LEADERSHIP MEETS IMPROV
MILL CREEK FESTIVAL
EMPOWERING ACTION & WEALTH BUILDING
Youcandesignandcreate,and buildthemostwonderfulplace intheworld.Butittakespeople tomakethedreamareality. -WaltDisney
TABLEOF CONTENTS
THE VISION
Leaders require improv skills!
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Community events bring memories and opportunities.
LEADERSHIP MEETS IMPROV
How one man embraces PBM, Problem Based Learning.
MILL CREEK FESTIVAL - BTS
A glimpse into the planning and purpose of a local favorite gem.
DEAL FLOW AND COMMUNITY GLOW
Dealing with deal flow and deadlines! YES AND!
REMARKABLE RESOURCES
Instagram directory
THEVISION
LEADERSHIP REQUIRES IMPROV SKILLS!
This image is from 2024 at the VIP dinner during the Mill Creek Festival! Two of our favorite comedy show sponsors with retired Seahawk Marcus Trufant.
I danced so hard that night. It was a while since my surgery and I recall feeling totally alive. The festival brings people together in ways that dust off our worries and inspires joyful dance and a spirit of collaboration.
Each year I learn more about how a festival comes together. This year has been quite memorable as the Marketing Chair for the Mill Creek Chamber of Commerce and being on the Festival Committee. Lots of great people to show us how to lead, and delegate! Greg Elwin is Mr. July 2025!
LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR
Connecting the community, one booth at a time!
Being in the middle of the action now with my new office has helped me see how much need and encouragement is still needed for local businesses to embrace digital media and video storytelling. Great days ahead for sure!
I told Greg at the end of 2024 that this would be a great test of my own leadership. I normally support one individual, supporting a board has a whole different level of communication required as I’ve been building up a new marketing team.
I joined the Chamber board this year as a thank you to the community because of all the help I had for my 2 major surgeries. It’s fun to see what’s become of this blessing, the big personalities, all the insight and wisdom, all the opportunity for joy and friendship.
Marcelle Allen
Editor-in-Chief
LEADERSHIP MEETS IMPROV
Greg Elwin taught me the the term “PBL” (Problem Based Learning) both from his police academy days and for solving festival challenges on the fly.
Problem-based learning, is about engaging directly with real events or community challenges, navigating unexpected issues, collaborating with others, and learning by doing— developing skills, resilience, and adaptability in the process.
Greg emphasized the importance of being able to "PBL your way out of it"—meaning, when things don’t go according to plan, you need to think on your feet, assess the situation in real-time, and find workable solutions rather than hitting the reset button.
This skill, often honed in high-pressure jobs like first responders or fast-paced event management, helps keep operations moving smoothly even when faced with unexpected curveballs.
Greg pointed out, you can’t just call "time out" at a festival; you have to make it work with what you have, right then and there.
Why embrace it?
It builds adaptability and resilience. It encourages creative problem solving. It’s essential for real-life scenarios where you can’t plan for every contingency.
Greg has graciously stepped up on our stage many times to play “Curveball” or “RANTS and RAVES!” He’s always a trooperwhenever I’m desperately searching for a volunteer, he’s the first to jump in and save the day.
It’s the kind of skill we love to develop with our business clients at LAF Tech. (Oh, did I mention I co-own a humor education company!?)
Greg Elwin, Rob Bingham, Dr. Joe Cresanti all join in for a picture at a prior Third Thursday at Wheelie Pop. These guys are a part of my business family and I’m so glad we get to laugh our way through the learnings of life. It’s pretty cool seeing your chiropractor rock out in 3 bands, too! So much dancing in our future!!
Come put your improv skills to the test at one of our upcoming shows - We’d love to see you there!
BEHINDTHESCENESOFTHE MILLCREEKFESTIVAL
The Mill Creek Festival offers a vibrant, immersive experience for all ages, featuring fantastic live music on its main and community stages, a diverse line-up of food trucks, a bustling arts and crafts market, and engaging family-friendly entertainment.
It’s an opportunity to connect with local creatives, discover unique handmade goods, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and create lasting memories—all while supporting scholarships and local businesses through the Chamber. Behind every logo or name on a schedule is a person, a team, or a cause that is truly unique. Events like this give us access to them!
