Von Braun Center

✨ EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT ✨ This month, our employee spotlight shines on Lindsey Shady! Lindsey is a Huntsville, AL native, and a 1999 graduate of Lee High School. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), then traveled and lived across the country, including Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Lindsey later returned home to the Rocket City to be closer to family. "When I moved back to Huntsville, it felt like moving to a completely new city because everything had grown so much so quickly!” In the search of a career change, Lindsey's sister informed her of an opening in the VBC Sales Department. She will celebrate her 9 year anniversary with us this November! "I love that people will experience some of the happiest moments of their lives between our walls, and I love that we are able to contribute to those moments in their lives," Lindsey continued. "One of my favorite VBC memories has to be seeing Prince in the Propst Arena when I was in high school! But I also really enjoy the large conferences we host, like AUSA and SMD. Those conferences really show a big part of Huntsville and all of the people here who contribute so much to what makes us great." In her free time, you can find Lindsey outdoors! Whether she is in the mountains or on the trails, she is always out and active. Lindsey has ran over 80 ultra marathons, and regularly runs 50 miles or more a week. She is also the Vice President of Programs for the Huntsville Track Club and is very involved in our running community. In addition, she enjoys spending time with her dogs and family, as well as diving into her creativity with DIY projects around her house! “I love developing relationships with clients that pour over outside of work, and I love the people I work with so much; it feels like we've been through a little bit of everything together." _________________________ Thank you for all that you do, Lindsey! We're glad to have you on the #VBChsv team!

Please join us in wishing one of our #VBChsv Board of Control members, Dr. John Johnson, a Happy Birthday! 🥳🎂🎈

We would like to wish a very happy National Accounts Payable Day to our hardworking Accountants, Ely Marmolejo and Jane Martin! Thank you for all that you do to allow the #VBChsv to continue to operate day in and day out.

✨ EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT ✨ This month, our Employee Spotlight shines on Regina Grant! Regina is a Huntsville native, and a Graduate of Lee High School. After graduating high school, she attended Drake State Community & Technical College, where she began an internship with NASA. Her success through her internship later granted her the opportunity to accept a full-time career in NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, where she has been an Administrative Officer for 38 years. Joining the #VBChsv team in 2019, Regina has found that her position comes with a lot of excitement. "I absolutely love being around people, and I love being able to work Havoc hockey games!" Regina stated. "I really enjoy seeing familiar faces at the games, and it is so much fun to be surrounded by people who are excited to be here!" "My favorite VBC memory would be getting to see Sting during WWE," she continued. "I've been such a big fan of his since my childhood, and it was such a wonderful experience to see him during his last tour." Outside of being a shining star at the VBC, Regina is very involved with her church. She has been a member of her church's choir since she was a teenager and has attended the church her father was a pastor at her whole life! Regina now has the pleasure of seeing one of her own brothers be recognized as the church's pastor and proudly attends his sermons every Sunday. In addition to that, she also has four siblings – including a twin brother! ___________________ Thank you for all that you do, Regina! We're glad to have you on the #VBChsv team!

We're proud to announce that the #VBChsv has won two awards at the 15th Anniversary and Annual Awards Celebration of the Rocket City Alabama Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals! The Program of the Year award- Food & Beverage - Latest Trends and Planning Tips presented to the VBC Director of Food & Beverage, Kevin Glouner. This award was accepted on his behalf by the VBC Catering Manager, Carter McNeil. The Program of the Year award is voted on by the full membership of SGMP. The President's Award presented to VBC Director of Sales & Event Services, Marie Arighi. This award pays a special tribute for exemplary and extraordinary accomplishments in SGMP. The award winner is honored with a presentation from the society's President, and is given at the discretion of the President, and is not presented annually. It is an honor to be recognized by the Rocket City Alabama Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals!

