WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 2-4,2021
2021 Fremont Summer Solstice Art Week Summit Awards: Promotional Poster Entry
EVENT SCHEDULE
WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Pre-Conference Schedule Tuesday, November 2nd
Building a Marketing and Communications Plan: More Important Than Ever
Regent Room 9:00 - 10:30 AM The success of every event hinges on an effective plan to attract guests or ticket buyers, especially in a COVID world. Learn how to develop a comprehensive marketing and communications plan, building trust and sharing safety protocols with your guests, while remaining focused on proven metrics of engagement and attendance growth. JOHN THORBURN, BOLDHAT PRODUCTIONS
Learn How to Make the Most Out of Traditional and Non-Traditional Media 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM Regent Room Not only do events have to continue to work with traditional media like print and broadcast, they also need to best utilize digital marketing. Hear from the Publisher of Sound Media, who works in both areas. RUDI ALCOTT , VICE PRESIDENT, SOUND MEDIA
Optimizing Your Social Media Event Presence 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Regent Room
This session will explore tools and tips for amplifying the social voice of your organization and your events. As the social space becomes increasing crowded, it is important to look at creative opportunities to amplify your social voice. How can your event pages complement audience building year round for your social profiles? Bring your devices as we will be taking a hands on approach to social management by applying in session some of the tools and strategies being discussed. There will be a focus on the Facebook and Instagram platforms along with some third party tools to help with creating and managing content. NATALIE MAITLAND, SENIOR SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER, FORT WORDEN PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (REQUIRES SEPARATE REGISTRATION) *THESE PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS WILL QUALIFY FOR CERTIFIED LIVE EVENT PLANNER (CLEP) CREDIT
WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Main Conference Schedule
Tuesday, November 2nd
Round Table Affinity Groups 3:45 – 5:30 PM
Ambassador, Diplomat and Chancellor Room
Meet like-minded professionals in your area of expertise, and exchange ideas in an informal setting. It’s a great way to get to know your fellow professionals. Fundraising Events Parks and Recreation Departments Sponsorship Healthy Active Lifestyle Events Performing and Visual Arts Event Production Major Event (Over 250K)
Newcomers Session 5:30 – 6:00 PM Chancellor Room
Opening Reception 6:00 – 7:30 PM Atrium
Presented by:
Hospitality Suite – Networking After Hours 8:00 - 11:00 PM Room #555
Presented by:
WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Main Conference Schedule Wednesday, November 3rd
OPENING KEYNOTE If It Ain’t Broke, Break It, Now is the Time to Change 8:30 – 9:30 AM
Regent-Ambassador Room
Whether we were able to stage our events or had to cancel due to COVID, we learned a lot and came up with new ways to produce them. SunFest in West Palm Beach, Florida – one of the largest music festivals in the U.S. – had to cancel their event twice. But they survived the pandemic and are looking to produce their event differently in 2022.
Presented by:
PAUL JAMIESON, SUNFEST OF WEST PALM BEACH
BREAKOUT SESSIONS 9:45 – 10:45 A.M. Producing Events in a COVID World Ambassador Room As the incidence of COVID and the regulations surrounding the pandemic continue to change, event organizers need to continually adjust. Learn how to develop a COVID plan and what should be included in it. This interactive workshop session will discuss what just completed events have done to minimize COVID impacts and produce events safely.
Looking into the Crystal Ball for Sponsorship in 2022
DAVID DOXTATER, THE WORKSHOP ERIC CORNING, SEATTLE SEAFAIR JARED LORANGER, FIZZ EVENTS
Regent Room The coronavirus has drastically changed how corporate America is viewing sponsorship. Learn what sponsors are thinking about for 2022 from the company that discusses sponsorship with many companies nationwide. PAULA BEADLE, CARAVEL MARKETING
Annual Fundraising Events -- Once back in person, should events be the same or different than before Covid? Diplomat Room Many of us have spent the last several months conducting galas and raising money virtually. We are thankful that we were among the few events that could be held, but are now looking forward to conducting more hybrid/in person events. Shelly Tolo of Tolo events and top non-profit organizations will give you ideas on how you might shake things up as you plan for events for 2022, fully realizing that COVID hasn’t gone away. SHELLY TOLO, TOLO EVENTS
Oh, the Mistakes I’ve Made Chancellor Room As event organizers, we all make mistakes. Look at these mistakes as opportunities to learn a better way. Craig will share some of his blunders and then discuss the lessons learned and the remedies moving forward. Blunders include incorrect placement of vendor booths as they pertain to water drainage, fire lanes, power lines, and facing the sun. Handling signature gatherers, service animals, and public nuisances. Placement of Port a Potties and generators in relation to the neighbors. CRAIG COOKE, PACIFIC RIM TALENT
BREAKOUT SESSIONS 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Best Practices for Booking Suppliers in 2022 Chancellor Room Hear from four of the top vendors/suppliers in the business, who will guide you through ordering/booking in 2022 for the items you need to run your event. There have been a lot of changes during COVID, and here’s how you can stay ahead of them. ANTHONY ZAVADA, STAGES NORTHWEST DENISE RICE, HONEY BUCKET EDDIE REDMAN, GRAND EVENT RENTALS TIM MEDVED, U-COOL REFRIGERATION
WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Main Conference Schedule Wednesday, November 3rd
BREAKOUT SESSIONS 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Continued
Planning An Event in the City of Seattle in 2022 Ambassador Room The COVID-era has produced many challenges for event producers in Seattle. Cost recovery, increased fees, COVID compliance and police issues are just a few of them. Be a part of the discussion that will hopefully lead to successfully staging events in the City in 2022. DAVID DOXTATER, THE WORKSHOP ERIC CORNING, SEATTLE SEAFAIR JARED LORANGER, FIZZ EVENTS TERRY MORGAN, MODERN ENTERPRISES
Building and Training the New Team
Diplomat Room Who is needed on your team as you reboot – learn how to recruit and train and maintain your operational systems with your new staffing. Hear how Bold Hat Productions, who produces several events in the Northwest, has found qualified personnel. PHIL MEGENHARDT, MATT KELLY, BOLD HAT PRODUCTIONS
Booking & Buying Entertainment in 2022 Regent Room As events are cancelling and acts are testing positive for COVID, booking entertainment has become trickier than ever. Hear from the experts as they discuss: Should you have an all-vaccinated event (including entertainers)? What does cancellation insurance actually cover? What should be in contract Force Majeure clauses? How much should you budget for COVID expenses, which will vary by County. How to drive home important COVID messages Why relationships are important JON STONE, GIGS4U, MODERATOR JASON LAJEUNESSE, CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY CRAIG COOKE, PACIFIC ENTERTAINMENT ERIKA OLSEN, WINTHROP RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL AND WATERFRONT PORTLAND JIM VARNELL, THE RAUCOUS BAND
NETWORKING SUPPLIER LUNCHEON 12:15 – 2:15 PM Atrium Discover the latest trends in our industry, including those developed during COVID that will still exist post-pandemic. Each table at the lunch will be hosted by a vendor/exhibitor, who will distribute materials and discuss the merits of their product with fellow table members. During the four course lunch, each table will be visited by 24 different suppliers
BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2:30 – 3:30 PM The Ever Expanding World of Event Technology Regent Room One of the few good things about COVID is that there have been an explosion of new event technologies that help us do events in lieu of conducting them in person. It has caused us to look at our programming differently, and taught us new tools so that we can collect data to help plan and to sell sponsorship for in person and virtual events. Also explore how you can make your event more nimble, so your software and data works together, so that you can pivot easier from virtual to in person event planning. ERIC CORNING, SEATTLE SEAFAIR, MODERATOR JAMIE NASSAR, EVENTHUB JOSHUA DIRKS, PROJECT BIONIC
WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Main Conference Schedule Wednesday, November 3rd
BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2:30 – 3:30 PM Continued
Grant Opportunities for Festival and Event Organizers Diplomat Room Annually the Washington States Arts Commission offers funding for events that offer arts and culture. However, their focus has shifted from offering funding through their normal pool of funds to the myriad of federal grant programs that have been made available due to COVID. Learn about those opportunities from Miguel Guillen, the State’s expert on administering grants from the Washington State Arts Commission. MIGUEL GUILLEN, WASHINGTON STATES ART COMMISSION
