2026 Q2 Newsletter

Quarterly Newsletter

Salt Palace Convention Center | Mountain America Expo Center 2026 | Q2

Table of Contents Salt Summit & Awards Diversity Community and Culture Employee Development New Leadership Employee Highlights Earth Month Sustainability Event Highlights Upcoming Events Socials

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SALT SUMMIT & AWARDS This quarter, members of our team had the opportunity to attend the 2026 SALT Summit and SALT Awards hosted by Visit Salt Lake. With more than 200 attendees at the Summit and over 400 at the Awards ceremony, the event brought together hospitality professionals from across the industry for a day focused on learning, connection, and celebration.

SALT Summit The Summit provided a full day of education and inspiration, beginning with keynote speaker James Lawrence, better known as the "Iron Cowboy," whose story of resilience and determination set an energizing tone for the day.

Team members also attended breakout sessions led by Mary Crafts, Oz Hutton, Tyler Kirsh, and Kaitlin Eskelson. Topics ranged from leadership and professional growth to technology and innovation. The day ended with an inspiring presentation from Olympic Silver Medalist Chris Mazdzer.

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SALT SUMMIT & AWARDS SALT Awards Following the Summit, attendees gathered for the SALT Awards, an evening dedicated to recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations across the hospitality industry. We had the time of our lives, as the evening was filled with a ‘Dirty Dancing’ themed celebration and performance. More importantly, it served as a reminder of the incredible people and partners who make our industry successful and the impact they have within Salt Lake’s hospitality community.

Bryan Howser Receives Venue Facility & Operations Award One of the highlights of the evening was celebrating our very own Bryan Howser, who was recognized with the Venue Facility & Operations SALT Award. Bryan's dedication to our venues shows his commitment to operational excellence. Within his new role as the Sustainability Coordinator, his desire to improve systems and support his team are values we strive to uphold every day.

Nominees Facility & Venue Operations Brian Draney Bryan Howser Daniel Montoya Francisco Contreras Nikki Taylor Sebastian Castaneda Travis Tello

Best Boss Bart Allen Dirk Parker Josh Ambrose Monica Ortega Nikki Taylor Trisha Beagley

Breakthrough Star Casey Anderson Madalyn Pewtress Morrighan Berry Scene Maker Maribel Avila 5

DIVERSITY, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURE COMIMITTEE INITIATIVES The Diversity, Community, and Culture Committee (DCC) is an employee-led group focused on fostering connection, awareness, and employee engagement across our teams and venues.

Mental Health Awareness Month Here at the Salt Palace and Mountain America Expo Center, we recognized Mental Health Awareness Month in May by encouraging employees to prioritize their mental well-being. Through a variety of activities, employees were reminded that mental health matters.

Mental Health Presentation A clinician from the Salt Lake City Police Department shared valuable insights about mental health, including ways to recognize mental wellness challenges and strategies for maintaining mental health both personally and professionally.

Yoga & Sound Bath Activity Employees also had the opportunity to participate in a guided yoga session and sound bath. The sound bath was led by our very own employee, Trisha Beagley, creating a meaningful opportunity for employees to connect, unwind, and support one another in a unique and restorative way.

Mindful Munch Each Tuesday during lunch, employee led presentations covered a variety of mental health topics. Discussions focused on awareness, physical health, burnout prevention, and mental health first aid.

Zen Zones Dedicated Zen Zones were available throughout the month, providing calm and welcoming spaces where employees could step away from their daily responsibilities and focus on self-care.

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Cinco De Mayo On the fifth of May, employees celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a fun and flavorful cultural experience. A Tostiloco/Frutaloca station was provided, giving employees the opportunity to enjoy a popular Hispanic snack while learning about the history and significance of the holiday.

Along with the celebration, we participated in themed activities including Mexican Slang Match-Up and a Cinco de Mayo Cryptogram, each one highlighting the culture and impact of Cinco de Mayo.

Pride Month Throughout June, we came together to celebrate Pride Month through activities focused on education, connection, and allyship. Staff had the opportunity to participate in a month-long Pride Bingo challenge, engage in meaningful discussions through an LGBTQ+ Book Club, and attend a Pride Month event hosted by the Diversity, Community, and Culture Committee.

Pride Month Presentation Employees enjoyed ice cream, created allyship bracelets, and learned about the history and significance of Pride Month through an employee-led presentation.

LGBTQ+ Book Club Team members gathered to read and discuss LGBTQ+ themed articles, creating opportunities for thoughtful conversation and the sharing of diverse perspectives in an inclusive and welcoming setting.

Pride Month Bingo Through a variety of diverse activities and tasks, employees expanded their understanding of LGBTQ+ history and culture, connected with community resources, and discovered meaningful ways to practice allyship in their everyday lives.

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LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT Employee Development As we continue to invest in our staff, we are proud to see the incredible growth, achievements, and knowledge they bring back with them. Here's what some of our team members have been up to this year.

Amber Monson’s Execution Leadership Development Program (ELDP)

Over 12 weeks, Amber participated in Legends Global's ELDP program, visiting venues across the organization and learning from leaders at every level. This program challenged Amber to step outside her comfort zone.

