We Engage u We Entertain We Celebrate u We Amaze We K’nektWe K’nektWe K’nektWe K’nektWe K’nekt

Spring 2014

t SMG, we believe that business relationships with true staying power

are built by connecting with our customers,guests and each other in everything we do.That’s why we created k’nekt, ourinnovative training program that highlightsthe life skills necessary for success in bothour work and personal lives. K’nekt gets tothe heart of great customer service with itsfocus on professionalism, helpfulness andsimply being nice.

K’nekt began as a sales training program in2007 and next introduced the customerservice program for event management andpromotion, culinary personnel, front-linestaff and administrative assistants, all ofwhom engage with a facility’s stakeholdersand play a major role in its success. Theprogram demonstrates how communicationskills, etiquette and performance are theessence of great customer service andhospitality. It’s all about engaging withothers, presenting ourselves well, handlingchallenges and amazing people with ourconcern and capabilities.

“We’ve taken a holistic approach to sales andcustomer service,” said Maureen Ginty, SMGexecutive vice president - marketing servicesand human resources, who created thek’nekt training program. “All the little thingsabout how we engage with others add up toa big difference in how successfully wemeet and exceed our customers’expectations.”

For more than 22 years,Emily Post-certified Ginty hasmade a career of assuring thateveryone at SMG-managed facilitiesexemplifies the highest level ofprofessionalism. “It’s about being attentive toother people’s needs and treating them withrespect and kindness,” Ginty explained.

From basic communication skills such asmaking eye contact, to dressing professionallyand all the many aspects of deliveringamazing client experiences, k’nekt traininggoes a long way in distinguishing SMGfacilities from others. Its methodology includespresentations by industry experts andengaging programs that bring theories andprinciples to life. Employee feedback on theprograms has been extremely enthusiastic.From Savannah, Georgia to Anchorage,Alaska, k’nekt customer training classesconsistently earn praise for their engagingformat and real-life application.

At the Greater Fort Lauderdale/BrowardCounty Convention Center, each teammember is considered a vital part of the totalcustomer experience. From front-lineemployees to department leaders, every pointof contact is a link in the chain of outstandingcustomer service. Our core values are toengage, entertain, celebrate and amaze. We allwork together and each person’s behaviorimpacts the rest.

“SMG’s corporate k’nekt programs havemade a huge difference in how our

ConventionCenter isperceived by ourcustomers, ourContractAdministrator andthe BrowardCounty Board ofCountyCommissioners,”said Mark Gatley,regional generalmanager for theSMG-managedGreater FortLauderdale/Broward CountyConventionCenter.“Outstandingcustomer serviceat every touch-point is by far themost importantquality thatdistinguishes ourcompany and our facility from others.”

“In our never ending effort to place thecustomer first, we are excited to have thek’nekt program in place here,” said NickiGrossman, president of the Greater FortLauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Connection is the key to oursuccessful relationships.”

Authentic connections gomuch deeper than ordinary

business relationships. Everyguest and potential customer has a

different style and different concerns, andit’s our job to provide the best solutions tomeet their needs. In our business, that’s whatk’nekting is all about.

An SMG Managed Facility

AK’nekting is the Key to Great Customer ServiceWith SMG's innovative training program, little details make a big difference

“We’re particularlythrilled with thepositive feedback fromMillennials. As ageneration that grewup connected andengaged through socialmedia, and whichplaces great emphasison work/life balance,the k’nekt philosophyreally speaks toMillennial preferences.” Maureen Ginty, SMGExecutive Vice President Marketing Services andHuman Resources

Greetings from theGreater FortLauderdale/BrowardCounty ConventionCenter, where we’veenjoyed a sunnywinter season! Manyof us have vividmemories of snowywinters in colder partsof the country where

we grew up and began our careers, andthis winter reminded us once again of whyFort Lauderdale is such a special place tobe. We’re “k’nekted” on many levels to ourfriends up North and hope you’ll comevisit us soon.

The cover story of our newsletter gets tothe heart of who we are and how we work.Special thanks to SMG Executive VicePresident Maureen Ginty for hercontribution to the story. Maureen createdthe innovative K’nekt training programand spearheaded its expansion into a wayof life that shapes how we relate to ourguests, our customers and each other everyday. It’s all about presenting ourselvesprofessionally and finding common groundwith one another in our jobs and in ourpersonal lives. Thanks, Maureen!