The Importance of Events to Arts and Culture Ambassador Room Nothing exposes arts and culture to the general public like a festival or other type of public event. That’s why the Washington State Arts Commission has helped guide us through the pandemic and is/will make funding available for festival and event producers. KAREN HANAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON STATE ARTS COMMISSION, GOVERNOR’S CABINET
BREAKOUT SESSIONS 3:45 – 4:45 PM Re-Imagining Your Event, or, If It Ain’t Broke, Break It Ambassador Room Terry Morgan’s company Modern Enterprises has been called the most creative and innovative event company in the Northwest. Hear him tell why it’s important that event organizers need to constantly improve and upgrade their events, and to think outside the box. “People like new stimulation are excited to see what’s new.” TERRY MORGAN, MODERN ENTERPRISES
It’s Time to Walk in the Sponsor’s Shoes Regent Room Never has there been bigger changes in sponsorship during COVID, especially from the sponsor’s point of view. It’s more important than ever to see sponsorship “through the eyes of the sponsor.” More than ever, brands are looking to sponsor events that are making a social impact – learn about that and how you should plan for 2022. TODD PIETZSCH, SR. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, BECU MOLLY MIDDLEKAUFF, SR. MANAGER SPONSORSHIP PORTFOLIO, BECU
“Keeping Community at the Center of Fundraising” Chancellor Room
All too often, funders fall into the trap of leveraging their wealth to manipulate “thirsty” nonprofits into conforming, shifting, emphasizing and refocusing on outcomes of importance to the FUNDER versus the outcomes that are most important to the communities being served. It is a hard reckoning to admit that some of the tried-n-true, fundraising philosophies and practices may actually be contributing to the harm of the very communities being served. In this illuminating and informative workshop, participants will re-examine and re-imagine nonprofit fundraising practices through a racial equity lens and explore shifting their own fundraising activities in ways that help to build community and further social justice. PAMELA OAKES, THE PROFITABLE NON-PROFIT
Live local music throughout the conference provided by Gigs4U Gretchen Yanover Christopher Jordan Kimo Muraki Kartina Kope Deseo Carmin (Andrei Stomma, Stella Rossi, Alessandro Scott, Adam Kessler) Andrew Seliber - audio tech
WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Main Conference Schedule Wednesday, November 3rd
WFEA AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION Presented by U-Cool Refrigeration 5:15 PM WFEA AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION PRESENTED BY:
SUMMIT AWARDS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY: PRESENTED BY:
Atrium Help us recognize the best in our industry, as we welcome new inductees into the WFEA Hall of Fame, the State’s Volunteer of the Year and the winners of the Summit Awards. Also recognized will be the first graduates of the WFEA CLEP Program, the Event/Event Organizer of the Year, and the Event Supporter Award, presented to an organization or individual outside of the industry that has benefited the festival and event industry. CLEP CERTIFICATION PRESENTED BY:
EVENT SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY:
EVENT OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY:
EVENT ORGANIZER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY:
WFEA HALL OF FAME PRESENTED BY:
Hospitality Suite – Networking After Hours 8:00 PM Room #555
Presented by:
WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Main Conference Schedule
Thursday, November 4th
BREAKOUT SESSIONS 8:00 – 9:00 AM How Sports Are Leading Through, And Beyond, The Pandemic Regent Room When the pandemic ground sporting events to a halt in 2020, Seattle Sports teams doubled down on new technologies, safe COVID-19 protocols, and customer engagement strategies that ultimately created a better fan experience. Hear some of best ideas implemented by the Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders, and Storm over the past 18 months, as well as what it took to launch NHL's Seattle Kraken while simultaneously opening a new Arena. Beth will also offer a sneak peek into major sporting events on the horizon for Seattle. BETH KNOX, PRESIDENT/CEO - SEATTLE SPORTS COMMISSION
The New Look for Food and Beverage at Events Chancellor Room COVID has caused event food purveyors to make changes, some of which will continue on post Coronavirus. They are using technology to solve problems, and are streamlining menus and service to overcome staffing issues.
Events, Sponsorship and Social Justice
AARON SHOOK, NACE
Ambassador Room Many events and sponsors are expanding the purpose of their organizations by sharing a commitment to social responsibility. Hear the first executive director of Seattle Pride tell how that organization provides strategic year-round programming that expands beyond the famed 400,000 person Pride Parade, and why all events need to consider including a social justice platform. KRYSTAL MARX, SEATTLE PRIDE
Update on Liquor and Cannabis Laws for Festivals and Special Event Organizers Diplomat Room Here’s what all event organizers should know about this very important subject coming out of COVID. The WSLCB Licensing and Enforcement Visions will educate you on how to have safe and legal events with alcohol, the deepest dive yet at a WFEA conference on this important subject. They will cover types of licensing permits, ways to obtain and sell alcohol, and relationships with alcohol industry members at events. Although cannabis can’t be sold at festivals and other related events, they will discuss the new world of cannabis related events such as trade shows. BETH LEHMAN, CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Main Conference Schedule Thursday, November 4th
BREAKOUT SESSIONS 9:15 – 10:15 AM Working With Your City in 2022 Regent Room As the next year approaches, cities want to help events take place, including simplifying the permitting process. However, there will be changes – learn how you can better connect with various city departments as hopefully COVID cases start to decrease. KALA DRALLE, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, CITY OF TACOMA CHRIS SWENSON, OFFICE OF SEATTLE SPECIAL EVENTS
COVID and Other Legal Issues Ambassador Room As our world has changed, so has legal issues surrounding them. Learn what our exposure might be during our COVID world and going forward. JAMES DAVIS, PERKINS COIE
Fundraising Event Ideas Learned During COVID Chancellor Room While conducting events virtually in 2020 and 2021, we learned a lot of things that we’ll continue to do once we’re back to fully holding events in person. Liz Sexton of Tolo Events has conducted events for some of the top non-profits in the State. Hear her perspective in this interactive workshop – bring your own ideas to share as we look to 2022. LIZ SEXTON, TOLO EVENTS
CLOSING KEYNOTE 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM Event Safety and Security: Planning for and Managing the Unexpected at Your Event Regent Room ATTENDEES OF THIS THREE-PART SERIES WILL BE PRESENTED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FROM WASHINGTON FESTIVALS AND EVENTS ASSOCIATION AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GROUP – WASHINGTON. Session 1: Best Practices and Contingent Planning for Events. This session will examine and guide the event organizer on the best practices and contingencies encountered to provide for an expected level of safety and security at an event. The presentation will cover advance planning, threats assessment, public safety agency engagement and interoperability, risk management, security management, and all hazards response. The primary focus is the four fundamental principles consisting of Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. Session 2: Weather Impacts: Event Planning and Response Weather and climate can significantly impact the operation and safety of an event. This session will examine the meteorological planning and decision-making capabilities needed by an event planner, and management of a weather incident at an event. This session will discuss a multidiscipline approach to successful weather hazard response. Session 3: Active Shooter Preparedness: Training and Recovery Active shooter incidents are often unpredictable and evolve quickly. In the midst of the chaos, anyone can play an integral role in mitigating the impacts of an active shooter incident. This session aims to enhance preparedness through a "whole community" approach by providing training, tools, and resources to help you prepare for and respond to an active shooter incident. This course is based on the FEMA syllabus and prepares the attendee to take the IS-907 certificate exam. FRANK SEBASTIAN AND TED BUEHNER, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GROUP
FACULTY 2021 Anacortes Arts Festival Summit Awards: Program Entry
