We’ve said it before, and it’s worth repeating: INTIX is many things to our community of like-minded entertainment ticketing professionals — an incredible annual conference, an informative content hub with news and feature stories, a network unlike any other and a place that just feels like home.
As we share knowledge and experiences during our annual convention at the beginning of each year, we also take the opportunity to thoughtfully honor members who are demonstrating the highest level of ticketing expertise, regardless of where they work or the title they hold.
In addition to our annual awards honorees, INTIX is delighted to recognize its second annual IMPACT Award recipient in New York. Each year, this person or organization is selected by the Board Chair for providing continuous support that has had a lasting impact on INTIX.
“It is extremely important that we continue to recognize leaders in our industry and reward them for their commitment, innovation and service excellence,” says Derek Palmer, INTIX Board Chair and Chief Operations Officer for Qcue. “Similarly, INTIX feels strongly about paying tribute to those who have given so much to elevate INTIX but do not fit into an existing awards category.”
IMPACT Award – Jim Walcott
If anyone has provided continuous, profound and sustained support of INTIX, it is Jim Walcott, who is retiring as President of Weldon, Williams & Lick (WWL). In addition to being an extremely committed 41-year member who joined BOMI (now INTIX) when it was founded, WWL was the organization’s very first sponsor and vendor. Walcott and WWL have been steadfast in supporting the INTIX mission and our industry.
“Jim is extremely committed to INTIX in so many ways, and his support goes well beyond writing a check or providing materials,” Palmer says. “Over the years, he has demonstrated an incredible passion for helping to grow and sustain our membership, which is a key initiative of the INTIX Board. He has also been very involved in regional conferences, which always kept him connected to our community of ticketing professionals and our industry.”
On top of being a well-known and high-profile supplier through WWL, Walcott himself is an annual contributor to the INTIX Professional Development and Education Fund and an inaugural and continuous Chairman’s Circle member. Once again, this year, as has been the long-held tradition of INTIX and WWL, they generously provided the conference bags. Who doesn’t have a WWL INTIX bag right? They are famous around the world. Truly it wouldn’t be INTIX without the bag, as enduring to INTIX as the legacy of support and community as Jim Walcott is.
“We are delighted to recognize Jim for his contributions as he looks forward to retirement and thank him for his decades of unwavering support,” Palmer says.
INTIX Spirit Award – Linda Forlini
The 2020 Spirit Award recipient is Linda Forlini as voted by the INTIX membership. The Spirit Award is given annually to an active member who represents enthusiasm, friendship, participation and cooperation to colleagues and to the industry.
Forlini is currently Vice President of Ticket Philadelphia, a Tessitura consortium serving nine organizations in three buildings and five venues. She is not alone in this venture and always recognizes her staff of 60 ticketing professionals who make her proud every day.
One of the questions asked during the nominations round is how INTIX Spirit Award nominees have demonstrated friendship and assistance to their fellow ticketing professionals? In Forlini’s case, the more fitting question is, perhaps, how hasn’t she? Wherever and whenever INTIX needs help, volunteers, money or time, Forlini raises her hand and says “yes.” She steps up, always finishes the job and then exceeds expectations every single time. In addition to giving 1,000%, she has always been a tireless cheerleader for the organization.
Looking back, Forlini has been on an INTIX committee of some sort for the better part of the last 25 years. She has served on the Board of Directors, as Chair of the Board and chaired numerous committees, too. Currently, she is instrumental and vital to raising money for the Professional Development and Education Fund, which enables members and nonmembers to attend INTIX’s annual conference. Forlini also donates registrations to other conferences, including FutureTix, Ticketing Professionals Conference (TPC) UK and TPC in Australia, which enables others to network with and learn from the global ticketing tribe.
“INTIX has a committee that follows guidelines and rules in scoring awards nominees, but it’s harder to quantify the spirit of INTIX. It’s something that is just felt, which is why it’s so important that this award is voted on by our members — that the membership directly recognizes the spirit of its own,” Palmer says. “Truly, Linda epitomizes the spirt of INTIX. She is always there, always willing to help, and dedicates so much time and energy trying to grow the association and raise its overall profile. To be recognized for that by individual members is a testament to how effective she’s been.”
Forlini was also a 2018 VenuesNow Ticketing Star Award winner and the recipient of the 2019 Patricia G. Spira Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also profiled on INTIX Access in 2019.
FutureTix Young Ticketing Professional – Kelly Brennan
The recipient of the 2020 FutureTix Young Ticketing Professional Award is Kelly Brennan, Vice President of Operations for FutureTix, which provides consulting services to venues, ticketing platforms and third-party service providers. Each year, the recipient of this award is an INTIX member under the age of 35 who exemplifies the future of INTIX and the profession.
While she doesn’t work for an organization that sells tickets or technology, Brennan’s consulting work directly impacts ticket sales, revenue and the patron experience. Brennan’s clients highly value her problem-solving skills, ticketing knowledge, innovation, and ideas that strengthen their overall service, operations and sales teams.
