A YEAR IN REVIEW

ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 2013-2014 The Organization The 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! 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. Cribbins Aviation Product Symposium Tennessee Valley Hunting & Fishing Expo LTD IMPACT 2014 The Boat Show National Progressive Baptist WZYP Bridal Fair National Space & Missile Materials Symposium National Speleological Society Sporting Events National Tourism Summit Alabama State High School Wrestling Championship NCMS Conference Big Spring Volleyball Bash NDIA Small Business Conference Cotton Row Run Non Profit University Huntsville Gymnastic Center North Alabama Bike Summit Jamfest Cheer & Dance Competition Oracle Technology Conference Rocket City Classic & Fit Expo Protestant Women of the Chapel - Redstone Arsenal Regional High School Volleyball Tournament Saved in the City Conference Trampoline & Tumbling National Championship School of Art Fashion US Gymnastics Women’s State Optional Competition Select Traveler Conference US Soccer Cup 6 Banquets, Meetings & Social Events

Social Weddings Functions Banquets

Meetings Graduations Denbo Wedding Chamber of Commerce

Banquets St. John’s Benefit Gala A&M Black Tie Gala St. Luke’s Pastor’s Anniversary Banquet Alabama A&M University Athletic Banquet The Rock Family Worship Center Alabama Policy Institute Annual Huntsville Banquet Volunteer Appreciation Banquet Alabama Science Fair Banquet Union Chapel M.B. Church Pastor’s Dinner Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante Ball Victorian Cotillion Ball American Cancer Society Summer Lights Gala Village of Promise presents Marian Wright Edelman American Red Cross Touch of Red Gala Women Honoring Women Army Birthday Dinner Athletic Hall of Fame Meetings AUSA Civilian of the Year Awards Banquet Applied Leadership – Crestcom AUSA Veterans’ Dinner Hospitality Sales & Marketing Executives Blue Creek Investment Partners Huntsville Madison County Hospitality Association 10th Anniversary Celebration Huntsville Rotary Club Boys & Girls Clubs Leaders & Legends Dinner International Facility Managers Association Chamber of Commerce Alabama Update Luncheon Oakwood University National Alumni Association with Governor Robert Bentley Redstone Federal Credit Union Annual Meeting Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Luncheon Rocket City Alabama Chapter of SGMP Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Luncheon Special Needs Awareness Program – Madison County’s Chamber of Commerce Best Places to Work Luncheon Connect Program Class 16 Chamber of Commerce Redstone Arsenal Update Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards Social Functions Chamber of Commerce State of the City Address Luncheon 100 Black Men of Greater Huntsville Holiday Gala with Mayor Tommy Battle Associated Builders & Contractors Banquet Chamber of Commerce State of the County Luncheon Auburn University with Commissioner Dale Strong Avion Holiday Party Chamber of Commerce Washington Update BP America Holiday Party with Congressman Mo Brooks Colsa Corporation Holiday Party Chamber of Commerce Washington Update Council Training All School High School Reunion with Senator Jeff Sessions Craft Beer Garden in conjunction with Christian Women’s Job Corps Circles Luncheon Downtown Huntsville, Inc Food Truck Rally Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Homegrown Huntsville Dine & Dash Crimson Caravan Dog Ball Funset Social and Charity Club Beautillion Ball Dynetics Holiday Party Huntsville Bible College Vision Banquet ERC Holiday Party Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Ball Gleason Research Holiday Party Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Holy Spirit Regional School Bash & Silent Auction Crescen-Dough Auction Margarita Ball Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast MITS Holiday Party Medical Gala Nutcracker Ball Morning Star Lodge #50 Oakwood UNCF Gala Hosted Oakwood University Senior Banquet Pope John Paul II Catholic High School Gala 29 Societies of 1895 & 2012/Huntsville Hospital Foundation Weddings 7 The Von Braun Center is home to three sculptures included on the SPACES Sculpture Trail. SPACES is a collaborative project developed in 2010 The art@TAC Gallery is a public by The Arts Council, Inc., Alabama gallery located inside the Von A&M University, Huntsville Museum of Braun Center in downtown Art, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment Huntsville, AL and is managed and UAH. Originally designed as a by The Arts Council. The gallery biennial sculpture installation, the displays 4 shows each year that founding institutions welcomed the showcase The Arts Council’s Madison Arts Council to the SPACES member artists and unique Sculpture Trail project in 2012. The community exhibits. The exhibit 2012-2014 iteration featured 36 total is open to the public during sculptures by 21 artists from 11 states, normal business hours and special making it one of the largest trails of its events. Access to the gallery is kind in the nation. SPACES is designed available through the Playhouse to engage and enliven the Huntsville/ or the Mark Smith Concert Hall Madison County community and can be entrance. For more info about explored through walking, GPS and cell The Arts Council please visit phone guided tours. www.artshuntsville.org. Sports

