LTC 011-2014 Convention Center Advisory Board Motion BH
MIAMI
OFFI CE OF THE CITY MANAGER
11-2014
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members o the City C mission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: January 7, 2014
SUBJECT: Convention Center Advisory Board otion
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide you with the attached motion from the
Convention Center Advisory Board regarding renaming the Executive Board Room in the
Convention Center, The Leon A. Manne Executive Board Room. Attached are also several letters
of support.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
JLM/KGB/MAS
C: Kathie G. Brooks Assistant City Manager
Max Sklar, Tourism and Cultural Development Director
F:\INFO\$ALL\Max\TCD\LTC\CCAB Motion Re Leon Manne LTC.doc
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We the members of the Miami Beach Convention Center Advisory
Board ask that the City of Miami Beach Mayor and Commission, at its
first official Commission meeting in January 2014, rename the
Executive Board room in the Convention Center, "TIDE LEON A.
MANNE EXECUTIVE BOARD ROOM, honoring his contribution to both
the Center and the community.
In addition; we ask that this action take place on the meeting date
requested above, waiving any committee process so that it can be
announced at a memorial service for Leon that will take place on
Saturday; February 8, 2014, which is the day Leon would have turned
96 years of age.
This service will be for family and friends and would be most
appropriate if the naming could be announced at that time.
In addition to this motion, you will find letters of support from not
only friends, but users of the Center who worked with Leon for over
50 years.
This moti n passed unanimously at the CCAB meeting held on January
7, 201
tuart Blumberg
Chairman
s^'Z
ELECTRICAL EXHIBITIONS SERVICES
The Nation's Largest Temporary Utility Contractor
CONVENTIONS • EXHIBITIONS • TRADE SHOWS
NATIONWIDE Mr. Stuart Blumberg - President
OFFICES Miami Beach Convention Center Advisory Board
ANANEM 1901 Convention Center Drive 4th Floor Executive Offices
LONG BEACH
LOS PALM Miami Beach Florida 33139
PALb1 SPRINGS
PASADENA
715 Hundley Way
Placentia,CA 92870-6807
(995-,4
Fax Re: Leon A. Manne
Fax(714)9955-7481
E-Mail:anaheim®edlen.com
BOSTON Dear Stuart:
200 Mourn Vernon St
Dorchester,MA 021253120
(817)474-6400
Fax(817)474-6401
E-Mail:boston @edlen.com Please share my personal feelings with the Advisory Board regarding Leon Manne and the
FT.LAUDERDALE memory that should be established in his honor after all he did for Miami Beach, the
1950 Elsenhohver Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale,FL 33316.4205
(305)62M335 Convention Center and the Tradeshow industry. I had the privilege of working with Leon
Fax E-Mel�lortldabero®edlen.com since 1960 and Leon was not only an honorable business associate but also a trusted friend
LAS VEGAS and pioneer in the infant days of the Tradeshow industry. The City of Miami Beach, the
Las Vegas. Convention Center nor the Tradeshow industry would be the same today without Leon's 70
Las Vegan.NV 89,01904 +
(702)385-6911
Fax 7°2)365161°
E-Mail:lesveges®edlen.mm years of dedication and deep love for Miami Beach.
E-Ma
MIAMI
PALM BEACH
16110 NW 1319-5712
Mlaml,FL 33169-5712 Leon loved Miami Beach and he dedicated his life to the development of business in Miami
235335
Fax(305)623-5337 Beach particularly with reference to the building and expansion of the Miami Beach
Fax(3
E-Mail:misml®edlen.mm
Convention Center. I can think,of no one who more greatly deserves to be recognized at the
ORLANDO
JACKSONVILLE Miami Beach Convention Center than the man who made it his life's work to support and
TAMPA
Organ o,Fl. 82 develop it Leon Manne.
Orlando,FL 32ers.a514
(407)854-9991
Fax(407)854-9892
E-Mail:oaarMO®edlerh.mm
I whole heartedly support your endeavor to name the Miami Beach Convention Center 4th
840"E Greg St floor conference room the "Leon Manne Executive Board Room" as a token gesture by the
Sparks.NV 89431-6534
Fax(T75) City to acknowledge the lifelong work donated by Leon Manne to better the City and
Fex(775)85}3999
E-Mail:raro®edlen.corn Convention Center he so loved and fought for.
