Creating the Science of Facility Management
Tom brings 18 years of public assembly facility management experience to Venue Solutions Group, most recently as a facility operations consultant for global design firm Populous. In that position, Tom managed guest experience benchmarking programs, consulted on pre- and grand openings, and worked with the firm’s designers and architects to help ensure functional and efficient plans. Prior to Populous, he was General Manager of CenturyLink Center, a 14,000-seat sports and entertainment arena in Louisiana. Initially employed as the first Director of Operations, Tom oversaw the pre-opening, grand opening, and ongoing efforts of the Operations Department before progressing to assistant GM and finally GM. Tom’s experience also includes event and operations work at the Palm Springs Convention Center, administrative responsibilities at the corporate level, and startup of Bridgestone Arena, home of hte Nashville Predators.
His career has been with the largest private management firms in the world, and there he honed his skills related to budgeting, equipment procurement, contract analysis, operational procedures, and customer service. Past duties have included risk assessment, insurance evaluations, interim staffing placement, and leading facility grand opening teams.
Education
Masters of Business Administration,
Centenary College of LouisianaBachelor of Science, Sports Management,
Tulane UniversityPublic Assembly Facility Management School at Oglebay
Professional Designations
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional
Memberships
International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)
IAVM Sustainability Committee
Relevant Project Experience
- Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center, Transition to Private Management and Ice Floor Installation, Augusta, Georgia
- BankAtlantic Center, Grand Opening, Sunrise, Florida
- Bridgestone Arena, Grand Opening, Nashville, Tennessee
- CenturyLink Center, Grand Opening and Operations, Bossier City, LA
- Chesapeake Energy Arena, Guest Services Benchmarking, Oklahoma City, OK
- Cohen Stadium, Facility Assessment, El Paso, Texas
- Confidential NBA Arena, Patron Security and Queuing Procedures
- Cox Convention Center Guest Services Benchmarking, Oklahoma City, OK
- Florence Civic Center, Ice Floor Installation, Florence, South Carolina
- Ford Arena Operations Consulting, Evansville, Indiana
- Heinz Field, Facility Assessment, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Houston Astros, Guest Services Benchmarking, Houston, Texas
- Independence Bowl, Staffing Analysis, Shreveport, Louisiana
- James L. Knight Center, Transition Between Management, Miami, Florida
- Judson F. Williams Convention Center, Transition to Private Management, El Paso, Texas
- Keeneland Racecourse, Master Plan and Facility Assessment, Lexington, Kentucky
- L.A. Memorial Coliseum Light Rail Staffing Plan, Los Angeles, CA
- Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex Startup, Austin, Texas
- New Orlando Event Center, Operational Consulting, Orlando, Florida
- Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, California
- Penn State Student Ingress Plan, State College, Pennsylvania
- Pyramid Arena, Tournament Coordinator, Memphis, Tennessee
- RBC Center Master Plan and Design Feature Analysis, Raleigh, North Carolina
- TCF Bank Stadium, Operational Support, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Verizon Arena, Grand Opening, North Little Rock, Arkansas
- Washington Nationals, Guest Services Benchmarking, Washington, D.C.
