CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2024 6 lanning an important event down to the smallest of details to deliver an exceptional experience to every guest is no easy task. Equipped with a vast amount of flexible space, a beautiful ballroom overlooking downtown Saskatoon, 21 meeting rooms, a 2,000-seat world-class theatre, and a talented team of events professionals, TCU Place is the perfect venue for many occasions, from corporate conferences to extravagant weddings, galas and graduation banquets. No matter your vision, the company’s experienced and detail-oriented team will help you to create the event of your dreams. While profitability is essential for any business to remain viable; TCU Place is also committed to having a meaningful economic, cultural, and social impact on its community. By providing a beautiful space for events, TCU Place connects people in Saskatoon through purpose, celebration, and learning. With community impact so important to TCU Place, it is no surprise that the organization is led by an individual who is as passionate about the community as she is about the team and guest experiences. With a diverse background in human resources and venue management, Tammy Sweeney became CEO of the company in 2020. Since then, she has been responsible for overseeing a large team of up to 300 employees, partners and contractors in all areas of the building, including theatre, building operations, catering, sales, marketing, finance, and IT. Tammy focuses on balanced business metrics including financial, employee engagement, community impact and team development. Although there are tasks that need to be done for the business to achieve its goals, people are the driving force behind all operations and must therefore be motivated to bring their best selves to work. Tammy has created a flexible working environment, both in terms of hours and roles. Whether they work best at a specific time of day or need to attend a family event, many of the team members are able to adjust their working hours accordingly and take time off when needed. This empowers them to meet the needs of guests and clients while also taking care of themselves and their families. Of course, the busy event schedule also needs to be managed. Tammy Sweeney: An Influential CEO Building Communities Through Events Located in beautiful downtown Saskatoon, the largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, TCU Place is one of the region’s best conference facilities and performing arts venues. Formerly known as the Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium, the elegant 104,000-square-foot venue provides an ideal setting for a wide variety of occasions. At the helm of TCU Place stands CEO Tammy Sweeney, who has recently been named Most Influential CEO 2024 - Saskatchewan (Banquets) in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2024. “In an industry where employee turnover has been a challenge, I am happy to report that our retention rate is over 80%,” comments Tammy. “People enjoy working here. We regularly seek feedback from our employees about their experience, and over 90% report back that they love their jobs. It is hard work, and the hours are long and varied, but our team has commitment and heart.” Having become CEO of TCU Place in the early days of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Tammy has faced her fair share of challenge. Initially, she found that, despite her 17 years of experience in the events industry, each day was a learning curve. “We had no live events coming in, yet a team of people who were used to creating and servicing live events,” she explains. “I wanted to keep our core fulltime people, because one day the pandemic would end, and we would need a team of great people to pull us forward. The decisions and connections made during that time are valued by our team today.” With the live events industry having changed dramatically in recent years, TCU Place is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic. However, under Tammy’s leadership, the business has successfully adapted to the necessary changes, and its revenue numbers remain strong. Now, she is focused on the future, aiming to build an exceptional, sustainable organization that will continue to positively impact its community. For her continued excellence in leading the team at TCU Place, Tammy Sweeney has been named Most Influential CEO 2024 - Saskatchewan (Banquets) in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2024. Currently, she is involved in the planning of a bold new downtown entertainment and events district development project that will include a new arena, a renovated theatre, an expanded convention centre, a new rapid transit bus, and a much-needed public plaza space. This project is in its early stages, but Tammy hopes that the funding plan and design concepts will be approved by the end of 2024, and Saskatoon takes the next key steps toward a vibrant and thriving downtown. P Contact: Tammy Sweeney Company: TCU Place Web Address: www.tcuplace.com
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