Richard L. Andersen, CVE, ICD.D
Richard Andersen is passionate about maximizing human potential. As CIO - Chief Illuminations Officer - of Venue Solutions Group, Richard draws upon 35 plus years of experience in professional sports, venues and hospitality management to design and facilitate leading edge training and development programs that deliver those “aha moments”. It’s the “VSG Advantage”.
As founder of Lighthouse Management, he has provided organizational training, teambuilding, and leadership development for a variety of repeat customers. His clients included senior management of major corporations, professional sports teams and frontline staff of premier venues in North America and around the world.
In his professional career, Andersen served as President and CEO of Seafair, one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier Festival Management organizations, and President and CEO of Northlands, one of Canada’s largest multi-purpose entertainment and meeting complexes. Andersen was also Executive Vice President of the San Diego Padres and General Manager of PETCO Park.
Earlier in his career, Andersen served as President and CEO of Joe Robbie Stadium, current home to the Miami Dolphins and then home of the Florida (now Miami) Marlins. He was also on the board of the Super Bowl XXIX Host Committee.
Andersen has volunteered in a variety of leadership roles for the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) including as Chair of the Board of Directors in 2012. He has instructed at the IAVM Venue Management School and Graduate Institute since 2004 and was the Chair of its Board of Regents in 2015. He has served on the faculty of the Venue Management Association (VMA Australia Pacific) School and Leadership Institute since 2014.
Andersen holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business and an ICD.C from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto.
Andersen’s professional service honors and distinctions include the City of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter “Lamplighter Award”, Virginia Citizen of the Year, Major League Baseball’s Lee McPhail Award and the IAVM Venue Management School Ray Ward Award for his contributions to industry education.
When not shining the light on organizational effectiveness, Richard enjoys still learning how to play the guitar, exploring the trails of the Pacific Northwest and wrestling with grammar.