For her Capstone Project, she explored how we can use our camera systems’ people-counting technology, improving labor forecasting using real occupancy data rather than estimated attendance.

One message Amber resonated with: treat your employees like guests. There are two types of guests: external guests who visit, and internal guests, which are our employees.

"Most importantly, ELDP reinforced the value of collaboration across our venues. While every location has its own unique challenges and strengths, many of us face similar opportunities. By sharing ideas and best practices, we can learn from one another and continue driving growth and efficiency throughout Legends Global." — Amber Monson

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Venue Management School

This June, six Salt Palace and Mountain America Expo Center team members attended Venue Management School (VMS): Josh Ambrose, Bart Allen, Courtney Strong, Claire Vitale, Katrina Sanchez, and Katie McAdams. Venue Management school gives our event staff opportunities to expand their education and earn certifications to create unforgettable experiences for our clients.

"Year 2 exceeded my expectations. Completing two years of VMS has strengthened both my knowledge and confidence and brought me one step closer to earning my Certified Venue Professional (CVP) designation. I'm truly grateful to our company for investing in my professional development." - Claire Vitale "VMS is a great place to develop professional networks outside our local area. In this industry, professional relationships will pay off!" - Bart Allen IT Conference: HPE Discover, Las Vegas

This year, Sebastian Castaneda, Dillon Anderson, and Heidi Baird had the opportunity to attend the HPE Discover Conference in Las Vegas. Dillon and Sebastian completed an AOS-CX Switching Fundamentals course covering VLAN redundancy technologies, and the group heard a keynote by HPE President & CEO Antonio Neri on AI-driven innovations.

“We were also lucky to have great keynote speakers like Antonia Neri, president and CEO of HPE. He gave us great insight into how HPE is taking advantage of AI with products.” - Sebastian Castaneda The team also explored the Discover Showcase Hall, getting hands-on with products like AOS 10 and Aruba Central that they hope to integrate into our venue. The conference even featured performances by Steve Aoki and Imagine Dragons.

“Beyond the technical content, the conference provided opportunities to engage with industry peers and partners, allowing us to validate our current strategies and bring back ideas that can help improve technology services we provide to our guests, clients, and internal teams.” - Heidi Baird 9

NEW LEADERSHIP Event Management Changes - Jed Hansen & Courtney Strong This quarter, we announced two important leadership updates within our Event Management team. Jed Hansen, Director of Events, has taken on an expanded leadership role at the Mountain America Expo Center. In this new capacity, Jed will help further align Event Management and Event Services operations, supporting a more seamless experience for clients from the planning stages through move-in and event execution.

We also celebrated the promotion of Courtney Strong, who has stepped into the role of Director of Events at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Courtney previously served as Assistant Director of Events and has been supporting both clients and staff through her strong leadership and dedication to service excellence. Courtney is excited about continuing to build on the Event Management team’s success while maintaining a strong focus on delivering exceptional service for every event hosted at the Salt Palace.

Monica Ortega Promoted to Director of Operations We are also proud to recognize Monica Ortega, who was recently promoted to Director of Operations at the Salt Palace Convention Center. After serving as Assistant Director of Operations, Monica brings years of experience and a deep commitment to operational knowledge and excellence. Throughout her time with the organization, she has played a key role in supporting the day-to-day functions that keep the facility running smoothly while fostering a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement.

These leadership changes represent an exciting chapter for both the Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center. We are grateful for Jed, Courtney, and Monica’s dedication to our organization and look forward to the positive impact they will continue to make as they guide their teams and help shape the future of our venues.

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Employee Highlights 1 Year of Service Alexander Mohrman Guest Services Agent

3 Years of Service

Travis Tello Operations Assistant Supervisor Braden Gibes Maintenance Technician Josh Ambrose General Manager Jordan White HR Coordinator

New Hires

Darrell Anderson - Police Officer @ SPCC Mustafa Alqaderi - Network Technician @ SPCC Preston Park - Financial Billing Analyst @SPCC/MAEC PJ Mannebach - Financial Analyst @SPCC/MAEC Paul Seekins - Guest Services Agent @ SPCC

Promotions

Alexander Mohrman Guest Services Agent Monica Ortega Director of Operations Dylan Short IT Systems Technician

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10 years of Service Courtney Strong Director of Events

I can't believe it's been 10 years here at the Salt Palace! I remember the early days of being a scared Event Manager just trying to figure out what rigging plots, skids and service kits were. Time flies when you're having fun and every day is different than the day before. I would not still be here if it weren't for my amazing colleagues and leaders who care and value what we do and who make work fun! One of my favorite memories is getting to experience 4 helicopters flying in, landing on 200 West and being carted into our building. A favorite lesson learned is the emphasis that we are a team here. We succeed together and we fail together; and if we fail, we pick each other up together and move forward in one stride.

