Riverside Convention Center by MediaNews Group Targeted Products

A NEW BEGINNING FEBRUARY 26, 2014

WELCOME

WELCOME to the newly-refurbished Riverside Convention Center! As Mayor of the City of Riverside, I am honored to be part of a commemorative book that documents the amazing changes at one of the finest convention centers in California. This facility is now a beacon of economic opportunity for the City of Riverside, attracting conventions and meetings that will inject vitality into our historic Downtown and create a citywide benefit.

Ever since the convention center closed in July 2012, we have eagerly awaited its rebirth as an economic engine for Riverside. The City invested more than $43 million to create this beautiful showpiece that represents where Riverside is going in terms of tourism and development. Our award-winning Convention and Visitors Bureau has booked dozens of events which will fill more than 25,000 room nights at local hotels. This investment will pay dividends on the day it opens! Please join me in celebrating a new era in Riverside.

In 1976, Raincross Square was heralded as the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest and grandest meeting place. Today, the Riverside Convention Center once again steps into that role.

With warmest regards, Rusty Bailey Mayor, City of Riverside

A custom-made light fixture, which also is a work of art , adorns the tower of the Riverside Convention Center.

CONSTRUCTION

OVERVIEW — The Riverside Convention Center construction project, from a gutted shell, left ...

9/7/2012

Photos by Rodrigo Peña

CONSTRUCTION

... Through framing, grading, rebuilding and near completion with landscaping, right.

10/4/2013

RENEWAL Large glass panels allow natural light to fill the convention center’s spacious second-floor concourse.

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THE RIVERSIDE Convention Center is not only much improved, it’s almost entirely new — an expanded, state-of-the-art facility that is perfectly suited for a wide range of meetings and events.

Originally opened in 1976, the convention center has been a well-used downtown fixture. But even with many nips and tucks over the years, including a $2 million upgrade in 1997, the facility was unable to keep pace with the needs of a growing and thriving city that has more than doubled in population during the past four decades. The building had long been showing its age, but after an extensive $43.63 million makeover, that’s no longer the case.

RENEWAL

The Riverside Convention Center is making a grand return with an expanded main exhibit hall, more meeting rooms, a new kitchen, and a host of other amenities. It now boasts more than 65,000 square feet of usable indoor space, upper and lower concourses, and an events plaza with nearly 9,500 square feet of rentable space outdoors. And talk about a powerful entrance: The 66-foot tower, which faces Fifth Street at an angle, includes a colorful blown- and sculpted-glass light fixture hanging from the ceiling. When illuminated at night, it shines through the tower’s three large glass arches like a beacon.

COMBINED with the Mission Inn Hotel

& Spa and the Fox Performing Arts Center, the heart of the city now has a trio of beautifully unique landmarks, says Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey.

“The convention center is another jewel in the crown of Riverside as the capital city of inland Southern California,” he said. “It gives us another tool to market Riverside to visitors, tourists and convention-goers.” Unlike the extensive effort that four years ago brought the Fox theater back to the way it appeared in 1939, when it hosted the first public performance of the epic movie “Gone With the Wind,” one of the goals of the convention center re-do was to give the city a facility that could accommodate the needs of various-sized groups. It may be a large national convention occupying

the main Ben H. Lewis Hall one day, and the ballrooms and meeting spaces divided up for multiple events the next day.

An aerial view of the convention center during construction, with the Riverside Marriott in the foreground.

During the design process, there was input from numerous sources including the leaders of some of those community groups that are already scheduling events at the new facility. “There was talk about ‘The Wow Factor,’ but nobody could articulate what that meant,” recalled Belinda Graham, assistant city manager. However, after the architects (Continues on page 11)

Cherry-stained wood veneer panels highlight the entrances to some of the rentable spaces.

TIMELINE Sept. 7, 2012

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TRANSFORMING a 1970s-era building into a facility that can meet the convention

Oct. 16, 2012

needs of today was no easy task. On July 9, 2012, Turner Construction Company started demolition of the old structure using a crew of 15 to 20 workers. As the tear-down progressed, construction managers discovered that instead of reusing some of the building’s components, it would be better to replace them including, for example, nearly the entire heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. “You try to anticipate what you can, but there’s always the unexpected,” said Kevin Dow, a Turner general manager and vice president.

TIMELINE

After the center was stripped down to the steel frame of the old building, earthwork operations could begin. That was followed by the laying of new foundations, erection of new steel, and then exterior wall construction. Instead of completely tearing down the old building and starting over, the more cost-effective plan here was to use the existing steel frame and expand to the west and north to increase the total square footage of the new convention center. “Retrofitting and expanding what was there didn’t break the budget, and it allowed us to grow and reprogram the space so the new building will be available for more and different uses,” said Carl Carey, Riverside’s capital improvements manager. “It was the best of both worlds.” During the peak construction periods of this phase, 60 to 100 workers were at the site each day.

May 31, 2013

As spring 2013 transitioned into early summer, work continued on the exterior wall construction and interior wall framing. That’s also when the rough-in of mechanical, electrical and plumbing components started. By July, much of the scaffolding was gone, revealing a more complete picture of what the convention center was to become. Inside, work on the dÉcor — paint, carpeting and other elements — was going on and would continue until fall. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing were finished on Oct. 30. Dec. 7, 2012

June 14, 2013

July 19, 2013

TIMELINE

The building largely finished, it was time for the landscaping to be installed. Turner Construction workers lost no time on the jobsite due to accidents. After the company wrapped up its work, which included taking care of any final corrections, the city accepted substantial completion of the work on Nov. 25, 2013.

Aug. 16, 2013

Oct. 4, 2013

RENEWAL

Moving between the floors of the convention center, guests may take an elevator, the stairs or the city’s first escalator in a public-owned facility.

Construction work progresses on the interior of the convention center.

(Continued from page 7)

worked through several design options, everyone knew what it looked like.

THE TOWER with its art piece, certainly, is

one of those high-impact elements. Others include the large expanses of glass that allow natural light to enter and the arched arcade on the west side of the building. Interior touches include the prominent bowl-shaped fixtures that light the concourses and ballrooms, and the cherry-stained wood veneer portals that frame ballroom doorways.