Volunteers and attendees alike get access to wonderful networking, remarkable entertainment, and the chance to be part of something truly special in Mill Creek. We are grateful for everyone who helped make this event possible.
2019 Flashback!
My first ever Mill Creek Festival was in 2019 when LAF Tech had a booth, a stage, and a lot of hesitation from the passersby’s. Improv in the heat!!? It wasn’t fully embraced but it was a ton of fun. Three stages was too much!? Only 2 this year with very specific shows planned.
Embrace the memories!!
Mill Creek Festival Bingo!
Learn something new
Watch kids having fun at the festival
Visit the PNAnw booth / storyboard station
Sketch a shot list of potential clips to capture
Talk to a local business booth about home improvement
Spot a unique metal sculpture or something remarkable!
Try a tasty treat from a food truck
Meet someone who has lived in Mill Creek for more than 10 years
Buy a gift for a friend!
Give Cameron a high 5 at Active Mill Creek
Visit an arts & crafts vendor you’ve never seen before
Attend a family-friendly act at the community stage FREE
Update your story on insta
Try a new beverage at the 21+ beer garden
Spot something you’d want to take home for your yard
Capture 10 ten second clips
Watch a performance on the main stage
Thank a volunteer, sponsor, or booth host!
See someone networking or making new friends
Buy something sweet!
Dance near the beer garden.
Brainstorm 3 people to interview for future collabs
Take a selfie at the community stage
Meet a festival volunteer
Share Your Festival Moments
Want your festival clips to stand out and get reshared?
Think like a storyteller.
Here’s how:
1. Grab some short video clips (Ten 10 sec clips!?)
One clip = one scene or moment you want to capture. Example: Favorite Location, Cool find, Community member.
2. Shoot small clips, not one long video
Short scenes are easier to edit and keep people watching.
Think: Arriving, favorite vendor, fun crowd shot, tasty treat.
3. Use Instagram’s reorder tool
After filming, open Reels → drag clips to shuffle them like index cards. Add text or music to match the vibe.
4. Tag brands + @millcreekchamber
When you tag the Chamber, we can find your clips and reshare them to our story.
More eyes on you, more buzz for the Mill Creek Festival!
Digital Mill Digital Mill Creek Guy! Creek Guy!
Building Community Through Sports: A
DEALFLOW& COMMUNITYGLOW
Over the years, I’ve helped many real estate professionals embrace the digital world. I’ve been part of many deals but mostly on the marketing side. I’ve also housesat for dozens of families, which fuels my imagination about what I’d love to acquire one day.
Visualizing deals and learning from each place.
Greg knows I dream of owning my own property one day. I’ve seen him list and sell two of my friends’ homes in the area recently each deal completely different.
In my journaling, I’ve been brainstorming the key places I’ve loved or lived since I was young. We all have memories tied to homes: clients that come and go, places we’re happy to leave behind, and others we feel deeply connected to in unique ways.
Colorful data via Google
When you really think about the places you’ve earned anything from, you realize we all have “deal flow. ” Some deals bring in a few hundred dollars, others thousands, or even tens of thousands.
If you were to write down a few memories from five of your past homes, what data points might stand out? The address? The school nearby? A special birthday or school year?
In some recent research I went down a Zillow address rabbit hole and stumbled across this beautiful artistic glance at a neighborhood. It tickled my brain a bit.
The patterns of satellite vs the patterns of property prices or slopes of age of a home show up totally differently.
These are just some screenshots from a local neighborhood. What might your current address reveal?
Be encouraged to get into the real estate game if you can. According to Greg, real estate is one of the best ways to build wealth long term. Learn from each deal. Greg’s encouragement is to find out what you can qualify for. Don’t assume you don’t look good enough on paper, you just might surprise yourself!
Greg humorously refers to himself as “Mill Creek’s Real Estate First Responder. ”
He describes how, much like first responders handle emergencies, he steps into chaotic situations whether in real estate transactions or large community events to bring order, solve problems, and support those involved.
