THE MAIN Las Vegas, the World’S Enter- Tainment and Hospitality Mecca, Is Now Served by Its Very Own Regional Office of Kohler Event Services!

POWERFUL NEWS FOR EVENT INDUSTRY PARTNERS

THE MAIN Las Vegas, the world’s enter- tainment and hospitality mecca, is now served by its very own regional office of Kohler Event Services!

A virtual city of television up-link trucks sets up outside the STAPLES Center for the GRAMMY broadcast. A Kohler DualPack multi-generator system Cindy Carter VOL. 1 / ISSUE 2 provides uninterruptible knows the power 2001 power. of Las Vegas. THE INSIDER We have a superior selection of power generators on hand — as well as climate control units, power distribution and cable. After almost 20 years with Disney, though, I know that the most important resources are human resources. We’ve already assembled a talented and experi- enced Kohler team that — from casinos and festivals to sporting events and film production — knows both the creative and technical side of the business inside out. We also know that Las Vegas is a spe- cial place. It’s a place where “partnering” matters. We look forward to building mutually beneficial relationships not only with natural partners like sound, light and staging companies, but also creative partnerships with the growing spectrum KOHLER POWERS TV UP-LINKS FOR of event-oriented businesses. We also think that this is a special time in the history of the power business. For those critical moments — like a Las Vegas isn’t facing California’s energy live broadcast to billions of viewers 2.3 BILLION GRAMMY VIEWERS challenges, but our utility costs are soar- — uninterruptible power is the only ing. Many hotels have been forced to add option. Kohler DualPack redun- You’re standing in the control room of ™ It’s February 21, 2001. a $3 surcharge to each room-night, and dant power systems feature two one of two Kohler Event Services DualPack multi-generator units parked next to the ™ casinos and other businesses are con- generators that share the load STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. You’re monitoring power for a virtual city of television serving energy by turning off non-essential equally. If one generator fails to up-link trucks that are tethered to you. It’s 4:59:45 P.M. In 15 seconds host Jon lighting and “share shifting” to move more perform, sophisticated switchgear Stewart will walk onto the stage inside, and the 43rd Annual GRAMMY ® Awards tele- energy consumption to non-peak hours. instantly transfers the entire load cast — with appearances by Christina Aguilera, Sheryl Crow, Madonna, Bette Midler, We’re helping companies explore “peak to the second unit. Kohler Shakira, Paul Simon, and U2 to follow over the next three hours — will be on the air, shaving” — using less expensive sec- DualPack systems feature three- live. You’re primary power for the up-links that will beam the GRAMMYs to 2.3 billion ondary power during peak periods of phase voltage (208/480), range viewers around the world. What are you thinking? operation. We also have the resources from 180 to 400 kilowatts, and “You’re not thinking!” laughs Scott Walters, Regional Manager, Kohler Event and the expertise to provide permanent are extremely quiet. Services – Los Angeles.“Not right at the moment, anyway.You and your crew have been thinking plenty. You’ve been setting up and working hard for three days to make sure power installations for a flexible energy everyone has exactly the power they need. You know that everything will run flawless- response. UNINTERRUPTIBLE! Las Vegas is our kind of town, and ly because you’ve done this before. But there’s still that moment of truth. I bet it was ● hard for engineers to sit calmly through the countdown for the launch to put a man we’re excited to be part of the action. on the moon.They may look cool on the outside, but there’s a lot at stake. For us, the Cindy Carter GRAMMYs are a big deal — but then so is every event and every customer.” Regional Manager CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Las Vegas [email protected] KOHLER POWERS TV UP-LINKS FOR GRAMMY VIEWERS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ‘We’re not expanding just to be bigger. It’s to be better. To contin- Kohler powered the GRAMMY telecast ue to build the highest and most consistent up-links without a hitch, of course, but level of service and technical expertise that’s nothing new. Kohler Event Services available in the marketplace. To ensure