“Working with the community on this was a really

interesting process,” Graham said. “I think the end result shows what happens when you collaborate.” Now, Riverside has a center that defies convention, says Carl Carey, the capital improvements manager and the city’s point man on the project. “We knew we didn’t have the square footage to be the biggest, but we want it to be the best and have more of a boutique atmosphere,” he said. “We want people to come here, and when they do they’re going to say, ‘We really enjoyed this facility and our time in Riverside.’ That’s the whole idea.”

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of fine-tuning the blueprints before the start of construction, and the finished product includes a greatly expanded main ballroom, additional meeting areas and many other features.

“WE ALL worked closely with the

people from the City of Riverside who were overseeing this project to bring forth their vision,” Touschner said. “They wanted the center to be equipped with cutting-edge technology but also retain traditional Spanish architecture.”

To ensure the convention center would meet the city’s style requirements, the design included arched entryways and a Mission-inspired tower.

Architects William Judge, left, Hakop Musayelyan, Dennis Tanida and Pamela Touschner

WHEN work on the Riverside

Convention Center reached a significant milestone in the summer of 2012, there was a definite “Wow!” moment for architect Pamela Touschner, senior principal at DLR Group. The Riverside company was tasked with designing the new facility and adjacent landscape.

“Once the demolition started and the old facade was removed, you couldn’t help

but be impressed by the mass of the building and surrounding property,” she said. “We realized how important it would be to bring a lot of natural light into the new structure in order to feel a connection between the indoors and the outdoors.” DLR’s 15-member design team consisted of architects, support staff and contractors. It took about a year’s worth

“It really stands as an iconic piece of architecture within the city’s fabric,” Touschner said. Along with the convention center’s new aesthetics, it also has ample outdoor space that connects to the promenade on Main Street. The area is well-suited for private parties, weddings and a host of public events. “This building is meant for the community to use and enjoy,” Touschner said. “We all should be proud of the city for taking on such a worthwhile project.”

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construction company for the Riverside Convention Center makeover, the city went with a well-known, global designbuild construction firm with experience working on other large projects locally as well as major convention centers elsewhere.

Turner Construction Company — with regional offices in Anaheim, and a U.S.-based staff of 5,200 and nearly 800 additional employees working in other countries — previously was the general contractor on efforts to expand convention centers in Long Beach and San Diego, and served as construction manager for the Ontario Convention Center project. In Riverside, Turner worked on a medical office building for Kaiser Permanente and the Plymouth Tower Care and Living Center. “Convention centers are projects we love. Those are large iconic projects,” said Kevin Dow, general manager and vice president for Turner Southern California. Up to 100 workers were on the Riverside Convention Center site at any given time, including a design team, superintendent, engineers and a safety manager. Turner met its budget with a final cost of $41.5 million, Dow said.

Turner Construction senior managers Ryan Nordin, left, and Kevin Dow

THE WORK included demolishing the

old elevated plaza and garage to allow for a larger and visually appealing landscaped area, building a new kitchen, replacing the heating and cooling systems (an add-on assignment that wasn’t initially anticipated), installing new electrical systems, and seismically upgrading the facility on the exterior to preserve interior space. Turner also increased and re-designed the concourse areas where guests mingle and register for events, and increased exhibit space from 20,000 to 30,000 square feet, bringing the total square footage to 127,566.

“It’s now a much more sizable and marketable convention center,” said Ryan Nordin, senior project manager. In the very beginning, the biggest challenge was really to give the city, under a pre-determined budget, lots of pop for the front of the building and to seismically upgrade the facility and renovate the inside, Nordin added. “The job was unique. We had to do a lot of demolition and strip the building down to the steel frame.” Turner finished its work on Nov. 25, 2013.

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Sources: Carl Carey, City of Riverside Pamela Touschner, DLR Group

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of architectural styles — which include the Spanish Colonial Revival at the Fox Performing Arts Center and Mission Revival and other influences that define the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa — so it was important for the new Riverside Convention Center to fit in.

That was exactly the strategy behind the work of DLR Group, designers of the new and much improved facility. “The architectural language of the convention center is Modern Mission to acknowledge the rich architectural history of the Mission Inn and other historic Riverside city buildings,” said architect Pamela Touschner, the company’s senior principal. After touring the finished structure, Erin Gettis,

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the city’s historic preservation officer, was impressed. “One of the things I particularly like is the great, delicate balance between appearing modern and still noding to historic buildings,” she said. “One of the early California Modernists, Irving Gill, did the same thing, which is where he went to clean, simple lines that still echoed historic forms.”

INDEED, Gill’s work was an inspiration for the DLR team. Although he never attended college, Gill landed a job with architects Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan in the early 1890s, the same time that Frank Lloyd Wright also was at their Chicago firm. In 1893, Gill moved to San Diego, where he became one of the city’s most prominent architects and designed a range of noteworthy projects including the Administration Building at Balboa Park and the fountain at Horton Plaza.

ARCHITECTURE

BACK at the Riverside Convention Center, traditional elements such as arches, arcades and domes were incorporated into the design at prominent locations and entrances. And, on its westfacing facade, Touschner notes that the “large expanses of glass visually connect the inside and out, creating a welcoming gesture to visitors.”

Also inviting is the main entrance, which takes its character from the 66-foot tower and the wide stairway that faces the pedestrian mall. Said Gettis: “They really needed to create that focal point to draw people all the way down Main Street to check it out — and at the end, there’s a great reward. The glass sculpture hanging from the tower entrance is a statement for Riverside. “I’m really glad that it turned out so well.”

Arches are an important design element for many buildings in downtown Riverside, including the Fox Performing Arts Center, above far left, the Riverside Metropolitan Museum and the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. The convention center’s Missioninspired arched arcade frames the Riverside Marriott, above. The arched arcade combines with contemporary design elements on the west face of the new facility, left. The convention center’s interior design elements incorporate Riverside’s signature Raincross symbol, far left.

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Convention Center had its fair share of challenges, but the constant goal always was to add impact to the interior of the completely renovated and expanded building, says Nalani Bryer-Trawick, owner and president of Architectural Custom, Inc.

The Riverside company designed and manufactured most of the lights inside the building, including the colorful signature work that hangs from the Mission-style tower entrance. The intent of that custom piece actually was twofold: to serve as a functional light fixture, and also to be an attention-getting work of art. Originally, the piece was supposed to be 4 feet wide, but after several meetings the decision was made to double the size. Top to bottom, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than 13 feet tall. The custom chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the convention center tower is more than 13 feet tall, 8 feet across and features 24 colorful glass-pair cylinders.

