2023 WFEA Annual Conference

2023 WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE October 8-11, 2023

Hosted at the Hilton Garden Inn & Historic Downtown Issaquah

Olympia Harbor Days Night Show Shanna Paxton Photography

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Join our WFEA Annual Conference Eventhub Platform

WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE ONLINE PLATFORMS

View an up to date schedule, speaker & sponsor Eventhub platform:

-ALSOJOIN THE WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE SLACK CHANNEL HERE: Keep the conversation going during and after the conference!

PARKING

WFEA CONFERENCE MAP OCTOBER 9 & 10

Homewood Suites Entrance

Ridlon Room

Hilton Garden Inn Entrance

Check In & Information

Catterall Room

Trailhead Kitchen & Bar

Bathrooms

Bergsma Room

Denton Room

Hotel Rooms

Kitchen & Bar

Barlow Room

Lobby

Lobby

Legacy Ballroom

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Sunday, October 8 2:00 PM

PRE-CONFERENCE SEMINAR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 PRE-CONFERENCE LIVING CLASSROOM: BEHIND THE SCENES AT ISSAQUAH SALMON DAYS 2:00 PM: ISSAQUAH SENIOR CENTER 4:00 PM: RECEPTION - CAPRI CELLARS

The Miracle of the Salmon

Take a behind the scenes tour of the Issaquah Salmon Days Festival and see first hand how they produce the event.

See how they run food and beverage, run their volunteer program, how they market, and other areas of the event.

Most of all, here’s your opportunity to see salmon return to the Issaquah Hatchery, including Chinook, Coho and Sockeye. From the hatchery, you will be able to see adult salmon digging their redds (nests) and spawning in Issaquah Creek. Visitors can also get an up close nose to nose view of the salmon from the hatchery’s glassed in fish ladder.

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP Monday, October 9 9:00 AM - 2:45 PM

MARKETING AND MEDIA RELATIONS Legacy Ballroom

*Requires Separate Registration

Welcome

Senator Mark Mullet

Developing a Marketing Plan in the Digital Era

9:00 – 10:15 a.m.

The success of every event hinges on an effective plan to attract guests or ticket buyers. 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 Melissa Jurcan, Amazon/Amazon Studios-Compass USA

Adaptive Strategies for Leveraging Social Media for Events

10:30 - 11:45 a.m.

The social landscape is vast and changes fast. Learn how you can successfully create a social media strategy to effectively and efficiently promote your event(s).

Natalie Maitland, Fort Worden Hospitality

Lunch

12:00 -1:30 PM

Learn How to Make the Most Out of Traditional and NonTraditional Media

1:30 - 2:45 PM 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 Vice President of Sound Media, who works in both areas.

Rudi Alcott, Sound Media

2023 WFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Monday, October 9

The Sporting Agenda: Here’s What’s In Store for Us! Legacy Ballroom 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.

With the Major League All-Star Game and the World Cup coming up, Seattle has scored major wins. Learn what’s ahead for Seattle sporting event organizers and how you might be involved.

Beth Knox, Seattle Sports Commission

Round Table Sessions Legacy Ballroom 4:00 – 6:00 P.M.

(Change every 30 minutes)

As part of our round table discussions, you will be able to sit in on a round table discussion for events from you region.

Those regions include: North Olympic Peninsula/Pacific, Southwest Washington, North Puget Sound, Central Puget Sound, Greater Tacoma, South Puget Sound, Central Washington, Southeast Washington, Greater Spokane Round table discussions: Fundraising Events Sponsorship Chambers, Municipalities, Park and Recreation Departments Marketing and Communications Event Production The New Technology for Events Event Branding Preserving the Environment Event Sustainability Ways to Streamline and Monetize With Your Vendors and Sponsors

Newcomers Session Denton Room 6:00 – 6:30 P.M.

Opening Reception Legacy Ballroom 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. Presented by:

Hospitality Suite – Networking After Hours Suite 334

8:00 – 11:00 P.M.

With Special Performance from Knot for Sail

Robb Zerr (Hurricane) Kat Zerr (Krimson Kat) Mike Cuffin (Animal) Cassie Owens (Sloe Gin)

Presented by:

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Tuesday, October 10 Welcome

Mary Lou Pauly, Mayor, Issaquah

OPENING KEYNOTE: The Impact of Sports, Events and Festivals on Communities Legacy Ballroom 8:15 – 9:15 A.M.

Presented by:

When sports, events and festivals of every kind were cancelled in 2020-2021, people realized more than ever that events are important. Not only did they miss the excitement, their mental health suffered because they ceased to co-mingle with people that they wouldn’t ordinarily meet. Also, local businesses suffered financially during the weekends that those events were normally held.

Hear from three of the most dynamic people in the events industry: Patrick Crumb currently is the President of Regional Sports Networks for Warner Bros. Discovery and has also held senior leadership positions with Fox Sports, Liberty Media, DIRECTV and AT&T. He is also the chairman of the board of the UW Foundation, co-founder of Montlake Futures, a past President of the UW Alumni Association, a Commissioner on the Seattle Sports Commission for the last 16 years, and a past chairman of the Washington Athletic Club Beth Knox is the President and CEO of the Seattle Sports Commission, Co-chair of the Seattle 2026 FIFA World Cup Host City Board, and the former CEO of Seafair and the USA Games Special Olympics She also worked for One Reel and Teatro ZinZanni Bruce Skinner is the President of WFEA and produces fundraising events in small to mid-sized markets. He is the former CEO of the Fiesta Bowl, and along with Knox, brought the Rock n Roll Marathon series to Seattle. He is also the author of the book Event Sponsorship.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 9:30 – 10:15 A.M.

PRODUCTION TRACK

Step by Step for Producing a Successful Event

#1. STATE OF THE ART: How to organize and plan complex experiences Ridlon Room (Next Door at Homewood Suites)

Introduce our team of professional site management and teaching experts How to build an event, roles, and specialties Critical element/documents needed for a large event Critical documents Pre-production planning tools and approach Site planning theory Drawings, renderings, and site visualization How far to take contingency planning; 80% planning vs 20% chaos The Workshop is one of the top event production companies in the country. 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 a stronger engaged community. Their work is iconic moments in Northwest event history.

Think Bumbershoot, MLB All-Star Game, New Year’s Space Needle Fireworks Show, Summer Nights at the Pier, Viaduct Closing Celebration, Lake Union 4th of July, and many, many more iconic Northwest experiences.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Tuesday, October 10 BREAKOUT SESSIONS 9:30 – 10:15 A.M. BIG MARKET EVENTS

(Continued)

Building a Mega Event Bergsma Room

How do you take an idea and turn it into one of the largest and best events in the West.

Bill Burke, Pig Out in the Park, Spokane

SMALL MARKET EVENTS

Putting Creativity Into Your Sponsorship Catterall Room

Learn 5 ideas to identify opportunities to build in creativity into your sponsorship development and procurement process.

Victoria Jones, North Olympic Discovery Marathon

FUNDRAISING EVENT

Event Spotlight - The Showcase and the Boulevard Barlow Room

Jon Neill shares observations from his new role as Executive Director of the Community Cancer Fund in Spokane regarding hosting the region’s premier charity even ton the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene and launching a brand new road race on the streets of downtown Spokane.

Jon Neill, Spokane Community Cancer Fund

Sustainability- How Can We Take Small Green Steps One at a Time GENERAL SESSIONS

Denton Room

In this session we will go through cause and effects of climate change, and then examine what we can do one step at a time to change the world throughout our event industry.

Eddie Redman, Grand Event Rental

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 10:30 – 11:15 A.M. BIG MARKET EVENTS

ArtsWA: Grants and other Opportunities for Festivals and Events Catterall Room

Learn what your state Arts Commission – ArtsWA – has to offer in terms of services, grants and other opportunities for engagement and support.

Karen Hanan, Washington State Arts Commission

SMALL MARKET EVENTS

The Secret to LTAC Grants Bergsma Room

Many cities and counties in the state offer LTAC (Lodging Tax Advisory Committee) grants to festivals and events in their communities. Learn about the parameters, where to apply, and the secrets to obtaining the maximum amount from people from both sides of the fence – those who serve on committees and make decisions, and those that apply and receive.

Donya Alward, Red Lion Hotel; Victoria Jones, North Olympic Discovery Marathon

PRODUCTION TRACK Step by Step for Producing a Successful Event

#2. GOOD PEOPLE: Hiring and Training Staff, Managers, Crew and Service Vendors Ridlon Room

Event map Staffing and defining expertise needs Contract and training Find, contract and manage service vendors

(Presented by the Workshop)

FUNDRAISING EVENT

SOLD! Auction Items that Wow For Maximum Fundraising Success!

Barlow Room

Procuring exciting auction items is critical to the success of and fundraising gala. . .but where to start? This session will discuss ways to take even basic items to the next level! We will delve into top performing items at events, how to package them for maximum dollars and the best way to promote them guests. We will also look at the pros and cons of using consignment items, how revenue enhancers can add spark to your audience and what to look for in selecting the right auctioneer for your event.

Elizabeth McLaughlin, Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties

GENERAL SESSIONS

How to Prevent Becoming a Victim of Your Own Success Denton Room

What do you do when your growth and audience succeeds beyond your wildest expectations? This session will discuss the lessons, celebrations, challenges, and pitfalls of growth and scaling the audience of your events. From parking to volunteer coordination to regional traffic impact, we will look at real-world examples of festival and event growing pains, with some tips and tricks to help your own events scale successfully.