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Rudi Alcott
Paula Beadle
Ted Buehner
Craig Cooke
Rudi Alcott, Vice President, Sound Publishing
With divine intervention, Rudi graduated high school and somehow found himself at one of Indiana’s finest, most strict Christian colleges. As you might suspect, this didn’t go well so he left to sell cookies. After a decade of contributing to the caloric intake of most of northern Indiana, he left to start his own business in the state of Washington. He made some money, spent most of it, and decided he needed to get serious, so he tiptoed into an industry that hadn’t changed in hundreds of years – newspapers. Shortly after taking this job, a little thing called the Internet occurred and changed newspapers forever. Having been through multiple seasons of change he decided this one was going to be on his terms, so he worked his way through almost every department except accounting. This is not by accident. You really don’t want him handling the money. ralcott@soundpublishing.com
Paula Beadle, Caravel Marketing Paula Beadle is a strategic and enthusiastic trailblazer, with decades of marketing and sales experience in sponsorship, advertising, branding, sports, event and entertainment marketing. Paula began consulting following the financial services sector meltdown in 2008. After 5 years, she charted a new course by officially launching Caravel Marketing - a consulting firm specializing in partnership marketing, revenue development and strategic planning. Caravel has been granted the good fortune to work with organizations including: The Special Olympics 2018 USA Games, Seattle Center, Washington State Fair, Washington Department of Transportation, Fred Hutch Obliteride, University of Washington and admired companies such as Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, Starbucks, Amazon and Microsoft. Paula is a results-driven leader with an established record of increasing revenue and improving performance. She is known for developing smart strategies, increasing value, connecting the right partners, and successfully coaching sales teams, executives and boards to achieve their goals. She has facilitated countless strategic planning, creative thinking and sales training sessions. paula@caravelmarketing.com
Ted Buehner, Emergency Management Group North Sound Meteorologist Ted Buehner worked more than 40 years for the National Weather Service (NWS) from 1977 to 2018. His last position was as Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the NWS in Seattle, a key customer liaison position, working toward enhancing the “end-to-end” forecast and warning system by more closely tying the agency's mission of protecting lives and property, and enhancing the region’s economy, with its partners and customers, such as emergency managers, the media, aviation, hydrology, wildfire and the marine community. He is now a North Sound Media team member. Together with Everett Post Weather Minute Podcasts, he provides morning and afternoon commute traffic and weather updates on both KRKO and KXA Radio, and sports reporting on KRKO. tornadoted@comcast.net
Craig Cooke, President/Owner, Pacific Rim Talent Craig Cooke is President of Pacific Rim Talent, Inc. A booking agency representing popular bands and artists throughout the Northwest. Craig has been in the entertainment business since 1974. Mr. Cooke serves on the board of directors for the Washington Stare Festivals and Events association and also manages 3 festivals-A TASTE OF EDMONDS, THE EVERETT SAUSAGEFEST, and THE EDMONDS WATERFRONT FESTIVAL. In the early 80’s Craig hosted a rock music TV show called ROCKIN YOU for the Viacom network. You can see clips of this show at the EMP Museum at the Seattle Center. Craig currently resides in Edmonds, Washington. craig@pacificrimtalent.com
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Eric Corning
James Davis
Joshua Dirks
David Doxtater
Eric Corning, Seattle Seafair With over 25 years experience, Eric Corning has produced high-profile, public events for Seattle and the greater Puget Sound Region. Eric first joined Seafair as a summer intern in 1993 and quickly became a force in the events community. He has produced over 20 Seafair Festivals including the Seafair Summer 4th Fireworks Show, the Seafair Torchlight Parade, and Seafair Weekend featuring the US Navy Blue Angels. He was also a leader producing the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games and the 2014 Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Victory Parade. A graduate of the University of Washington, Eric his wife Kelli live in Shoreline, WA. eric@seafair.org
James Davis, Perkins Coie Jim Davis is a leading national policyholder litigator and counselor that solves insurance coverage issues for his clients every day. Jim is regularly asked to take on cutting-edge and bet-the-company coverage challenges. During his more than 26 year career, Jim has helped clients recover billions of dollars by negotiating improved policy language, navigating complex insurance claims to avoid litigation, and successfully prosecuting lawsuits in courts around the country. Chambers USA 2020 and 2021 found that market sources consider Jim “a top-notch and skilled lawyer” and “very experienced lawyer and very confident litigator.” Using his thorough understanding of coverage law, Jim is a frequent author and presenter on various insurance recovery topics, and was elected to membership in the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC). Jim’s excellent legal skills have been recognized by numerous legal publications including Chambers USA, Who’s Who Legal, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers. JamesDavis@perkinscoie.com
Joshua Dirks, Bionic Project Josh Dirks is a pioneer. For the past 17+ years, he’s lived on the bleeding edge of technology and digital marketing. Josh prides himself on his ability to empower consumers on behalf of brands through high-quality content, online engagement, narrowcasting, and the leveraging of consumer data to provide timely experiences. In 2009 Josh founded one of the first social media only creative agencies in the US, Project Bionic, and has spent the last 10 years helping clients across the globe create desired business outcomes via social media channels. Josh is also a husband, father, tech geek, sports fanatic, lover of the outdoors, and new media thought-leader who exists right on the cusp of GenX and Millennials, providing him a unique outlook on the world. Josh is wise beyond his years and enjoys speaking to groups of all sizes about both his professional journey and his extensive knowledge of new media trends and their impact on our ever-evolving daily lives. josh.dirks@projectbionic.com
David Doxtater, Executive Producer/Principal Design - The Workshop David Doxtater founded The Workshop in 1997 with a vision for inspiring people to connect with new ideas, celebrate achievement, and participate in making our world a better place. Following this vision, The Workshop has produced hundreds of events, concerts, galas, festivals and community celebrations that strive to build stronger engaged community. Concurrent to this work, David has also served as Director of Events at the University of Washington, overseeing hosted experiences for offices of Advancement and the President; and also served Executive Director for the Tacoma Tall Ships Festival. David has been very busy. Prior to The Workshop, he began his career as a "One Reel Vaudeville" pioneer helping create the Bumbershoot Arts Festival and building it into a world-class multi-million dollar entertainment brand. During this time, he also developed the iconic "Summer Nights at the Pier" concert destination, as well as Seattle's annual 4th of July Fireworks show on Lake Union. doxtater@workshopevents.com
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Kala Dralle
Miguel Guillen
Karen Hanan
Paul Jamieson
Kala Dralle, Program Development Specialist, City of Tacoma Kala Dralle works for the City of Tacoma in the Tacoma Venues & Events Department. Her responsibilities include booking coordination for the Tacoma Dome. She also staffs the City's Events & Recognitions Committee, and issues permits for Special Events and Filming in the City. Kala's professional career has taken many forms from corporate marketing, municipal business assistance, and working at and owning a small business or two. She is proud to say that she has worked in downtown Tacoma for most of her professional life. In her spare time, she shares her home with husband Ben and their two dogs, Betty and Hamish. Kala and Ben love to travel, cook, and eat great food. kdralle@tacomavenues.org
Miguel Guillen, Washington States Art Commission Miguel Guillén joined ArtsWA in 2016 and currently serves as Program Manager for the Grants to Organizations program. As a seasoned arts administrator, Miguel provides support to community-based arts organizations and projects, small arts groups, and artists across Washington. He has previously managed arts programs for the private sector. Born in Mexico and raised in the Skagit Valley, Miguel received an Arts Management Certificate from Seattle Central College. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle. He is a practicing visual artist. miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov
