Month: November 2018

Kudos to All!

Convention Center Staff were recognized last month at the City of Virginia Beach Energy Awards – taking 2^nd place for their efforts to reduce overall energy consumption and a successful electricity load shedding test.  In fact CPower energy management paid VBCC $14,714 for their energy efficiency efforts this year.  (We are set to earn even more next year!)

Keith Bernstein also received an Honorable Mention award for his efforts to monitor events in the building – always aware of spaces in use, activity, attendee level, and keeping up with open doors, lighting, and air conditioning.  He is also a recycling champion, doing “anything he can do to help save energy and save costs for our building.”

Thank you all for your ongoing efforts!

 

BTW – the 1^st place Energy Champion winner was Kyle Coolbaugh from the Department of Public Works.  He won for his work auditing streetlight billing using GIS.  Anticipated savings from his work is expected to exceed $30,000.

On November 13^th Sentara Heart & Vascular held a ‘Nutrition as Medicine’ event at the VBCC with nearly 1,000 registrants. With widespread chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, Sentara recognizes that many of these diseases can often be linked to our diets. Through this event, their goal was to share insights to help you take control of your life through nutrition. The whole food, plant-based lifestyle can help us to avoid and even reverse many chronic diseases. Some of the most prestigious and influential medical professionals in the world were invited to discuss their beliefs on the topic.

At the client’s request, Our Executive Chef Desiree Neal created a 100% plant-based menu for the event, even down to the dessert! (see photo attached)

Items featured on the buffet included:

Chickpea and Sweet Potatoes Curry
Caribbean Jerk Cauliflower
Rice & Peas
Baked Plantains
Quinoa Pineapple Citrus Salad
Vegan Chocolate Mousse

 

The menu was very well received as the client raved “In particular, people LOVED the food and I have about 50 emails this morning from people requesting the recipes! The catering really was top notch!”

 

Congrats to Chef Desiree and team for always accepting a challenge and a job well done!

1. Employee name: Mark Stokes
2. Where were you born and where is your hometown? Born in Norfolk, grew up in Birmingham AL and now live in Virginia Beach
3. What division and position do you work for?  VBCC, Housekeeping/Set-up
4. How many years have you worked for the CVB? 1 1/2years
5. How many years have you worked for the City of VA Beach? 7
6. What is the best vacation you’ve been on? Hawaii
7. What is your favorite thing to do in the wonderful City of Virginia Beach? Check out different restaurants
8. What is your favorite quote? Don’t have one
9. Do you have an office nickname? If so what is it? Don’t have one
10. Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us: see answer #14
11. What do you like to do for fun? Go to the movies, shows, games, and sleep
12. What is one thing you cannot resist? Chocolate of any kind
13. What is on your bucket list? Going to every baseball stadium in the Country
14. What is your hidden talent? I can juggle

 

1. Employee name: Vick Olds
2. Where were you born and where is your hometown? Born in Virginia Beach and hometown is The Historic Seatack area.
3. What division and position do you work for?  VBCC (Abacus), Housekeeping and Set-up
4. How many years have you worked for the CVB? 3 as an Abacus employee
5. How many years have you worked for the City of VA Beach? retired after 36 years with the Virginia Beach School system
6. What is the best vacation you’ve been on? Hawaii and a cruise to the Bahamas.
7. What is your favorite thing to do in the wonderful City of Virginia Beach? Swimming at the beach and taking a stroll on the Oceanfront.
8. What is your favorite quote? Everything is going to be alright
9. Do you have an office nickname? If so what is it? Vick the Great.
10. Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us: I’m a graduate of the First Colonial High School, church going person and I like working at the VBCC having a good time with co-workers, friends and family.
11. What do you like to do for fun? Bowling, Shopping, Traveling.
12. What is one thing you cannot resist? Strawberry Cheesecake.
13. What is on your bucket list? A vacation in Europe, London, Paris.
14. What is your hidden talent? No hidden talent.

 

1. Employee name: John Mayer
2. Where were you born and where is your hometown? Columbus, Ohio
3. What division and position do you work for? MarComm
4. How many years have you worked for the CVB? 5 years
5. How many years have you worked for the City of VA Beach? 5 years
6. What is the best vacation you’ve been on? Northwest California (Big Sur, Monterey, Carmel, San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma)
7. What is your favorite thing to do in the wonderful City of Virginia Beach? I really enjoy our State Parks (Especially First Landing). And, of course, the seafood.
8. Do you have an office nickname? If so what is it? GQ (Thanks, Teresa)
9. Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us: I listen to Classical and Jazz music more than most other genres.
10. What do you like to do for fun? Try new restaurants with my wife.
11. What is one thing you cannot resist? A good Old Fashioned
12. What is on your bucket list? See several of the National Parks. Specifically, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Glacier National Park
13. What is your hidden talent? I like to pretend I’m good at whistling.

Jamie Capps, Special Events and Film office Supervisor, was honored on Wednesday, November 7^th at the Virginia Beach Fire Departments annual awards ceremony. She was presented with a 2018 Outstanding service award. Picture attached.

 

Here are some pics from the Marriott “Topping Off” Celebration yesterday where we all signed the steel beam that was then placed on the top floor of the hotel.  We then had a buffet lunch with all of the workers on the 2nd level of the hotel in the Ballroom.

Congratulations to Charli Sharp, our CVB Director of Public Relations, for securing her certification this week as an Accredited Public Relations (APR) professional from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The APR certification process includes a panel presentation before passing an intense exam and takes several months to complete. Way to go Charli!