Joe Muharsky, Washington Renaissance Fair

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Tuesday, October 10

NETWORKING SUPPLIER LUNCH 11:30 A.M. – 1:45 P.M.

Legacy Ballroom

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 lunch, each table will be visited by all the different suppliers.

VENDOR/EXHIBITORS Alexander Party Ashworth Awards AT Productions Bellevue Lighting Blue Wings Events Butler Transportation/ NW Event Show

CORT Rental EnJoy Productions Event Hub Eventny FastBar Grand Event Rentals Greater Giving

Green Latrine Portable Toilets Honey Bucket Joule Case Morgan Sound Own the Night Productions r.Cup Saga City

Speed Pro Stages Northwest Ticket Tomato To The Mountain Shuttle U-Cool Refrigeration VIP Productions Western Display Fireworks

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2:00 – 2:45 P.M. BIG MARKET EVENTS

How to Wow Them Bergsma Room

The WOW event is about engaging your customer and providing an unexpected and unique experience.

Learn the elements that make up the WOW experience: impeccable service, personalization, surprise and delight, emotional connection and storytelling.

Peter Metz, Event Design and Consulting

PRODUCTION TRACK Step by Step for Producing a Successful Event

#3. CONTROL: Communications Systems, Public Safety, Crowds and Safety Ridlon Room

Communications system model for festivals Controlling emergency and non-emergency communications Safety plans, medical & non-medical response, lost kids Guest flow, crowd management, public safety, and safe revenue control Onsite control and live production tracking

(Presented by the Workshop)

FUNDRAISING EVENT

Pre, Post and During Your Event Technology Tips to drive Engagement and $$$ Barlow Room

In this session, you'll learn how to best utilize today's technology to set your event up for success. You'll learn how to message and create engagement pre-event; ways you can utilize technology for engagement and streamlining the night of your event; elements of your website you need to include. We'll discuss strategies on how to create excitement; driving bidding and donations during your event; as well as post-event evaluations for measuring success and planning the next event.

Debby Roth & Kim Bauman, Greater Giving

GENERAL SESSIONS

The Advances and Opportunities in the World of Entertainment Catterall Room

There have been recent fluctuations within the entertainment industry – augmented costs, booking, etc. Gain insight from one of the country’s top industry professionals on how to harness opportunities, thrive, and breathe new life into the industry.

Gloria Connors, Founder; Connors and Company

SMALL MARKET EVENTS

Put the WOW Factor into your Event Denton Room

Learn 10 ideas to implement to make your audience go WOW that was cool and create a buzz about the activity. It is all about the experience you create.

Kari Chance, Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts; Lissy Andros, Forks Chamber of Commerce

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Tuesday, October 10 BREAKOUT SESSIONS 3:00 – 3:45 P.M. BIG MARKET EVENTS SMALL MARKET EVENTS

Breaking Barriers and Building Community to Create Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive Experiences for Events Professionals Catterall Room

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on the barriers faced by underrepresented communities in events and festivals. Our esteemed panelists will shed light on the challenges and opportunities for creating more inclusive spaces and experiences. We'll explore strategies to ensure equitable access, celebrate diverse cultures, and foster a sense of belonging for all.

Deci Evans, Kind + Co., Moderator; Karen Foster, KF Curates; Kyle LeMaire, Juan de Fuca Festival

PRODUCTION TRACK Step by Step for Producing a Successful Event

#4. WATCH OUT! Medicals, life-threatening situations and emergencies Ridlon Room

Safety Watch overview A practicum for outdoor event first aid and essential supplies, expertise needs, and staffing Moulage interruption

(Presented by the Workshop)

FUNDRAISING EVENT

Revamping Live Auctions Denton Room

What’s the secret sauce to in-person fundraisers? After years of the same old same old, plus the impact of the pandemic on live events, how can fundraising event producers bring new life, excitement and engagement to donors, sponsors and attendees at our live fundraisers. What approaches truly add value, and make them want to donate, to come back next year, and be more engaged in the non-profit they’re supporting?

Kevin Joyce, Martha Enson, EnJoy Productions

GENERAL SESSIONS

Rev Up Your Revenue: Battle-Tested Ways to Double Your Food, Beverage and Merch Sales Barlow Room

Join Brenton Webster, CEO of FastBar Technologies, as he shares battle-tested tips and tricks on how events can optimize their food, beverage, and merchandise revenue. Discover the reasons why most events are leaving tens of thousands, or sometimes hundreds of thousands, of dollars on the table, and learn what you can do to maximize your event's earnings, potentially doubling your revenue. Brenton shares experience from 10+ years at the helm of FastBar Technologies, a leading provider of event-specific point of sale systems, which powers millions of dollars in onsite F&B and merch sales for hundreds of events nationwide each year. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the untapped potential of your event's financial success.

Brenton Webster, Fastbar Technologies

GENERAL SESSIONS

The World of Grants Part 1: Strategies for Prospect Research Bergsma Room

Navigating the maze of grant opportunities can be challenging. Learn how to diversify your revenue source from government, corporate, trusts and foundational grants Wendy Tyner, Bellevue Wintergrass

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 4:00 – 4:45 P.M. BIG MARKET EVENTS

The Many Ways of Getting People to Your Event Catterall Room

How to Write a Press Release Social Media Developing a marketing content calendar Utilizing businesses to promote your event

John Thorburn, Boldhat Productions, Andrea Thayer, Washington State Fair

SMALL MARKET EVENTS

Attracting Out of Town Guests Barlow Room

You’ve saturated your local market and everyone in town knows about your event, but you still want to grow your audience. How do you do it? At this session, we will explore what motivates people to make the trek to your event and how to use Lodging Tax funds and other creative marketing strategies to reach them.

Meredith McIlmoyle, Anacortes Arts Festival

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Tuesday, October 10 BREAKOUT SESSIONS 4:00 – 4:45 P.M. PRODUCTION TRACK Step by Step for Producing a Successful Event

FUNDRAISING EVENT

(Continued)

#5. BREAK-A-LEG: Entertainment, staging and technical planning Ridlon Room

Successful technical direction, staging and entertainment production Talent buying, contracting, advancing and hospitality

(Presented by the Workshop)

Revolutionizing Experiences -Unleashing the Power of Visual Communication in Events Denton Room

In this thought-provoking session, we delve into the exciting realm of event branding, marketing, and visual communication, where forward thinking and unique approaches take center stage. Discover how to revolutionize the way we create and deliver unforgettable experiences to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression.

Amanda Korb, Blue Ink

The World of Grants, Part II

GENERAL SESSIONS

Bergsma Room

Grant applications can be lengthy and cumbersome. Learn new ways to cultivate a prospective grantor including effective writing techniques that will set the stage for a future grant award.

Wendy Tyner, Bellevue Wintergrass

SHUTTLES DEPART FOR THE EVENT CENTER AT VASA PARK 5:00 PM

WFEA AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION PRESENTED BY U-COOL REFRIGERATION 5:15 PM

THE EVENT CENTER AT VASA PARK 3549 W LAKE SAMMAMISH PKWY SE, BELLEVUE, WA 98008

Help us recognize the best in our industry, as we welcome new inductees into the WFEA Hall of Fame presented by Grant Event Rentals, the State’s Volunteer of the Year presented by Stages Northwest and the winners of the Summit Awards, presented by Honey Bucket. Also recognized will be the next graduates of the WFEA Certification Program presented by Ticket Tomato, the Event of the Year Presented by Alexander Party Rentals, the Event of the Organizer sponsored by Cort Party Rentals and the Event Supporter of the Year sponsored by Morgan Sound, the Event Producer of the Year sponsored by Green Latrine, and the Rising Star Award sponsored by Bellevue Lighting.

WFEA AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION PRESENTED BY: SUMMIT AWARDS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR CLEP CERTIFICATION PRESENTED BY: PRESENTED BY: PRESENTED BY:

Hospitality Suite – Networking After Hours Suite 334

8:00 – 11:00 P.M.

EVENT SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY:

EVENT OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY:

EVENT ORGANIZER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY:

EVENT PRODUCER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY:

WFEA HALL OF FAME PRESENTED BY:

Presented by:

RISING STAR PRESENTED BY:

WFEA CONFERENCE MAP OCTOBER 11 & OCTOBER 8 BEHIND THE SCENES

BTS

4

3 Shuttle

1

2

BTS

1: Issaquah Fish Hatchery 2. Big Picture Movie Theater

3. Issaquah Library 4. Issaquah Train Depot Museum

Shuttle Drop Off & Pick Up (Library) Sunday Behind the Scenes Senior Center & Capri Cellars

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Wednesday, October 11

SHUTTLES DEPART FOR DOWNTOWN ISSAQUAH 7:45 AM

Shuttles Leave Hotel: 7:45, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, & 12:30 Shuttles Leave Downtown (Library): 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, & 1:00

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 8:00 – 8:45 A.M. GENERAL SESSIONS

Tips for Selling Alcohol Legally and Safely at Events Library (#3 on map)

Here’s what festival and event organizers should know about this very important subject coming out of COVID. The WSLCB Licensing and Enforcement divisions 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 all types of licensing permits, ways to obtain and sell alcohol, and relationships with alcohol industry members at events.

Beth Lehmann and Jennifer Dzubay, Washington State Liquor Control Board

SMALL MARKET EVENTS

The Value of Parades

Big Picture Lobby (#2 on Map)

Are you are thinking about taking your parade to the next level?

Maybe you're wanting to create a new parade for your community or organization? In this session, we will be reviewing the basics from a to z on how to do just that."