first used DualPacks as primary power for that we are the best partner available for live television broadcasting at the 1998 our customers. Our new Operations Group U.S. Women’s Open golf championship. for Kohler™ Event Services is a response GET YOUR EVENT “We really have a lot of experience to growing demand from event planners with powering broadcasting equipment,” and the addition of new regional offices. ON-TRACK, ON-LINE says Walters. “We have earned a national “One thing that’s evident is that we’re reputation for just that, and that’s how it At the high-profile GRAMMYs, every- thing looks cool on the outside, but getting even better as we decentralize. We played out at the GRAMMYs. The primary already have very qualified and profession- contractor didn’t have the right equipment international reputations are at stake. on hand but was trusted to find the right partner — and that was Kohler Event Services with two uninterruptible power DualPacks.” “There are easier ways to approach something like the GRAMMYs,”says Walters, Mark “but we don’t believe in just dropping off power sources and letting everyone Letscher connect and pull as much power as they see fit. Creating a system with the discusses ultimate in reliability requires discipline. You have to build the system with great expansion. care. If someone makes a wrong connection, there could be a surprise waiting for everyone.” Your Internet path to a successful event: Kohler arrived at the STAPLES Center early kohlereventservices.com Friday to begin to set-up for the Monday afternoon broadcast, and over the next > Quote My Event three days, 15 television up-link trucks arrived to hook up. > Request For Proposal “Our main approach for the TV compound is initially a question of protocol,” adds Walters.“We take the time to go to each truck and determine exactly how to THE PLEDGE It’s time to dream up that next grand hook up properly and what they need to pull. We provide all the cables and the event. Certainly, awesome scenes of distribution boxes to build a system with the right architecture.That earns us a lot al regional managers in place who are vibrant colors and spectacular glitz fill of respect. We were pleased that even our cable ramps were really noticed building businesses with extremely high your head. But at the same time, because they were well designed and they were new — very Hollywood of us!” standards. But the new Operations Group hundreds of questions and logistical By the way: how was the show? “Fantastic,”says Walters.“When we wrapped up will make regional offices even better. concerns nervously race through your at 8 P.M., we had a great feeling of relief and accomplishment. It was a small step “We’re already at work building a more mind. Enter Kohler Event Services. for Kohler Event Services, and a giant leap for music fans around the world.” ● robust communications network that will To get your event on-track, start yield better fleet management and rental with us on-line, because the success product placement around the country. of all your events depends on Also, we’re integrating the industrial ser- accurate information. vice business with the event services At kohlereventservices.com, you can business at the regional level. These expect us to ask you the right improvements and others will allow the questions and gather all the critical Operations Group to extend an even high- information needed to plan your er level of training to technicians, base next event or production. Within broad strategic purchasing decisions on 48 hours, you’ll receive our thorough customer demand, and manage all the responses for preliminary planning national account jobs — like the PGA and implementation steps. TOUR events — in a consistent way. You’ll know that your event will be executed at the same high standards whether it’s in Orlando or Las Vegas or Los Angeles — or in any of our locations. “More consistent procedures and structures will also create more opportu- nities for our customers. For example, we’ll work to build broader partnerships with other businesses — a tent company or a sound and light company —on either a regional or national basis. Our goal is simple: to provide more value and more one-stop-shopping for our customers.” ● Mark Letscher Wiring the TV compound is first a matter of protocol. Manager – Operations Each connection must adhere to an architecture that will ensure reliability. [email protected] photos: Craig Macaluso / New Orleans