ARCHITECTURAL CUSTOM

Using glass, acrylic and sheet metal, an 18-member design and production team from Architectural Custom, Inc. created the signature chandelier in the tower. The assembly time, which included shaping the acrylic and crafting the cylinders, took nearly 10 weeks. Below left, Nalani Bryer-Trawick, center with blonde hair, stands next to her husband, Bill Trawick, and many of the Riverside-based company’s other employees.

“The City of Riverside wanted everything to be just right, so there was a lot of back and forth throughout the project,” said Bryer-Trawick, who founded her company in 2001. The bowl-shaped lights in the concourse also doubled in size, from 4 feet to 8 feet across, to make them more prominent. Architectural Custom secured the lighting contract after Bryer-Trawick showed sample designs and shared her vision for the tower. Officials wanted the lighting to create a warm and welcoming ambience, but at the same time it needed to be bold and eclectic, especially the fixture in the tower. “It’s an eye-popping conversation piece,” she said.

ARCHITECTURAL CUSTOM

A lighting fixture that’s in the process of being made, above, hangs at Architectural Custom, Inc. The same fixtures line up along the ceiling of the upper concourse of the convention center.

“There are a lot of colors in it — dark teal blue, bright red, orange, lime green and bronze — that you don’t normally see in city buildings. People will definitely be talking about it.” Also noteworthy is that all the glass and acrylic were made in inland Southern California. Some of the fixtures were manufactured at Bryer-Trawick’s Riverside-based company. Baselite Glass also took part in the project. “When I look at our work, I feel very proud about what all of us, collectively, have achieved,” Bryer-Trawick said. “And it’s wonderful to have such a beautiful and state-of-the-art building in our own backyard.”

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The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is an easy landmark to pick out in this undated aerial photograph of downtown Riverside. The future site of the Marriott hotel and the Riverside Convention Center are in the upper right corner of the image.

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RIVERSIDE had much to celebrate in 1976. As it marked the nation’s bicentennial, the city, with the help of trumpeters from the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, also heralded the opening of the new Raincross Square convention center with its expansive Ben H. Lewis Hall.

In fact, the celebration went on for nine days with patriotic and purely Americana activities scheduled daily. The grand opening featured the playing of the national anthem, a welcoming address from then-Mayor Ben H. Lewis and various introductions. Residents and families were invited inside to enjoy balloons, clowns, tasty popcorn, a puppet show and an exhibit called “Early Side of Riverside,” which detailed the city’s early beginnings and subsequent growth.

TIME CAPSULE

The full day of fun ended with an evening banquet for more than 1,000 guests with music by Nelson Riddle and his orchestra and entertainment by George Gobel, Clarence Muse and Betty Cox Johnson.

THE FESTIVITIES continued the next day, deemed Faith of Our Father’s Day, as Riverside church choirs joined voices in presenting inspirational music. With the cooperation of the Ministerial Association of Riverside, a rousing performance called “I Love America’’ was delivered by a mass choir. John W. Peterson and Don Wyrtzen wrote the musical presented in three parts — Patriotism for America, Praise for America and Prayer for America.

The party continued for the next two weeks with daily tours of the facility led by local students, Girl Scout Cadettes, Boy Scout Explorers and members of the First Baptist Church youth organization. During that time, Riverside recognized its sister city roots with judo demonstrations, folklorico, florero de la Soga or fanciful rope tricks, and traditional Thai dances.

This brochure from 1976 highlights the dimensions and amenities for both the Ben H. Lewis Hall and the Municipal Auditorium, also in downtown Riverside.

The history and beauty of the city was showcased throughout the week while remembering America on her 200th anniversary.

JUNE 9 was designated Bicentennial Day, and American pride was on display with historical readings and reenactments involving everyone from students to seniors.

JUNE 10 was set aside to recognize the diverse and prosperous businesses and industries that made Riverside thrive. There was an old-fashioned town hall meeting to remind residents of the city and country’s roots; and finally, a musical salute on the last day to thank the many volunteers who made the magic happen.

Not only did the opening of the Ben H. Lewis Hall excite the business segment of the community, but it seemed everyone in town wanted to participate. Back in June 1976, Mayor Ben H. Lewis, who led the charge for the new center, was asked how he wanted

TIME CAPSULE

When it opened in 1976, Riverside’s convention center was an important addition to the community. It offered a space for everything from a trade show with many exhibit booths to a luncheon or dinner with hundreds of guests to a basketball game on a full-sized court. The facility also featured an elevated outdoor plaza above the parking area.

to be remembered. “I guess as just a good guy,’’ he said. Of course, Lewis will be remembered each time someone walks into the grand hall that bears his name.

“FOR SO LONG we haven’t had anything like it at all. San Bernardino

has had the facilities for large groups. Now we have a great new building. And, yes, I am proud to have it named for me,” Lewis said.

Through the years, the center has hosted many events and, as is often the case with any beauty, sometimes a bit of a makeover is needed. The last time the convention center got a facelift was in 1997 for the sum of $2 million. That renovation project added about 2,000 square feet to the building and included a front plaza remodel, re-carpeting and a new floor design in the then 20,000-square-foot Ben H. Lewis Hall.

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ORIGINALLY launched as Raincross Square in 1976, the convention center has been a well-used

gathering place for politicians, the arts, concerts and conventions — hosting everything from community youth groups to annual State of the City addresses, from UC Riverside basketball games to concerts by the likes of Devo and Depeche Mode, from the funeral of a Riverside police officer to the national convention for the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Here’s a quick look back at some of the notable events in the center’s history.