Karen Hanan, Washington State Arts Commission, member of Governor’s cabinet Karen Hanan is a senior executive with 25+ years of success providing leadership and managerial direction to state and regional arts service and presenting organizations. She was appointed Executive Director of ArtsWA by Governor Jay Inslee in 2014. As the agency’s head, Karen’s role is to grow the organization’s capacity, services and potential for positively impacting the arts field, arts in education and the State. Previously, Karen was Executive Director of Arts Northwest, the regional service organization for performing arts organizations, arts presenters, artists, agents and associated organizations. During her tenure there, Karen was the driving force in re-positioning the non-profit for growth, artistic vitality, profitability and a commitment to mission. She achieved this through effective planning, vision, partnership building and operational savvy. Karen oversaw the doubling of the organization’s membership and its budget. Prior to her tenure with Arts Northwest, Karen was the founder and Executive Director of the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts. She is a well-respected member of a number of industry organizations, and sits on several Boards of Directors. She enjoys opportunities to be a speaker, panelist or event participant where the focus is an arts-related topic, or the creative economy. karen.hanan@arts.wa.gov
Paul Jamieson, Sunfest of West Palm Beach Paul Jamieson Is the Executive Director for SunFest, Florida's largest music, art, and waterfront festival, held in West Palm Beach. SunFest has the distinction of being named the Music Event of the Year by Event Business News Magazine , ‘top event in Florida’ in a survey by Fodor’s Travel Guides, and one of the nation's top 100 events by The Weather Channel. Paul has been with SunFest for 20 years and been in the festival industry for over 25 years. He recently served as the Board Chairman of the International Festival and Events Association, a professional organization of event producers from all over the world. Paul has spoken at festival conferences in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia and has published numerous festival related articles. pjamieson@sunfest.com
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Matt Kelly
Beth Knox
Jason LaJeunesse
Beth Lehman
Matt Kelly, Bold Hat Productions Matt Kelly is Event Sales and Operations Manager for Bold Hat Productions overseeing a portfolio of street festivals and beverage events. He is skilled in site operations, human resources and passionate about on-site activations. Matt is also Executive Director of the Queen Anne Farmers Market, as seasonal farmers market in Seattle. He serves as a board member of the Washington State Farmers Market Association and Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce. matt@boldhatproductions.com
Beth Knox, Seattle Sports Commission Beth has produced large-scale, special events for 30 years. She is currently producing the USA Games for Special Olympics, bringing 3000 athletes with intellectual disabilities to Seattle in the summer of 2018. The USA Games will showcase athlete abilities in 14 sports, bring awareness to health education, and promote a community-wide initiative of welcome and inclusion. Her career started with Seafair, Seattle’s largest summer festival, followed by multiple roles at Seattle’s premier arts, music and cultural non-profit organization, One Reel, before taking on the CEO role at the Boise River Festival. She later returned to Seattle, first back at One Reel, and then to Seafair where she served as President & CEO of the region-wide festival for ten years, along with its affiliated Foundation, managing scholarship and youth educational programs. Under Beth’s leadership at Seafair, she helped bring the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon to Seattle in 2009 while successfully navigating the Great Recession, resurrected the City’s Fourth of July fireworks show in 2013, produced the spectacular 2014 Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Victory Parade, and most recently, the Seattle Sounder’s 2016 MLS Championship Cup March and Rally. Beth was named a Puget Sound Business Journal Woman of Influence and Seattle Reign FC Legend, and serves on the boards of Seattle Police Foundation, Seattle Sports Commission and Seattle Rotary. bethknox@seattlesports.org
Jason LaJeunesse, Capitol Hill Block Hill Party Jason Lajeunesse is the founder and CEO of Daydream State which owns and operates festivals like The Capitol Hill Block Party & Day In Day Out, a concert promotions arm - Block Party Presents and several Seattle bars and restaurants such as The Comet tavern, Big Marios Pizza and Lost Lake Cafe. Additionally he co-owns Neumos, Barboza and The Runaway which are managed by him and his team at Daydream State. His career dates back to the late 90’s music scene in Vancouver Canada and he has been consistently prolific in the business of both music and hospitality ever since. jason@daydreamstate.com
Beth Lehman, Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Control Board, Manager, Licensing & Regulation Division I have been with the WSLCB for 16+ years and working with events around the state for at least 15 of those. I manage a team of 18 that approve all of the special occasion licenses and catered events. Prior to working with the WSLCB I worked in the bar and restaurant industry for 25 years so I was able to bring my experience and perspective to those I now help to regulate. beth.lehman@lcb.wa.gov
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Jared Loranger
Natalie Maitland
Krystal Marx
Tim Medved
Jared Loranger, Fizz Events Jared Loranger is an event producer in the NW specializing in outdoor sports production and owner of the event production company Fizz Events. Fizz Events owns and manages a handful of events in the northwest including the Whidbey Island Marathon, Fiesta 5K Ole, Stein Dash, Upper Left Beer Fest and was the producer of the Tunnel to Viaduct 8K held recently as part of the SR99 Tunnel Grand Opening Ceremonies. jared@fizzeventsnw.com
Natalie Maitland, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager, Fort Worden Public Development Authority From crafting high quality experiences to developing creative marketing strategies, Natalie Maitland has been able to work and lead dynamic teams in her 15+ years of experience in the industry. Currently she is the head of Sales, Marketing, Food and Beverage at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington. She has experience with a variety of platforms and is passionate about learning and teaching others. nmaitland@fortworden.org
Krystal Marx, Seattle Pride Krystal Marx (she/her) is a lifelong Washingtonian, out bisexual (cisgender) woman, and proud mother of four children ranging from six to 14 years old. As the first Executive Director of Seattle Pride with over a decade in nonprofit management, she provides strategic direction on year-round programming and advocacy for Greater Seattle’s LGBTQIA+ community that expands beyond the infamous 400,000-person Pride Parade. Krystal is also the Deputy Mayor of Burien, Washington, having served on the Burien City Council since 2018. When not legislating, Krystal provides free communityidentified training such as Bystander Intervention and Self-Defense. Finally, Krystal is the wife and caregiver to an Army combat veteran, and enjoys cooking, reading (and writing) urban fantasy, and watercolor painting. krystal.marx@seattlepride.org
Tim Medved, U-Cool Refrigeration, Owner Tim's rental career started in 1974, in his family's business at Budget Car and Truck Rental of Tacoma. And from 1990 to 2006, he served as the Operations Manager for Mckinney Trailers & Containers in Auburn, WA. Over the years, this experience has led to the development of a refrigerated equipment rental company that fills the needs of the food and beverage industry, festival and event industry, and many other businesses that require periodic mobile and stationery refrigeration. tim@ucool.biz
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Phil Megenhardt
Molly Middlekauff
Terry Morgan
Jamie Nassar
Phil Megenhardt, Boldhat Productions, President & Creative Director Phil is a creative event director with vast experience in event production and a passion for community building, brand activations, and flawless event execution. Phil founded Bold Hat Productions in 1997 on the roots of over 20 years of sales, marketing, and business development experience. As President and Creative Director of Bold Hat, Phil has created several signature Puget Sound area events, including nationally recognized Fremont Oktoberfest and Kirkland Uncorked, in addition to many corporate and municipal celebrations. Phil@boldhatproductions.com
