Business View Magazine - Dec 2023

INTERNAT IONAL ASSOCIAT ION OF VENUE MANAGERS exhibit halls, stadiums, centers for the performing arts, university complexes and theatres: venues both publicly and privately owned. “These are the facilities and venues that we know attract millions of patrons and a variety of events,” says Herrera, “from small to medium to large mass gathering events of every different event time, concerts, professional sports and more.” He continues that strong collaborative efforts help the IAVM represent not only managers and partner companies in all venues but also planners, organizers and service contractors. “We have a strong presence with the Department of Homeland Security,” he adds, “to assure that all provide best practices and enhanced safety and security to protect the mass gatherings.” MUCH EXPERIENCE Herrera’s professional background uniquely qualifies him to do what he does with the International Association of Venue Managers, flying around the world to help ensure the greater safety of countless venues. “Iwas able to leveragemyheavysecuritybackground to really accommodate and bridge all the capability gaps within the venue industry,” he shares. “The background comes from working special operations within the law-enforcement community. I did that for 20-plus years and moved to Dallas to work for the Department of Homeland Security. My job here was to train our personnel on how to regain control of hijacked aircraft and how to prevent air piracy. As their defensive tactics instructor and their firearms instructor, I also did all of the behavioral-indication training for all of those that are trained to protect all aircraft, all commercial airlines. When I left the DHS, after doing that, my focus within the IAVM was to really build a resilient team within all of the big facilities and to build a resilient security culture.” He began with situational-awareness training and active-shooter training; the de-escalation strategies and techniques for frontline teams and the proper use of tools used in building resilient security cultures; and the ever-evolving threat 257 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 12