May 21, 2018
In an effort to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Collegiate Event and Facility Management Association (CEFMA) will be featuring CEFMA Past Presidents each month leading up to the 2018 Convention. For May, CEFMA is proud to highlight 2011-12 President Andrea Williams, commissioner of the Big Sky Conference, and 2010-11 President Tim O’Connell, vice president of ballpark operations at the Cincinnati Reds.
Andrea Williams, 2011-12 CEFMA President
Commissioner, Big Sky Conference
An original Board member and CEFMA’s 3rd President, Williams was integral in helping to set the stage for the future growth of the Association. During her presidency, CEFMA’s primary focus was membership growth and brand expansion. With CEFMA still in its infancy, Williams and the leadership recognized the importance of establishing external partnerships in order to offer supplemental educational benefits for the membership. After much discussion during the year preceding her presidency, Williams oversaw the execution of an educational affiliation between CEFMA and the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). This affiliation offered CEFMA members access to IAVM educational opportunities, including virtual seminars, discussion groups and discounted rates to exclusive IAVM events. In addition, Williams guided the membership outreach efforts, particularly from a conference and small school standpoint, and spearheaded efforts to institute a special registration offer to grow Convention attendance.
Some of our members may not be familiar with you. Please provide some information on your current job position and role.
In 2016, I was named the sixth commissioner of the Big Sky Conference and the first African-American woman to assume this role at a Division I NCAA conference. The Big Sky HQ office is located in Ogden, Utah, just north of Salt Lake City and sponsors 16 sports across our 12 members and 4 affiliates. The Big Sky was established in 1963 and includes member institutions in nine different states ranging from Eastern Washington to Montana to North Dakota to Northern Arizona to Idaho to Portland State.
As commissioner, it is my responsibility to shape and develop the vision for the conference, which includes an emphasis on member institution cooperation, student-athlete health-and-safety, broad-based programming, innovative technology platforms, and national competitiveness. The conference's goal is to elevate and advance the league annually with a focus on fairness in sport and academics and ultimately developing student-athletes for life after sport.
However, prior to transitioning to my role as commissioner, I spent 20 years in college athletic administration with the majority of my work in events and operations. I have had the great fortune to manage football championship games, basketball tournaments, NCAA championships and a number of other special events. PS - I am a Texas A&M graduate (Gig'em) with a Speech Communications degree, where I was fortunate to play both basketball and volleyball for the Aggies.
How has being an event & facility professional, and a part of CEFMA, helped you in your current role?
Event and facility personnel are truly the center, the soul of what athletics is and does. These individuals are responsible for a broad range of areas - safety, rules, construction, contracts, community inroads, facility schedules and of course managing coach and administrator expectations. They wear every hat. I have a true appreciation for the job and the role these individuals (and I) have in terms of the experience of our participants and fans. CEFMA helped to bring those working in events and facilities together - to learn, to share best practices and network with one another. I am grateful to CEFMA because it introduced me to a diverse group of athletic administrators across all divisions and helped to enhance my skill set and knowledge.
What is your favorite memory or moment as it relates to your involvement with CEFMA?There were so many. CEFMA creates an environment for fellowship with peers and colleagues. Through all of it there were a lot laughs along the way. One of my favorite moments was when CEFMA was incorporated as an affiliate within NACDA. It was incredible to see the hard work of the founding board members and NACDA staff come to fruition. Another favorite moment was during a community service project during a board meeting in New Orleans. Long story short - as part of a Habitat for Humanity home build, some of us climbed on roofs, others drove up in a convertible Mercedes ("only car the rental agency had") and others quit (me) when we could not fit the access panel into the ceiling. We have photo proof to support all of the good times that were had. Honestly, the best part of CEFMA is the people. The individuals who work in events, operations and facilities are special.
What have you seen change with CEFMA since you were involved?
CEFMA has grown significantly since I rotated off the board. I have been impressed by the organization and its members. We have seen substantial growth in membership, sponsorship and programming. It's humbling to see the organization stay true to its original mission/vision and continue to grow in a positive and meaningful way. I am proud to have been part of the launching of such a special organization and pleased to see where our new board and members have taken CEFMA.
Why do you feel others should be involved with CEFMA?
It is so important for administrators to join and engage in professional organizations. CEFMA, like so many others, offers great benefit and value to those who actively participate. We learn by watching and listening to others, and understanding the challenges they face and the decision-making rationale they use. We are all in a state of learning and adapting - professional organizations help individuals to develop which ultimately helps their organization be better.
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Tim O’Connell, 2010-11 CEFMA President
Vice President, Ballpark Operations, Cincinnati Reds
A key player in helping to set the vision for the Association, O’Connell served as the 2nd President in CEFMA’s history. During his presidency, O’Connell was charged with the continued development of the Association, both internally and externally. While CEFMA was still integrating itself into the fold as a NACDA affiliate, O’Connell dedicated a large portion of time interacting with the leaderships of other affiliate associations to not only communicate what CEFMA brings to the table, but to ensure the Association’s leadership was building a strong and sustainable infrastructure for years to come. Understanding that the Association was founded on the values of education, O’Connell introduced CEFMA to the leadership of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). Through this introduction and the subsequent conversations, CEFMA was able to form an educational affiliation with IAVM to provide educational offerings to its membership. This relationship became a base for CEFMA to eventually build and create its own educational platforms in the future.
Some of our members may not be familiar with you. Please provide some information on your current job position and role.
I am responsible for the upkeep and operation of Great American Ballpark, the home of MLB's Cincinnati Reds. I also serve as the Ballclub's chief security officer and have responsibilities at our Youth Academy in Cincinnati and the Team's spring training site in Goodyear, AZ.
How has being an event & facility professional, and a part of CEFMA, helped you in your current role?
I will refer back to the people that I met as a result of my association with CEFMA. I was able to develop relationships with industry counterparts, whom I could call upon when questions arose. I found that this ability to get input helped both me and the operation that I led to become better.
What is your favorite memory or moment as it relates to your involvement with CEFMA?As being part of the team that Steve Adams invited to start CEFMA, my fondest memory would be around the unanticipated, but welcomed, growth in the Association in the few years.
My 2nd best memory was the foot race that Steve Adams and Donyale Canada had at the Marriott Resort in Orlando during our first conference. I truly wished I caught that on video, it was great!
What have you seen change with CEFMA since you were involved?
The most impressive change during my time with CEFMA was the number of people who became associated with CEFMA. I recall Steve Adams telling us during our first meeting in Dallas that the events and facilities segment of athletics needed an association, like the other disciplines that are involved with NACDA. He was right, as the memberships flew off the charts.
Why do you feel others should be involved with CEFMA?
I believe that anyone associated with collegiate athletics needs to be part of CEFMA, no matter at which level they are involved in. The Association was started to help everyone, not just big D1 institutions, develop relationships, establish operational benchmarking, and provide industry specific education. These are essential components to success in my experience.
Stay up-to-date on the 10th Anniversary celebration and all things CEFMA related by following @CEFMAFacilities on Twitter and by using the hashtag #CEFMATurns10.
About CEFMA: CEFMA is dedicated to the needs of collegiate level event and facility professionals and the challenges that exist within the scope of their responsibilities. CEFMA will seek to promote the growth, leadership, integrity and success of administrators and professional staff in collegiate athletics. For more information about CEFMA, please visit www.cefma.net. CEFMA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 53rd year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
