Q2 | 2025
Quarterly Newsletter
Salt Palace Convention Center & Mountain America Expo Center
Table of Contents SALT Summit and Awards Venue Management School Mental Health Awareness Accreditation & Certification Earth Month Landfill Diversion Employee Highlights Event Highlights Upcoming Events
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Salt Summit and Awards This quarter, over 60 team members had the opportunity to attend another amazing SALT Summit and SALT Awards hosted by Visit Salt Lake. It was a full day created to inspire, educate, and celebrate all the incredible members of the hospitality industry, and a chance to celebrate our dedicated team members nominated for an award. This year, the event returned stronger than ever, with more of our staff in attendance due to a renewed focus on development and recognition.
SALT Summit: An Afternoon of Inspiration
The morning kicked off with powerful messages from Olympic champions Kaysha Love and Picabo Street, who shared stories of leadership, perseverance, and the importance of community. Later that afternoon, Mentalist and speaker Sean Bott reminded us how vital it is to truly see and support one another, all while keeping us laughing and engaged.
Between speakers, breakout sessions were held, focusing on professional development within the hospitality industry. Staff had the opportunity to choose from a variety of topics including mindfulness, improving customer service, understanding personality styles of employees, and navigating the future of AI. These sessions were geared to encourage professional growth, foster connections, and inspire new ideas for our continued excellence in the hospitality industry.
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SALT Awards: A Night to Shine This year’s SALT Awards transported us into a world of magic and wonder with a Wicked-inspired evening. Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center came together to celebrate the staff who rise above challenges, lift others up, and reach new heights every day. Like Elphaba soaring above the stage, our team members remind us all what it means to defy expectations and soar in the face of adversity.
Facility Operations SALT Award Winner: Daniel Johnston A special shout-out to our very own Daniel Johnston, who won the SALT Award in Facility Operations. Known for his exceptional customer service, leadership, and integrity, Daniel embodies the spirit of excellence we strive for every day. Congratulations, Daniel!
Nominees
Facility Operations Denny Britton McKell Nelson Will Taylor Shawn Warfield Vikki Christiansen Scott Averett Stacey Monson Frank Kratz
Spirit of Service Kayla Court Scene Maker Claire Vitale Best Boss Josh Ambrose Nikki Taylor Monica Ortega Dillon Fryer 5
Venue Management School Team members from the Salt Palace Convention Center attended Venue Management School in Palm Springs, California. It was an enriching week filled with classes covering all aspects of venue management—from stage and A/V tech to finance, F&B, labor relations, and AI. In addition to attending 19 different classes, they connected with peers from across the country, exchanging ideas and sharing best practices. We look forward to the fresh perspectives and knowledge they bring back to our workplace, and for all they’ll be able to teach us. Representing the Salt Palace Convention Center: Assistant General Manager Bart Allen, Event Manager Claire Vitale, and Event Manager Katrina Sanchez.
Mental Health Awareness Month The month of May at the Salt Palace and Mountain America Expo Center was dedicated to Mental Health Awareness. An array of activities took place such as bingo, a stress management presentation, a social media campaign, and our Zen Zones! Zen Zones: Each break room was stocked with baskets filled with fidget toys, breathing exercise cards, and calming glitter jars, giving employees effective tools to pause, take a breath, and de-stress. Social Media Campaign: Team pictures were posted to our accounts along with a fun video showing sticky notes containing uplifting messages posted around both venues. Stress Management Presentation: Guest Speaker Jaime Cardenas, a Salt Lake City Police Department psychologist, educated staff on maintaining a work life balance and the types of love languages.
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Accreditation & Certification GBAC
The Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center have earned the GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation for the fifth consecutive year. To obtain GBAC STAR accreditations, both venues were required to demonstrate compliance with the program's 20 core elements, ranging from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to PPE and emergency preparedness. This certification ensures that guests, clients, and staff can feel safe, focusing on what’s important: enjoying their experience.
LEED The Salt Palace Convention Center is proud to have obtained our LEED Gold® Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, reinforcing our commitment to building sustainability. LEED-certified buildings save energy costs, emit less carbon emissions, and promote wellbeing. Compared to other buildings, LEED-certified buildings have 34% lower CO2 emissions, consume 25% less energy, and have 11% less water consumption. The Salt Palace will continue to commit to a more sustainable future while holding our LEED certification. 7
Earth Month
Our annual tradition of celebrating Earth Day as Earth Month took place this quarter. It was packed with a variety of activities for staff to enjoy while filling out their Earth Month bingo card! The bingo card was filled with tasks to help promote a more sustainable lifestyle. Other activities on the bingo card included a Clear the Air Challenge, landfill diversion training, a service project, and a Dreamscapes tour. Clear the Air Challenge: With the combined efforts of both venues and Visit Salt Lake, 1,623,237 pounds of Co2 were saved by sustainably traveling a total of 4,194 miles.
Landfill Diversion Training: Employees had the opportunity to get in-depth training on our robust landfill diversion program.
Service Project: On Earth Day, April 22nd, team members from both venues and Visit Salt Lake partnered with Salt Lake Public Lands at Jordan Park. Together, we replaced dirt with mulch around park trees to help them retain water and live longer.
