ASM Global and CONEXPO Demonstrate Their Care for People and the Planet
August 22, 2022
While many event-related companies and organizations remain laser-focused on getting back to business as usual, that hasn’t stopped a leading trade show and a venue management company from going the extra mile to make a difference for the environment and those in need. Check out who has been walking the walk when it comes to corporate social responsibility lately!
ASM Global
Leading venue management and event strategy partner, ASM Global, has been delivering on its almost year-old corporate social responsibility initiative, ASM Global Acts, which focuses on protecting the environment, investing in people and strengthening the communities in which it operates.
KFC Yum! Center
On Aug. 15, ASM Global, KFC Yum! Center and Pepsi teamed up to host a “Fill the Truck” supply drive to collect and deliver essential items to help Eastern Kentucky residents recover from catastrophic flooding that devastated the region and claimed the lives of 39 residents.
According to ASM Global officials, support from Louisville-area residents, businesses and government office workers exceeded all expectations, with the ASM Global team filling two large semi-trailer trucks with food and supplies for flood victims. ASM Global Acts also made a financial contribution to the recovery effort.
“While we cannot imagine the devastating loss that has impacted Eastern Kentucky residents, we knew we had to find a way to provide support,” said Eric Granger, general manager of ASM Global KFC Yum! Center. “Our ASM Global staff approached me wanting to help with Eastern Kentucky flood relief, and we knew we could make a bigger impact with the support of our partners and the local community.”
He continued, “Pepsi is such a willing and supportive partner and eagerly jumped in to help by providing transportation to deliver items directly to residents in Eastern Kentucky. Seeing our community come together to help our neighbors during this incredibly difficult time has been extremely rewarding for our entire ASM Global team, and we could not be more pleased with the response.”
Granger added that local businesses and residents were encouraged to collect supplies and drop them off at the arena’s outdoor Pepsi Plaza on Aug. 11. Not only did KFC Yum! Center partners step in and deliver supplies, but the entire city also embraced the collection drive by organizing smaller collection events at local businesses throughout the city and donating the resulting items to the effort.
The donated items, which included blankets, towels, cleaning supplies, mops, brooms, buckets, shovels and non-perishable food items, were delivered to the Knott County Sportsplex and offered directly to residents throughout the areas affected by the recent flood.
Meanwhile, Louisville Arena Authority Chair Leslie Geoghegan partnered with the ASM Global team at the arena to organize and participate in many community events and worked closely on-site with ASM in this collection drive.
“I was so grateful for the opportunity to spend the day working with our enthusiastic KFC Yum! Center staff and Pepsi representatives to fill the truck with essential items for flood victims,” Geoghegan said. “It was incredible to see the Louisville community come together to support this meaningful initiative.”
She continued, “As a part of this community, it is our responsibility to find ways to make a difference and give back. Like the tornadoes in Western Kentucky several months ago, this natural disaster’s impact has been felt throughout our state, and we wanted to assist the many families in Eastern Kentucky affected by flooding.”
Pennsylvania Convention Center
The next day, ASM Global’s CSR initiative was also set into action in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, which hosted a backpack drive on Aug. 16 to provide 200 backpacks full of age-appropriate school supplies to students in foster care through Methodist Family Support Services.
The effort was a collaboration between ASM Globalthe Pennsylvania Convention Center’s venue management partner and Methodist Services and Foster Angels on Earth.
“The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, as a steward of the public good, is committed to working with our partners to lead initiatives that foster community development and drive economic prosperity for the greater Philadelphia region,” said John J. McNichol, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “The mission of the authority is strongly aligned with the objectives of ASM Global ACTS, and we are proud to collaborate on efforts, such as the backpack drive, that have a meaningful impact on the communities that we serve.”
At the event, 25 volunteers, including members from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, packed the backpacks with much-needed school supplies donated by the Center’s staff, vendor partners and labor union partners.
“Our parents want what we all want for our children: to begin a new school year prepared with the very best supplies, to navigate a pandemic-influenced year which may include virtual, hybrid and in-person classes, and to remain as safe and ready as possible!” said Anne Rice-Burgess, president and CEO and Methodist Services/Methodist Home for Children, which has provided services to children and families for more than 140 years.
She added, “On behalf of the 200 families who will happily receive these generous donations, we send our gratitude to all involved!”
According to Kelvin D. Moore, ASM Global regional vice president and Pennsylvania Convention Center general manager, the heartwarming CSR activity was another example of how the venue, through ASM Global Acts, encourages and promotes staff volunteerism.
“Through our strong community partnerships, the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and ASM Global are creating more opportunities for our team to meaningfully engage our communities and provide the support that so many in the greater Philadelphia region need,” he said.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE
CONEXPO-CON/AGG, the largest construction trade show in North America, and International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE), the leading North American exhibition for the fluid power, power transmission and motion control industries, have formed a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to support vital forest ecosystems through tree planting.
Announced on Aug. 17, the collaboration will enable the planting of more than 130,000 trees— one for every show registrant— in U.S. forests of greatest need.
As one of the world’s largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation has planted nearly 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world for the past 50 years. Through a vast network of partnerships, the Foundation facilitates projects that empower organizations of all sizes to reach their ESG, CSR and sustainability goals via measurable, impactful work.
“The opportunity to plant trees in conjunction with one of the largest trade shows in North America will have an incredible impact on our reforestation efforts,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We know that trees are a key part of the solution to some of the biggest issues facing our planet, and partners like CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE can help us achieve the scale necessary to drive meaningful impact in the places that need it most.”
Held triennially, the collocated CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE attracts attendees from all sectors of the construction industry. The partnership with The Arbor Day Foundation is the first of many steps the show is taking to reduce its industry’s carbon footprint and increase on-site sustainability efforts. In addition, CONEXPO-CON/AGG’s conference portion will feature 13 education sessions focusing on sustainability, including tracking emissions, recycling and carbon neutrality.
“Our show is about finding solutions to challenges,” said Dana Wuesthoff, show director of CONEXPO-CON/AGG. “More and more, our attendees and exhibitors are challenged to think of the greater good in their business practices. Teaming with an organization like The Arbor Day Foundation provides an opportunity to not only impact the CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE led reforestation project, but it also provides another connection for our exhibitors and attendees to work with to help navigate and align their business strategy and sustainability efforts in their communities.”
Attendees and exhibitors at the show can choose to make an additional contribution to the tree planting effort to increase the impact of the partnership. More information on planting locations and specific project details will be announced in the months leading up to the 2023 show, set for March 14-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center
Have a recent giving back activity to share? Reach out to lpsavas@tsnn.com.
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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors.
TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders.
Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA
With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role?
Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”
These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.
Allegiant Stadium
As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward?
Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees.
What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events?
We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.
Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city.
Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.
What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization?
We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.
What are your favorite ways to recharge?
My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.
Valley of Fire
What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing?
I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.
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