✨ EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT ✨ This month, our employee spotlight shines on Zachary Morgan! Zach is from LaGrange, Georgia. He made the move to the Rocket City with his mom when she was transferred with the United States Military. After graduating in 2021 from Huntsville High School, Zach quickly joined the #VBChsv team in our Parking Department! Zach is currently a sophomore at Drake State Community and Technical College where he is studying HVAC. When asked what his favorite thing about working at the VBC is, he replied, "My whole experience here has been great, especially the relationships we build here. The VBC really has a home environment feeling." He continued, "Management really looks out for us here - especially our Parking Manager, Robin. She motivates me to come to work every day!" When not working, Zach primarily focuses his attention on his schoolwork, but when he has free time he loves to work with his hands – particularly on vehicles. His friends and family often rely on him for changing brakes, spark plugs, tires and more. "My favorite event to work was a daytime Broadway Theatre League show that was being put on for kids as a fieldtrip," Zach said. "We were guiding classes and schools off of their school buses, and it was pouring down rain - all of us were soaking wet. But my girlfriend and my cousin both work in Parking as well, and we had a good time just making the best of the situation together." _____________________________ Thank you for all that you do, Zach! We're glad to have you on the #VBChsv team!

An exciting week of on the court, as we welcomed the Conference USA Basketball Championship in Huntsville's #VBChsv Propst Arena! All teams demonstrated their determination and hard work this season, and we would like to congratulate the championship winners, Western Kentucky University and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)! 📸 | Bud Gambrell

✨ EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT ✨ This month, our Employee Spotlight shines on Becca Donovan! Becca is a Huntsville native and a 2002 graduate of Huntsville High School. She has lived in other places throughout the state, including Jacksonville and Auburn, but don't let that fool you - Becca is a huge fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide! 🐘 After joining the #VBChsv team in 2014 as an Event Coordinator, she was later promoted to Event Manager, and has recently accepted another promotion to Senior Entertainment Event Manager. When asked what her favorite thing about working at the VBC is, she replied, "The level of events we bring to the community and getting to experience them from booking, planning to showtime – it’s surreal.” She continued, "Knowing this building increases the quality-of-life in the city I’m raising my family in is inspiring. In fact, our whole team is inspiring, because no matter what curveball is thrown our way we always figure it out." Outside of being a rockstar at the VBC, Becca loves to cook. Baking sweet treats or gourmet dishes - she doesn’t care as long as she’s creating in the kitchen! Her background in hospitality began during her time at Lyn's Gracious Goodness, where she worked as a Sous Chef for 6 years. Becca and her husband Kynan will soon be celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary in May with their two sons & two dogs! 🐾 You can find them outdoors on the ballfield, on the playground, or on biking trails. "My favorite event? Definitely the George Jones tribute show," Becca said. "I grew up on 90's country and I had a full-circle moment just being in the presence of all the talented artists who paid tribute to George Jones that evening – it was historic." ________________________ Thank you for all that you do, Becca! We're glad to have you on the #VBChsv team!

It's time to celebrate 50 years of the Von Braun Center! 🎉 For half a century, we have been YOUR place through time. Join us on this journey for the next year as we share moments honoring our past and celebrating our future - all leading up to March 14, 2025. #VBC50 📲 https://bit.ly/VBC50

✨ EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT ✨ This month, our Employee Spotlight shines on Ryan Hastings! If you have attended an event in the #VBChsv Propst Arena, specifically a Huntsville Havoc game, then you have probably seen Ryan hard at work. This 2023-2024 hockey season, Ryan has been the one behind the wheel of the Zamboni! Ryan is a Huntsville native, and a 2021 graduate of Lee High School. During his senior year of high school, Ryan was hired as a part-time Parking Attendant. Just a few weeks after graduating, he moved into the Operations Department, and was later promoted to a full-time position in Arena Operations. "My favorite part of working here is the sense of accomplishment," Ryan commented. "We bring so many concerts and hockey games to life, and it feels good seeing people enjoy the work that we have put in to make it happen." "I really liked working the Cody Johnson concert," Ryan continued. "He's one of my all-time favorite artists, and it was fun to be behind-the-scenes of it all." Outside of being a rockstar at the VBC, Ryan enjoys hanging out with his friends. Ryan also expressed how appreciative he is for his grandparents who have done a lot for him. "I've learned all types of things while working here, especially operating different types of machinery," Ryan stated. "I've really enjoyed everything I've learned since I've been at the VBC." _________________________________ Thank you for all that you do, Ryan! We're glad to have you on the #VBChsv team!