Thanks also to Commissioner Tim Ryan forhis insights into what makes ourConvention Center attractive to meetingplanners from around the world. We’regrateful for the support of the BrowardCounty Board of County Commissionersas well as for our ongoing collaborationwith the Greater Fort Lauderdale/BrowardCounty Convention & Visitors Bureau andits CEO, Nicki Grossman.

Our amazing Convention Center teamcontinues to inspire me every day withtheir enthusiasm, excellent work and teamspirit. Their k’nektions make our facilitytruly great.

Warm regards,

Mark Gatley

An SMG Managed Facility

We asked Vice Mayor Tim Ryan to share his thoughts on what makes the Broward County Convention Center a popular choice for meetings, events and international conferences.

The location, great weather, unparalleled attention to detail, wonderfulfood service and a commitment to excellence are the things that makethe Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center soattractive. Our facilities provide a great venue to host a conference, meeting or event. The ConventionCenter is located in the heart of the vibrant South Florida area. With 600,000 square feet ofmeeting and exhibit space, you’ll find leading-edge technology, high-speed wireless internetservice, digital phone lines and a highly skilled technical service team to ensure yourconference or event runs as smoothly as possible. You’ll also appreciate our award-winning management team and convention center staff whoare there to provide assistance each step of the way, from event booking and planning toexhibitor setup, after hour events, hotel accommodations and transportation services. The Convention Center is minutes away from the Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood Internationalairport and nearby hotel accommodations range from five-star luxury hotels to superior smalllodging venues. There are plenty of lodging choices fit every budget. When daytime conferences turn into nighttime social gatherings, Broward County offers awide range of dining and entertainment options.The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Fort Lauderdale is the culturalheart of Broward County. The Broward Center draws over 700,000 patrons annually withover 700 different events that include Broadway performances, opera, ballet, symphonies,plays, lectures and numerous community events. You can also catch a concert or Florida Panthers Hockey game at the BB&T Center in Sunrise.Or find the ultimate shopping experience down the street at the Sawgrass Mills Mall, whichhosts nearly as many annual visitors as Disney World! Of course, you can always sink your toes into the sand and relax year round as theConvention Center is steps away from twenty-three miles of award winning beaches. Withthe ocean, intracoastal waterway and miles and miles of navigable canals, it’s no wonderwe’re known as the “Venice of America.” The facility is managed by SMG, a world leader in venue management. Quite unique to theconvention center is SMG’s SAVOR team, which delights guests with culinary excellence andcreative food and beverage offerings. SMG management and our convention center staff areto be commended for their continued success in making the Greater FortLauderdale/Broward County Convention Center one of the best in the nation!

Tim Ryan

5 Minutes With Our County CommissionersTim Ryan, Broward County Commissioner, District 7

January 8-11, 2014National Pavement ExpoHeld in Florida for the first time since 1993,the 2014 National Pavement Expo broughttogether vendors and contractors in thepaving industry nationwide for networking,educational opportunities and procurement.The expo offered 16 paving equipment

demonstrationsoutside, thanks toFort Lauderdale’s

year-roundwarm andsunnyweather,andmorethan 50

conference sessionsand 119 exhibits for paving professionals andbusinesses of every size.

January 22-24, 2014Held by the Florida Nursery, Growers andLandscape Association for the 21st consecutiveyear at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / BrowardCounty Convention Center, the Tropical PlantIndustry Exhibition (TPIE)welcomed thousandsof professionals from the horticulture industry andnearly 400 exhibiting companies. The exhibitionoffered educational sessions, demonstrations andmore than 200,000 square feet of show-stoppingdisplays and indoor-gardens of vibrant plants.

February 6-9, 2014More than 4,200 primary care clinicians attendedthe annual Pri-Med South Conference andExhibition, which offered 35 educational sessionsand an exhibit hall with more than 175 displaysfeaturing the latest products, treatments andtechnologies in the healthcare industry. Theconference also fostered collaboration amongspecialists, primary care physicians and alliedhealth professionals through interactive discussionsled by prominent medical thought-leaders.

