Category: Convention Center

CLICK HERE to check out this great story in the Pilot about the Access College Foundation Luncheon held at the VBCC.

Last week, the Convention Center’s participated in the CPower Emergency Demand Response program (i.e. – the Electricity Load Shedding Event).  The event began at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday tested the facility’s ability to reduce electricity demand in the event of a power shortage.  CPower is working with the electricity conglomerate PJM to manage the electricity grid in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.  PJM operates a competitive wholesale electricity market and manages the high-voltage electricity grid to ensure reliability for more than 65 million people.

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Check out our new LGBT add for the VBCC in OutLife757!

Jackie Owens, VBCC Crew Leader Extraordinaire and Vic Olds, longtime beach resident and Maintenance Worker are finally finding time to clean carpet after a very busy six months of events. Jackie promises it will look much better in a few days, just in time for high school graduations.

Since this message goes to a “stories” mailbox, I should tell a little story.

As a young teen of 13 years or so, I had the opportunity to work as a part time farm hand for a semi-retired custom homebuilder in Virginia Beach. He’d purchased a 200 acre farm adjacent to Dam Neck and raised ponies for his grandchildren and a couple of hundred head of Angus beef for market. While he lived in a waterfront home in Birdneck Point, he never forgot his humble beginnings living off the earth. He was the closest thing I had to a grandfather since both of mine had died before I was born.  He was called “JC”, short for James Courtney Kesler. Mr. Kesler employed one of the hardest working men I think I’d seen in my 13 years. He was a laborer, and his name was Enoch Olds. I remember him calmly cutting a ditch across a field in the hot sun to drain standing rain water. I didn’t work with him much but appreciated his work ethic whenever I was around him. He seemed pretty old to me in 1968, but it wasn’t until later in my life that I learned how old. As a volunteer EMT I was called to Enoch’s home some 25 years later.  He lived at the end of Olds Lane off of S. Birdneck Road in Seatack. Several generations of his large family lived in the homes that lined the street with their surname.  It was a hot summer afternoon. I don’t remember the nature of the call but do remember seeing Mr. Olds lying in a bed with crisp white sheets and a gentle breeze coming through the screened windows. Each of his grown children and grandchildren alternated providing care for him daily. They did so better than any nursing home I’d been in – and I’d been in many. I believe I gave Mr. Olds his last ride to the hospital at nearly 100 years of age.

I share this story because I see similarities in Vic, Enoch’s grandson. He’s calm and steady and works hard. Just like his grandfather in his elderly years a half century ago. Searching way back in my memory banks, I can see the resemblance.

• Courtney

VBCC is trading in singlets, hair bows and super heroes for the latest in veterinary medicine.

CVC, a UBM Americas Veterinary brand is presenting a Veterinary Continuing Education conference and trade show at VBCC May 18-21. Over 3,400 veterinarians, vet technicians, practice managers and suppliers to the industry will fill hotels from the oceanfront to Town Center. CVB staff will be assisting at shuttle stops all over town! Here’s a look at the load in:

 

The staff at VBCC has worked wonders yet again. The Event, Business and Operations staff just finished a long weekend of US Finals Cheerleading one our most taxing events. A special shout out is in order for the following VBCC supervisors and their teams who coordinated all the details throughout the weekend:  Avery Burgess, her event managers and front of house staff; Brenda Felton, Jackie Owens and the entire housekeeping and set up team who worked around the clock; Bill Bradshaw and his grounds team, and Jill Sabourin, Wilonda Spratley and their ticket sellers. They did some serious heavy lifting this weekend and into the overnight Monday morning to prepare for the day’s events.

 A call was put in late last week for reinforcements to help clean up the exhibit halls. These great team members stepped away from their desks to share in the work load:

James Caralivanos traded in his sales computer for a 6,000 pound fork lift while Bryan had 6,000 steps before 8:00 a.m.

 

The smiling faces of Darcy Potter, Diane Harrison and Rubylee Gardner were all busy with brooms and dust pans bright and early while Kimberlee Dobbins broke down cardboard boxes and salvaged soda bottles from the trash.

Even though Jill Sabourin and Wilonda Spratley worked the weekend, they came out early with push-brooms in hand.

 

Max Long worked the weekend too, but this new guy, in true form brought donuts and coffee after working to clean up bleachers.

Enough can’t be said about this photo’s importance. Under Larry Mitchell’s able leadership, maintenance must go on. While others were helping in the cleanup effort, maintenance and administrative staff were doing what they do every day to make VBCC work well and look good. Jeff Leonard started his day on a project to cover part of a vegetative bed with brick pavers. Take a look at his handiwork the next time you enter the ballroom. After pulling a few all night shifts, Larry was back in house Monday morning helping the admin crew move racks of tables and chairs with the forklift. He was also overseeing a three day project to replace VBCC’s elevator cables and a painting contract for the overhead steel in front of the ballroom.

 One of the wonderful things about team VBCC is that they willingly come to each other’s assistance when needed. I’ll take that any day.

 –          Courtney

Many witnessed or smelled the excitement at VBCC about a month ago when a motor failed and belts smoldered. The result was a building filled with the smell of burning rubber. On Wednesday, we removed the old motor and replaced it with a new one. The motor is estimated to weigh in at 1,000 pounds and required an 80 ton crane to lift it. The size of the crane was dictated by the weight and distance from the building.

VBCC and Sysco worked together to donate over 6 carts of food to the Potter’s House.  Everything from bread to cooking oil, orange juice to peppers – was gratefully accepted.  The Potter’s House is staffed and operated by volunteers, providing food and services to the homeless, the working poor, and those in crises situations who are residents of Virginia Beach.  Potter’s House also works with other local charitable organizations like Seton Youth Shelters and the Southeastern VA Food Bank to distribute food to those in need.  More information about Potter’s House can be found here:  http://vbumc.org/potters-house-serve/.

 In addition to the joy of helping others, donating the food helps VBCC with their goal of keeping 60% of all waste out of the landfill.