Dreamscapes Tour: Team members from both venues and Visit Salt Lake walked over to visit our neighbors at Dreamscapes, operated by our partners at the Utah Arts Alliance, for a tour of their new location. Did you know that 76% of the materials used in Dreamscapes come directly from Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center? This visit was a great example of how sustainable practices and creative collaboration can turn everyday materials into an immersive art experience. Sustainable All-Staff Meeting: Earth Month wrapped up with a Sustainable All-Staff Meeting, hosted by the Diversity and Community Committee (DCC) in collaboration with the Green Team Committee. The event featured vegan and sustainably sourced food, and all decorations were crafted from leftover materials from past events. We also welcomed guest speakers Mallory DiazVela and Lydia Anderson from UCAIR, who shared insights on Utah’s air quality and ways we can all help create a cleaner Salt Lake City. 8
Landfill Diversion Data Salt Palace Convention Center
Mountain America Expo Center
121,380
100000 80000
Total Food Donation - 11,975 Material Donation - 46,694 Recycling - 145,793
60000 35,234
40000 20000 0
11,975
24,413
11,460
Food Donation (lbs) Material Donation (lbs)
50000 48,460
Recycling (lbs)
Recycling Broken Down (lbs)
43,581
40000 30000 20000 10000
10,300
7,538 3,280
0
2,559
2,131
255
304
2,487
3,910
1,150
cit s a lP
la t e M
ssa lG
g n ilc y ce R d e xiM
te sa W d o oF
rd ao b rd aC
Landfill Diversion Rate (Weight)
Salt Palace Convention Center
Mountain America Expo Center
Combined
34.9%
34.7%
34.8%
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Employee Highlights New Hires Arianne Love - Guest Services Agent @ MAEC Michael Coles - Police Officer @ SPCC Baird Fiona - Guest Services Agent @ MAEC Angelena Eubank - Communications Intern @ SPCC/MAEC Alexander Mohrman - Operations Staff @ SPCC Jackson Moeller - Network Technician @ SPCC Paul Gardner - Network Technician @ SPCC
I started here part-time on August 15th, 2009, and have Raquel Martinez learned so much from my Guest Services Supervisor coworkers and managers over the years. I’ve appreciated Scott White’s leadership as a director and look forward to continuing to be a part of his team. While there have been ups and downs, I still genuinely love working here and being able to help anyone who needs it. I’m grateful to work alongside such a great team, and I sincerely thank everyone for the opportunity to be part of this organization for nearly 16 years.
15 years of Service
1 Year of Service Kayla Court Communications Coordinator Ender Briceno Pereira Operations Staff
3 Years of Service Austin Farley Telecommunications Technician Veronica Ortiz Cortez Operations Staff
Promotions Kenna Sharp Operations Assistant Supervisor Stephen Kurtis Wells Operations Supervisor Mike Baker Operations Assistant Supervisor
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20 years of Service Mark Christensen - Security Supervisor
I wanted to take a moment to share how incredibly grateful I am to have spent the last twenty years working alongside all of you. It's been an amazing journey, and I'm so thankful for the support and camaraderie I've experienced from such wonderful coworkers. Thank you all for making these past two decades so special.
Dave Latsis - Chief Engineer I started at the Salt Palace in security, and my first assignment was guarding a door for a volleyball event, and Dan Hayes was my event manager. Shortly after, in 2005, I was offered a position as an Engineer and was warmly welcomed into the department. I made many great friends, many of whom are still here today. In 2011, an engineering position opened at the South Towne Expo, now Mountain America Expo Center. I had cross-trained there and really enjoyed it. I saw new opportunities and it was closer to home. Over the years, I’ve served as an Engineer, Lead Engineer, and now Chief Engineer. I’m extremely grateful for the relationships I’ve built at both facilities throughout the years.
Jed Hansen - Director of Events
I began my career at the Salt Palace on April 5, 2005, and have had the privilege of working with people from around the world. Some highlights include the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Parliament of the World’s Religions, Rotary International, Stampin’ Up, FanX, and many more. An event that stands out is the 36th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Witnessing their athleticism and determination was truly inspiring. Many participants were battling emotional and mental health challenges, yet the games helped them rediscover their strength and purpose. One of the most powerful moments of my life was standing with 600 wounded veterans as we sang the Star-Spangled Banner together. Their devotion and personal sacrifice, was deeply moving. I would like to thank all the staff, past and present, for making my life’s work enjoyable. No matter what position or job you perform, you’ve been part of my life’s journey. I enjoy coming to work and being part of so many wonderful experiences. Few people can say their lives have been touched by so many people. 11
Q2 Event Highlights
70 Total Number of Events
441,397 Total Attendance
$90 Million Total Economic Impact
7,310,532 Total Square Footage Booked
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Quarter 3 Events
MOUNTAIN AMERICA EXPO CENTER 2025 Show Up For Teachers Square Footage Utilization: 252,227 sq. ft. Fall Utah RV Supershow Square Footage Utilization: 245,100 sq. ft. Oddities & Curiosities Expo Square Footage Utilization: 148,680 sq. ft.
SALT PALACE CONVENTION CENTER Young Living Square Footage Utilization: 690,595 sq. ft. 2025 Young Single Adults Conference Square Footage Utilization: 592,255 sq. ft. Salt Lake FanX Square Footage Utilization: 659,929 sq. ft.
Square Footage Utilization is determined by the total space used, divided by days utilized.
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