The James H. Rainwater Conference Center is negotiating with a management company to take over the day-to-day operations of the center.

There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel for the long awaited appointment of a new executive director for the James H. Rainwater Conference Center. Though no official selection has been made, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Tourism Authority voted at their meeting on Tuesday to begin negotiating a contract with Global Spectrum.

Celebrating its 12th anniversary as a company in 2012, Global Spectrum has become one of the leading and best financially resourced private venue management companies in the industry, according to information provided by the board.

“We’re an incredible place,” said board Chairman Rob Evans. “Having some marketing and having expertise that has a much greater range of connectivity will be a great way to look at selling the community.”

Due to issues with previous executive directors, the board decided during an open meeting in October 2011 to issue an RFP (Request For Proposal) for a management company that would provide its own executive director. By November 2011, three companies had responded to the RFP, including Global Spectrum. On Jan. 13, the board held a closed, special called meeting to interview the three prospective companies.

“I think we had a good meeting,” said board member Charlie Felts. “I think everybody had an opportunity to get concerns out on the table that they may have had.”

 In Tuesday’s meeting, Global Spectrum appeared to be the contender. However, prior to the decision to beginning negations with Global Spectrum, there was much discussion among the board members.

“What prompted us to go from trying to hire an executive director to outsourcing a management company?” asked board member Greg Charbeneau.

Evans felt that due to the lack of quality in candidates from previous searches that engaging a management company appeared to be a more viable option for the conference center.

“I would say from the selection committee side, the candidates that we have received the last few rounds, none were very compelling,” said Evans.

Charbeneau asked if the board explored other options in finding an executive director.

“Did we ever entertain an executive search firm?” Charbeneau asked.

Evans responded that an executive search firm was something that was explored in the past.

“We’ve got a track record of where we’ve been thus far, so these are some of the things that we took into account as we looked at these options,” said Evans. “We really need to have some real ground and solid support.”

Other board members agreed that a management company would be the best option given the circumstances of the conference center at this time and among the board members who spoke, Global Spectrum was felt to be the best candidate of the three.

“Global Spectrum is the one I thought stood out simply because of size and their presence throughout the country,” said board member David Motley.

Board member Tim Carroll agreed, but does not necessarily feel that Global Spectrum is a long-term solution.

“Is it necessarily a long-term solution?” Carroll posed. “I don’t think it is; however, we can do three-year contracts.”

Carroll said the benefit of the management company option is they can give it a try and if it works out great, but if it doesn’t, they can move in a different direction.

“We could in theory take an opportunity like this on a short-term basis to get all the nuts and bolts back where they belong and in the right places,” said Carroll.

The board unanimously agreed to enter into a negotiating phase with Global Spectrum.

Global Spectrum was created in January of 2000 when a majority interest in Globe Facility Services of Tampa, FL, was acquired by Comcast-Spectacor, creating a new, Philadelphia-based company. Founded in 1994, Globe Facility Services managed seven venues when it was obtained by Comcast-Spectacor, an owner of both venues and teams, and its parent company, the Comcast Corporation, is the nation’s primary provider of cable, entertainment, and communications products and services.

 

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