THE MAIN Our Country and Our Industry Have Had Quite a Challenging Year
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
POWERFUL NEWS FOR EVENT INDUSTRY PARTNERS THE MAIN Our country and our industry have had quite a challenging year. While that’s not really news, I think this is a great time to pause, reflect and put things into perspective. TM VOL. 2 / ISSUE 1 2003 THE INSIDER While our industry is sluggish right now, I understand there’s a tendency to sell on price. And while we never want to forget our commitment to deliver services at the best price possible, Kohler Event photos ©2002The Kellams Group Services has always been about delivering more. Delivering complete packages of event solutions; customized, expert, pro- fessional service; an expanded network of experienced personnel nationwide; and, of course, the most sophisticated hardware solutions in the industry. That’s to say we’re about value. In today’s business climate, customers need more value than ever. Client dollars spent on events need to buy the most impact, leverage and identity possible. While the marketplace for events KOHLER POWERS TENSE recovers — and we’re seeing hints of a possible rebound this summer — Kohler Tiger Woods (above) tees off Event Services is well positioned to offer at last summer’s exciting 2002 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP even greater value in one-stop shopping, PGA Championship which and our best package of products and drew record crowds. ‘The winner of the PGA Championship has to services ever in 2003. For us, it’s about put together four rounds of great golf, with no let-downs,”says John Nemanich, nation- improving the level of gracious living. al account executive for sports services at Kohler Event Services.“We understand what For our customers, it’s about putting that kind of performance takes. Our success is measured by everything operating their planning in capable hands with perfectly 24/7 for seven intense days of championship golf. Even the rainy days didn’t a company committed to delivering A bevy of elite facilities were built make us flinch, but watching Justin Leonard lose did. If only he could have performed worry-free event services. for the Championship and as flawlessly as our team and equipment.” Bob Leffel required round-the-clock power For sheer drama, the 2002 PGA Championship, held August and monitoring from VP and General Manager 13-19 at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn., offered everything Kohler Event Services Kohler Event Services. a golf fan could want. With a solid lead, it looked like Justin [email protected] Leonard had the championship in hand. But he startlingly faltered and withered back to fifth place.Then Rich Beem stepped up and battled Tiger Woods down the stretch. Hanging on with panache, Beem held Tiger off by one stroke. “It will certainly go down as one of the most memorable PGA Championships in history,” marvels Nemanich. “That we were there quietly behind the scenes providing reliable power for the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 KOHLER POWERS TENSE 2002 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 event made the week very memorable for us, as well.” The sheer scale of the PGA Championship easily qualifies it as one of the sporting world’s Every special event premier showcases. This year’s championship is unique. Every organizing company or drew thousands of golf enthusiasts. On the first organizing structure like the PGA of America day alone, a whopping 40,000 fans showed up runs their own events differently and just to watch the players during their practice coordinates them differently — so there’s rounds. a learning curve for vendors. “The PGA Championship was the largest Kohler Event Services just completed project yet for Kohler Event Services,” says their second year at the PGA Championship, photos ©2002 The Kellams Group Nemanich. “We provided all the temporary and there was a huge jump on that learning power, electrical and cable distribution, curve — a large improvement in terms of One of the elaborate media centers climate control and temporary light towers. Considering the time it takes to their manpower, their organization, their powered by Kohler Event Services. set-up, the temporary facilities that have to be built, the scope of the course, amount of equipment. Their coordination the length of the event itself, and the overflow crowds, it was a monumental with other vendors has also grown and achievement.” matured. Planning began in earnest by the PGA two years before the championship and continued with monthly meetings with Kohler Event Services to coordinate the project. The Kohler Event Services team was comprised of 11 people from the national office who had expertise in sales, operations, engineering, and admin- istration. Support was drawn from Kohler Event Services regional offices, and a THE NUMBERS special team of 16 talented technicians was