The Cow Palace Arena and Event Center

has event-based activities to do preparing the arena for an event – setting up and tearing down. They also have monthly tasks: checking the property, inspecting equipment and making sure it is maintained. We all have baseline tasks to do in order to keep the doors open.” THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS A PLAN Chris Corgas is the Deputy Director of the Community Economic Development Division of the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, as well as President of Cow Palace’s eight-member Board of Directors. The Board’s mission is to “provide a well-managed, year-round, multi-use facility for the use and enjoyment of the Bay Area and surrounding communities,” while promoting and showcasing “a variety of entertainment and events to serve the needs and reflect the cultural diversity of the community.” A few years ago, the Board embarked upon the creation of a strategic plan with a focus on the organization’s future. “The City and County of San Francisco and the County of San Mateo have changed quite a bit since the Cow Palace first opened up,” Corgas says. “And now that we have other arenas in Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, as well as smaller venues throughout the Bay area, where do we fit? What do we want our staff to focus on? Where do we see the organization going forward in the future to really maintain that core mission and evolve it in a way that’s going to best serve our nearby communities?” Keaney echoes the notion. “I would draw a line under Chris’ word ‘evolve,’” she says. “I think it’s a very important word. It’s the key to our longevity and our success – constantly paying attention to our communities and our clientele and evolving as they need us to. RESPONDING TO THE COMMUNITY Corgas provides an example: “The neighborhoods that surround the Cow Palace have a long history of combat sports. Excelsior, which is right up the street from the Cow Palace, has a long history of Enviroclean Maintenance Services is a family-owned and run business serving Northern California for over 20 years. • Building maintenance • Bilingual associates • Weekly inspections • Customized programs • Trained Professionals • Flexible scheduling • Ongoing training • Day porter services • Free estimates • Insured and bonded • 24-hour availability (415) 706-1970 • (510) 258-2989 Professional cleaning services 7 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 12 THE COW PALACE ARENA AND EVENT CENTER