Deon Kapetan, Sequim Irrigation Festival

PRODUCTION TRACK Step by Step for Producing a Successful Event

#6. I’M HUNGRY: Concessions, food and booths Big Picture Theater (#2 on Map)

Define the environment needed around vendors, production, and support Integrity and curation Defining the differences between events Creating an efficient and bullet-proof vendor registration system Finding, contracting, and managing vendors

Presented by The Workshop

FUNDRAISING EVENT

Essential Elements for Your Next Fundraising Event Issaquah Fish Hatchery (#1 on Map)

And here’s how to find money in your budget to implement them Shelly Tolo, Tolo Events

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 9:00 – 9:45 A.M. BIG MARKET EVENTS SMALL MARKET EVENTS

The Inside Secrets to the Highest Performing Ticket Platforms Big Picture Lobby (#2)

After working with long-term client partnerships, processing millions in ticket sales, and analyzing the market.

Ticket Tomato has discovered trends, techniques, and processes that will help you to create a high-performing ticket portal for your event. Discover how to maximize your features; optimize your pricing; the timing of sales and promotions; the best time to create an on-sale date; fee strategies; best practices for messaging and communication; repeat customers; and more.

Amy Maxwell, Ticket Tomato

GENERAL SESSIONS

10 Insider Tips to Mastering the Art and Science of Sponsorship Train Depot (#4)

Selling event sponsorship has changed significantly in the last five years – learn from one of the top strategists in the country on what the trends are, the results of surveys that they have completed, and what that portends for sales in 2024.

Paula Beadle, Sponsorship Marketing Association

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Wednesday, October 11 BREAKOUT SESSIONS 9:00 – 9:45 A.M. PRODUCTION TRACK Step by Step for Producing a Successful Event

(Continued)

#7 MAKE SOME MONEY: Beer gardens, admissions, donations, merchandise, and sponsors Big Picture Theater (#2)

Planning, managing, running and serving alcohol Pricing, menu, staffing, permits, security, beautification, money control, product control, distributors, refrigeration, ice, etc.

Presented by The Workshop

FUNDRAISING EVENT

Drive Fundraising Through Social Media Issaquah Fish Hatchery (#1)

Fundraising is a vital part of keeping your non-profit event alive.

Learn more about strategies that help you and your organization stand out amongst the clutter and cut straight through to the donors.

Natalie Maitland, Fort Worden Hospitality

GENERAL SESSIONS

The Value of Events: Bringing Economic Vitality to Your Community Library (#3)

We all need to be better prepared to make the business case to policymakers, sponsors, communities, partners and stakeholders for the ongoing development, investment, and growth of the events and festivals sector. We will highlight the tools, strategies, and different data sources to provide an industry-wide standard to reporting that can get everyone excited to highlight your return on investment.

Brad Jones, CEO, Visit Bellevue

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 10:00 – 10:45 A.M. BIG MARKET EVENTS SMALL MARKET EVENTS

FUNDRAISING EVENT

Keeping Track of All That You Do Library (#3)

Learn how to keep all of those balls in the air, what software programs that you might use, and other time management tips.

John Thorburn, Sara Armstrong, Boldhat Productions

Fundraising Event Professional Track: Thinking Outside the Box Issaquah Fish Hatchery (#1)

Too many times Nonprofit Events and Galas follow the same cookie-cutter format. How can you as a nonprofit think outside the box and bring your mission to life? Learn some unique ways to engage with your donors and guests which will lead to even more money generated for your cause!

Gazala Uradnik, GSF Events

BIG MARKET EVENTS

Taking Your Parade to the Next Level Big Picture Lobby (#2)

Hear new ideas that are being brought to the parade world, the largest event at many festivals. Many times organizers keep repeating the same event every year – “If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It.” Hear from two of the largest parades in the west – The Spokane Lilac Festival and Seafair – about new ideas that they’ve implemented to make their events better.

Eric Corning, Seafair Adriana Berndt & Sam Snow, Spokane Lilac Festival

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Wednesday, October 11 BREAKOUT SESSIONS 10:00 – 10:45 A.M. GENERAL SESSIONS

(Continued)

What Is Strategy? Developing a Strategic Plan for Your Event Train Depot (#4)

The event industry’s premier strategic planner will give you real life industry examples of both successful and failed strategy. Also, learn how strategy is foundational to long term success, and how developing strategy is a commonly misunderstood process. Explore the very essence of strategy, learn the indicators of bad strategy, and begin to see your trajectory with newfound clarity.

Jon Stone, Jon Stone Consulting

GENERAL SESSIONS

Why Customization Matters: Celebrating our Client’s Stories Big Picture Theater (#2)

How do we truly honor our communities with entertainment in live events? In these crazy days when isolation and disengagement threaten our aliveness as communities, how can we help our clients deliver their most important messaging and create the deepest possible connection with the audience? What can we do, as event designers and creators, designers, and producers, to engage and delight our people in the post-COVID environment? We’ll talk about how to deliver bespoke experiences that move us, build new muscles in engagement, interactivity and fun, and help revitalize communities, right when we need it most!

Mick Holsbeke, EnJoy Productions

CLOSING SESSION: TWO WFEA CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Equity In Events: Is Your Event Really Equitable Library (#3)

This workshop aims to create awareness and provide actionable insights to promote equity and inclusivity in event planning and execution.

Key Topics: Introduction to Equity in Events Implicit Bias and its Impact on Event Planning How to Identify Barriers and Challenges Faced by Underrepresented Groups in Events Learning Objectives: Gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in events Explore Best Practices for Creating Inclusive and Welcoming Event Environments Learn strategies to ensure equity, accessibility and inclusivity throughout the event planning process.

Karen Foster, KF Curates

WFEA’s Commitment to Diversity:

The Nature of Events is to be a place where people come together, to unite, celebrate and share in community. WFEA’s goal is to embrace and foster an inclusive business climate of respect for all peoples regardless of national origin, race, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, color, sexual orientation or disability.

Sales Training Train Depot (#4)

Upon completion of this two-hour session, participants will receive a WFEA Sales Course Completion Certificate The session will cover: Understanding how everyone contributes to the sales and business development process regardless of title Understanding the sales and business development process Discussion of Best in Class Standards Talk about everyone can BEE Pollinators Learn how you can step above and beat our competition delivering high levels of service and engagement Kathy Kramer, State Fair Park, Central Washington Fair

Fremont Oktoberfest

FACULTY

WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY

Megan Adams

Rudi Alcott

Donya Alward

Lissy Andros

Sara Armstrong

Megan Adams, Visit Bellevue

Megan’s professional career began at the ripe old age of nine years old when she appeared in ABC’s holiday movie, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Since that time, she has used her creative skills to choreograph countless shows, produce and manage programming and events for Mad Science of Seattle, and host Comcast’s home improvement show “Home In On It.” Following her time working with dancers, exothermic reactions, and gutters, Megan remained in the creative sector securing and managing major gifts and sponsorships for Village Theatre. Megan is now proud to work at Visit Bellevue, creating innovative partnership programs and initiatives, and promoting local businesses with a goal of growing Bellevue’s visitor economy. madams@visitbellevuewa.com

Rudi Alcott, Sound Media

With divine intervention, Rudi graduated high school and somehow found himself at one of Indiana’s finest, most strictChristian 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

Donya Alward, Red Lion Hotel Donya Alward is the General Manager for the Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor. Born and raised in Port Angeles, she is a 2001 Peninsula College graduate. In 2001 she became the Front Office Manager at the Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles, where she worked in various roles for nine years. In 2009, she accepted a position with the Red Lion Hotels Corporation as a Corporate Director of Revenue Management. In 2018, she accepted the position as the General Manager of the Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor, taking her back to where she started. She currently sits on the City of Port Angeles Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and the Clallam County Lodging Tax Advisory Board. She is also the past President of the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce. donya.alward@cohoserv.com

Lissy Andros, Forks Chamber of Commerce In 2009, Lissy, her mom, and their 12 dogs moved from Texas to Forks looking for sparkling vampires and cooler weather.

Lissy joined the Forks Chamber in 2011, and was quickly promoted to executive director in 2012. Being a huge fan of the Twilight saga, she naturally gravitated towards nurturing the Twilight phenomenon in Forks. In 2015 the Twilight event was rebranded as Forever Twilight in Forks and was debuted as a four day festival. In 2017, Forever Twilight in Forks Collection, was created by Lissy Andros and Jack Morrissey (benefactor) to showcase props and costumes from the five Twilight saga movies. It has seen over 77,000 people in the few years it’s been open. The Chamber operates the visitor center and is experiencing the 3rd busiest year in their history.

Lissy lives in Forks with her mom, three dogs and a cat. She says the best part about Twilight for her is the people she has met and the friends she has made, all because of the story. director@forkswa.com

Sara Armstrong, Bold Hat Productions Sara is the event manager at Bold Hat Productions. Sara coordinates operations and pre-event logisitics for all Bold Hat Production signature events, client events and projects. sara@boldhatproductions.com

WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY

Kim Bauman

Paula Beadle

Adriana Berndt

Bill Burke

Kim Bauman, Greater Giving

Kim started using the company's solutions as a parent volunteer for her children's school auction in 2002. She was so impressed with the software and the company that she joined the team in 2005. Due to her commitment to area schools and nonprofits, Kim continues to volunteer to assist at a variety of fundraising events, honing her skills in using Greater Giving software to streamline event planning and execution and night-of-event check-in and checkout processes. kbauman@greatergiving.com

Paula Beadle, Sponsorship Marketing Association

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@sponsorshipassociation.com

Adriana Berndt, Spokane Lilac Festival Association

Adriana is a proud born and raised Spokanite. Her journey with the Spokane Lilac Festival Association started in high school.

