Meet Irma Garcia, a joyful force in our Ticketing Office! Irma joined the Phoenix Convention Center in 2016 as a part-time ticket seller and since then she’s moved up in the Ticket Office to her current role of Ticket Services Supervisor. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two kids (a boy and a girl) and two dogs (also a boy and a girl). You can find her watching her kids play sports or catch her listening to true crime podcasts on her way into work each day.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your role at the Phoenix Convention Center?
I like working with a variety of different events. Every event is so unique. You don’t know what you’re walking into each day. It’s also very interesting to see the changes in crowds for the ticketed events at the Phoenix Convention Center because the crowd for Oddities and Curiosities is different than the cars show, or a wellness expo.
Q: What is a favorite memory you have of your time at the Phoenix Convention Center?
I was working the annual Volleyball Festival in 2019 and remember being on my feet all day doing wristbands. We had a lot of long lines that year at the North, West and South buildings. I was walking back and forth and definitely hit my 10,000 steps that day. I had a good time chatting with people even though they were in a hurry, most of them knew I was doing my best!
Q: What is a skill you’ve had to sharpen in your role at the Phoenix Convention Center?
I have a very public-facing role and learning how to be nonreactive when people are unhappy or having a bad day is something this job has taught me. You need a lot of empathy--I really have learned how to put myself in someone else’s shoes. You have to have empathy for your fellow humans, everyone is going through something.
Q: Do you have any restaurant or coffee shop recommendations near the PCC?
I love Press Coffee in our West Building. I get an Americano with white chocolate. Having them in the building is such an asset to our attendees but also to our staff! They also have great grab-and-go snacks.
Q: What’s your favorite feature of the PCC?
The Sky Bridge is my favorite. You have such a good view of downtown, and it’s also the secret to going from the West Building to the North Building without having to go outside!