A YEAR IN REVIEW ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 2013-2014 The Organization The Von Braun Center is governed by a seven-member BOARD Board of Control appointed by the Mayor of Huntsville and the City Council. OF The Von Braun Center is an anchor within its community. CONTROL Located in downtown Huntsville, the VBC offers a beautiful Wayne Bonner, Chairman facility for local, regional, and national events. VBC provides multiple venues for the presentation of cultural, educational, entertainment, sporting and social events. The VBC has a staff of proven professionals ready to contribute to the success of your event. The History The Von Braun Center was built thanks to the foresight of , Vice Chairman , Secretary Eddie Turner Evans Quinlivan local leaders and a very real civic demand. The facility built in 1975 was welcomed by the community and the demand for use continued, leading to three additions within a ten year period driven largely by local and civic demand. The Mission Statement Linda Maynor Betty Schonrock The Von Braun Center is a multipurpose facility with the primary objective of facilitating and promoting events and activities in addition to generating economic benefit and improving the quality of life for the Huntsville community and surrounding areas. Randy Schrimsher Dr. Bill Sullins Letter from the Executive Director It is time to reflect & Expo was one of my favorite events of continue to expand business and economic on 2014 and also the year. Anytime you can bring families growth for Huntsville and the Tennessee look toward the together for fun and laughter, the reward Valley. Having the Embassy Suites Hotel & future! One of the is lots of smiles! When the theme is “Live, Spa connected to the South Hall has been a highlights of 2014 Laugh, Learn” you know it’s going to be great asset to this community and the VBC. was the Association good. In addition, the staff also created Since partnering in 2004, we have increased of the United States Rocket City Tailgate Challenge. Food, fun, business and made significant economic Army (AUSA) and football make a wonderful trio! impact to Huntsville. We will continue to Winter Symposium explore many options in 2015. and Exposition. The VBC also produced and promoted What a great event the 4th Annual Heads-n-Tails Crawfish As we are planning for the future, we must for Huntsville! The Boil. This event continues to grow each consider immediate and long-term options event filled most year – stop by and enjoy some crawfish! to meet the needs of our clients. The North of the Von Braun We welcomed back the Taste of Home Hall opened in 1985 and a renovation Center (VBC) and Cooking School and Expo in September. is certainly warranted. We continue to we heard lots of You should have seen all the cooking that evaluate and consider the possibility of positive comments was happening with culinary specialist, adding more space to include a multi- such as “What a perfect fit for Huntsville Michelle “Red” Roberts in the Mark C. purpose state of the art ballroom and and Redstone Arsenal!” With so many Smith Concert Hall. Thanks to our radio additional break-out rooms. Efforts continue defense contractors in Huntsville and partner WRSA Lite 96.9 for helping make to develop possible funding scenarios, but the expertise of AUSA, the event was a these events a success! we would be remiss if we did not plan and huge success. The best news is AUSA has think several years out announced the 2015 AUSA Global Force As we move into 2015, the VBC will Symposium and Exposition (formerly celebrate its 40th anniversary in March! I really appreciate the staff of the VBC – at the Winter Symposium and Exposition) There are lots of exciting events on the over 400 strong including full-time, part- will return to Huntsville in April 2015. horizon including Disney on Ice’s FROZEN time and contract employees – I commend in June – sure to put smiles on the faces of them all for their dedication and hard work. We also hosted the Space & Missile Defense our young patrons – and the Goldwing Road (SMD) Symposium in August 2014 for Riders Association’s (GWRRA) WingDing in Thank you to all who have made the VBC the 14th consecutive year- another event September. We hosted the WingDing in 1998 a part of their life. We strive to make our that highlights the talents of Huntsville! and we are very excited to have them back! clients and guests feel at home and to The Space & Missile Defense Symposium always give each person a service that is the leading educational, professional What else does the future hold for the VBC? represents “Something you didn’t know development and networking event in the One thing is for certain the staff is very you were missing.” Hope to see you in space and missile defense community. The optimistic! We have started plans to invest 2015! event utilized all of our exhibition space in future growth. Our top priority is to and continues to be successful each year. solicit a convention-quality hotel connected Sincerely, We are