Molly Middlekauff, Sr. Manager Sponsorship Portfolio, BECU BECU’s increased sponsorships are the direct results of efforts primarily led by Molly’s team: She has spent the last decade creating partnerships with organizations that promote awareness and community involvement. Since Molly took on her role, the fourth-largest credit union in the nation has grown its portfolio to include athletic organizations, festivals, product shows and nonprofits. Molly enjoys her work, as it brings camaraderie to a local area, and often gives members an opportunity to afford a memorable experience with their friends and families. molly.middlekauff@becu.org
Terry Morgan, Modern Enterprises Terry Morgan’s Modern Enterprises is the most successful minority owned event Production Company in Washington State, serving clients since 1979 providing talent, production and technical services for cities, corporate clients and civic occasions. With over 40 years of experience in special event design, venue management, artist book and promotion, public relations and fundraising, Modern Enterprises is one of the most creative and innovative event planning teams. Its client list includes Microsoft, the City of Redmond, Cirque Du Soleil, Nordstrom, Children’s Hospital, Chateau St. Michelle, the Museum of Flight, The National Governor’s Association, Pacific Place, University Village, Seattle Magazine, The Stillaguamish Tribe and the Downtown Seattle Association. Morgan recently produced the highly acclaimed Seattle Center/Space Needle New Year’s Eve Show. terry@borealisfestivaloflight.com
Jamie Nassar, COO and Co-Founder, Event Hub Jamie has over 15 years’ experience working with many of the largest brands and events in the US. Prior to founding Event Hub, Jamie was constantly jet-setting and touring through major markets around the country as a live event sponsorship producer. In her downtime, three things she loves are outdoor adventuring, pizzerias and discovering new music! jamien@eventhub.net
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Pamela Oakes
Erika Olsen
Todd Pietzsch
Eddie Redman
Pamela Oakes, Managing Director, The Profitable Nonprofit As the Owner and Managing Director of The Profitable Nonprofit, Pamela Oakes has remained at the forefront of driving racial equity solutions across the globe. She consulted with the top 100 corporations in South Africa during the postapartheid Racial Reconciliation period, conducting training workshops for government, corporate, community, and faithbased organizations in the areas of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Gender Equity, Employment Equity, Affirmative Action, Organizational Transformation, and Change Management. While working as a grant maker with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, her team worked to create a more equitable system of promoting social mobility and economic development for low-income, underrepresented, student populations of color. Currently a Nonprofit Fund Development expert with a passion for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA), Pamela is a certified trainer for the Washington Nonprofit Association as well as the Nonprofit Association of Oregon. She is on a personal mission to increase the distribution of philanthropic resources earmarked for under-resourced, under-represented, marginalized communities by building capacity in BIPOC-led nonprofits, charities and social impact enterprises. Pamela@Profitable-Nonprofit.com
Erika Olsen, Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival and Waterfront Portland Erika Olsen is a native Washingtonian who grew up on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Prior to devoting her professional life to music and festival productions, she worked in the non-profit sector as the Human Resources Director for the HMO Pacific Health Plans. She currently is the Festival Director for the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival as well as the Assistant Artistic Director/Marketing & Production Coordinator for Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival. Erika loves to run, dance, listen to live music, cook, watch the Seahawks, spend time with her family & friends and try and make the world a better place. Under Erika's leadership, she and the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival received the coveted “Keeping the Blues Alive” Award in 2015. This prestigious national award from the Memphis-based Blues Foundation recognized Erika for her compelling work on the Winthrop R&B Festival, known as “the best little festival” and is the longest running blues festival in Washington state. As a longtime member of the Washington Women’s Foundation, Erika currently serves on its Intersectionality Cohort. Erika is also a WFEA board member. rikkito@mac.com
Todd Pietzsch, Sr. Business Development Manager, BECU If you like saving money, Todd is your guy. He works on forming local sponsorships and partnerships to offer members exclusive discounts, like discounted tickets to the Seattle Mariners, Wild Waves Theme Park, or the Everett AquaSox to name a few. Just recently, BECU also partnered with Passport Unlimited to give members discounts to over 3,000 local and national merchants. Todd also gives financial tips on KOMO and Star 101.5 radio. He even has a monthly segment on KISW radio where he takes questions from callers.
Eddie Redman, Grand Event Rentals Eddie Redman has over 30 years of experience in the event industry, including working for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. He grew up in the business and even spent his teenage summers working for a local rental company. He has a keen eye for event logistics, and has become one of the industry’s best with tent layout and installations, tradeshows and festivals. In his personal time, Eddie enjoys outdoor activities such as boating, attending UW football games and snow sports. eddier@grandrents.com
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Denise Rice
Frank Sebastian
Liz Sexton
Aaron Shook
Denise Rice, Honey Bucket, WFEA President I have been with Honey Bucket for more than 9 years and in that time have helped events in offering my extensive experience in developing, planning, and executing events, tradeshows and sales promotions for large-scale corporations, including Facebook, Nike and Tesla. Currently on several different committee’s in different states for the re-opening of events post COVID-19, including an International Task committee. Expert in forging strategic alliances and partnerships needed to launch innovative events and sales campaigns. My previous work experience in the Radio Industry with Sales and Promotions helped with the knowledge and skills needed to be the Event Manager for Honey Bucket. DeniseRice@HoneyBucket.com
Frank Sebastian, President, Emergency Management Group Frank Sebastian is the President of Emergency Management Group – Washington, a non-profit organization providing emergency management training, planning and operational support throughout the pacific northwest, including Seafair, Special Olympics of Washington, 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, and other organizations. For many years, Frank has served as the Emergency Manager for Seafair in Seattle. Seafair produces many annual special events, including Summer 4th (July 4th), Torchlight Parade, Seafair Air Show and Hydroplane Boat Races. Frank has been the Emergency Manager and Incident Commander for many Seafair events, with attendance ranging from 5,000 to over 150,000 participants. Frank was the Emergency Manager for Seafair at the Seahawks Super Bowl Victory Parade, which attracted 750,000 participants in downtown Seattle. Frank accepted the additional role of Emergency Manager for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle. As the Emergency Manager, he is responsible for preevent public safety and emergency response planning, as well as inter-agency interoperability and resource coordination. Frank previously served many years with the federal government, at both FEMA and HHS Office of Emergency Management. He deployed to many national special security events, large-scale disasters and fatality incidents, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Haiti earthquake, and the SR 530 (Oso) slide. fsebastian@emgwa.org
Liz Sexton, Tolo Events Liz is passionate about helping her clients produce meaningful and flawless live events. Having planned over 250 events in her career, she excels at navigating the minute details of a large event, from guest experience to program planning to vendor management. Prior to joining Tolo Events, Liz spent 12 years working in development & special events at nonprofit organizations across the country including Washington National Opera and The Smithsonian Associates. She holds a Master’s Degree in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School for Public Policy. Three truths and zero lies about Liz; she was trained as an opera singer, is passionate about renovating her old house, and has an adorable daughter named Evie Lou. liz@toloevents.com
Aaron Shook, NACE Known as the MacGyver of the events world, if you want to float in to your wedding on a giant unicorn-filled bubble, followed by a procession of butterflies... well Aaron, just might be able to make that happen. Passionate about putting clients' and guests' experience above all things, Aaron constantly strives to delight. An outside-the-box thinking, creative madman, with an acute attention to flow and logistics, Aaron will ensure your entire event goes off with out a hitch.
