International Association of Venue Managers Names Brad Mayne President, CEO

July 6, 2016

The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) has selected Brad Mayne as its new president and CEO, effective July 19. Mayne also will serve as the president and CEO of the IAVM Foundation.

“Throughout his career, Brad has garnered respect from every facet of our industry,” said Karen Totaro, CFE, IAVM chair. “He has worked across sectors in various leadership roles, including within IAVM, which have earned him awards and praise. We are excited to have him take over the helm of IAVM.”

IAVM represents public assembly venues from around the globe. IAVM's active members include managers and senior executives from auditorium, arenas, convention centers, exhibit halls, stadiums, performing arts centers, university complexes and amphitheaters.

The previous IAVM CEO Vicki Hawarden stepped down earlier this year and a series of interim CEOs took her place, including retired San Diego Convention Center Manager Carol Wallace, while an executive search firm looked for a permanent person for the position.

“I am thrilled to take on this new professional challenge for an organization that is critical in advancing the work and professional practice of venue management and is so highly valued among industry professionals,” Mayne said.

The appointment of the veteran public assembly venue professional and one of the industry’s most respected and accomplished practitioners brings Mayne back to the Dallas area, where he served as president and CEO of Center Operating Co. and the American Airlines Center from 1998-2012.

Mayne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Leisure Studies in 1978 from the University of Utah before embarking on his public assembly venue career at the Salt Palace Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. He earned his Certified Facilities Executive (CFE) designation in 1992.

Mayne most notably has been involved in IAVM through his service at the Venue Management School at Oglebay and the school’s Graduate Institute, where he has served as dean since 2012 and served on the school’s Board of Regents since 1997.

Among the list of awards he has received throughout his career are the Charles A. McElravy Award in 2009 and the Legacy Award from the IAVM Foundation in 2011.

“Having an industry leader with Brad’s abilities, relationships, and leadership will help advance the strategic goals of the Foundation, which works to ensure the perpetual success and growth of the public assembly industry,” said Bob Hunter, CFE, incoming chair of the IAVM Foundation.

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.