POLITICIANS & NOTABLES

— Astronauts Sally Ride and Buzz Aldrin — Actress Bo Derek, star of Blake Edwards’ “10,” for the Veterans Art Festival in 2008 — President George W. Bush in 2003 — U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and John McCain — California Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pete Wilson and Gray Davis

— Political consultant, author and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich — Steven Ambrose, author “Band of Brothers” — Martin Dugard, co-author of “Killing Lincoln,” “Killing Kennedy” and “Killing Jesus” —Tom Brokaw, former NBC News anchor — David Bailey, Ironman world champion and motocross racer, for a Loma Linda University dinner in 2010

From top left: Dianne Feinstein, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sally Ride and Bo Derek

ARTS & EVENTS

CONCERTS & ARTISTS Where were you in ‘82? Riverside’s Raincross Square was the place to be for music fans. Devo, The Police and many others played there. Some highlights: — The Runaways, Aug. 19, 1977 — The Police, Nov. 21, 1979 — Rick Derringer, The Babys, Jan. 12, 1980 — Alice Cooper, June 9, 1980 — Poco, Aug. 6, 1980 — Devo, Aug. 19, 1980 — The Tubes, Aug. 26, 1981 — Missing Persons, Shattered Faith, July 22, 1982 — Martha Davis and The Motels, Sept. 25, 1982 — Oingo Boingo, Dec. 31, 1982 — Adam & the Ants, March 31, 1983 — Billy Idol, March 12, 1984 — Oingo Boingo/INXS, Dec. 31, 1984 — George Thorogood, March 1, 1985 — Stray Cats, Dec. 22, 1985

UC RIVERSIDE Playing home games at the convention center was a special experience for Kris Martinez, a guard for UC Riverside in the late 1980s when the men’s and women’s basketball teams were utilizing the venue. It felt more “big time,” she says, because it was much larger than the gym on campus. However there were some drawbacks. Since a portable floor was used at the convention center, the court had some dead spots where the ball would bounce differently than usual. Martinez is now the General Services director for the City of Riverside.

BOXING The “square circle” was set up many times at the Riverside Convention Center. Six bouts — featuring the likes of Levi “Sol” Billops, Lalo Velasquez and Robert “Badman” Lewis — took center stage on March 16, 1988, during what was billed as “War Night.” More recently, the shows included six fight cards with boxing and mixed martial arts on the same night.

CONVENTIONS & COMMUNITY GATHERINGS

GATHERINGS OF CELEBRATION ... In addition to hosting prestigious conventions and welcoming national corporate clients, the Riverside Convention Center proudly hosts our region’s most important social gatherings, including: — Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce’s Annual Inaugural Celebration — Mayor’s State of the City Address — NAACP Riverside Branch’s Freedom Fund Awards and Scholarship Dinner — National History Day State Finals — Riverside County Regional Medical Center’s Festival of Trees — YWCA of Riverside County’s Women of Achievement Luncheon

AND REMEMBRANCE On July 17, 1998, more than 1,000 people gathered at the convention center to pay tribute to Officer Claire Connelly, the Riverside Police Department’s first female police officer to die in the line of duty. Six days earlier she was investigating a traffic collision when she was struck by a drunken motorist. Connelly was remembered as a bright, warm and well-liked young person.

A TIME FOR HEROES ... In 1999, the national spotlight shined on Riverside when the Congressional Medal of Honor Society came to the city for its annual gathering to recognize those who have received the country’s highest military award for valor. About 85 of the 150 Medal of Honor recipients who were alive at the time attended the dedication of the Medal of Honor Memorial at Riverside National Cemetery. They also came to the convention center for a luncheon on Nov. 4 and two days later for a black-tie event — the National Patriots Award Dinner, which attracted the likes of former California Gov. Pete Wilson, author and historian Stephen E. Ambrose, and NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, author of “The Greatest Generation.”

REFLECTIONS

Entertainer, businessman and greeter, Mayor Ben H. Lewis welcomes President Richard M. Nixon to Riverside. While through the years the city has welcomed its share of presidents, Nixon had a stronger connection to the city â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he was married at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa and his aunt lived here. Photo courtesy Thompson & Colegate LLP Attorneys at Law

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A MEMBER OF A PIONEER Riverside family, entertainer, businessman, three-term mayor. Ben H. Lewis was that and more.

Lewis was active in vaudeville in the 1920s, and during the next decade he followed another creative passion and worked as a cartoonist. He later was a business manager for Walter Lantz, creator of Woody Woodpecker. In the early 1940s, Lewis returned to Riverside to run the land title insurance business founded by his father. Lewis was first elected mayor in 1965, the same year as the Watts Riots in Los Angeles and when the initial wave of U.S. ground troops were sent to Vietnam. During his tenure, fighting smog and promoting racial harmony within the city were important issues. Lewis served until 1977. He died in 1985. The Riverside Convention Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest meeting space, Ben H. Lewis Hall, is named in his honor.

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At the heart of Riverside’s new convention center is a fabulous new stainless-steel kitchen, and the Raincross Hospitality team found just the right guy to run it. “Utterly delicious”

— Anthony Bourdain, on one of Chef Brad Martin’s dishes on ABC’s “The Taste”

TASTE

“THIS is really going to be a big premiere for Riverside in a lot of different ways.” In late December,

Chef Brad Martin was already brimming with excitement and anticipation. As he worked to put finishing touches on a new menu for the Riverside Convention Center, he also was focused on hiring staff, collecting small wares, pots and pans and presentation pieces to deck out the revitalized kitchen for top-flight catering. The kitchen keys were due to come into his hands in early January, and the transfer couldn’t come soon enough. Large and complex operations are nothing new for Martin, and he’s a known commodity for Riverside, having most recently served as executive chef at a private university, and has worked at large operations including a high-end restaurant chain and at Renaissance and Marriott hotels locations.

WHETHER at work, in his home kitchen or on a

food set, Martin’s driving professional motivation is simple: a passion. Through the years, he’s expressed that passion in a variety of ways: in the prime-rib sandwiches with caramelized onions that he made for teenage friends, in the Tex/Mex, Italian and classic American dishes he plates at home for his wife and children, and through the explorations of food and culture as he plans meals for clients. It’s no wonder that after working in a restaurant as a teen, he found his way to New York where he graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.

His favorite cuisine? “I just like making everything. I like the styles of the Caribbean and Mediterranean,” Martin said, quickly adding Pacific Rim cuisine is frequently his “go-to” style. That’s not to say he hasn’t explored all kinds of food from Asian to Indonesian and Ethiopian. “I really try to open my mind to all different genres of food and experience it and taste it. … It’s really fun to use a new ingredient and find out how to utilize it at its best stage.” Customizing menus for clients is something the chef both savors and strives for, “I love to be engaged with my staff and with the clients. ... It’s just something that really drives me.” With the re-opening of the Riverside Convention Center, Martin’s new palette will be a taste opportunity painted large. On any single day, if all the conference rooms and spaces are booked, the kitchen could turn out as many as 6,000 to 8,000

FOOD

He also might be considered something of a TV personality, as a competitor on mentor Anthony Bourdain’s team in ABC’s cooking competition show, “The Taste.” While the month-long filming for the second season of “The Taste” had wrapped, Martin contractually couldn’t disclose how well he had fared. The eight episodes began airing Jan. 2.

meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner with a core staff of six to eight people and another 30 to 40 people in part time help. It’s not the same as preparing a meal for friends at home — working large scale, requires a different orientation. “As an executive chef, especially at an operation of this nature, you are more of the orchestrator, the director. You are not always touching all of the food. You are gathering everybody together and using your knowledge of the industry — how to manipulate everybody’s time, into getting them to the final goal.