The 2014-15 of the The Alabama Hammers Arena The University of Alabama in Huntsville Havoc looks to continue Football Team enter the 2015 Season Huntsville hockey team enters their the tradition of fast-paced, hard- with a new look and a new Head second season in the prestigious hitting, family entertainment. Coach. The Hammers look forward Western Collegiate Hockey Conference The 11th season will not disappoint to the 16th Season of arena Football following the inaugural 2013-14 as head coach Glenn Detulleo at the VBC competing against other campaign. The Chargers welcome and the team will take on SPHL members of the Professional Indoor seven different schools and the USA rivals , Football League that includes the U-18 team to the Von Braun Center for Fayetteville FireAntz, Knoxville , Nashville Venom, this upcoming season with featured Ice Bears, Louisiana Ice Gators, Steelhawks, Harrisburg promotions and giveaways for all 16 home dates. Special for the new Mississippi RiverKings, Pensacola Stampede, , Erie season, children ages 12 and under get Ice Flyers and Peoria Rivermen. Explosion and the Trenton Freedom. in free to all home games courtesy of Huntsville International Airport. 8 The 4th Annual Heads-N-Tails Crawfish Boil presented by The Von Braun Center launched two new events the Summer Landers McLarty Nissan was held on April 5th. The event saw of 2014 with the first being, the Family Fun Festival & Expo presented by Landers McLarty Nissan, held on Saturday, June record attendance this year with the addition of the craft beer 21st. With over 6,000 people attending throughout the day garden and sampling stations. While the kids bounced around this was an anticipated addition for Tennessee Valley residents. on the inflatables and got their faces painted the adults The focus was Live, Laugh and Learn and we highlighted that enjoyed the tunes of Mambo Gris Gris and Roux du Bayou. with vendors who represented the best products, services and entertainment for families as well as a large array of kids activities and demonstrations.

Food Fun &

Another great addition for North Alabama residents was We welcomed back the 2nd Annual Taste of Home Cooking Huntsville’s largest tailgate party, the Rocket City Tailgate School & Expo on Thursday, September 25th featuring Challenge presented by the Landers McLarty Group, held Culinary Specialist Michelle Roberts. The Expo was filled with on Saturday, August 16th. This event featured a Tailgate aromas from local businesses sampling delicious treats and Cook-Off Competition, Free Expo and the Football 101 the Rocket City Diner. We added a complete VIP Experience Clinic. A $1,000 donation was made to the Alabama Kidney this year where guests sampled the recipes being taught on Foundation on behalf of the Cook-Off Champion, Stars and stage later that evening during the cooking school. Our media Bars! There was also a $1,000 scholarship awarded to an partners were Lite 96.9 and WAAY 31. area football player for academic achievement.

9 In the Words of Our Clients...

Please accept my sincere appreciation I want to thank you for your assistance Food was excellent, the catering staff for your help in planning, coordinating, in the planning of the recent Burt Family excelled at being responsive & flexible. and executing the 2014 Armed Forces Reunion Banquet at your facility. The Great job by everyone! Celebration Week to honor service property amenities and food service was Betty Bolté, Heart of Dixie members, past and present, throughout well received. Service was great and the Romance Readers Luncheon the Tennessee Valley community. food was delicious.