LIGHTING UP MARDI GRAS Kohler Event Services own Hail Kohler Event Services for for Mardi Gras needs a more pow- Steve Jaffe (left), a member of Your “alien encounter” float providing clean, consistent power! erful, cleaner, quieter power source. So do several of your 26 other floats in your Krewe of the Krewe of Caesar founded Caesar Parade that will — with flashing lights, neon, fiber optics, strobes and audio systems by Bob Carnesi (right). blaring — wind its way through the narrow streets of Metairie, Louisiana. Who you gonna call?

This spring, Bob Carnesi, Founder and Captain of the Krewe of Caesar, chose Kohler™ Event Services for power — and he’s already signed up for next year. “We like to push the envelope each year,”says Carnesi.“We’re always looking for ways to incorporate new lighting and sound technologies into our floats.” “Over the years, we’ve tried to upgrade to larger generators that produce more power,”adds Kerry Oubre, Lieutenant and Chief Technical Designer.“Each float has its own portable source of power, but for the Captain’s Float and a couple of other elaborate floats, we require more WHY KOHLER? power than a portable can handle. Some of the generators we’ve used in the past didn’t look good, had limited run times, and were pretty noisy.” Three quick questions for This year, the krewe went looking for generators that provided clean and Robert Schumacher, Project Manager – consistent power, good fuel efficiency, and ran whisper quiet. Ironically, Steve Jaffe,a new Kern Studios, another Mardi Gras Each float was powered member of the krewe, had recently joined Kohler Co. as a Project Manager for Kohler Event customer for Kohler Event Services: by a whisper-quiet Services in Orlando. Q: Why choose Kohler? KOHLER generator “Steve and I were talking one day,” says Carnesi, “and he described Kohler’s line of tow- RS: The new float designs with fiber optic behind generators. They sounded like they lighting and high-powered audio fit the bill, so we were very interested in need clean power. The Kohler® gener- reviewing them.” ators ran true and consistent. Another plus was Jaffe himself, who Q: What about availability? could serve as Kohler’s on-site technician RS: It was good. We actually picked up as a natural extension of his parade duties everything that the Krewe of Caesar for the krewe. Jaffe also went to work with was using — four 20kw generators. Oubre to analyze power demands of the We also needed three 50kw units floats, and even converted the Captain’s that were “whisper” quiet and Kohler Float to run on three-phase power to effi- brought them in from Houston. ciently balance power needs. Q: How was the technician support? “We never saw anything like the Kohler RS: We’re old hands at this, so we don’t generators,”says Carnesi.“They were clean need a lot of technical advice. But and professional-looking, and when we having a Kohler technician here on fired one up, it was incredibly quiet. We standby means you have one less ● could still hear music coming from the thing to worry about. other floats! We plan to use only KOHLER rental generators from this point forward. We couldn’t be happier with the quality or the service.” ● PROTECTION! KOHLER EVENT SERVICES IN LOS ANGELES Especially when conditions are wet at outdoor events, the number-one priority for power providers is protection from a ground fault hazard. The new Kohler GFCI Quad String — that’s Ground Fault Circuit Interruption — is one of the industry’s only outlet string (three 20-amp, 120-volt circuits) with ground fault protection. It’s perfect for powering lighting, displays, and appliances. Plus, there’s open neutral protection on all outlets for protection from excessive voltages in the event of a disconnected neutral conductor.

BLACKOUT SOLUTIONS “I’ve heardit said that during its first year, a new company has to ask permission of the marketplace. With rolling blackouts again affecting California, event Well, as the L.A. office celebrates its promoters are naturally concerned about power interruptions. Whether it’s a first anniversary, we can take pride in movie premiere, a concert or even a major league baseball game, Kohler™ Event Services is hearing from customers looking for power alternatives. “Event people are smart,”says Don Gray, Senior Account Executive.“They’re KOHLER EVENT SERVICES flexible and resourceful, and the first reaction we’re seeing is a general migra- DALLAS, TX 866-592-7050 tion of events to venues on electrical grids that are less affected — or not KOHLER, WI 888-769-3794 affected at all — by the blackouts. Others are bringing in primary power or LAS VEGAS, NV 866-487-8844 adding secondary power to events that haven’t been backed-up in the past. LOS ANGELES, CA 866-577-4797 “We’re seeing a big shift in attitudes about mobile power,” says Scott ORLANDO, FL 866-850-8132 Walters, Regional Manager, Kohler Event Services – Los Angeles. “The timing is good because we have added a lot of capabilities and equipment over the last year. We can provide a menu of solutions for an event on just about any THE MAIN scale.” CELEBRATE! The latest wrinkle on the California energy crisis is being our work to build our visibility. The mar- seen in an unexpected place: the meeting rooms of major hotels. “They’re ketplace is responding. Our reputation removing or restricting access to electrical outlets in meeting rooms,” says is growing, and customers are calling on Walters. “The hotels will provide very limited power for tasks like vacuuming, us. We’re getting feelers from very talented but otherwise they’re naturally trying to recoup some of their soaring energy people who like what they see and want The Main Event is published by costs.You either have to contract out power from them or it’s bring-your-own- to join our team. And we’ve also added Kohler Event Services, a division of power. Even a blender on a bar can generate an energy surcharge.” the right mix of equipment that will allow Kohler Rental Power. Kohler Rental Power can be price competitive in exactly that scenario, us to enter new markets.” ● Story ideas welcome. especially when customers factor in the insurance that comes along Contact the editor: Jason Keller, with providing your own power: you won’t have to worry about a rolling Scott Walters Communications MS019, blackout. ● Regional Manager 444 Highland Dr., Kohler, WI 53044; Los Angeles 920-457-4441, ext. 72189; [email protected] [email protected]

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