARLOTTE DAS CELEBRATES T-MOBILE

WIRELESS SERVICE

The Charlotte Convention Center celebrated a massive achievement in 2022 with the addition of T-Mobile Wireless Service on our Distributed Antenna System (DAS). For years, the DAS in Charlotte was a stellar tool in providing unparalleled Verizon and AT&T wireless service to exhibitors and attendees. Still, there was a delay in adding T-Mobile service. Due to the pandemic and related labor and supply chain issues, the project was put on hold. But thanks to the hardworking team in Charlotte, and a general return to normalcy, T-Mobile service was finally operational by the end of September.

The Charlotte Convention Center employees and the Smart City team were thrilled that this extensive undertaking was finally complete. The center now carries all the major wireless carriers, and they are available throughout the center, which will continue to help the Charlotte Convention Center remain one of the premier meeting and event spaces in North Carolina.

TAMMERA CLARK GRADUATES LEADERSHIP ADVANCE

Smart City Networks would like to congratulate our Corporate Customer Service Supervisor, Tammera (Tammy) Clark, on her graduation from Leadership Advance. Leadership Advance is a Vegas Chamber program and is an opportunity for dedicated business professionals to gain extensive insight and develop more robust leadership strategies that assist them on their path to becoming better leaders. Tammy attended the program for five months, where she learned different leadership styles and an assortment of valuable lessons that she will continue to apply directly to her Smart City duties.

Tammy has always been an exemplary member of the Smart City family. Her dedication and commitment to customer service stand as an inspiration, and she embodies many of our core business principles daily. One of our company’s fundamental values is to Continually Improve Processes, which represents the idea that we can always get better and produce higher-quality work. Tammy has constantly shown a desire to grow and learn, and we are incredibly proud to have her on our team. Congratulations Tammy!

28 © 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

STAYING CYBER-SAFE IN 2023!

By: Daniel Sakimura

Happy New Year! As we move forward into 2023 let’s take a pause and look at Cybersecurity lessons from 2022 and what we are expecting in 2023. 2022 was a banner year for data breaches and cybersecurity incidents. Running an internet search for “Top 10 Cybersecurity Breaches 2022” gives list upon list from many sources, none of which are identical, and many of which do not even have the same incidents at all. Yet throughout these lists, there are some common threads. Most of these breaches by cybercriminals were enabled by either successful phishing campaigns, weak passwords, misconfigured systems, malicious insiders, or some combination of all four. None of these threats are stopped by the traditional network perimeter. All of them revolve around the humans that use computer systems. A few examples are listed below.

• Nelnet – Unpatched systems

• Uber – Phishing Campaign (third party contractor)

• Last Pass – Phishing Campaign

• Capitol One – Malicious Insider

Smart City Networks makes every effort to educate our team on both the techniques attackers use to target humans, and the consequences to the company of a breach. Our team has taken this to heart. Over the past year, we have measurably reduced the number of “clicks” on simulated phishing emails we send out to our team. Going from more than 5% of links sent being clicked to less than 2%. Quite an improvement! We are also seeing more reports hitting our help desk about potentially bad emails that made it in through the filters. Which both tells us where our filters need tweaking, and that our team is reading emails with a critical eye.

The 5 habits we instill in our “human firewalls” include the following.

1. Think before clicking. Read emails critically and hover over links to verify where they really lead to.

2. Use situational awareness. Be mindful of who and what is around you. Do not access or input sensitive information where others can “shoulder surf”.

3. Respect Access. Lock workstations when leaving them for any period of time. Do not abuse your access rights either physical or digital.

4. Report a suspected incident/suspicious activity immediately. If there is a danger, the sooner action can be taken to remediate or mitigate, the less damage can be done. I am happy to say our team is exceptionally good at this. When someone has a lapse on habit one, they invoke habit 4 almost immediately.

5. Always follow policy. They exist to ensure the safety of the team, the company, and our customers.

So far, we have been successful in fending off the rampaging hordes of cybercriminals. Well, more like the slithering sneaks of cybercriminals since their main defense is remaining undetected. But we are constantly on the lookout. Constantly practicing our human firewall behaviors because the cybercriminals won’t stop.

© 2022 Smart City Networks. All Rights Reserved.

WE CARE Give Back

We seek to contribute to our communities in ways that reflect broadly held values, have a meaningful impact, draw on our unique strengths as a company and whenever possible reinforce our business objectives.