“TIMING is everything,” the chef says, quickly

adding, “Timing and taste are everything.” Teaching is important; being on the floor is important, getting the freshest ingredients — locally grown and produced when possible, it’s all part of the orchestra that is the big kitchen, Martin says. “As much as you have a love for food... you are the orchestrator. So you’re holding the wand up, OK sauté over here, OK grill over there, everybody come together.” He’s ready. Tables for 600?

Finely plated ... “Asian-inspired black cod with a crispy sushi rice cake, miso-soy cream sauce, microradish greens and a saki vinaigrette.” ... And it’s the dish that won Chef Brad Martin a spot the second season of “The Taste,” Anthony Bourdain’s cooking competition show which began airing on ABC Jan. 2.

Chef Brad Martin at home with his family, Abygale, left, Hayden and his wife, Heather

FOOD

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The heart of the convention center’s kitchen shines with new appliances and a stainless steel food preparation area, left. A steamer, above, is ready for use. Two spacious walk-in coolers were installed, along with a walk-in freezer, right.

EVERY GREAT MEAL starts somewhere, and at the Riverside Convention Center they will be prepared by Executive Chef Brad Martin and his team using some of the latest and best culinary tools available.

Since nearly all of the equipment in the old kitchen was at the end of its life cycle, the convention center’s makeover brought with it the opportunity to start over in the food preparation area as well. TriMark Raygal, a company that specializes in commercial kitchens

and previously completed projects at Staples Center and the Nokia Theatre, was brought in to orchestrate everything. In 2011, TriMark’s first order of business was to evaluate how the previous kitchen worked and the needs for the new one. Then it was time to collaborate with all the parties involved — the architects, construction company and others — via a process called Integrated Project Delivery. It allowed the work to move forward much more efficiently and with less waste than the

FOOD

traditional design/bid/build method, says Eric Smith, a TriMark vice president.

WITH THE WORK now complete, the new

kitchen boasts a collection of solid, industrial appliances and gleaming stainless steel prep areas. Sure, it has the traditional open-burner ranges, fryers, griddles and walk-in coolers and freezers that one might expect to find in any commercial kitchen. But there also are some nifty new additions in this one including two European-style combi ovens and an energy- and water-efficient dishwasher that recaptures the heat from the exhaust flue and transfers it back into the hot water tank. “It’s a very efficient and modern kitchen,” Smith said.

“I think the plate-up station is the most important area in this type of kitchen,” he added. “When it’s time to serve, the plates must be prepared so they only

spend the minimum time in the hot carts which can dry out the food if it’s in there too long.” Of course, getting every meal quickly from kitchen to table in any of the ballrooms and meeting areas is vital. That process will be greatly enhanced thanks to the convention center’s layout, says Carl Carey, Riverside’s capital improvements manager.

“It’s awesome, and I am so lucky to have this opportunity — to set up my kitchen, my way, without having to follow another person’s path.”

— Chef Brad Martin on the new convention center facility

“The corridors are bigger than before so it’s easier to move food around,” he said. “And with back-of-thehouse service elevators, servers can go right up — boom — so they’re not losing time.” Previously, there was only one elevator, which slowed the delivery of meals, Carey added. “Now, there could be 10 different functions going on — probably not all serving at the same time — but this will allow for a lot more capabilities.”

FACILITY DETAILS

FACTS & STATS I N S I D E T H E

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C O N V E N T I O N

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SIZE AND DIMENSIONS

■ The renovated Riverside Convention Center’s floor plan is divided into five major areas based on usage and functionality. The interior rentable space includes the board room, meeting rooms, ballrooms and exhibit halls. ■ The total square footage for the interior rentable space is 50,372 square feet. ■ The interior pre-function space includes 22,728 square feet dedicated to a lower concourse and pre-function corridors located immediately outside the exhibit halls, meeting rooms and ballrooms. ■ The facility has 41,550 square feet of “back of house” space that includes service corridors, storage rooms, restrooms, food preparation rooms and mechanical rooms. ■ The exterior includes an upgraded events plaza totaling 9,485 square feet of rentable space, with 31,400 square feet of hardscape (sidewalks, for example) and 60,250 square feet in landscaping. ■ The total net square footage area is 114,650 for building interior and 91,650 square feet of exterior square footage.

ADDED SQUARE FOOTAGE

electric car charger located on the loading dock side (east of the facility). ■ The exhibit hall has four 100-amp camlocks and one 200-amp camlock with five 50-amp receptacles around the perimeter mounted up high. All the receptacles are 20 amp and can be upgraded at certain locations to 30 amp with a new receptacle and circuit breaker. ■ The building has a backup generator for emergency lighting. ■ The freezer and refrigerator in the kitchen have connections to backup power.

TECH AND SOUND

■ The building has a Wi-Fi system. ■ The concourses have power and tele/data locations in the walls. ■ The meeting rooms, ballrooms and exhibit hall all have floor boxes for power and data. ■ The building has a PA address system with centralized volume controls in the ballrooms, meeting rooms and exhibit hall. Aux devices, including iPods, can be plugged into the PA system.

DRYWALL AND PLASTER

■ 34,000 square feet of space was added to the original facility, which now has a total gross square footage of 127,566 square feet.

■ 262,161 square feet of drywall (about 5,378 sheets) were used ■ 7,325 yards of three-coat plaster system

ROOF SIZE

LIGHTS

■ 78,032 is the total roof square footage; 21,032 is the size of the low roof, 57,000 is the size of the high roof (including tower).

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■ LED fixtures were used throughout, with the exception of the kitchen to meet Health Department standards and the mezzanine

where the existing fixtures were outfitted with fluorescent lights. ■ The meeting rooms, ballrooms and exhibit halls all have dimmable LED fixtures. ■ The exhibit halls also have 12 custom chandeliers and 16 custom wall sconces for mood lighting controlled by a dimmer. ■ Along the upper and lower concourses, there are 10 custom wall sconces as well as dimmable downlights. ■ The stairwell lights are on 50 percent brightness until the sensor is activated and then they go to full brightness. ■ All the rooms, including storage areas, have occupancy sensors to control the light fixtures.