This identity highlights how he values teamwork not just within his industry, but also as a bridge to the larger community, collaboratively solving problems and supporting one another.
Text Marcelle to reserve your seat and arrange payments. 360-420-9966 Join our Meetup for announcement s and invites on
Every other Wednesday - An intro
Every other Wednesday - An intro to Infographics and Data Art ($75, to Infographics and Data Art ($75, Limited to 4) Limited to 4)
July 12 July 12 & 13 & 13 - Mill Creek Festival! - Mill Creek Festival! Dreamosity will be at the PNAnw Dreamosity will be at the PNAnw booth with a Storyboard Station booth with a Storyboard Station Saturday morning. Saturday morning.
*More to be added soon! Want to *More to be added soon! Want to host a training? Let’s talk. host a training? Let’s talk.
Consider the wisdom of your collaborators, interview them, highlight them, introduce them to those with big dreams!
Developing Digital You takes a lot of inner courage and bravery. When we reflect on our performance, it helps us see a character at a point in time.
Data art looks back at the choices we made in our prior month, year, or decade. Sometimes our choices are limited based on how well we’re feeling.
Often it’s our leadership or camera readiness skills that need sharpening if we find we keep hiding from the camera.
Scrollingismorefun withafriend!
Askabuddythesecuriosityquestions andseeifyoucanmakeagreat connectionorreferral.
Check them out and hone your conversational resourcefulness.
All Instagram usernames are clickable or you can use the search feature. Click through to learn about these business resources in our community.
Network away! Interview each other. Have some fun with data art discussions.
Behind every username is a wealth of information and sometimes it takes some digging to truly get to where we need to go.
DirectoryofRemarkableResources
Want your kids to be strong with a healthy self-esteem?
@activemillcreek
Is your voicemail full?
@answeringservicecare
Tired of drawing your eyebrows on and taking too long to get ready?
@carefree _beautypmu
Do you need custom embroidered swag?
@custommadebyjulie
Have you considered moving to the Pacific Northwest?
@denisepetersonrealtor
Ready to organize and optimize your body of work and leave your legacy behind?
@dreamosity
If you had to list your home in 30 days, would you be ready?
@Elisa _ Hawkinson
Need to strengthen your pelvic floor and feel better in your body?
@empowered_physicaltherapy
Are you ready to be professionally trained in sales?
@eric.lofholm
Would you like to be exceptional at connecting?
@exceptionalconnections
Get included in our Remarkable Resources Directory
Only $100 for 12 months.
Are you a leader in your expertise to help women take their next brave step? @FaveLifestyles
Ready to ignite your visibility with publicity?
@Fireralker PR
Craving fitness encouragement and zoom accountability?
@getkayleanfitness
Need advice about money matters during a divorce?
@karenkoenig_
Want to develop your mix of humor and be more confident on stage?
@laftechnw
Ready to invest in Mill Creek?
@mill creek guy
Ready to grow your business connections in Mill Creek?
@millcreekchamber
Hopeful for a safe place to move forward with others who will understand?
@modernwidowsclub
Want to volunteer, become a vendor, or simply join us to enjoy the Mukilteo Lighting Festival?
@MukFest
Are you ready to love your property and help them linger longer with outdoor lights that delight?
@OLPNorthSound
Would you like to build a sales team and earn referrals?
@pnanorthwest
What does it look like to overcome trauma?
@RebootRecovery
Want to live a happy life?
@rosannastritzel
All links click through to Instagram
Ready to show up visually in your brand?
@silverkeysmedia
What are the popular choices for living situations after 62?
@teresa_ barthol _managing_ bro ker
Want the best most effective massage of your life?
@wanderinghummingbirdmas sage
Network with these remarkable people! You never know when one new person or a dynamic story will bring perfect change. Visit their booths! July 12 and 13th th
Reflect carefully
Twice a month we review our marketing efforts together, discuss leverage points, and examine results.
Advance enthusiastically
Leverage your sphere of influence in new ways, collaborate creatively, share intentionally and enjoy expanding.
Your data, your medium
Know the data behind your dreams for the week, month, and each quarter. Be able to connect the dots and gain new insights.