February 22–23, 2014The seventh annual Blue Wild OceanAdventure and Marine Art Expo featured thetop names in freediving, spearfishing, scubadiving, underwater photography andvideography, marine artists, and other exhibitorsfrom around the world. Spanning 30,000 squarefeet of exhibition hall space with an additional10,000 square feet of seminar/workshop space,the expo offered consumers the latest gear andaccessories for scuba, freediving, spearfishing,surfing, underwater photography andvideography, as well as outdoor apparel,jewelry, and world-class marine art.

March 20-23, 2014The 23rd annual Fort Lauderdale InternationalAuto Show featured more than 500 cars, trucks,SUVs and motorcycles on display across 200,000square feet of exhibit space. Participatingmanufacturers included Acura, BMW, Cadillac,Fiat, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota,Volkswagen, Volvo and more. Custom andclassic autos from local collections also were ondisplay. Managed by the South FloridaAutomobile Dealers Association, proceedsfrom the event benefit the Boys and Girls Clubsof Broward County.

Meeting Spotlight

An SMG Managed Facility

An SMGManaged Facility

Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center1950 Eisenhower BoulevardFort Lauderdale, FL 33316(954) 765-5900 Fax (954) 763-9551www.ftlauderdalecc.comwww.smgworld.com

One of my favorite dishes to prepare issalmon, which fortunately is available allyear round. A nutritionally dense superfood,salmon is rich in antioxidants and heart-healthy omega-3s. Its flaky, buttery and crispyskin pairs well with this recipe’s ginger crust andsesame-peanut vinaigrette. A side of wasabi mashed potatoes gives thedish a zing. This recipe serves one and comes together quickly – theperfect meal for a late-night dinner.

Ginger Crusted North Atlantic Salmon1 fillet 6-8 oz. North Atlantic salmon1 tbsp Finely minced ginger2 tbsp Green onion, minced by

hand1/4 cup 90/10 olive oil or peanut oil1/2 cup Bread crumbs½ cup Julienne carrots and snow

peas1 tbsp ButterSalt and pepper to taste

Printed on Recycled Paper

Until next time,keep on cooking.

Chef’s CornerBy Executive Chef Henry Sanchez

Preparation:Preheat oven to 400 F.Place green onions and ginger in stainless steel bowl,season with salt and set aside. Heat oil in pan untilalmost smoking and immediately pour over gingermixture – with caution. Sear salmon fillets untilbrown on both sides and spread ginger mixture onsurface of salmon. Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top andbake at 400 F for approximately 7 minutes, or untilcooked through.

Sesame-Peanut Vinaigrette1/8 cup Smooth peanut butter 1/8 cup Honey1/8 cup Soy sauce1/4 cup Seasoned rice vinegar1 tbsp Coarse chopped ginger1 tbsp Minced garlic1/8 cup Sesame oil

Blend all ingredients in blender athigh speed untilconsistency issmooth. Pourover bakedsalmon.

Wasabi Mashed Potatoes¼ lbs Russet potatoes, peeled and cut in quarters1 tbsp Wasabi paste1/4 cup Heavy cream1/4 cup Unsalted butter

Salt to taste

Boil potatoes in a pot of water untiltender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain incolander and return to pot. Add

cream, butter andwasabi paste.Mash and seasonwith salt. Platewith baked

salmon and enjoy!

Follow the SMG-managed Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center at Facebook.com/GFLCC

2013 Fourth Quarter Honoree

Rolando Silva (Events)consistently goes aboveand beyond his role asOperationsCoordinator to ensureall events in ourbuilding are a success.Ambitious, detail-oriented and alwayseager to learn, Rolando

impresses clients and colleagues alikewith his friendly demeanor anddedication to work. For hisprofessionalism and warm hospitality,we are pleased to honor Rolando withour Employee Recognition award.

2014 First Quarter Honoree

Elena Caloean(Finance) is alwayswilling to lend ahelping hand andassist others to ensureclient satisfaction.Thorough and patient,Elena continually seeksways to improve herdepartment and plays

an integral role in the building’s success.We are delighted to honor Elena withour Employee Recognition award forher support and dedication.

Outstanding Employees We are pleased to honor the outstandingrecipients of our quarterly EmployeeRecognition Program, which recognizesstaff who go “above and beyond” andexhibit great pride in working at theConvention Center.