ELECTRICAL

■ No existing electrical equipment was reused, and all the switchgear and feeder wire are new. ■ There is a point of connection for a future

AIR CONDITIONING

■ Total tonnage is 560 to cool the building; 450 tons (by chiller) and 110 tons by AHU and AC units (existing and new).

STEEL AND CONCRETE

■ 700 tons of steel were used. ■ Concrete amount was not tracked.

CONCOURSE/ PRE-FUNCTION AREA

■ The ground level includes 7,507 square feet at the lower level concourse along with 1,102 square feet of pre-function area. ■ The exhibit level includes 10,930 square feet of concourse area and 3,189 square feet of pre-function corridors.

TOWER

■ The tower is 30 feet by 30 feet with three soffit tiers prior to reaching the top of the structure. ■ The tower is 66 feet high.

OUTDOOR PLAZA

■ The bollards are set at 25 percent brightness until a sensor is activated and then it goes to full brightness for five minutes ■ The grand stairs have three lighted hand rails. ■ There is after-hours overhead security lighting in the main plaza. ■ The sidewalks around the Orange and Fifth Street will have added overhead lighting to supplement the existing public street lighting. ■ The plaza primarily consists of LED

ESCALATOR

KITCHEN

■ Extensive kitchen remodel included upgraded food service preparation areas, beverage stations, concession stand and storage rooms. ■ 90 percent of all food preparation equipment is new, including a state-of-theart flight-type dishwasher with low water consumption and self-cleaning capabilities. Also, the more efficient unit will require 50 percent less detergent. ■ The renovated kitchen is equipped with two custom-designed new cart storage refrigerators, and one new high-capacity walk-in freezer. ■ The re-design of the food service areas will support banquets of various sizes with custom-tailored food menus for each event. ■ Service corridors are designed for ultimate functionality to connect the kitchen and food service stations to all event banquets.

RESTROOMS

■ The two escalators located in the concourse area are Mitsubishi Electric’s Series Z. ■ The escalators are the first ones in a public-owned facility in the city of Riverside.

■ There are 10 restrooms, six of them public restrooms and the remaining four are back of house. ■ 2,668 is the combined square footage of the 10 restrooms.

CARPET

■ 109 parking stalls are within the project site. The breakdown: 83 are in the north lot, 17 stalls are along Fifth Street, and nine are on the east side of the building. ■ 18 handicapped parking stalls are located in the north parking lot.

■ 14 carpet types were used throughout the building, often designated by space. The city-approved selections were a reflection of the Mission-style theme.

PARKING

ACCESSIBILITY FROM OTHER LOCATIONS

■ The Riverside Convention Center is accessible from the Fifth Street sidewalk, Riverside Marriott canopy and the north lot parking ramp near the Third Street entrance.

SECURITY

■ There are security cameras throughout the entire building with a card key access control system for secure areas.

FACILITY DETAILS

PLUMBING

■ Water-efficient plumbing fixtures were installed, reducing the annual water usage by 34 percent compared with EPA’s 1992 baseline. ■ Hands-free sensor technology is used for most plumbing fixtures for better sanitation practice and convenience of users. ■ A variable frequency motor-driven booster pump system was installed as an energy conservation measure and to achieve sufficient water pressure. A booster pump system operates only based on demand. ■ Hot water circulates as a loop to maintain temperature and to shorten water delivery time for the convenience of users ■ More than 7,000 linear feet of new heating hot water and chilled water piping were installed to serve the expanded facility.

lighting, with the exception of one ramp containing fluorescent lighting. ■ The tower has six custom exterior shrouds over LED lighting around the entrances. ■ There is a code blue station in the plaza. ■ Exterior cameras cover the plaza area. ■ There are 13 tree lights and nine palm tree lights. At the base of each tree and palm tree light is a receptacle on the site lighting controls for decorative and seasonal lighting. ■ There are 20-amp receptacles in the planter areas near the building for small event power. Two 50-amp receptacles located near the plaza rentable space are for event power. ■ There are 3 flag pole lights. ■ Each exterior door has a LED light over it. ■ There is a point of connection for two future water features should the city decide to install water fountains near the rentable plaza space in the future.

SIGNAGE

■ The interior signage package consists of a comprehensive package beyond the code required signage. Pin-mounted letters occur as guests enter specific clusters of rooms (for example, Ben H. Lewis Hall, exhibit halls, Raincross Ballroom). ■ Blade-mounted directional signage is located to provide clear wayfinding. ■ Electrical provisions for future electronic wayfinding monitors by others are also provided at two locations along the upper concourse and two locations along the lower concourse. ■ The exterior signage package provides wayfinding throughout the project site.

PHOTOVOLTAICS

■ There is a 400-amp section in the switchgear to run 150 feet of 4-inch conduit to the pull box on the roof. This will support future roof-mounted photovoltaic systems at allowable locations.

STORAGE AREA

■ 12,820 square feet of storage (including janitor rooms). Additional storage space is 3,655 square feet from the original program design. Source: Turner Construction Company

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rooms for intimate gatherings, to grand exhibitions perfectly staged in larger ballrooms, or even corporate diversions under the sun, the Riverside Convention Center features the most advanced space planning technology fit for any occasion.

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The renovated Riverside Convention Center now has more than 65,000 square feet of total indoor space.

