Ten ACCA Students Receive IAVM's Certificate of Venue Management Studies

ATHENS, GA – June 16, 2026— The Classic Center, in partnership with the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), and the Clarke County School District’s Athens Community Career Academy (ACCA), is celebrating a major milestone as the first class of students successfully completed the Entertainment, Sports, and Event Management pathway program.

To recognize the achievement of the inaugural graduating class, IAVM President and CEO Trevor Mitchell traveled to Athens, GA, this past May to attend the Clarke County School District’s Board of Education meeting, where he presented a scholarship to one graduating student, Jahmir Williams.

“As an inaugural member and Pathway Ambassador of the Entertainment, Sports, and Event Management pathway under the guidance of Ms. Beck, Jahmir consistently demonstrated hospitality, teamwork, and servant leadership,” said Trevor Mitchell, President and CEO of IAVM. “Earning the Certificate of Venue Management Studies from IAVM, along with his Cvent certification, reflects both his knowledge and his readiness to excel in professional venue management. He represents the future of our industry, and we are incredibly proud of his accomplishments.”
Launched during the 2024–2025 academic year, the pathway introduced students to careers in venue management, hospitality, and sporting events through hands-on learning experiences and an industry-based curriculum while earning the IAVM Certificate of Venue Management Studies. Students had the opportunity to use IAVM’s industry-leading textbook, Public Assembly Venue Management: Sports, Entertainment, Meeting, and Convention Venues, throughout the school year.
“What began as a workforce development vision between The Classic Center and the Athens Community Career Academy has now become a model for career-connected learning,” said Paul Cramer, President and CEO of The Classic Center Authority. “Jahmir has been a valued member of The Classic Center team since January of 2025, where he has brought that same positive attitude, dependability, and spirit of service into a real-world venue environment. We are incredibly proud of these students and grateful to our partners at IAVM, CCSD, and many others throughout the hospitality industry for helping bring this opportunity to life.”

The Entertainment, Sports, and Event Management curriculum is available through the Georgia Department of Education CTAE Standards website and is designed to prepare students for careers ranging from event production and venue operations to sports marketing and hospitality management.