Hoffman Estates to interview 2 Saturday for Sears Centre post
Hoffman Estates hiring of an owner's representative for the Sears Centre is one of the final steps the village takes in the transition of taking control of the arena, said Trustee Gary Pilafas.
The owner's representative acts on the village's behalf at negotiating table. The representative looks out for the village's best interests, in brokering a deal with the arena's caterers or booking acts. The representative will notify the board about financial matters and work with there arena's operators, Comcast's Global Spectrum.
The village's finance committee will interview the two finalists in public, at 8 a.m. Saturday at village hall.
Typically meetings involving hiring issues are conducted in private closed session, but Pilafas said an open meeting bolsters transparency. Each interview will last about an hour, and it's unclear if any questions from the public will be fielded at the special finance committee meeting.
“This will be great fun, I'm looking forward getting into the entire process, Pilafas said.
Assistant Village Manager Mark Koplin was taken off his normal duties to assume those arena-related responsibilities. He's held that role since January, when the village took control of the 11,000-seat arena near I-90 and Route 59.
Koplin lacked experience with arenas, which was one of the qualifications the village has stressed this time around.
“We're looking for someone with arena experience, familiar with contracts, money moves and how deals are researched and consummated, Pilafas said.
It's not a full-time post and Pilafas added that the salary hasn't been negotiated yet.
The Sears Centre, which has never made a profit since opening in 2006, has exceeded financial projections this year after new management took control.
The village wants to get more use of the space and eventually host a community event, such as a food festival on par with Naperville's Rib Fest, Pilafas said. The new representative would need the contacts to help make the happen.
The village hired a consultant who found a “ton of applicants, Pilafas said. The field was trimmed to eight, then two. Pilafas remains unsure when the new hire will be in place and said there could be more applicants if Saturday's interviews go poorly.
The representative will work with arena General Manager Ben Gibbs, so it is important to find someone focused on the job without aspirations to become a general manager, Pilafas said. Gibbs welcomes the new hire and said his job won't change.
“Global welcomes anyone that can assist this building, Gibbs said.
Both candidates are local. Cindy Kamradt was vice president of operations for International Facilities Group LLC, which is headed by Michael Reinsdorf, son of Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf. The younger Reinsdorf was also part of the stalled plan to build the outdoor Prairie Creek Amphitheater next to the Sears Centre.
Kamradt has worked with the United Center and U.S. Cellular Field, creating an in-house staffing operation. Pilafas lauded her involvement with the new Yankee Stadium, which opened last year.
Paul Rathje directed operations at Wrigley Field and is credited with directing event staff and security for the stadium's first night game in 1988 and the stadium's first concerts. He also directed event operations at President Obama's election night rally in Grant Park in 2008.