She attended Gonzaga Preparatory School and was honored to be crowned as their 2003 Spokane Lilac Festival princess her senior year, falling in love with the organization and all it stands for. Her educational pursuits reflect her commitment to personal growth and community engagement. She completed her bachelor's degree in psychology from Washington State University, and holds a master's degree in applied psychology from Eastern Washington University. Over the years, Adriana has accumulated valuable professional experience holding pivotal roles in prestigious institutions, including director of alumni & parent engagement at Gonzaga Prep, assistant director of alumni programs at EWU, and then associate director of philanthropy at EWU. Having already served the SLFA as a director in recent years, she most recently served in a contract position for the organization as development director, raising over $150,000 in new funding to support annual SLFA activities.

Adriana was brought on permanently as executive director this past July - the dream job she never knew she's always wanted.

The passion that has driven her professional journey is working with youth and she has contributed her expertise to the development of young minds and spirits as the varsity cheerleading coach at Gonzaga Prep for the past 11 years. She also volunteers her time as an SLFA Royalty Chaperone. Lilac love runs deep in her and she is so honored to help the SLFA advance its mission of honoring our military, empowering our youth, and showcasing our region! ed@spokanelilacfestival.org

Bill Burke, Pig Out in the Park

Bill has managed and/or consulted with community betterment and economic development organizations in over 575 U.S. cities, in 29 different states. He started Burke Marketing in 1981, specializing in creating well-defined promotional programs of work and producing successful marketing campaigns for many clients. He humbly received the Spokane Advertising Federation Professional of the Year Award and Bill Burke Appreciation Day proclaimed by the City of Spokane. For the past 25 years, he has also helped tourism and destination marketing clients in Washington State including the City of Moses Lake and currently the Grant County Tourism Commission.

In the summer of 1979, Bill started Pig Out in the Park, a new six-day food and free music festival presented in Spokane’s Riverfront Park with support from the Six Bridges Arts Association. Pig Out in the Park has become a Spokane Labor Day weekend/end of summer tradition. This year’s 41st Annual Pig Out in the Park, following a three-year Covid-19 pause, was the most successful Pig Out in the Park event ever. Attracting more than 120,000 people to the event, they presented over 275 different menu items and 112 free concerts to a great and very appreciative 6-day audience. billme123@comcast.net

WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY

Kari Chance

Gloria Connors

Eric Corning

Patrick Crumb

David Doxtater

Kari Chance, Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts

Kari Chance is the Operations Manager for the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts. Her passion is in building a strong community and expanding access to the arts. She loves bringing order to chaos and exceeding patron, partner and donor expectations. She worked for over a decade in large retail management and learned the building blocks for the project management, leadership and implementing organizational systems that have helped her succeed in the festival and event industry. karichance@jffa.org

Gloria Connors, Connors and Company

A Los Angeles born rock n roller, engineer, production director and entrepreneur, Touring nationally until she got tired of being the only woman on the bus, she founded Connors & Company Events, with the goal to bring a rock star moment for everything she creates, including the Spokane Riverfront Pavilion Concert Series, the Climate Pledge Arena Opening Celebration, the Marymoor Park Concert Series, the Washington State Fair Concert Series and the Seattle Interactive Conference, the Seattle Tattoo Expo and the Paul McCartney “Got Back Tour” at Spokane Arena. gloria@connorsandco.com

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

Patrick Crumb, President of Regional Sports Networks for Warner Bros. Discovery

Pactrick Crumb currently is the President of Regional Sports Networks for Warner Bros. Discovery and has also held senior leadership positions with Fox Sports, Liberty Media, DIRECTV and AT&T. He is also the chairman of the board of the UW Foundation, co-founder of Montlake Futures, a past President of the UW Alumni Association, a Commissioner on the Seattle Sports Commission for the last 16 years, and a past chairman of the Washington Athletic Club. patrick.crumb@warnermedia.com

David Doxtater, 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

Deci Evans

Karen Foster

Karen Hanan

Mick Holsbeke

Deci Evans, Kind + Co Events, LLC

Kind + Co Events, a Seattle-based event management company, is run by owner Deci Evans. Look no further than kind + coevents if you're organizing neighborhood celebrations, corporate events, or extraordinary fundraising events. The group under Deci Evans specializes in adding a surprise factor to all kinds of events. Creating connections and establishing a sense of community is what Kind + Co Events enjoy doing the most. They think that a successful event is directly tied to the experience of the guests. They prioritize quality over quantity and concentrate on offering great event management, event design, and event production services. deciten@gmail.com

Karen Foster, KF Curates

I’m Karen Foster. Pacific Northwest native of Black and Caribbean heritage, an HBCU graduate, and a community connector.

Created with a heart to serve, I am a champion for change, creating equitable spaces for all historically excluded communities.

Using my God-given gifts, as Founder and Experience Curator of KF Curates. I help businesses and organizations move from ideation to execution. As a thought partner, I collaborate with clients to bring their purposeful event vision to life through strategy, coordinating logistics, production, and day of event management. karendfoster30@gmail.com

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 (Washington State Arts Commission) 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 and cultural fields, arts in education, the creative economy 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

Mick Holsbeke, EnJoy Productions

Mick Holsbeke is EnJoy’s Associate Producer and an original cast member in the 2018 re-opening of the world-famous Teatro Zinzanni. Mick is a world-renown clown with a ravenous appetite for the ridiculous. His unique perspective on clowning, exuberant physical acting, and circus expertise were developed at the prestigious École Nationale de Cirque de Montréal and, later, at the Hangar des Mines (with Michel Dallaire) in France.

Mick has garnered multiple prizes at the Festival Mondiale du Cirque de Demain in Paris, and also performed with international companies such as the 7 Fingers, Palazzo Colombino, Circus Monti, Cyclope, Cirque Plume, and Ursus & Nadeschkin, bringing hilarity and comic innovation to hundreds of thousands of spectators around the world.

In 2016, Mick’s shows were produced by three French national theaters. Blueline Productions presented his solo clown show, “Moby Mick,” and in 2017 Mick was asked to learn Yann Frisch’s renowned act “Baltass” for the magic show Réveurs Définitifs.

Mick was most recently featured in as the main character in Malta, as the main character with Cirque du Soleil. When he isn’t running off with the circus, Mick is happily juggling his two young children! mick@en-joyproductions.com

WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY

Victoria Jones

Kevin Joyce, Martha Enson

Melissa Jurcan

Deon Kapetan

Victoria Jones, Port Angeles Marathon Association Victoria Jones is the Race Director of several events on the Olympic Peninsula including the North Olympic Discovery Marathon and the Run the Peninsula Race Series. Victoria also works for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation to put on various events throughout the year to raise funds for the local hospital. Victoria holds an MBA from Champlain College, and runs a variety of business interests through her company, Peninsula Management and Consulting. In 2019 Victoria was awarded the Young Leader of the Year award by Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce and is on the board of directors for the Washington State Festivals and Events Association. victoria@nodm.com

Kevin Joyce, Martha Enson, EnJoy Productions Martha Enson and Kevin Joyce of EnJoy Productions have been at the vanguard of live events in the US for over 30 years.

Creating, designing, producing and hosting interactive meetings, parties, fundraising events and immersive experiences from the United Nations to Teatro Zinzanni, from American Heart Association to Amazon and Microsoft, to civic gatherings throughout the Pacific NW, across the US and abroad. They work as creative directors, fundraisers, meeting designers and facilitators in events across industries. Producing 50+ events per year for over 20 years, EnJoy combines best-in-class artistry with celebration and a deep understanding of organizational leadership, to create one-of-a-kind events that tell client stories and bring communities together. kevin@en-joyproductions.com, martha@en-joyproductions.com

Melissa Jurcan, Amazon/Amazon Studios-Compass USA

Melissa is an event industry veteran, having worked in the field for over two decades. She specializes in storytelling and marketing, and has experience in the corporate, tech, sports, events, hospitality, tourism and non-profit sectors. Melissa has created sales and marketing campaigns and developed event strategies for various companies, including: Microsoft, Seafair, the University of Phoenix Stadium (Arizona Cardinals) + CenturyLink Field (formerly Qwest Field & Event Center, Seattle Seahawks), Global Spectrum, Tacoma Rainiers, Seattle's Chinatown International District, Village Theatre, various film productions and several Seattle-area restaurant/event venues, amongst others.

Melissa has served in several leadership roles within the event industry, and specifically the International Live Events Association (ILEA), including: International Board of Governors, International Education Council Chair, Vice President of the Western Region, founding member of the Arizona chapter, President of the Seattle chapter. Currently, she is serving as the Secretary/Treasurer on the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors. In 2008 she earned the Certified Special Event Professional designation, the hallmark of professional achievement in the industry. In 2019 she was inducted into the ILEA Seattle Hall of Fame. melissa@helloagencym.com

Deon Kapetan, Sequim Irrigation Festival

Deon Kapetan has been involved in the planning of the Sequim Irrigation Festival since 2000, She first demonstrated her organizational skills and spirit by co-chairing and then chairing the Crazy Daze Breakfast from 2000 to 2006. In 2007 she became the chair of the Float Display committee, which manages the parades that the royalty and float travel to around Western Washington. Then in 2010, she was eager to accept the position of Festival Director and never looked back.