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UPPER CONCOURSE 10,920 20’ 1,050 50 Ben H. Lewis Hall 27,953 232’ 4” x 117’ 2” 22’ 3,000 1,600 1,530 160 230 3,000 1,920 220 300 Exhibit Hall A 9,695 117’ 2 x 80’ 1” 22’ 920 500 450 52 84 910 500 100 152 Exhibit Hall B 9,695 117’ 2 x 80’ 1” 22’ 920 500 450 52 84 910 500 100 152 Exhibit Hall C 3,785 71’ 7” x 54’ 8” 22’ 360 220 200 20 36 340 190 60 88 Exhibit Hall D 4,505 71’ 7” x 65’ 0” 22’ 360 220 200 20 32 340 190 60 88 Raincross Ballroom 7,898 110’ 10” x 73’ 3” 18’ 900 460 420 37 80 850 440 100 144 Raincross F, C 2,641 73’ 3” x 36’ 9” 18’ 310 180 160 11 26 300 168 68 72 RC F 1,381 36’ 9” x 36’ 5” 18’ 140 90 80 5 14 136 72 28 40 RC C 1,323 36’ 9” x 36’ 7” 18’ 140 90 80 5 14 136 72 28 40 Raincross E, B 2,639 73’ 3” x 38’ 8” 18’ 310 180 160 11 26 300 168 68 72 RC E 1,381 36’ 5” x 38’ 8” 18’ 140 90 80 5 14 136 72 28 40 RC B 1,321 36’ 7” x 38’ 8” 18’ 140 90 80 5 14 136 72 28 40 Raincross D, A 2,618 73’ 3” x 35’ 5” 18’ 320 180 160 11 26 320 168 68 72 RC D 1,307 35’ 5” x 36’ 5” 18’ 140 90 80 5 14 136 72 28 40 RC A 1,311 35’ 5” x 36’ 7” 18’ 140 90 80 5 14 136 72 28 40 Meeting Rooms 7-10 3,709 89’ 9” x 41’ 2” 12’6” 414 240 200 16 30 414 192 84 96 MR 7 925 41’ 2” x 22’ 5” 12’6” 85 50 40 3 7 84 56 34 32 MR 8 941 41’ 2” x 22’ 7” 12’6” 85 50 40 3 7 84 56 34 32 MR 9 938 41’ 2” x 22’ 8” 12’6” 85 50 40 3 7 84 56 34 32 MR 10 905 41’ 2” x 22’ 1” 12’6” 85 50 40 3 7 84 56 34 32 LOWER CONCOURSE 5,500 11’ 550 20 Ballroom 3,999 60’ 5” x 65’ 0” 10”6” 400 250 210 16 34 390 240 52 80 Ballroom A 1,978 60’ 5” x 32’ 0” 10”6” 197 100 90 5 20 197 120 50 56 Ballroom B 2,017 60’ 5” x 33’ 0” 10”6” 197 100 90 5 20 197 120 50 56 Meeting Rooms 1-3 3,298 79’ 10” x 41’ 0” 12’6” 380 230 200 17 41 380 224 88 68 MR 1 1,080 41’ 0” x 26’ 2” 12’6” 110 80 60 4 10 110 64 40 46 MR 2 1,115 26’ 8” x 41’ 12’6” 110 80 60 4 10 110 64 40 46 MR 3 1,090 26’ 5” x 41’ 12’6” 110 80 60 4 10 110 64 40 46 Meeting Rooms 4, 5 2,404 79’ 5” x 31’ 4” 12’6” 266 140 120 11 25 266 160 60 72 MR 4 1,202 31’ 4” x 39’ 7” 12’6” 135 90 70 6 13 135 75 30 38 MR 5 1,202 31’ 4” x 39’ 4” 12’6” 135 90 70 6 13 135 75 30 38 Meeting Room 6 758 33’ 9” x 22’ 4” 12’6” 70 40 30 2 5 70 40 26 30 Board Room 377 26” 1” x 14’ 6” 12’6” 10 TOTAL INDOOR SPACE 66,816 OUTDOOR PLAZA 14,476 90’ x 85’ 600 350 300

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IMAGINE the possibilities with more than 65,000 square CHEF'S OFFICE

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feet of intelligent meeting space for conferences, banquets, trade shows, sporting exhibitions and competitions, reunions, expos, and more. From over-the-top preparations down to the smallest finishing touches, the Riverside Convention Center unveils new ways to expertly transform events of all sizes.

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ABOUT US

R i v e r s i d e

C o n v e n t i o n

Ted Weggeland

C e n t e r

l e a d e r s h i p

President/CEO Raincross Hospitality Corporation 951.222.4700, ext. 209 Ted@wegcorp.com

Sr. Vice President, Raincross Hospitality Corporation 951.222.4700, ext. 205 dguthrie@riversidecvb.com

Debbi Guthrie

Scott Megna

Debbie Megna, CMP

A hospitality veteran of nearly twenty years, Ted Weggeland founded Raincross Hospitality Corporation to manage and operate hospitality-related entities in a more unconventional, highly personalized, and entrepreneurial fashion, setting a new standard for excellence across multiple hospitality platforms. The Raincross Hospitality Corporation team represents a fusion of the finest multidimensional talent, working closely together to achieve superior results in convention center operation; convention and visitor bureau management; convention event planning; and sports commission and sporting event co-management. Mr. Weggeland was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson to serve on the California Travel and Tourism Commission; served as co-chairman of the 1999 Congressional Medal of Honor National Convention; and serves as a Trustee of the National World War II Museum. He is a graduate of UCLA and Pepperdine University School of Law.

A life-long Riverside resident and long-time Riverside professional and civic leader, Raincross Hospitality Corporation Senior Vice President, Debbi Guthrie, manages the Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau’s nationally recognized Bring it Home! campaign. This program is a collaborative effort between the RCVB and the greater Riverside community to bring convention and meeting events to Riverside. Debbi is also a founder and the Director of the Riverside Sports Commission. Working in collaboration with local sports organizations, Debbi has been instrumental in attracting sports competitions of national prominence to Riverside and represents the Riverside Sports Commission as a member of the National Association of Sports Commissions. Debbi has long been committed to promoting Riverside as a place of unparalleled hospitality and in 2011, the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce honored her as Citizen of the Year.

Having spent the previous 24 years in the hospitality industry, including over ten years at the Riverside Convention Center, Scott returns to the General Manager position for the grand reopening of the Center. Mr. Megna successfully managed the operation of the Riverside Convention Center from 1998 to 2007, steering it to its first profitability, before seeking to expand the breadth and scope of his hospitality experience by pursuing new career opportunities in the industry, including positions in Los Angeles and Santa Monica in finance and operational roles. Scott is currently involved in Leadership Riverside which has been established to develop the next generation of active leaders for Riverside. Graduates of Leadership Riverside go on to contribute to Riverside’s economic and cultural vitality. He is a graduate of California State University San Bernardino, and maintains memberships with the International Association of Venue Managers and Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals.