SAN DIEGO
1844 Imperial Ave.
°)69"62 82102
(819)898-6625 Thank you for honoring and remembering my good friend, Leon Manne.
Fax(619)
E-Mall:sandlego®edlen.mm -
SAN ANTONIO
PORT WORTH
11 La mo
San Anio,TX 78218-5802
(2 9450
(210)662 9450
Fax(210)662-9450
E-Mail:sanentmb @edlen.com
SAN FRANCISCO
JOSE
SAN JOSE Leonard Swimmer
SACRAMENTO
SANTA
OAXLAND CEO Emeritus
OAKL
129 Sylvester Rd
S.San Francisco,CA 9408°-60,5 Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services
(650)225-0900
Fax(650)2250950
E-Mail:senlrandsm @edlen.com
SEATTLE
4401 Leary Way NW
Seattle,WA 98107.4540
(206)781-2411
Fax(206)781-2270
E-Mail:seaNe®adlen,com
ST.LOWS
701 Convention Piz
Saint Louis,MO 63101-1275
(314)342-5324
Fax(314)342.5384
E-Mail:stlouis®edlen.com
16110 NW 13TH Avenue Miami,Florida 33169-5712 • Tel:1 305623-5335 o Fax:1 305 623-5337 miami @edlen.com o www.edlen.com
Mr. Stuart Blumberg Chairman
Miami Beach Convention Center
1901 Convention Center Drive
4th floor Executive Office
Miami Beach, FI 33139
Re: Leon A. Manne
Dear Stuart:
I am writing to ask that the Board Room in the Miami Beach Convention Center be
renamed THE LEON MANNE EXECUTIVE BOARD ROOM.
As a prior member of the Board for about 25 years there would be nothing more fitting
than to honor Leon's memory in this way.
Leon was the preeminent sales person for Miami Beach and the Trade Show and
convention industry. He attended almost all of the industry meetings and was seen by
all of his peers as an individual who was always representing and selling Miami Beach.
Leon hired me in 1975 and I moved to Miami.to be the General Manager of his
company, Manncraft-Gr'eyhourid, which was a convention service contractor. My life was
changed forever, and I saw him-d6 the same for everybody with whom he came in
contact. He was a mentor,"friend,"advisor' and assistarit to"not only me, but the whole
community. He served on many boards over the years giving tirelessly of himself always
for the betterment of the individual and or the community, without regard for his time or
personal benefit.
I saw him help revitalize the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, spend hours doing
things for Kiwanis, help with the committee that redid the Miami Beach Convention
Center and on and on. He never said No to anyone, and always had his beloved Miami
Beach in the forefront. He and Audrey traveled the world, but kept Miami Beach and the
Convention industry as their main focus at all times.
I think that nothing would be more fitting than to have Leon's name grace the
boardroom of the building where he devoted his life.
Stuart , please implore the Convention Center Advisory Board to do the only right thing,
and recommend to the City Commission to have Leon's name permanently placed over
the Board Room.
We'all'miss seeing his smiling.facd his`advise and his'concern;"but this will help to''
insure'that all future generations:know that once there vias a great, kind man who's
name was Leon A.'Marine. Thank you-in advance:fo'r your efforts. ''
Very truly,
Robert Spiegelman
rte*
I S December
era , 2013
Mr. Stuart Blumberg -President
Miami Beach Convention Center Advisory Board
19 01 Convention Center Drive 4th Floor Executive Offices
Miami Beach Florida 33139
Re: Leon Manne
Dear Stuart:
Please share my personal and my business feelings with the Advisory Board regarding Leon Manne and
the memory that should be established in his honor after all he did for Miami Beach and the Convention
Center. I had the honor of knowing Leon as a friend long before I started producing Shows at the MBCC
in 1979. He was a friend, a gentleman and Leon brought the tradeshow and convention business to Miami
Beach when this building had clients like the Ringling Bros. Circus, Flea Markets, boxing,wrestling , etc..