Brennan has always made the time to give back to our industry, too, both through INTIX and TriTix, the regional ticketing group for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. She has served on many INTIX committees over the years and was past Chair of the Member Connections Committee, where she pioneered the development of what is today the INTIX Mentor Program. If that’s not enough, Brennan also co-chaired the 2020 Planning Committee for the INTIX 41st Conference and Exhibition in New York.
“Kelly has established herself as an expert, earned the respect of INTIX and its membership, and hasn’t forgotten the people who helped her along the way,” Palmer says. “She has always been thankful for her own mentors, and this makes Kelly even more passionate about giving back to other young professionals, which she does by volunteering as an INTIX Mentor, through our mentorship committee and via her work with TriTix. She is truly working to bring everyone together for the common good of ticketing, and it is so important that we continue to grow and nurture young professionals in our industry.”
Outstanding Ticketing Professional – Danny Frank
The 2020 Outstanding Ticketing Professional is Danny Frank, Citi’s Senior Vice President and Global Manager of Client Entertainment and Ticket Services (CEATS). This award recognizes a colleague who sets a standard of excellence for other INTIX members with regards to leadership, achievement and professionalism.
Frank’s background is extraordinary. He has succeeded in so many different areas of the industry, from developing and stabilizing ticketing operations for a large stadium and arena to working with major events including a Super Bowl and Olympic Games as well as in NHL Special Events.
These opportunities led Frank to his current role with Citi, where he established the CEATS department 12 years ago. Today, Citi CEATS manages all luxury suite leases, season tickets, golf memberships, every single event ticket purchase, and cultivates unique and boutique events for top clients. This varied experience coupled with great knowledge, undeniable enthusiasm and a determined work ethic has helped set Frank apart. During his time in Atlanta in the early 1990s, Frank also helped found the regional ticketing group GAPTA, which is still going strong.
“Danny has truly worked every sphere in the ticketing world, from buildings to teams,” Palmer says. “His experience and excellence are greatly admired by professionals from across the ticketing industry, and the fact that he continues to give back in any and every possible way continues to make a very real difference. In heralding his success and achievements, supporters told our awards committee that his passion for the industry shines — that Danny’s knowledge, dedication, leadership skills and vision for the future set him apart as a perfect example of what our members strive to be.”
Outstanding Ticket Office – The Lowry
The 2020 Outstanding Ticket Office is the Lowry and Quaytickets from the United Kingdom.
Each year, this award is presented to a ticket office with an exceptional reputation for customer service. The staff must also function skillfully and professionally as a team, and the ticket office must maintain a standard of excellence.
“The team at The Lowry and Quaytickets delivers industry-leading service by ensuring the customer is at the center of everything they do,” Palmer says. “As a global community, and given INTIX’s renewed focus on expanding its international voice, we are especially pleased to see an organization from outside of North America recognized for providing a top-notch consumer experience and stellar customer service.”
The Lowry ticket office team set up its Quaytickets brand back in 2005 in order to share its expertise and ticketing services with venues and event organizers across the United Kingdom. In doing so, its ticket office was transformed into a vehicle to support the sustainability of The Lowry and the work of The Lowry Centre Trust in its local community. For every £1 The Lowry receives in funding, it must generate £16 through commercial activities. Quaytickets, driven by the Lowry’s ticketing team, is now central to that proposition as a primary ticketing agency with revenue exclusively supporting a not-for-profit venue.
Patricia G. Spira Lifetime Achievement Award – Vince Rieger
INTIX’s highest honor is The Patricia G. Spira Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2020 recipient is Vince Rieger, Senior Director of Business Development for Shubert Ticketing.
This award is given annually to a member who has made a major contribution to the ticketing industry by helping set standards of excellence in all aspects of ticket management, and who has been actively involved in the continuing development and organization of INTIX.
“We are delighted to see Vince honoured with this award,” Palmer says. “In addition to a long and successful career with Shubert Ticketing, he is a longstanding supporter of INTIX who has worked diligently to serve in every capacity: as an enduring partner, sponsor and exhibitor, and as co-chair, panelist and presenter. In the early days of BOMI, INTIX’s predecessor, he served on the Executive Committee, which set the foundation for how our organization would be governed and operated. Vince has also helped educate our ticketing leaders of tomorrow by mentoring and teaching others as they rise through the ranks.”
Rieger has played a key role in major milestones for Shubert over the years, including the computerization of the Broadway ticket offices, establishing Telecharge in 1983 and acquiring Ticketron in 1991. Today, he continues to play a major role in the ongoing development of software and oversight to the implementation of new technologies.
“We are thankful to the INTIX membership for their nominations in support of our industry peers,” Palmer says. “It is extremely important that we all continue to participate, recognize and share, because that’s the very ethos of INTIX, and we should always recognize those who go above and beyond. In the coming year, we’ll be making it even easier to do just that as we evolve our awards program and make it even more accessible.”
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