The first-class execution of the events Shirley Burt, Burt Family Reunion We had a great show and the staff was great during the Celebration Week was a to work with…We are doing a Broadway direct result of your efforts as well Wonderful in every aspect – Thank you! theme next year so should be fun!! as coordination with key individuals Carroll Strickland, Colonial Dames Barbara Ellen Smartt, from Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, and North Alabama Dance Center Madison County. Thank you again for your part in making The staff we worked with exceeded our this week such an overwhelming expectations and we felt went the “extra Staff was great to work with!! success. mile” to make our daughter’s wedding Kerry Lassu, AMC Command reception more beautiful than we Army Strong! Counsel Conference imagined. Dennis L. Via, Headquarters United States Army Materiel Command Pam Frees, Frees Wedding Reception Thank you for all of your hard work for General, US Army Commanding the Cooking School. It was great working Your staff that provided excellent with you this year. I hope you had fun! Putting together an amazing event takes customer service and attended to all our I truly appreciate all you did to make an awesome team of hard working needs are to be commended. Everything the show a success. wedding professionals; thank each of was taken care of right down to the Michelle Roberts, Taste of Home you for the role you played in making minute detail. Cooking School & Expo Turk and Jay’s Wedding and Reception Michelle Fields, go off so wonderfully. The whole Fields Graduation Luncheon The staff is always so wonderful and weekend was very beautiful and the accommodating at the VBC. Great Job Bride and Groom were very pleased. Another great weekend. Thanks for as always! Once again thank you all for a job well all your help! Courtney McCool, Huntsville Hospital done and I look forward to working with James Linderholm, Foundation – Doobie Brothers you again soon! Huntsville Gymnastic Center Calandra Terry, Everyone on staff has “can do” attitude. An Event To Remember, LLC A wonderful experience from start Great customer service! A pleasure to to finish. work with! Very well done! Alma Huston, Westminster Christian Lynn Kilgore, Huntsville/Madison Wilbert Brown, Chairman, Academy Graduation County Builders Association Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast

Rising Above with John O’Leary presented by EyeCare Associates was held at the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall on November 19th. As a child, John experienced first-hand, the devastating nature of fire which left him burned over 100 percent of his body. He was given less than one percent chance of surviving the first night. His unlikely recovery meant a journey of pain and loss that could have easily been insurmountable. Yet, John chose not only to rise above adversity, but to thrive. As a college graduate, business owner, philanthropist, husband and father, he serves as an amazing beacon of hope, positive change, and bold action. John shared many critical lessons he learned along his journey and all in attendance left with tools to help enhance their career, health, finances, relationships and emotional well-being.

10 Doing Our Part... The Von Braun Center kicked-off its Recycling and Conservation Initiative Program in October 2008 and it has been going strong ever since. In the 2013-2014 fiscal year the Von Braun Center recycled: • Paper – 5,377 lbs. • Cardboard – 22,540 lbs. • Plastic – 946 lbs. • Electronic equipment – 1,051 lbs. • Aluminum cans – 850 lbs. • Spent Fluorescent Lamps – 975 The VBC diverted 109 tons or 218,000 lbs. of trash from the local landfill by transporting it to the Waste to Energy Facility. By sending our trash to the Waste to Energy Facility, we were able to achieve an average diversion rate of 72.83% for the year.

A Year in Review

VBC Event Composition VBC GrossGross Revenue Revenue

Sporting Events $11,000,000

Social Conferences $10,000,000 Functions Trade/ Consumer Shows $9,000,000

$8,000,000

Meetings Entertainment Events 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Photography: Event Photos by Vicki Yates and other VBC Staff, Portraits by Bill Vaughn Photography, Shults Design, Shawn McCown, Craig Shamwell/Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. 11 700 Monroe Street Huntsville, Alabama 35801 256.533.1953 www.vonbrauncenter.com