Leon was.the first Service Contractor that established service for tradeshows and conventions with his
company Mannecraft long before any other firm would produce the services needed for the caliber of
events that now fill this facility.
Leon loved Miami Beach and was always there to serve in any capacity that the City requested of him. If
1 listed all the organizations that Leon was involved in,whether governmental, professional or private it
would take another full page alone to accommodate them. It should be the honor for the City,of Miami
Beach to remember his memory and all Leon did for the City of Miami Beach by bestowing some type of a
memorial just to say"thank you"for all that Leon did for Miami Beach.
In years past the City of Miami Beach alone within this complex has named a theater for an entertainer,
an exhibit hall for a boxer, at one point the entire building for a local businessman and even brass
plaques in lobbies including my name and others just for being on the committee that built this building.
In addition many streets for another entire list of people. Leon loved this building and was involved in it
for about 50 years helping make it what it is today as a major driver of tourism and economic builder for
The City of Miami Beach.
The Miami Beach Convention Center Advisory Board and building management must appeal to the City of
Miami Beach's Mayor and Commissioners to encourage the City to say"Thank ■�/ou"to Leon, in some way
within the confines of the building that Leon literally built. It does not have to be grand or massive
gesture because that was not Leon.All it needs to be is a token just to say i6Thank You"to Leon because
that is the way Leon lived, a man that loved what he did and a man that everyone that knew him loved
him. A suggestion that 1 have heard made is the naming of the Conference Room that you are sitting In
right now,just like Leon had done for hundreds of meetings. I feel this gesture would be a very
satisfactory way to say"Thank You" Leon for all that you did for the City of Miami Beach and this
building.
Each and every one of you 1 am sure where touched by Leon over the years. Please remember Leon, his
smile and all he did for Miami Beach and please help make this gesture become a reality.
Respectfully submitted for your serious consideration and hopefully favorable response.
Michae G. Breslow
Presid G.
MGB/mb
JEWELERS INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE, INC.
Producing Je wchy Trade Shops Since 1979
Executive Offices:6421 Congress Avenue-Suite 115-Boca Raton,FL 33487-2858 USA
Telephone(561)998-0215-Fax: (561)998-0209•E-Mail:jissho%%;@taol.com-Visit us at:www.jisshow.com
MIANASEACH •
c ,,nvention
center
January 6, 2014
Dear Stuart Blumberg,
We support your efforts in naming the boardroom after Leon Manne. We believe it is a
fitting tribute to a man who has for several decades help shape the Miami Beach
Convention Center and continued, up until his passing, to support the future renovation
and expansion. His dedication to improve the building never wavered. It was a pleasure
knowing him and he will be missed.
Sincerely,
Bob Bal m, eneral Manager Angelo Qrande, Director of Operations
Rich Feeley, Director of Events Ileana Garcia, Director of Sales/Marketing
C erso , Direc or of F--in-au George Aiellg, Sales Manager
Jacquelin. Gonzalez, Receptionist
1901 Convention Center Drive•Miami Beach,Florida 33139• (305)673-7311•Fax 1305)673-7435
a
GPOLO
o/
R '
GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES
HOTEL ASSOCIATION
Partners in Hospitality
Stuart L. Blumberg
Chairman Miami Beach Convention Center Advisory Board
7532 Cutlass Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33141
January 6, 2014
Dear Stu,
On behalf of our Chair Peggy Benua, our Immediate Past Chair Raj Singh, and our Board of Directors,we
were deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend Leon Manne.As you know, Leon served on our
Board of Directors for 20 years.We all appreciate the special friendship you had with Leon,and please
know how sorry we are for your loss.Your work together and advocacy"for the business of the Miami
Beach Convention Center" has remained our number one priority.
We would like to endorse that the Miami Beach Convention Center's Executive Board room be re-named
The Leon Manne Executive Board room in honor of his dedication to the center and the future
renovation as well. We hope that the normal process of referring it to a committee be waived out of
respect to Leon and his wife Audrey.
As I mentioned to you, Leon attended his last GMBHA Board meeting on November 21St, 2013, and
although he wanted to resign due to health issues,we would not let him. We will miss him very much.
Warm wishes to you and your family this upcoming year,
Wendy Kallergis
President&CEO
GMBHA