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Jon Stone
Chris Swenson
John Thorburn
Shelly Tolo
Jon Stone, Gigs4U Jon Stone is a Seattle-based arts and cultural leader, festival producer and civic place-making consultant. For decades he has played key roles in the creation and execution of iconic concert, festival and theater experiences as well as educational, awareness building and business development programs for youth and emerging communities. Jon's consulting practice specializes in start-up, new lines of business and organizational turnaround work. jstoneseattle@gmail.com
Chris Swenson, Office of Seattle Special Events Since 2012, Chris has served as the City of Seattle’s Citywide Event Manager, Seattle Special Events Committee Chair, and Seattle Film + Special Events Program Manager. Since 2008, Chris has overseen and coordinated over 2,800 Special Event Permits, including NFL, MLS, and WNBA Championship Parades, and has overseen and coordinated over 4,000 film permits including major motion picture “50 Shades of Grey” and television series “Grey’s Anatomy.” Prior to his work with the City, Chris was an independent Seattle record label owner and artist manager during Seattle’s Grunge Years™ of 1989 to 1994, and a successful small business owner over his 13-year film career from 1994 to 2007. During his film production career, Chris led visual conception and design on feature film, independent film, corporate, and commercial film productions across the country, including Production Designer for four locally-made feature films and ten years of Seattle Mariners commercials. Chris is a member of the Washington State Film Leadership Council, UW Film Advisory Board, and Artist Trust EDGE Advisory Board. Chris is a fourth-generation Seattle area native and makes his home in West Seattle with his wife and two children. chris.swenson@seattle.gov
John Thorburn, Marketing Director, Bold Hat Productions John is a 12-year veteran in event marketing, and has led the marketing strategy for Hop Scotch Spring Beer and Scotch Festival, Fremont Fair, Kirkland Uncorked and Fremont Oktoberfest since joining the Bold Hat team in June 2014. He is skilled in social and digital marketing, traditional advertising, and brand management, and he's passionate about emerging technologies, community building and overall marketing trends. Prior to joining Bold Hat Productions, John was the Vice President, Communications and Marketing at the Northwest Marine Trade Association, which produces the Seattle Boat Show - the third largest boat show in the U.S., and largest on the West Coast. John received his degree from the University of Washington in Communications, and holds a certificate in Advanced Digital Analytics from the University of San Francisco. john@boldhatproductions.com
Shelly Tolo, Tolo Events, President Shelly Tolo launched Tolo Events in 2002 after a 12-year career as a development officer and event planner for nonprofit organizations. Her business mission is to maximize events through strategic planning and creating fabulous atmospheres and programs. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University with a concentration in nonprofit organizations. In addition to her business savvy, Shelly has a keen eye for design and is recognized as a leading event designer in the industry. When asked what she hopes a potential client would say about her after an interview, Shelly responded, “more than anything I would hope they’d say she’s really nice – we want to work with her!”. Did you know Shelly was a synchronized swimmer in high school, considers herself an Olympics junkie and loves to binge watch Naked and Afraid? Shelly@toloevents.com
WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY
November 2-4, 2021
Jim Varnell
Anthony Zavada
Jim Varnell, The Raucous Band Jim Varnell is the bass guitar and band manager of The Raucous Band; from Normandy Park. Raucous [pronounced "Rock Us"] presents an energy-packed, audience-friendly performance playing a wide variety of classic rock and dance music. Raucous has performed at clubs, casinos, dances, festivals, fairs and various events throughout the Pacific Northwest. Casinos include the Quinault Beach Resort [Ocean Shores]; the 7 Cedars [Sequim]; the Little Creek [Shelton]; the Wild Horse [Pendleton, OR.]; the Royal [Lynnwood]; Suquamish Clearwater [Agate Pass]; the Silver Reef [Ferndale]; the Big Apple [Everett]; and Rascals [Seattle]. jimvarnelllaw@gmail.com
Anthony Zavada, Stages Northwest Anthony has been around the staging industry his whole life. Started working at Stages Northwest as a high school summer job, went off to study engineering and business, and has been working full time since 2014. anthony.zavada@stagesnorthwest.com anthony.zavada@stagesnorthwest.com
2021 Arts Without Barriers Summit Awards: Poster Entry
ATTENDEES
WFEA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES
November 2-4, 2021
RUDI ALCOTT Sound Publishing ralcott@soundpublishing.com
MATT ANDERSON Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce matt@kittitascountychamber.com
ALISIA ANDERSON Seattle Mariners aanderson@mariners.com
TODD ANDERSON Tumwater Parks and Recreation
LUKE BAIUNGO Ashworth Awards luke@ashworthawards.com
JAQUELYN BALL City of Covington jball@covingtonwa.gov
PAULA BEADLE Caravel Marketing paula@caravelmarketing.com
STEVE BENTLEY Peninsula Adventure Sports
STEVE BOYCE Morgan Sound steveb@morgansound.com
HEATHER BREYMEYER Three Rivers Convention Center hbreymeyer@3riverscampus.com
TED BUEHNER Emergency Management Group tornadoted@comcast.net
BILL BURKE Pig Out in the Park billme123@comcast.net
SARA CAMPBELL Seattle Mariners
DARCI CHRISTOFERSON Washington State Apple Blossom Festival darci@appleblossom.org
REBECCA CLARK King County reclark@kingcounty.gov
COLIN CLIFFORD U-Cool Refrigeration
CRAIG COOKE Pacific Rim Talent, Inc. craig@pacificrimtalent.com
ERIC CORNING Seafair eric@seafair.org
PETER DAMMANN Winthrop Music Association
JAMES DAVIS Perkins Coie JamesDavis@perkinscoie.com
CHUCK DENNEY Tumwater Parks and Recreation cdenney@ci.tumwater.wa.us
JOSHUA DIRKS Bionic Project josh.dirks@projectbionic.com
ASHLEY DOBSON Renton River Days/Renton Downtown Partnership Communications@gorenton.com
PEGGY DOERING Valleyfest peggy@valleyfest.org
TAYLER DOFFNER Alexander Party Rental
SEAN DONOVAN Gator Boy Productions sean@gatorboyproductions.com
DAVID DOXTATER The Workshop doxtater@workshopevents.com
KALA DRALLE Tacoma Venues & Events kdralle@cityoftacoma.org
TRINA ELMES City of East Wenatchee telmes@eastwenatcheewa.gov
MEGAN EWING FISH
LORIE FAZIO Clallam County Economic Development Council lfazio@clallam.org
LINDSAY FOX Seven Cedars lfox@7cedars.com
JEREMY GILCHRIST WFEA jeremy@wfea.org
HEATHER GOBET Western Display Fireworks heather@westerndisplay.com
DARBY GRIMES Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce
KAREN HANAN Washington State Arts Commission karen.hanan@arts.wa.gov
TESSA HANSEN Kirkland Downtown Association tessa@kirklanddowntown.org
JANA HEINRICHS CORT Jana.Heinrichs@cort.com
MARK HENDRICKSON Kent Parks and Recreation mhendrickson@kentwa.gov
PAUL JAMIESON Sunfest of West Palm Beach pjamieson@sunfest.com
VICTORIA JONES North Olympic Discovery Marathon victoria@nodm.com
ROBIN KELLEY FISH execdir@issaquahfish.org
MATT KELLY Bold Hat Productions matt@boldhatproductions.com
STEPHANIE KLEIN Tumwater Parks and Recreation
MIGUEL GUILLEN Washington State Arts Commission miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov
WFEA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES
November 2-4, 2021
BETH KNOX Seattle Sports Commission bethknox@seattlesports.org
JASON LAJEUNESSE Capitol Hill Block Party jason@daydreamstate.com
TREVOR LANE WSU Ferry County Extension trevor.lane@wsu.edu
BETH LEHMAN Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Control Board beth.lehman@lcb.wa.gov
KYLE LEMAIRE Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts contact@jffa.org