very appreciative of the opportunity to the VBC. There have been two separate to host these events. independent hotel studies completed and both concluded that there is a justified need In addition, it was the Year of Building New for an additional 250-300 room convention- Events for the VBC. The staff created two quality hotel in downtown Huntsville. We Steven G. Maples, CFE, Executive Director new events this year. Family Fun Festival feel very strongly that this hotel is needed to The Management Team The VBC Management Team is committed to facilitating and promoting the vision of Huntsville. Steve Maples, CFE, has served as the Von Braun Center’s Executive Director for the past eight years. As Executive Director, Maples oversees the entire operation of the Von Braun Center. Michael Vojticek, CPA, has been a member of the senior management team of the Von Braun Center for 24 years. Brandi Quick, CFE, has been a member of the senior management Left to right: Steve Maples, CFE, Executive Director; team of the Von Braun Center for 12 years. Brandi Quick, CFE, Assistant Director; Michael Vojticek, CPA, Assistant Director The Women of Duck Commander Jason Isbell Fifty Shades! The Musical Michael Jackson: IMMORTAL – Cirque du Soleil WWE Live! Avenged Sevenfold Celtic Woman 4 The World of Entertainment A Concert Line-up to Rival Any… A Variety of Family Shows… Aeolians of Oakwood University Disney Live! Alabama A&M Homecoming Concert – Disney on Ice – Princesses and Heroes Yo Gotti Gala of the Royal Horses Army Soldier Show Harlem Globetrotters Avenged Sevenfold Impact Wrestling Black Jacket Symphony – Jordan World Circus Michael Jackson “Thriller” Lonestar Sheriff’s Rodeo Black Jacket Symphony – Monster Jam Led Zeppelin’s “Houses of the Holy” PBR Bull Riding Black Jacket Symphony – Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus: Legends Prince “Purple Rain” WWE Live! Buddy Guy & Jonny Lang Celtic Woman Theatrical Shows Galore… Charlie Wilson Broadway Theatre League presents Daryl Hall and John Oates American Idiot Diamond Rio Dinosaur Train Doobie Brothers Jersey Boys Downtown Band Rally Memphis The Musical Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell Million Dollar Quartet Gov’t Mule San Jose Taiko Hunter Hayes The Ten Tenors’ India Festival Concert Flashdance The Musical Jake Owen Hello, Dolly! Jason Isbell Fifty Shades! The Musical Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series Men are from Mars - Women are from Venus Live! Martina McBride Shen Yun Performing Arts 2014 World Tour Michael Jackson: Tyler Perry – Hell Hath No Fury IMMORTAL – Cirque du Soleil Mindless Behavior Rewind Festival Rick and Bubba 20 Year Tour Ronnie McDowell Tickets Sold - 425,088 Stephen Fite Children’s Concert The Beach Boys UAH Hammers Football The Dirty Guv’nahs Hockey The Family Stone Sporting Events The Forget Me Not Project Concerts The Women of Duck Commander Travis Tritt Vince Gill & Amy Grant Widespread Panic Performing Arts Family Shows Havoc Hockey 5 Conventions, Conferences, Tradeshows & Sports Trade Conventions Shows Amateur Sports Consumer Shows Conferences Discover the Dinosaurs AUSA Winter Symposium Conferences and Conventions Southside Church of Christ Homecoming “The Bridge” Outreach Event by the Space & Missile Defense Symposium Madison Baptist Association Special Libraries Association (SLA) Military 100 Black Women S.I.S.T.E.R. Conference Libraries Division Workshop 2013 30th National Symposium on Child Abuse Summit on Contracting with the US Army Aerospace Alliance Fall Summit TNT Fireworks Training Alabama All State Band Festival TVA FY 2015-2017 Business Plan Regional Meetings Alabama Chief of Police Association Alabama Farmers Federation Commodity Conference Consumer/Trade Shows Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians 26th Annual Building Home & Remodeling Show Association Convention Abby’s Angels JDRF Vendor Expo Alabama Library Association Convention Alabama RV Super Show Alabama National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program Babypalooza Baby & Maternity Expo ALDOT Maintenance Management Conference Business Opportunity Expo Alpha Kappa Alpha South Eastern Regional Conference Car Audio Championship Alpha Phi Alpha 2013 Alabama District Conference Celebrations Bridal Fair AMC Command Counsel Conference Chamber of Commerce Small Business Expo AUSA Tactical Missile Conference Collector & Shooters Club Gun Show AUSA Winter Symposium Delta Zeta Marketplace AUVSI Pathfinders Chapter Conference Discover the Dinosaurs Be Bold, Be Beautiful & Be Buji Fall Home & Garden Show Cyber Security Summit Fanfare Quilt Show Decisive Analytics Corp. Gem, Jewelry & Mineral Show Delta Sigma Theta Halsey Food Show Exposure Youth Camp Hiring our Heroes FW Media - Licensing Huntsville Hamfest Girls, Inc South East Regional Meeting NEACA Craft Show H.E.A.R.T. Conference Randolph Under The Christmas Tree HAMA - MiniCon Senior Center Expo HAMACON 5 Spa, Swim Spa & Sauna Show Immersed in Ink Alternative Arts Festival Taste of Huntsville Joseph P.