Volunteering in the community in which she lives is very important to Deon. In addition to her position as Festival Director, Deon is also a past board member of the Sequim Dungeness Valley Chamber, The Jeff Katerina Foundation (assisting terminally and severely ill children in Clallam & Jefferson County) and she is currently serving on the Sequim Food Bank Board. Her daytime “paying job” position is Branch Manager of Highland Residential Mortgage LLC. She is a member the Sequim & Port Angeles Association of Realtors, North Peninsula Builders Association. kapetan.dk@gmail.com

WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY

Beth Knox

Amanda Korb

Kathy Kramer

Kyle LeMaire

Beth Knox, Seattle Sports Commission

Beth has produced large-scale, special events for over 30 years as a producer and consultant in the events, sports and live entertainment industry. As president of the Seattle Sports Commission, she leads efforts to attract and host premier sporting events that shape the Puget Sound region, while providing valuable support to our professional and collegiate sports community. Beth has held leadership roles with Seattle’s 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, Seafair, Bumbershoot, Summer Nights at the Pier concerts, Teatro ZinZanni and more.

During her time with Seafair, Beth helped bring the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon to Seattle and position the regional festival as a powerhouse in the community. She resurrected the City’s Fourth of July fireworks show in 2013, produced the Seahawks Super Bowl Victory Parade in 2014, and the Sounders FC 2016 and 2019 MLS Championship Cup March and Rally. Seattle is now looking forward to hosting the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regionals and MLB All-Star Game, and the FIFA World Cup in 2026. bethknox@seattlesports.org

Amanda Korb, BLUE INK

An expert in the field of branding and graphic design with more than 20 years in the industry, Amanda Korb is Founder and Chief Design Officer of BLUE INK, a Seattle-based, full-service, creative house. She is also the Past President of Seattle's International Live Events Association ILEA Seattle.

Before starting her own company, Amanda held various leadership roles with national companies including Compass Group at Microsoft, where she directed programs and events for clients and customers and led branding and design initiatives for the Puget Sound and Field Site Microsoft campuses. Her artwork can be seen on walls, windows, magazines, websites & events nationwide. She currently resides in Seattle with her husband/business partner, 2 kids, dog and 5 ducks. ak@blueinkseattle.com

Kathy Kramer, State Fair Park, Central Washington Fair

Kathy Kramer has a diverse background in for-profit, government and non-profit organizations, holding key roles in the areas of executive management, strategic planning, sales and marketing, venue operations, production of major events and corporate sponsorship. She joined the Central Washington Fair Association, home of the Central Washington State Fair and Yakima Valley SunDome, in January 2020 as President and CEO. She previously was CEO of the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. During her tenure, the organization achieved its highest fair attendance, gross revenues, customer satisfaction ratings and won numerous industry and community awards.

She was with Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where she was the Vice President of Business Operations. Prior to that, Deputy Director of the Phoenix Convention Center and Venues, Vice President of Convention Sales & Marketing for Century Link Center in Omaha, Midwest Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for Six Continents Hotels and Resorts and Director of Sales & Marketing for Harrah’s Casino and Hotel.

Kramer holds a CVE (Certified Venue Executive) from the International Association of Venue Managers, is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Certified Festival and Event Executive (CFEE) from the International Festival and Events Association. kathyk@fairfun.com

Kyle LeMaire, Juan De Fuca Foundation for the Arts

Kyle LeMaire is a director, actor, and teaching artist who recently moved to Port Angeles by way of New York City with his husband. He holds an MFA in Acting from The New School for Drama and has served as the Associate Artistic Director/Education Director for Open Arts Alliance, Associate Artistic Director/Business Manager for The Victory Dance Project.

Associate Artistic Director for The Other Realm Theatre, and Education Director for The Acting Space in NYC. As a director and actor his work has been seen at The Signature Theatre, The Cherry Lane, The Mint, Musical Theatre Factory, Soundbite Theatre Festival, Don't Tell Mammas, The Duplex, Virginia Rep, and TheatreWorks/USA. He can also be seen in HBO's Girls and CBS's Bull. Kyle has served as a teaching artist for theatres and programs across the country including, Broadway Triple Threat (NYC), Center for the Performing Arts (New Jersey), Theatre Baton Rouge, and Virginia Rep. In academia, Kyle has taught Musical Theatre at The New School for Drama, as well as elementary and high school in the public school system. He is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA and Actors Equity Association. kylelemaire@jffa.org

WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY

Beth Lehman

Natalie Maitland

Amy Maxwell

Meredith McIlmoyle

Elizabeth McLaughlin

Beth Lehman, Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Control Board

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

Natalie Maitland, 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

Amy Maxwell, Ticket Tomato Amy comes with more than 20 years of experience in the event and entertainment industry. She manages shows, nonprofit events, festivals, corporate functions, and concerts nationwide.

Previously, Amy worked for large corporations in event planning, marketing, and public relations roles. She also cofounded, managed, and helped build Patrick Lamb Productions for 18 years. She is also the co-founder and owner of Nic&Amy, a lifestyle brand empowering women which gives a portion of proceeds to Girls Inc. Amy continues to manage Ticket Tomato’s daily business in conjunction with event production and box office management nationwide. Amy — with the robust offerings from Ticket Tomato — is your ticket to a successful event. amy@tickettomato.com

Meredith McIlmoyle, Anacortes Arts Festival Meredith has an extensive background in event management and was the publisher of Event Solutions magazine, a trade publication for event professionals. Most recently she has been employed by United General Hospital as the Communications Coordinator in charge of events, marketing and fundraising. She worked as a Festival volunteer for more than five years prior to joining the staff. aafdirector@anacortesartsfestival.com

Elizabeth McLaughlin, Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties Elizabeth McLaughlin is the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties. She is an alumna of Eastern Washington University and holds a Certified Fund Raising Executive(CFRE) certification. She is a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities Class XXI and was named a Tri-Cities Journal of Business Top Young Professional in 2020. She is a board member of the Washington Festivals and Events Association and Leadership Tri-Cities. Prior to her time with TCCC and Kadlec, she spent four years on a travel team fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association then was the s the Executive Director of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation and Director of the Kadlec Foundation. liz.mclaughlin@greatclubs.org

WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY

Peter Metz

Joe Allan Muharsky

Jon Neill

Eddie Redman

Peter Metz, Event Design and Consulting Peter’s success lies in his creative interpretation of brand messaging through creative production, graphics, stage, set and lighting designs. He has been recognized as a Producer many times by the International Live Events Association for his creative efforts on behalf of his clients. Peter began his theatrical career as an actor in high school. That brief attempt at an onstage presence faded quickly when he attended California State University of Northridge, where he discovered that his passion and talents lay behind the scenes. The theater world breathed a collective sigh of relief. After graduating from CSUN with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and from Southern Methodist University with a Master of Fine Arts in Scenic and Lighting Design, Peter spent the next 12 years working as a freelance designer. By exploring multiple creative outlets including theater, opera, theme parks, film, television, special events, and corporate marketing centers in a variety of roles, Peter developed a broad base of experience and a deep understanding of the many creative facets available, as well as the practical considerations that allow effective execution. In 1985 Peter joined Showco Inc, the internationally known concert touring company, as a Producer/Designer in their Creative Services department, which focused on the burgeoning corporate meetings and events market. His tenure with Showco exposed him to entirely new production processes and technologies that he carried over from the touring world into the meeting and event marketplace. His strength is in the understanding that great design is not an end in itself. It must make sense both fiscally and creatively within the greater context of a specific project. In 2001 Peter and his business partner formed ZOOM7 with the goal of bring the values that were most important to them to the world of corporate entertainment. Peter is a world class producer who is well-known and respected throughout the meeting and event industry for his distinctive perspective and approach to finding creative solutions to challenging problems. When not absorbed in the latest project he enjoys photography, travel, walking Spencer and Jenni his two rescue dogs, and most especially a glass of good Cote de Rhone with his wife Kim. metz.peter@gmail.com

Joe Allan Muharsky, Washington Renaissance Fair Generalist. Hippie. Technologist. Luddite. Wandering Minstrel. Pop culture Pavlovian dog. Joe Allan spent 25 adult years in the IT industry, including 13 at Google. Over the last 10 years, they have expanded their focus to volunteer and community organizations, including running a community theatre and youth drama program.These days, they make professional and artistic connections in the Seattle area with friends and family, with a focus on building community and scaling organizations. Learn more at www.bassicnerd.com. joemu@highlandscastleholdings.com

Jon Neill, Spokane Community Cancer Fund Jon Neill is a Gonzaga University and University of Oregon Law School graduate. He was an All-West Coast Conference runner for the Zags.

Neill was a practicing trial lawyer from 1999 to 2019. While practicing law, he was on the Board of Directors for the Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane and also served as President. In 2019, Neill served as Race Director for Bloomsday.