GRETCHEN LENIHAN Seattle Center gretchen.lenihan@seattle.gov
TAWNIA LINDE Clark County Event Center tawnial@cceventcenter.org
ALEX LIVINGSTON Joule Case alexl@joulecase.com
JARED LORANGER Fizz Events jared@fizzeventsnw.com
NATALIE MAITLAND Fort Worden Public Development Authority nmaitland@fortworden.org
SALLY MARTINEZ City of Lakewood smartinez@cityoflakewood.us
KRYSTAL MARX Seattle Pride krystal.marx@seattlepride.org
AMY MAXWELL Ticket Tomato amy@tickettomato.com
AMY MCGUFFIN Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce amy@kittitascountychamber.com
MEREDITH MCILMOYLE Anacortes Arts Festival aafdirector@anacortesartsfestival.com
TIM MEDVED U-Cool Refrigeration tim@ucool.biz
TRACEY MEDVED U-Cool Refrigeration
PHIL MEGENHARDT Bold Hat Productions phil@boldhatproductions.com
SONJA MEJLAENDER City of Renton/Renton River Days smejlaender@rentonwa.gov
MOLLY MIDDLEKAUFF BECU molly.middlekauff@becu.org
LORRIE MITTMANN Peninsula Adventure Sports lorrie.mittmann@gmail.com
TERRY MORGAN Modern Enterprises modern2@mindspring.com
STAR MOSER CORT Star.Moser@cort.com
SCOTT NAGEL Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival director@crabfestival.org
JAMIE NASSAR Event Hub jamien@eventhub.net
WILL NICCOLLS Green Latrine Portable Toilets will@gogreenlatrine.com
PAMELA OAKES The Profitable Nonprofit Pamela@Profitable-Nonprofit.com
MIKE OGLIORE Bellevue Downtown Association mike@bellevuedowntown.com
ERIKA OLSEN Winthrop Music Association rikkito@mac.com
KYLEIGH PALMER Tacoma Arts Live kpalmer@tacomaartslive.org
TODD PIETZSCH BECU
DAVID POMEROY Western Display Fireworks
ELIZABETH PRATT OMC Foundation bpratt@discovery-mc.com
MIKE PREBEZAC Event Management Services mike@mvpems.com
TOM PUTHOFF City of Renton/Renton River Days tputhoff@rentonwa.gov
CAREY QUINLAN Honey Bucket Portable Restrooms deniserice@honeybucket.com
TIANA RABANG The Workshop Tiana@workshopevents.com
REBECCA RALSTON Edmonds Arts Festival rralston@agileimpact.com
GAIL RALSTON OMC Foundation gtralston@hotmail.com
EDDIE REDMAN Grand Event Rentals eddier@grandrents.com
ALEX RENNER Western Display Fireworks
DENISE RICE Honey Bucket Portable Restrooms DeniseRice@HoneyBucket.com
CAROL RILEY Olympia Harbor Days info@harbordays.com
LESLIE ROBERTSON Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce events@portangeles.org
RYAN SCHROEDER Metro Parks Tacoma ryan@tabookcove.com
WFEA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES
November 2-4, 2021
FRANK SEBASTIAN Emergency Management Group fsebastian@emgwa.org
LIZ SEXTON Tolo Events liz@toloevents.com
GEORGE SHARP Thuston County Economic Development Council gsharp@thurstonedc.com
AARON SHOOK NACE
BRUCE SKINNER WFEA bruce@wfea.org
THOMAS STEBBINS Vision Marketing tom@vision-marketing.net
KAREN STEBBINS Vision Marketing
JON STONE Gigs4u jstoneseattle@gmail.com
CHRIS SWENSON Office of Seattle Special Events chris.swenson@seattle.gov
SUMMER TAGGART Honey Bucket Portable Restrooms
ALIA THOMAIER Morgan Sound
JOHN THORBURN Bold Hat Productions john@boldhatproductions.com
SHELLY TOLO Tolo Events Shelly@toloevents.com
KIM UNTI Renton River Days/Renton Downtown Partnership kim.unti@comcast.net
JAMES VARNELL The Raucous Band jimvarnelllaw@gmail.com
CLIFFORD VERHOEFF AT Productions, LLC billing@atproductions.biz
JAMES WAGONER Joule Case jamesw@joulecase.com
DAVID WELLS City of Bonney Lake wellsd@cobl.us
JENNIFER WILSON Anacortes Arts Festival
MARISA WORDEN Tumwater Parks and Recreation
VAL WORKMAN Six Bridges Arts Association
CHARLA WRIGHT OMC Foundation Charla.Wright@lhcgroup.com
KERRY YANASAK Puyallup Mainstreet Association info@puyallupmainstreet.com
ANTHONY ZAVADA Stages Northwest anthony.zavada@stagesnorthwest.com
WFEA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES
November 2-4, 2021
2021 Run the Peninsula Summit Awards: Promotional Item Entry
SPONSORS
WFEA CONFERENCE SPONSORS
November 2-4, 2021
Alexander Party Rental Family owned and operated, Alexander Party Rentals has provided the Greater Puget Sound area with quality and affordable event rental equipment since 1991. Recently in our second generation of ownership, we are proud to be one of the fastest growing companies in the industry, sporting some of the youngest equipment and newest products. We offer a huge range of equipment from engineered tents and staging down to basic table settings and linens. We work with all manner of organizations and individuals to plan events large and small, from the annual corporate party to an intimate backyard wedding. We pride ourselves on our award winning customer service and are happy to apply our expertise and knowledge to all aspects of an event – not just to our equipment! Give us a call today and experience the APR Difference! alexanderpartyrentals.com
CORT Pro Services CORT Pro Services is a turnkey temporary power and electrical distribution division of CORT Party Rental, offering a wide range of high-quality products and services designed by skilled technicians from a reliable partner you trust. cortpartyrental.com/cort-pro-services
Event Hub Our Co-founders Michael and Jamie have spent a collective 20+ years in the live event industry. Their experience spans from managing nationwide sponsorship activations for major brands at sporting events, festivals, and expos to producing entire festivals and everything in between. Their experiences led them to two major realizations about the current state of event partnerships: it’s way too difficult to find and vet the right events as a brand/commercial partner, and that there was an overwhelming amount of paperwork and communication involved at every step of the partnership, from initial inquiry up through execution. Event Hub seeks to solve these challenges by providing a platform where the right partner organizations — be they brands, agencies, small businesses, or non-profits — can easily match with the right event opportunities, while also providing tools that streamline communications, payments, paperwork, and logistics so that event organizers and their partners can focus on what matters most. eventhub.net
Gigs4U Gigs4U makes it easy and affordable to present live music almost anywhere. Gigs4U provides gigs for the Northwest’s top performers at SeaTac International Airport, Downtown Seattle Association, the City of Seattle’s Busker Programs, Friends of Waterfront Seattle, Seafair, corporate events and many other places. gigs4u.org
Grand Event Rentals
Grand Event Rentals makes your event our top priority. They are your full service Special Event & Party Rental provider, supplying everything you need from start to finish. Their professional sales team and event staff will work with you to create your dream event. With every event our customer's needs are most important to the company. Whether you are planning an intimate outdoor wedding or an elaborate black-tie gala, Grand Event Rentals take great pride in providing our event planning experience to help create an unforgettable event. grandeventrentalswa.com
WFEA CONFERENCE SPONSORS
November 2-4, 2021
Honey Bucket Honey Bucket is committed to being the best provider of portable sanitation. This includes the quality of products they offer, the services they provide, and the attitude, dedication and skills of their employees. The company provides portable sanitation, fencing, barricade and portable showers. honeybucket.com
Joule Case Outdoor events are a ton of fun, and they need lots of power. No one wants to choke on the exhaust fumes from generators or shout over their roar to be heard, but that is usually the method by which power is provided. To get around this, generators are usually located far away, requiring miles of cabling to get the power to where it's being used. This can cause a tripping hazard, or worse, an electrocution hazard. Instead of generators, grid-scale batteries provide for a cleaner, more environmentally friendly and safer power solution. They can be located near to the points where the power is needed, eliminating the need for complicated cabling. They produce no noise or emissions, and can be recharged from renewable sources. Joule Case batteries have the ability to power an entire music festival! joulecase.com