Stacey Monson Assistant Engineering Manager Ten years ago, I started working with the Union team at the Salt Palace and quickly knew I had found a place where I belonged. I enjoyed the work and the people so much that when a supervisor position became available, I jumped at the chance to join the organization. The pandemic brought unexpected changes and led me down a different career path, but those changes ultimately helped me discover new interests and opportunities. I've learned that growth isn't about staying on the path you started on—it's about being willing to embrace new opportunities when they appear. I'm grateful to work for an organization that supported my transition and invested in my future by helping me pursue my HVAC education. This is one of the most unique industries I've ever been part of, and the people here are the reason so many of us stay. After 10 years, I still feel supported, challenged, and excited to continue growing.

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25 years of Service

Scott Averett - Guest Services Administrator 25 Years WOW! I remember starting only because I needed the health insurance because I was having a baby girl and now, she just turned 24 years old! Time really flies when you're just trying to survive. I started on the graveyard shifts wearing a green blazer, white button up shirt & those Salt Palace / South Towne ties that everyone has just found recently! Since then, we have had a park ranger looking uniform with a heavy security badge, but thankfully now, we wear wonderful polo shirts! I worked during the Olympics in 2002, what an amazing time that was. I never thought I would have the opportunity to work a second one but look at us now! I've also worked with a lot of different managers over the years, but I'm most excited for the new growth & the direction that the company is going in now & never thought I'd see the day that the Salt Palace would get completely remodeled! Most of all, thanks for putting up with me for all these years.

30 years of Service

Bart Allen - Assistant General Manager When I started here 30 years ago, it was a much different place. On my second day I called my wife and said, "I don't know why they hired me; there is nothing going on here"! The building was empty with no events for days at a time. Turn the page to now and it's hard to find a day when we don't have an event. The best lesson I have learned is don't let the pressure of the event and client demands frazzle you, breath and just relax, do your best and it's going to work out. Rely on your teammates.

This industry will chew you up if you let it.

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Earth Month Our annual Earth Month celebration took place throughout April, bringing employees from the Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center together to learn and practice sustainability both personally and professionally.

Volunteer & Movie Day Employees worked together to create sleeping mats from donated plastic bags. The mats will be donated to local homeless shelters, providing support to members of our community while giving a new purpose to plastic.

Repair Workshop A Fashion and Design instructor from Salt Lake Community College taught employees basic clothing repair skills, including how to mend holes and extend the life of garments. The workshop highlighted how small actions can reduce waste and promote more sustainable consumption habits.

Landfill Diversion Training Staff received a deeper look into our venue’s landfill diversion program and learned practical strategies for reducing waste both at work and at home.

Clear the Air Challenge Employees tracked their mileage and transportation methods throughout the month, exploring more ways of sustainable travel options while reducing emissions. In doing this challenge, over 538,000 gallons per mile of CO2 was saved.

Dreamscapes Visit Team members visited Dreamscapes, an immersive art experience created by our partners at the Utah Arts Alliance. During the tour, employees learned that approximately 75% of the materials used in Dreamscapes installations come directly from the Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Expo Center, showing how reuse can transform event materials into works of art. 14

LANDFILL DIVERSION DATA Salt Palace Convention Center

Mountain America Expo Center

50000

Total Food Donation - 7,545 Material Donation - 29,288 Recycling - 153,245

142,730

40000 30000

22,338

20000 10000 0

6,326

10,515

6,950

1,219 Food Donation (lbs) Material Donation (lbs)

50000 54,252

Recycling (lbs)

51,660

Recycling Broken Down (lbs)

40000 32,211

30000 23,528

20000 10000

10,906 4,355

0

2,870

1,085

ci t s alP

d o oF

g n ilc y ce R de x iM

te sa W

d o oW

rd ao b d raC

Landfill Diversion Rate (Weight)

128

alte M

0

2653 2,751

ssa lG

1,440

855

6,048

Salt Palace Convention Center

Mountain America Expo Center

Combined

36.8%

22.9%

34.7%

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Q2 Event Highlights

40 Total Number of Events

128,811 Total Attendance

$72 Million Total Economic Impact

4,440,790 Total Square Footage Booked

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Quarter 3 Events

MOUNTAIN AMERICA EXPO CENTER 2026 Show Up for Teachers Square Footage Utilization: 252,227 sq. ft.

Fall RV Supershow Square Footage Utilization: 245,100 sq. ft.

2026 Nightingale Commencement Celebration Square Footage Utilization: 195,840 sq. ft.

SALT PALACE CONVENTION CENTER 2026 YSA Conference Square Footage Utilization: 595,307 sq. ft.

2026 Small Satellite Conference Square Footage Utilization: 488,383 sq. ft.

Salt Lake Fall FanX 2026 Square Footage Utilization: 249,089 sq. ft.

Square Footage Utilization is determined by the total space used, divided by days utilized.

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Social Media Report TOTAL FOLLOWER GROWTH 14,000

14,000

12,000

12,000

April

May

June

April

May

June

Data gathered from in-use platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

+55

Followers

TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS

2,388

Total Engagements

+256 Followers

830

Total Engagements

Engagements measured by audience interactions such as likes, comments, and shares.

TOP PERFORMING POSTS

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