In 2023, Neill was named Executive Director of Community Cancer Fund, an organization that is one of the largest charities in the region. The premier fundraising events for CCF are the Showcase Golf and Concert Series at Lake Coeur d’Alene and the newly launched Boulevard Race in downtown Spokane. jon@communitycancerfund.org

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

Debby Roth

Bruce Skinner

Sam Snow

Jon Stone

Debby Roth, Greater Giving Debby is responsible for recruiting the top U.S.-based auctioneers, event planners and consultants who have a passion for working withnon-profits. Debby contributes to on-going education for non-profit fundraising through the Greater Giving Working Smarter Webinars and seminar events all around the U.S.. Prior to joining Greater Giving she was a corporate event planner and trainer. She is an active volunteer with several local non-profits. Debby is a licensed auctioneer and professional ringman She has earned several designations through the National Auction Association: Certified Auction Specialist (CAI Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS), and Auction Marketing Manager (AMM) through the National Auctioneers Association. droth@greatergiving.com

Bruce Skinner, Washington Festivals & Events Association Bruce Skinner was one of a handful of people who started selling festival and event sponsorship in the mid-80’s, and is a highly regarded consultant to business and the special events industry with vast experience. He currently is the Executive Director of the Washington Festivals and Events Association, after serving as the Chief Revenue Officer for the College Football National Championship Game held in Phoenix in January of 2016.He is the author of the book, The Complete Guide to Selling Event Sponsorship, and is the founder or co-founder of five Rock n Roll marathons in Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, San Antonio and Nice, France.He served as the executive director of the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona, (19801990) and President of the International. bruce@wfea.org

Sam Snow, Spokane Lilac Festival Sam Snow is the current president of the 2023 Spokane Lilac Festival. samsno@aol.com

Jon Stone, Jon Stone Consulting Jon has been a fixture in the event industry for over 30 years, working in myriad areas including festivals, concerts, cultural infrastructure, civic placemaking, theater and multidisciplinary arts. To date he has performed key roles in the creation and execution of over 3500 events and performances, some of which have become iconic. His work and leadership have touched over 10 million audience members, participants, artists, vendors, staff, and crew.

Jon is a first-call advisor on all matters relating to our industry to local, regional, state, and tribal government and institutions, and across both non-profit and for-profit sectors. His consulting practice specializes in strategic planning, project management, business development and interim leadership. When people and organizations are ready to launch new ventures, enable bold change or need help navigating difficult challenges, they call Jon Stone. jstoneseattle@gmail.com

WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY

Andrea Thayer

John Thorburn

Shelly Tolo

Wendy Tyner

Andrea Thayer, Washington State Fair Andrea Thayer is the Chief Experience Officer at the Washington State Fair Events Center. With a passion for creating memorable experiences and communicating the Fair’s brand promise, Andrea oversees the consumer experience from Marketing and PR to event programming and the employee experience in engagement and human resources. Andrea is known for her creative vision in development of treasured permanent features at the Fair including the Farm at SillyVille and the new History Experience, capturing more than 120 years of the Fair’s history and connection to the community.

Beyond her role at the Fair, Andrea is deeply committed to fostering industry connections. She currently serves on various committees for the International Association Fairs and Expositions and is wrapping up her two-year role as the Board President of the Washington State Fairs Association. Andreat@thefair.com

John Thorburn, 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 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

Wendy Tyner, Tyner & Associates

As Director of Philanthropy/Publicity of Wintergrass Music Festival for 18 years, Wendy is deeply committed to preserving and promoting traditional acoustic American through presentation and education with an emphasis on the bluegrass community.

Since 2017, she’s been the Board Treasurer for IBMA Foundation in Nashville. With a Master’s Degree in Education, Wendy values the importance of inviting all people of all ages and abilities to be exposed to music.

Wendy spends her spare time promoting artists and producing shows. Outside of her profession, she spends time with her husband, Tom, two grandchildren, Owen and Jack, and her hens Dolly, Emmylou, Linda, Helen and Moosie. wendy@wintergrass.com

WFEA CONFERENCE FACULTY

Gazala Uradnik

Brenton Webster

Gazala Uradnik, GFS Events Gazala Uradnik has a Master’s in Healthcare Management from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and provided strategic development and business development expertise to hospitals and healthcare systems for many years. She is an entrepreneur by nature and starting her own businesses was a natural progression of her goals and skills. Gazala started GFS Events in 2012 because she knew that nonprofits needed help through her own nonprofit board and volunteer experience. GFS Events provides strategic event planning expertise to nonprofits through focused event strategy, logistics coordination, mission/messaging and audience and donor development. Over the last ten years, her team has helped countless nonprofits raise millions of dollars throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the country. GFS Events has received numerous awards for best nonprofit event and best public event through the International Live Events Association.

Gazala also serves on the board for the International Live Events Association Seattle Chapter and Women Business Owners.

She has also served in numerous positions, including President and Vice-President, for the Business Network International Plateau Partners Chapter. Gazala lives in Sammamish with her husband and three children. gazala@gfsevents.org

Brenton Webster, Fastbar Technologies Brenton is the founder and CEO of FastBar Technologies, a leading provider of cashless payment solutions for events and venues. FastBar helps events enhance profitability, radically improve the customer experience, and streamline operations.

Brenton is a former Software Architect at Microsoft and has spent 25+ years at the intersection of events and technology. He blends a deep technical background with extensive experience in the event industry as a founder of Bonza Bash Productions, an event production company responsible for producing 3500+ person up-scale events in the Seattle area. In addition, Brenton founded the event ticketing website, Shindigg, making it easy for any event organizer to sell tickets and collect money.

Brenton holds a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honors in Computing Science from the University of Technology, Sydney Australia. brenton@getfastbar.com

Red, Set, Go - St. Patricks Day Run Lexie J Winters Photograph

ATTENDEES

WFEA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES RAY ABERLE Kelcema Audio ray@kelcema.com

MEGAN ADAMS Visit Bellevue Wasington madams@visitbellevuewa.com

VANESSA ADAMS Nez Perce County Fair vanessa@npcfair.org

Assured Hospice of Clallam and Jefferson Counties

CHELSEA AITKEN

Chelsea.Aitken@lhcgroup.com

RUDI ALCOTT Sound Publishing ralcott@soundpublishing.com

SCOTT ALEXANDER Alexander Party Rentals scottalexander@alexanderpartyrentals.com

ALBY ALLEN Ballard SeafoodFest albyseafoodfestprod@gmail.com

TYLER ALLOTT Bellevue Downtown Association tyler@bellevuedowntown.com

DONYA ALWARD Red Lion Port Angeles Donya.Alward@cohoserv.com

LEXI AMES Puyallup Main Street Association info@puyallupmainstreet.com

MATT ANDERSON Kittitas Chamber of Commerce matt@kittitascountychamber.com

LISSY ANDROS Forks Chamber of Commerce director@forkswa.com

ALEXANDRA ANGELOVA The Workshop Alex@workshopevents.com

SAM ARMSTRONG Boldhat Productions sam@boldhatproductions.com

JILL BABCOCK Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce jill@lakechelan.com

LUKE BAIUNGO Ashworth Awards luke@ashworthawards.com

STEVEN BAKER The Workshop sbaker@ursaminormedia.com

ASHLEY BARNES Seafair ashley@seafair.org

KIM BAUMAN Greater Giving kbauman@greatergiving.com

PAULA BEADLE Sponsorship Marketing Association paula@sponsorshipassociation.com

ADRIANA BERNDT Spokane Lilac Festival Association ed@spokanelilacfestival.org

ANDREA BIANCHI WFEA andrea@wfea.org

KATIE BLIZZARD United Way of Clallam County katie@unitedwayclallam.org

ERIN BOATRIGHT Washington State Apple Blossom Festival erin@appleblossom.org

JON BOCKSTRUCK VIP Production Northwest jon@vipproductionnw.com

ROBIN BOOKTER First Fed robin.bookter@ourfirstfed.com

BRITT BOWMAN City of Tumwater Parks and Recreation bbowman@ci.tumwater.wa.us

STEVE BOYCE Morgan Sound steveb@morgansound.com

CYNTHIA BOYD Tarragon Property Services cboyd@tarragon.com

DIANE BRADY Metro Parks Tacoma dianeb@tacomaparks.com

HEATHER BREYMEYER Suncadia hbreymeyer@Suncadia.com

BILL BURKE Pig Out in the Park billme123@comcast.net

STUART BUTLER BUTLER Seattle, Events & Experiences stuart@butlerseattle.com

DENNIS CALDIROLA Benefit Auction Associates dennis@festaseattle.com

LAUREN CARTER Seafair lauren@seafair.org

KARI CHANCE Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts karichance@jffa.org

DARCI CHRISTOFERSON Washington State Apple Blossom Festival darci@appleblossom.org

GLORIA CONNORS Connors & Company gloria@connorsandco.com

CRAIG COOKE Pacific Rim Talent craig@pacificrimtalent.com

ERIC CORNING Seafair eric@seafair.org

KELLY COUGHLIN SnoValley Chamber of Commerce kelly@snovalley.org

CHELSEA CRAMER Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce chelsea@kittitascountychamber.com

PATRICK CRUMB

SAM CUMMINS Clark County Event Center sam.cummins@cceventcenter.org

ROBERT CUNNINGHAM Stages Northwest robert.cunningham@stagesnorthwest.com

PATSENE DASHIELL City of Sequim pdashiell@sequimwa.gov

DAVID DAY Washington Renaissance Arts & Education Society david@wraes.org

President of Regional Sports Networks for Warner Bros. Discovery

patrick.crumb@warnermedia.com PETER DAMMANN Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival damray@icloud.com KAREN DONOVAN Space Media karen@space-media.com

LAURA DRAZDYS GFS Events laura@gfsevents.org

JENNIFER DZUBAY Washington State Liquor Control Board

WFEA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES CRAIG EDWARDS Alexander Party Rentals craige@alexanderpartyrentals.com