Morgan Sound Morgan Sound was born out of Charlie Morgan’s musical background and insistence on the best possible sound quality for his own shows. A chance encounter affirmed that his early system designs had merit, and this career choice led him to form the modest beginnings in 1970 from which the company has constantly expanded. Operating in the Pacific Northwest, the demand for quality, purpose-designed systems continued to increase, allowing the company to grow at a steady, but modest pace. Today this company is the quintessential One Stop Shop, combining the road show production savvy of our many talented engineers, the years of experience of our dedicated and certified installers, and our engineering staff in the office who document and outline all our work. We're using all these forces to provide the best possible experience for your event or venue. morgansound.com
Stages Northwest Stages Northwest is your source for professional stage rental services, serving the Pacific Northwest for 20 years.We offer Mobile Stages, Riser Systems, Outdoor Roof Systems, Event Staging, and all your Rigging needs. Anthony has been around the staging industry his whole life. Started working at Stages Northwest in high school, went off to study engineering and business, and has been working full time since 2014.Bob founded Stages Northwest in 2001. Throughout his adult life, Bob has worked with many theater groups, sporting events, and event production companies, providing his expertise in setting the "stage". StagesNorthwest.com
Ticket Tomato
YOUR ALTERNATIVE FOR EVENT TICKETS... Ticket Tomato is your ticket to a successful event. From seamless online ticket sales, a friendly customer service staff to answer questions on the phone, promoting your event ahead of time and box office management, Ticket Tomato is with you every step of the way to ensure your event is a success. As an online alternative to oversized national ticket resellers, Ticket Tomato staff are passionate about delivering a concierge experience to both clients and patrons. We are committed to your success through competitive pricing, real time ticket tracking, support and efficient online processing. We're changing the world one ticket at a time. tickettomato.com
WFEA CONFERENCE SPONSORS
November 2-4, 2021
U-Cool Refrigeration U-COOL Refrigeration, LLC was founded in 2006, by Tim and Tracey Medved, in Tacoma, Washington. Renting refrigeration vehicles is our primary business. Half of our business is for event rentals, and the other half is for dining facilities. A diverse product line allows you the ability to right size the equipment to your specific project. Mobile walk-in coolers and freezers, draft beer trailers, ice trailers, cargo vans, and 16’ to 26’ box trucks. Ideal for storing and transporting fresh, or frozen perishable goods. Our equipment comes pre-tested, clean, and ready to use. You can pick it up yourself, or have it delivered. We have over 40 years of knowledge, and experience in the rental business. We enjoy what we do, and we are happy to serve you. RENTING. SO SMART, SO EASY. ucool.biz
Western Display Fireworks, LTD A tradition of Excellence, Western Display Fireworks is a fifth generation family –owned business offering the finest in pyrotechnic productions. Celebrating their 70th year in operation, they are the oldest and largest aerial display fireworks company in the Northwest, and are honored to be part of hundreds of celebrations annually. Serving festivals and events of all sizes, from Seafair Summer Fourth to Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival to Duvall Days they approach every show with the same commitment to excellence. Let them show you how to illuminate your next event with fireworks! westerndisplay.com
WFEA AWARDS DINNER & AUCTION NOVEMBER 3, 2021 5:15 PM Presented by:
Making a Difference in Washington Communities
HERE'S HOW THE AUCTION WILL WORK: 01
REGISTER
02
FOLLOW THE MESSAGE LINK
03
BROWSE AND BID!
Register by texting “wfea” to 76278 and following the prompts.
You will receive a text message after registering or texting “wfea”. Select the link and accept the terms to access the mobile bidding!
You should now be accessing our full list of live and silent auction items. Select the item you want to bid on, enter the amount you want to bid, and select the green bid button. Live auction items will be closed during the show.
QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP? Email any questions to jeremy@wfea.org, or call/text Jeremy at 360-477-6556
Tonights live local musicians have been provided by Gigs4U Kartina Kope Kimo Muraki Deseo Carmin (Andrei Stomma, Stella Rossi, Alessandro Scott, Adam Kessler) Andrew Seiber - audio tech
EVENT AUCTIONEER: Dennis Caldirola A former entertainer and Cruise Director, Dennis originally started as an auctioneer for Kip Toner Benefit Auctions over eighteen years ago. During that time, both as a KTBA auctioneer and as an independent contractor, he has raised millions of dollars up and down the West Coast for such organizations as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the American Heart Association, the NW Kidney Foundation, Room-to-Read and PAWS, as well as numerous elementary schools, high schools, museums, churches and synagogues. He has also been the emcee / announcer for dozens of benefits and charity events throughout the Northwest including the PONCHO Art Auction, the March of Dimes, the Pilchuck Glass Auction, Seattle Prep, and the Seafair Torchlight Parade. Dennis is also the producer/director of the Italian Festival at Seattle Center. Call Dennis at 206-282-0627 during regular business hours or email him anytime at Auctions@FestaSeattle.com.
2021 WFEA AWARDS SHOW AND AUCTION
Presented by: U-Cool Refrigeration, LLC
FUND A NEED (Give Smart Item #1) We continue to raise money for scholarships for students and organizations to continue their education.
LIVE AUCTION (Give Smart Items: #101-108) We have made a few changes to the format of the live auction. Begin bidding today on your device, then final bids will be made in person at the Embassy Suites in Bellevue during our show.
PICK YOUR PARADISE (Bid on Give Smart Item#109. Trip Details 110-112) Spend a week at Golden Buddha Resort located on the tranquil eastern coast of Bali, spend 7 nights at Casa Colonia in Cortona, Italy, or enjoy a fabulous six day/six night South Africa photo safari for two with four star hotel accommodations! Tough choice, isn’t it? But with one bid you may be able to select which part of paradise you want to enjoy.
SILENT AUCTION (Give Smart Items #200's) Bid on our wide variety of silent auction items! From sports memorabilia, wine and everything inbetween. Start bidding now! Bidding closes at 8 PM Please note this mobile platform is being donated by the Olympic Medical Center Foundation. If you make any purchases, statements and receipts will show their name.
QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP? Email any questions to jeremy@wfea.org, or call/text Jeremy at 360-477-6556
WFEA AWARDS DINNER & AUCTION
2021 AWARDS: PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUMMIT AWARDS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR EVENT OF THE YEAR EVENT ORGANIZER OF THE YEAR 2021 WFEA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES NOVEMBER 3, 2021 5:15 PM
Making a Difference in Washington Communities
WFEA Hall of Fame 22029 23RD DR SE, STE 105 BOTHELL, WA 98021 425-462-7368 WWW.GRANDEVENTRENTALSWA.COM
MIKE BRENNAN (2001)
Presented by: Grand Event Rentals
NORM LANGILL (2001)
DAVID DOXTATER (2002)
ED NEUNHERZ (2015)
AL SILVERMAN (2019)
BETH KNOX (2019)
SEATTLE CENTER (2019)
JERRY SCHMIDT (2020)
RICK BETTS (2020)
JEANNETTE BRENNAN (2020)
TERRY MORGAN (2021)
DON KARDONG (2021)
ROBIN KELLEY (2021)