With over twenty-four years of success in the hospitality industry, Debbie serves in the dual role of Executive Director and Director of Sales of the Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau. In her sixteenth year with the RCVB, Debbie has personally booked over 200,000 hotel room nights, delivering an estimated economic impact of over $48 million, all while overseeing the RCVB’s award-winning advertising and marketing campaigns. Debbie’s successes include bringing the following prestigious groups to Riverside: National History Day California State Competition, California Mock Trial State Competition, Congressional Medal of Honor Society National Convention, Veterans of Foreign Wars State Convention, Lions Club Multiple District Convention, and Home Depot sales training. Debbie is a member of numerous trade organizations, including Meeting Professionals International, Professional Convention Management Association, and the California Society of Association Executives, and Destination Marketing Association International.

General Manager Riverside Convention Center 951.346.4713 smegna@riv-cc.com

Executive Director, Director of Sales Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau 951.222.4700, ext. 202 dmegna@riversidecvb.com

s a l e s

ABOUT US

m a n a g e m e n t ,

S u p p o r t

Brad Martin

Pam Sturrock

Tammy Gonzalez

Azza Akkad

Barbara Rogers

Ramiro Zavala

Oscar Ornelas

Mark Lewis

Anne Seymour

Shaheen Morales Roostai

Tuyen Nguyen

Jennifer Watts

Executive Chef Riverside Convention Center 951.346.4700, ext. 4711 BMartin@Riv-CC.com

Office Manager Riverside Convention Center 951.346.4707 BRogers@Riv-CC.com

Sales Manager Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau 951.222.4700, ext. 203 ASeymour@RiversideCVB.com

Director of Catering Riverside Convention Center 951.346.4708 PSturrock@Riv-CC.com

Director of Banquets Riverside Convention Center 951.346.4700, ext. 4710 rccBanquets@Riv-CC.com

Sales Manager Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau 951.222.4700, ext. 204 SRoostai@RiversideCVB.com

Catering Sales Manager Riverside Convention Center 951.346.4715 Tammy@Riv-CC.com

Director of Engineering Riverside Convention Center 951.346.4700, ext. 4712 oornelas@Riv-CC.com

Executive Assistant/Office Manager Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau 951.222.4700, ext. 208 TNguyen@RiversideCVB.com

Senior Sales Manager Riverside Convention Center 951.346.4716 AAkkad@Riv-CC.com

Director of Security Riverside Convention Center 951.346.4700, ext. 4714 MLewis@Riv-CC.com

Administrative Assistant Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau 951.222.4700, ext. 201 JWatts@RiversideCVB.com

ABOUT US

R a i n c r o s s H o s p i t a l i t y RAINCROSS HOSPITALITY Corporation proudly oversees the management and operation of the Riverside Convention Center. Raincross Hospitality also manages the Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau. In 2012, Raincross Hospitality created the Riverside Sports Commission to manage an intensive and focused effort to attract major sporting events to the City of Riverside. If you are planning an event, meeting or convention in Riverside, take comfort in knowing that Raincross Hospitality is by your side. Offering more than 120 years of hospitality experience in Riverside, Raincross Hospitality managers, planners and staff work collaboratively both with valued clients and the greater Riverside community with a singular objective in mind — to treat clients as if they were guests in their home. That is one reason Riverside’s repeat business is unrivaled in the hospitality industry. You can count on the Raincross team to be here for you. Raincross Hospitality’s unique event concierge program offers personal assistance with the most detailed planning of your event, whether it is a social celebration, training or meeting, conference or convention. From the very first contact to the final applause for a job well done, Raincross Hospitality takes special care of you, adding you to our Riverside family. When you leave, you will understand why Riverside is referred to as “the sixth largest city in Southern California, but one of the smallest towns in America.”

r i v e r s i d e T o d a y

It takes more than a strong mayor to execute a vision like the Renaissance project or a revitalized downtown center. It takes a group dedicated to working for the city, like todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s council.

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Mike Gardner

Andy Melendrez

Mike Soubirous

Ward 1

Ward 2

Ward 3

Chris Mac Arthur

Paul Davis Ward 4

While the convention centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grand hall is named after thenMayor Ben H. Lewis, he also needed the support of like minds to accomplish his goals. At right, the City Council that was in place in 1976 when Raincross Square first opened.

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PUBLIC OFFICIALS

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Ward 5

Ernie Pintor

Jim Perry

Steve Adams

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Ward 7

Arden Anderson

Eric Haley

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Rosanna Scott

Don Lorenzi

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Walt Abraham

Don Garretson

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HOSPITALITY ENTHUSIASTS

Raincross Hospitality Corporation ■ PepsiCo ■ Pro Audio Visual Inc. ■ Sysco DEVOTEES TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The Design-Build Team of Turner Construction, DLR Group, and John A. Martin & Associates CHAMPIONS OF INSPIRATION

American Medical Response ■ Anheuser-Busch Sales of Riverside Riverside Magazine/LANG Custom Publishing ■ Riverside Public Utilities EXPLORERS OF CULINARY ADVENTURES

Agency | 51 Advertising ■ Burrtec Waste Industries ■ Loma Linda University Health Riverside Marriott at the Riverside Convention Center, Managed by Pinnacle Hotels USA FANS OF CONCIERGE SERVICES

ProAbition - Whiskey Lounge & Kitchen ■ Southern California Gas Company ADVOCATES FOR CLIENT COMFORT

HUB International Insurance Services Inc. ■ Inland Empire Architectural Specialties, Inc. ■ Pabalan Eye Center Riverside Community Hospital ■ Riverside Downtown Partnership ■ Security Bank of California ■ Varner & Brandt, LLP PATRONS OF PRISTINE PROPERTY

Café Sevilla, Restaurant & Tapas Bar ■ Clark’s Nutrition & Natural Foods Market ■ Gram’s Mission Barbeque Palace Habitat for Humanity Riverside ■ Hyatt Place Riverside Downtown ■ Mission Inn Foundation and Museum Riverside County Philharmonic ■ RP&B CPAs, Roorda, Piquet & Bessee INVESTORS IN POSITIVE GUEST EXPERIENCES

Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce

PRODUCED FOR THE RIVERSIDE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE RIVERSIDE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU, THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SPONSORS, BY LANG CUSTOM PUBLISHING

Editing & Design ■ Don Sproul, Jerry Rice and Steve Ohnersorgen Contributors ■ Amy Bentley, Luanne J. Hunt, Rodrigo Peña, Frank Perez, Eric Reed and Suzanne Sproul Cover photo by Eric Reed, ericreedphoto.com SALES & DEVELOPMENT

Lynda E. Bailey, Linda Baker, Jack Galloway, Willie Merriam, Melissa Morse, Melissa Six and Adil Zaher 40