MARTHA ENSON EnJoy Productions martha@en-joyproductions.com

DECI EVANS Kind & Co Events deciten@gmail.com

SUSAN EWBANK Seafair susan@seafair.org

MAX FELDMAN Eventeny max.feldman@eventeny.com

KAREN FOSTER KF Curates karendfoster30@gmail.com

KIM FOSTER Issaquah Highlands Council kim.f@ihcouncil.org

LINDSAY FOX WFEA lindsay@wfea.org

CHRISTY GARRARD Visit Issaquah christy@visitissaquahwa.com

JEREMY GILCHRIST WFEA jeremy@wfea.org

BOB GREENSPUN Lake City Summer Festival lakecitysummerfest@gmail.com

JESS GRELLO Field Arts & Events Hall jess@fieldhallevents.org

APRIL GUENTHER Seattle U aprillynnguenther@gmail.com

CHERYL GREHAN Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce events@oakharborchamber.com ARIEL GUSTANSKI Greater Gig Harbor Foundation agustanski@gigharborfoundation.org

RICH GUZMAN Puyallup Main Street Association rich.guzman@comcast.net

MELISSA HAFFLY Washington Renaissance Arts & Education Society entertainment@oregonfaire.com

KAREN HANAN Washington State Arts Commission karen.hanan@arts.wa.gov

KELLY HART Allied Arts of Whatcom County kelly@alliedarts.org

MARY HEBERT Olympic Medical Center Foundation hebert@olypen.com

PHIL HEIDT CORT Party Rental Phil.Heidt@cort.com

JANA HEINRICHS CORT Party Rental jana.heinrichs@cort.com

CELESTINA HENDRICKSON Kirkland Downtown Association celestina@kirklanddowntown.org

City Of Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Service

TIFFANY HITT Pike Place Market Foundation tiffanyh@pikeplacemarketfoundation.org

MEGAN HOLCOMBE Saga City Media mholcombe@sagacitymedia.com

MICK HOLSKEBE EnJoy Productions mick@en-joyproductions.com

JACKIE JONES-HOOK Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum SOLDIERSMUSEUM@AOL.COM

ALICE HUNTING The Workshop Alice@workshopevents.com

SARAH HURT City of Sequim Shurt@sequimwa.gov

CARLA JELLUM Central Washington University carla.jellum@cwu.edu

EMILY JOHNSON Burlington Chamber of Commerce emily@burlington-chamber.com

MEGAN JOHNSON City of Vancouver Meg.Johnson@cityofvancouver.us

JESSICA JOHNSTON r.Cup jessica@rcup.com

BRAD JONES Visit Bellevue bjones@visitbellevuewa.com

VICTORIA JONES Port Angeles Marathon Association victoria@nodm.com

KEVIN JOYCE EnJoy Productions kevin@en-joyproductions.com

DAVE JUNGCK Bellevue Lighting dave@bellevue.lighting

MELISSA JURCAN Compass Group melissa@helloagencym.com

ROBYN KAHALELEHUA 4 Days of Aloha rkahalelehua@gmail.com

TRACIE KALKBRENNER Hubbard Radio Seattle traciek@hbi.com

DEON KAPETAN Sequim Irrigation Festival kapetan.dk@gmail.com

MATTHEW KERNS City of Maple Valley Parks & Recreation matthew.kerns@maplevalleywa.gov

STEPHEN KILBREATH Kilbreath Auctions stephen@kilbreathauctions.com

DIANNA KNIGHT Long Beach Merchants Association dknight.lbmerchantservices@outlook.com

BETH KNOX Seattle Sports Commission beth@seattlesports.org

KAREN KOMOTO Seafair karen@seafair.org

AMANDA KORB Blue Ink ak@blueinkseattle.com

JESSIE KOTARSKI City of Renton jkotarski@rentonwa.gov

MARK HENDRICKSON

mhendrickson@kentwa.gov

KATHY KRAMER State Fair Park citlalil@fairfun.com

WFEA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES BONNIE LACKEY Alexander Party Rentals Jeanl@alexanderpartyrentals.com

LORI LANCASTER Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo lori@bentonfranklinfair.com

BETH LEHMANN Washington State Liquor Control Board beth.lehman@lcb.wa.gov

KYLE LEMAIRE Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts kylelemaire@jffa.org

TAWNIA LINDE Clark County Event Center tawnia.linde@cceventcenter.org

JODI LOWE Washington State Apple Blossom Festival jodi@appleblossom.org

BETHANY LUECK Bloomsday Run bethany@bloomsdayrun.org

NATALIE MAITLAND Fort Worden Hospitality nmaitland@fortworden.org

VICKIE MAPLES Sequim Irrigation Festival vickie1616@hotmail.com

AMY MAXWELL Ticket Tomato amy@tickettomato.com

MEREDITH MCILMOYLE Anacortes Arts Festival aafdirector@anacortesartsfestival.com

KATIE MCKELLAR The Workshop Katie@workshopevents.com

ELIZABETH MCLAUGHLIN Boys and Girls Clubs liz.mclaughlin@greatclubs.org

KRISTEN ROSELLO MCVEY The Workshop Kristen@workshopevents.com

Lincoln County Economic Development Council

TIM MEDVED U-Cool Refrigeration tim@ucool.biz

PHIL MEGENHARDT Bold Hat Productions phil@boldhatproductions.com

SONJA MEJLAENDER City of Renton smejlaender@rentonwa.gov

PETER METZ Event Design and Consulting metz.peter@gmail.com

BRAD MILLER SpeedPro bmiller@speedpro.com

JAMES MILES Seattle Office of Economic Development james@bumbershoot.com

XANDRA MIRUM Allied Arts of Whatcom County xandra@alliedarts.org

STAR MOSER CORT Party Rental star.moser@cort.com

JOE ALLAN MUHARSKY Washington Renaissance Arts & Education Society jmuharsky@gmail.com

JAMIE NASSAR EventHub jamien@eventhub.net

JON NEILL Spokane Community Cancer Fund jon@communitycancerfund.org

WILL NICCOLLS Green Latrine Portable Toilets will@gogreenlatrine.com

PAUL NORDHOLM Own the Night Productions paul@otnpro.com

NINA OJEDA Washington Renaissance Arts & Education Society nina@wraes.org

ERIKA OLSEN Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival rikkito@mac.com

JANICE MEATS

janice@lincolnedc.org

MACKENZIE PARCELL mackenzieparcell@gmail.com

AL PARISI The Workshop al@workshopevents.com

CHARLSEE PARKER Burlington Chamber of Commerce steph@burlington-chamber.com

SHANNA PAXTON Shanna Paxton Photography info@shannapaxton.com

KELTY PIERCE Puyallup Main Street Association kelty@ideasnw.com

LINDSEY PINKSTON Issaquah Highlands Council lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org

CAREY QUINLAN Honey Bucket careyquinlan@honeybucket.com

JAZMINE QUINTERO City of Kirkland jquintero@kirklandwa.gov

GAIL RALSTON Olympic Medical Center Foundation gtralston@hotmail.com

JULIANNE RED Kilbreath Auctions julianne@kilbreathauctions.com

EDDIE REDMAN Grand Event Rentals eddier@grandrents.com

STEPH REES Burlington Chamber of Commerce kelly@alliedarts.org

CAROL RILEY Olympia Harbor Days Maritime Festival info@harbordays.com

STACY RINGER Puyallup Main Street Association stacy@ideasnw.com

LESLIE ROBERTSON Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce events@portangeles.org

ROXANNE ROSE Washington State Fair roxanner@thefair.com

DEBBY ROTH Greater Giving droth@greatergiving.com

NIKKI SANDERS Colfax Chamber of Commerce nsanders@ncwfair.org

SACHA SANGUINETTI Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce sacha@birchbaychamber.com

SUNNY SAUNDERS Sunny Jack Events sunny@sunnyjackevents.com

DONNA PACHECO Olympic Medical Center dpacheco@olympicmedical.org

WFEA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES KERRY SHANAHAN GFS Events kerry@gfsevents.org

JANAE SHERRY The Workshop Janae@workshopevents.com

ALIENA SHOEMAKER City of Renton ashoemaker@rentonwa.gov

BRUCE SKINNER WFEA bruce@wfea.org

ARLENE SMITH Seattle Flow Arts Collective arlene@seattleflowarts.org

MEREDITH SMITH Pierce County Washington meredith.smith@piercecountywa.gov

SCOTT SNIVELY Kitsap County ssnively@kitsap.gov

SAM SNOW Spokane Lilac Festival samsno@aol.com

ANNAMARIE SOLOMONSON City of Bellevue asolomonson@bellevuewa.gov

RYAN SPARKS Peninsula Metropolitan Parks District rsparks@penmetparks.org

JENNIFER SPENCER City of Renton jspencer@rentonwa.gov

ALEX SPRINGBERG GFS Events alex@gfsevents.org

JOHN STABE Kelcema Audio john@kelcema.com

JILL STARKS Washington State Events Center jills@thefair.com

TOM STEBBINS Vision Marketing tom@vision-makreting.net

STACY STENSLIE City of Bellevue sstenslie@bellevuewa.gov

ELI STERLING Procession of the Species agatemoons@yahoo.com

RICHARD STEWART Washington Renaissance Arts & Education Society merchants@wraes.org

