Behind every momentous graduation, bustling trade show or electrifying concert lies a hidden choreography few ever see: the changeover. Inside Saint Paul RiverCentre, Roy Wilkins Auditorium and Xcel Energy Center, these transitions—often done overnight or within tight windows—are feats of logistical precision and teamwork. Whether it's flipping the ballroom for a corporate gala or transforming the ice into a concert stage, these changeovers are the catalysts that keep our venues going.

Our operations department are the people who make those changeovers possible. Stephanie Garza, Senior Operations Manager, has been with the organization for 18 years, starting out as a part-time custodian. In those nearly two decades, Garza has seen how the operations team works as a well-oiled machine to turn these world-class venues into new events every day. “Everyone is on the same page and it’s all hands on deck from all our shifts,” Garza said. Often these changeovers include hard deadlines, which could add pressure in those shifts. “We don’t let the deadlines stress us out as a department,” Garza said. “At the end of the day, we know we’re going to get the job done and have it ready.”

That drive for excellence is emblematic of the entire operations department on our campus. In creating top venues, it takes 24/7 dedication to maintain the spaces guests visit to create great memories. What you see when you’re on our campus – snow removal in the winter, window cleaning in the summer – is just scratching the surface of what our operations department does to keep the buildings in top-notch condition. Even overnight, where Operations Manager Cesar Barrera leads the third shifters in cleaning the buildings and getting them ready for the morning, when everyone else is sound asleep.

The operations team is also on the frontline in driving our sustainability initiatives forward. Last year, we composted 267 tons of material and recycled 59% of all our waste. That is just one of the many reasons our venues hold the title of Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold for Building Operations and Maintenance.

With a team of 18 full-time and almost 30 part-time employees, the mantra rings true – many hands do make light work. This month, 18 graduations have filled Roy Wilkins Auditorium, along with other events in Saint Paul RiverCentre, including meetings, galas and expos. Our operations team's work doesn't stop there. Later this summer, concert season will heat up in Xcel Energy Center and our operations team will have a hand in turning the hockey arena into a vibrant concert venue from start to finish.

“We have pride to keep our venues in top-notch condition,” Garza said. “We truly want to give our guests a first-class experience.”