assembled for the event itself. Kohler Event Services generated A bevy of elite facilities was needed for the Championship, including food some pretty impressive numbers services, temporary kitchens, hospitality structures and media centers.And each at the PGA Championship! area required a different type of distribution gear and power from single-phase to three-phase. In the hospitality area alone, 45 private “chalets” were built. Gallons of diesel fuel: These structures featured island bars that could seat a couple hundred people 70,000 and usually 4-8 jumbo-sized TVs positioned on towers. Tons of cooling equipment: Two temporary Champions’ Clubs were even larger and more elaborate. Each club featured intricate interior design, indirect lighting, 40-50 televisions, a 2375 buffet-style food area, an open bar, executive restrooms, and 100 private tables. THE CLIENT Cable ramps assembled: At the 2002 PGA Championship, there 335 ‘These structures were virtually permanent and were no major hiccups of any kind for had to be air-conditioned,” says Nemanich.“To give you an idea of what it takes Miles of cable laid: Kohler Event Services, which in a major to cool just one of these spaces, consider that sporting event is a big accomplishment. 68 it takes a two-ton air conditioner to cool a WHAT’S NEXT? The fail-safes were there, which is Number of generators: 3000 sq. ft. home. For each chalet, we had to important for us — we can’t allow certain On the horizon for the Kohler install and power a 25-ton unit!” structures or facilities to go down for more 48 Event Services’ team is the In addition to supporting all these areas, than a couple of seconds or a couple of Light towers set up: 2004 PGA Championship at Kohler Event Services powered the affiliate minutes. Those fail-safes were in place Whistling Straits near Kohler, Wis. 40 staging for local broadcasting, the air-condi- and worked well the few times when they Then there’s a little golf Megawatts of power generated: tioned media center, the Sprint phone service, were needed. tournament in Detroit, Mich. and the cable lines for over one-hundred cable In 2004, Kohler Events Services will be 10 called the Ryder Cup … channels. on their home turf at Whistling Straits, and “By the time we finished the Championship, it’s also a Ryder Cup year. All our vendors most Kohler Event Services offices had contributed personnel,” says Nemanich. will be building for both events almost “And equipment we needed came from every regional office in our company: simultaneously — the Ryder Cup is only L.A., Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. After this event, 35 or 40 days after the PGA Championship ● we felt a little bit like Rich Beem. We know we’re capable of anything.” — so organization and efficiency is critical. Everyone is ramping up for what is going to be a very challenging year. Should be ‘Our success is measured by everything exciting. ● operating perfectly 24/7 for seven Barry Deach intense days of championship golf.’ Tournament Director PGA John Nemanich [email protected] National Account Executive, Kohler Event Services 9/119/11 PENTAGONPENTAGON CEREMONY:CEREMONY: AA POWERFULPOWERFUL EVENTEVENT The Pentagon ceremony, held on Sept. 11, 2002, was one of the greatest events of remembrance in our country’s history — and commemorated our nation’s greatest heroes. The Washington D.C. Kohler Event Services team included Tom Walsh, service manager; Eric Blaker, lead technician; John James, project manager; and Chris Wiebking, technician. Families of those who perished in the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon gathered on Sept. 11th, 2002 for a moving remembrance ceremony at the site of last year’s devas- tation.An estimated 12,000 people, many with buttons or shirts with pictures honoring their lost loved ones, solemnly paid tribute. Many dignitaries, including President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, attended. “To be able to participate in this event was truly an honor,” says Bob Leffel, general manager, Kohler Event Services. “I know that everyone who was involved in Washington, D.C. was very moved, but the event was also important to us as a company. It gave us the opportunity to play a role in one of the greatest events of remem- THE PLANNERS brance in our country’s history — and to commemorate our nation’s greatest heroes.” Typically, ceremonies are held at the Pentagon’s river entrance A single source, some- parade ground, but event officials chose the opposite side, the side one to provide all the power to run virtually of impact, for the remembrance. The location, though, presented every piece of equipment — from lighting, major logistical challenges. First, the chosen site had never been sound and audio to production and media used before and no planning precedents had been established.Then, equipment. That’s what the Pentagon was given the location, there was the need for literally miles of cabling.