Jane Kleinberger wins 2008 Venues Today Women of Influence Awards
June 13, 2008
By Venues Today
The votes are in and the winners have been finalized. The 2008 Venues Today Women of Influence Awards go to:
- Jane Kleinberger
- Claire Rothman
- Peggy Daidakis
- Brenda Tinnen
- Shura Lindgren
Congratulations to all of the winners! A brief bio of each winner is below.
Jane Kleinberger, chair/founder, Paciolan
Kleinberger is a ticketing icon, pioneering the white label ticketing system. She helped oversee the purchase of Paciolan by Ticketmaster and continues with the firm in a leadership role. She was elected to the IAAM Foundation in 2006 and improved the Foundation’s Silent Auction fundraiser by implementing on-line bidding and event VIP ticketing, increasing the auction’s reach to both inside and outside the industry. At Paciolan, she helped create the ticketing model she calls “enablement.” Her volunteerism has involved many contributions to INTIX as well, all while being a role model for working professional moms.
Claire Rothman, retired, former general manager of the Fabulous Forum, Inglewood, Calif.
Rothman has been an inspiration to women and men in the business since starting her career at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. After a couple of years in Florida, she ended up running The Fabulous Forum, Inglewood, Calif., for 20 years. At The Forum, she was a dear friend to many top athletes, stars and community leaders. She ran the building during many NBA championships, Olympic events and every major concert act on the road from the 70’s through the 90’s. She then went to Ticketmaster for five years before retiring.
Peggy Daidakis, executive director, The Baltimore Convention Center
Daidakis' career had a distinguished start in 1986 when she became the first woman to serve as top executive at a convention center in the United States. Some 20-plus years later, Daidakis continues to be a recognized leader in the industry. She became active in the International Association of Assembly Managers early in her career and, in 1998, she was invited to join the IAAM Foundation Board of Directors, then became Chair of the Foundation, leading a successful initiative to increase member contributions. Daidakis is currently co-chairing the IAAM/DMAI committee to help explore ways to improve communication and working relationships between Convention Centers and their local Destination Marketing organization.
Brenda Tinnen, senior vice president and general manager, Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., for AEG
Having begun her career in the early 1970’s assisting her mother, who was the Box Office manager for the Kansas City Athletics, Tinnen has worked in various capacities in ticket operations and sales, event management, marketing, customer service and the development of new venues for organizations such as Target Center, The Orpheum Theatre, America West Arena, The Summit, The Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and Phoenix Coyotes, working directly with her current boss, Tim Leiweke, at several of these stops. Midway through the development of Staples Center, Los Angeles, Tinnen joined the development team to play a considerable role in the design of the venue, recruitment of staff and establishment of the customer service program. She also helped open The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., in 2003, and did the same again at Sprint Center. Her son, Wyatt, is Sprint Center’s Box Office manager, the third generation of their family to begin their career in a venue’s box office.
Shura A. Lindgren, general manager, Global Spectrum/St. Charles (Mo.) Convention Center
Lindgren is the current second vice president of the International Association of Assembly Managers. She is a recipient of the Zonta Yellow Rose Award for her contributions to women and local service in the county and is responsible for initiating meetings with local minority and women business owners to get them involved in bid projects at the convention center. She brings in non-profit and civic group representatives monthly to speak to her staff and hosts charitable events at the convention center throughout the year to benefit local charities, such as Youth In Need, Habitat for Humanity and Bridgeway Counseling Services. She began her career at the Midland (Texas) Convention and Visitor's Bureau where she oversaw all daily operations as CEO of the Midland Convention Center and Convention & Visitors Bureau for 15 years.
Article originally published in Venues Today