JON STONE Jon Stone Consulting jon@jonstoneconsulting.com

BREANNA STRATTON Downtown Association of Yakima admin@downtownyakima.com

ANGELA STRECKER Blue Wings Events angela@bluewingsevents.com

NOAH STRICKLER Clark County Event Center noah.strickler@cceventcenter.org

JODI SUTER Lilac Bloomsday Association jodi@bloomsdayrun.org

SUE SVENDSEN Long Beach Washington sue_svendsen@hotmail.com

JEN SWANSON First Fed jen.swanson@ourfirstfed.com

AUSTIN TAYLOR AT Productions, LLC austin@atproductions.biz

ANDREA THAYER Washington State Fair andreat@thefair.com

JOHN THORBURN Bold Hat Productions john@boldhatproductions.com

SHELLY TOLO Tolo Events shelly@toloevents.com

WENDY TYNER Tyner & Associates tynerassociates@aol.com

GAZALA URADNIK GFS Events gazala@gfsevents.org

LORI VALDEZ Moses Lake Spring Festival Wicklessinwa@hotmail.com

CLIFF VERHOEFF AT Productions, LLC cliff@atproductions.biz

OLIVIA VIGGIANO Seattle U viggianooliv@seattleu.edu

JAMES WAGONER Joule Case jamesw@joulecase.com

JAYCIE WAKEFIELD United Way of Clallam County Jaycie@unitedwayclallam.org

ABBY WALSER Nez Perce County Fair abby@npcfair.org

SAMANTHA WALSH To The Mountain Shuttle tothemountainshuttle@gmail.com

JACKI WATSON City of Renton jwatson@rentonwa.gov

BRENTON WEBSTER FastBar brenton@getfastbar.com

JOSH WILKENS Seafair Josh@seafair.org

TONYA WOLDRIDGE City of Lake Stevens Park & Recreation Division twoldridge@lakestevenswa.gov

JEAN WYATT Sequim Irrigation Festival wyattj@nikola.com

KERRY YANASAK Puyallup Main Street Association director@puyallupmainstreet.com

ASHLEY YOUNG Tacoma Venues ayoung1@tacomavenues.org

SYBIL YOUNG Three Rivers Convention Center syoung@3riverscampus.com

RONALD ZUBRICK Inland Northwest Wildlife Council president@inwc.org

Seafair Shanna Paxton Photography

SPONSORS

WFEA CONFERENCE SPONSORS 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

Bellevue Lighting We believe in pushing the limits of technology to create experiences that guests will never forget – and we stand by that. Through our creative nature, we design and develop customized solutions for all types of events and venues, from corporate events, videos, and conferences to fundraiser galas, theatre productions, band performances, and weddings.

We’re experts in lighting, special effects, audio, and video; ready to make any dream a reality. https://bellevue.lighting/

Blue Ink We are a full-service creative agency with an oversized print services and extensive vendor partnerships. BLUE INK can print artwork large enough to cover entire walls, and small enough to be a decal on a wine glass at your holiday party. blueinkseattle.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

EnJoy Productions

Over the past 20 years, Kevin Joyce and Martha Enson have established themselves as one of the most versatile and prolific creative teams in the Pacific Northwest. They have designed, created, produced and performed some of the region’s most innovative and successful live events, from theater to spectacle, circus, interactive entertainment, and atmosphere enhancements. As EnJoy Productions, they have hosted and created valueadding performance for over 1000 events since 2002. EnJoy’s events and shows are designed to celebrate, honor and inspire attendees, while provoking new perspectives on excellence and purpose. They specialize in customized content that tells necessary stories and are dedicated to the promotion of sustainability on the individual, organizational and global levels. In 2019 Mick Holsbeke joined the creative team, bringing with him internationally renowned circus skills, deep experience in facilitation, and awesome production chops. en-joyproductions.com

WFEA CONFERENCE SPONSORS EventHub 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

FastBar

FastBar’s state of the art cashless payment system is purpose-built for live events.

Simple, quick, and easy to use, FastBar helps you and your team run your events more effectively.

FastBar’s easy to use, high-speed, contactless payment solution for live events helps improve attendee satisfaction, increase revenue and provides unparalleled business insight. getfastbar.com

GFS Events

Our services exceed expectations We view your event through the lens of a development director. We look for increased donor engagement and support, reduced costs whenever possible and unique opportunities to fundraise for your organization.

From Auction Galas to Golf tournaments to Benefit Lunches to Walks and Runs, we can manage your entire fundraising event from beginning to end. We handle budgeting, venue selection, procurement, logistics and all the details that ensure your fundraising event is executed seamlessly and successfully. gfsevents.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

Greater Giving

Greater Giving works exclusively with schools and nonprofits across the nation—offering integrated technologies to help simplify event management, quickly train volunteers, streamline check-in and check-out and raise more funds. go.greatergiving.com

WFEA CONFERENCE SPONSORS Green Latrine

At Green Latrine, we are a family-owned Seattle, WA company that provides clean, environmentally friendly portable toilets. No event is too big or too small for us, and we provide clean, high-quality portable toilets for situations and events as diverse as weddings, construction sites, and sporting events.

As a premier Seattle portable toilet company, our overall goal of providing 100 percent client satisfaction goes far beyond giving customer service. We aim to satisfy the precise needs of each client every time, no matter their individual situation. As a company that is also heavily focused on reducing our impact on the environment, we implement a wide variety of green solutions. gogreenlatrine.com

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

Jon Stone Consulting

Jon Stone Consulting is a collective of renowned event producers, community leaders, and subject matter experts. Our uncommon breadth and depth of experience gives us a rare 360 degree perspective of the issues at hand. jonstoneconsulting.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

Kind & Co. Events

Kind + Co Events, founded by Deci Evans, is a female-owned company that delivers extraordinary events around the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Through memorable experiences and interactions, we are able to produce unique events that assist clients to advance their purpose, message, and brand.

Kind + Co Events has been embracing an integrated approach to event management since 2018.

All the key elements of an event experience are created, designed, and overseen by our team.

With Deci Evans at the helm, we ensure that our customers' visions are in sync and that the planning process runs smoothly, resulting in successful and memorable events. You can rely on our incredible staff to manage your event from beginning to end and bring your idea to life. kacevents.com

WFEA CONFERENCE SPONSORS 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

Own The Night Productions

Own the Night Productions is the fastest growing production company in the Pacific Northwest.

You can trust us to perform as promised, bring value beyond expectation, and leave them wanting more.

We are poised and ready to take your event to the next level. By providing excellent planning, state-of-the-art equipment, experienced staff, and flawless performances…we build trusted, longterm partnerships. This is how we measure success. ownthenightpro.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

The Workshop We Are Planners. Live Events for Corporations, Non-Profits and Government Agencies We know how to put the grand into grand openings, the joy into public celebrations and the show into stage presentations. Our work is iconic moments in Northwest event history. Think Bumbershoot Arts Festival, MLB All-Star Game, New Year's Space Needle Fireworks Show, Summer Nights at the Pier, Viaduct Closing Celebration, Lake Union 4th of July, and many many more iconic Northwest experiences.

Our team has the knowledge and experience to create both massive spectacles and small wonderful gatherings. Hand-off the hard work to us and we'll tend to everything, from the big picture, down to the smallest details. We are confident that with you, we will produce a genuine interesting experience every time. workshopevents.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 To The Mountain Shuttle

Seattle’s Local Shuttle Servicing rides from the Seattle area to Summit at Snoqualmie, Woodinville wine tastings, The Gorge Amphitheatre, other events and custom charters! tothemountainshuttle.com

Tolo Events

We Create. We Design. We Produce.

We thrive on integrating creativity across all facets of a live event production. Our strategy for seamless success ensures that each client’s core vision comes to life. With more than 20 years of expertise in all aspects of event services, we manage every element. It’s not just our contacts that count, it is our approach too. We are professionals who become a part of your team and our amazing vendor network ensures that no time is lost in the planning process. toloevents.com

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

Visit Issaquah

Established in 2018 as a nonprofit in Washington state, the purpose of Visit Issaquah is to serve as Issaquah’s official Destination Marketing Organization. Visit Issaquah increases tourism in the region by marketing hotels, amenities, attractions, and events to create additional tax revenue and spending in the community through tourism. visitissaquahwa.com

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

Washington Festivals & Events Association

AWARDS DINNER & AUCTION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 5:15 PM

PRESENTED BY:

The Event Center at Vasa Park

HERE'S HOW THE AUCTION WILL WORK: *FIRST CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR YOUR CUSTOM LOGIN LINK THAT WAS SENT TO YOU BEFORE THE EVENT

01

REGISTER

02

GET STARTED

03

VERIFY ACCOUNT & CREATE ACCOUNT

04

BROWSE PACKAGES

05

VIEW PACKAGE DETAILS

06

BUY OR BID ON A PACKAGE

Register by going to https://wfea.ggo.bid or by scanning the QR code to the right of the page: 02

Select the "Get Started" button and create an account or login if you have previously attended a Greater Giving event.

02

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO REGISTER

Follow emailed link to verify account, then review account information. Once completed select "start bidding"!

QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP?

Simply swipe down to show more packages until you find one you like.

The staff at the check in tables will be able to register or help you get bidding!

Take a closer look at the package: view the current bid price and read the description.

When you find a package you like, you can place a bid, bid more than the next increment or just buy it now

WHAT CAN YOU BID ON? FUND A NEED We continue to raise money for scholarships for students and organizations to continue their education.

BIDDING SOFTWARE SPONSORED BY:

LOTTERY Purchase a ping pong ball for $40 that will have your bidder number written on it. Drop it in the raffle drum to win. $20: 1 Ball, $40: 3 Balls, $75: 6 Balls, $100: 12 Balls

LIVE AUCTION ITEMS Bid in person on these select live auction items including next years conference, Seahawks tickets, a historical Port Townsend stay, a getaway on the Oregon coast, and a flight anywhere Alaska flies.

PICK YOUR PARADISE Spend a week at Golden Buddha Resort located on the tranquil eastern coast of Bali, spend 7 nights at Casa Franca 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 ITEMS

Bid on our wide variety of silent auction items! From festival packages, sports memorabilia, wine and everything in-between.

Start bidding now! Bidding closes at 15 minutes after the close of the live auction on Tuesday.