Upon graduation from college in San Francisco in the mid 90’s, I joined the Live Events Industry at the dawn of the dot-com boom. It was an exciting time working with executives from companies like Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems, and Netscape in their heyday. At that time, moving lights and fog machines were standard equipment and we spent a lot of time rigging our legacy event gear to show off the incredibly advanced technology of our clients.
I worked in the Bay Area at a peak time for Creative Agencies. I had the privilege to work at Ray Bloch, CMG, and the Kenwood Group. I advanced quickly because I was great with budgets and schedules and collaborating with great creative minds. I got to work on some groundbreaking technological advances and learned how creative solutions are most effective with a strategic focus, a mindset I carry to this day.
In the early 2000’s, I moved to the LA Area, where I continued my work in live events for entertainment, finance, automotive clients. I learned how to manage spectacle and decor and how to transform a space with light and fabric. I also had the opportunity to work with A-list musical talent. During this time, I ran my first whole property in Las Vegas.
In 2007, I relocated to Portland, OR to work with an agency on projects for Intel and HP (back to tech) and Adidas and VF Outdoor (Jansport, The North Face, Vans), where I learned to run apparel projects (slatwall, anyone?) Following the 2008 financial crisis, I worked in Web Development as a Project Manager .
As the economy recovered, I landed a job as EP at an agency called Opus out in Beaverton. In my five years there, I went from running $5M in annual production revenue to over $20M annually on projects for AWS, Salesforce, and about every other technology company you can think of. Day trips to the Bay Area for client meetings were routine. I think it was Salesforce that truly influenced how technology events are produced today, and I am privileged to have been a part of that leadership.
I got off that train about five years ago and I have worked on the AV Production side where I learned gear logistics and the challenges our vendors face that we don’t often get to see. During the pandemic, I helped lead an AV Production company into the Virtual Events world, often leading the industry in innovative ways to engage audiences safely.
Since the end of the pandemic, I am back out on the road, doing what I love to do – combine creativity and technology to inspire audiences and drive my clients’ success.
Working in the live events industry has provided me with unparalleled continuing education into the worlds of technology, business, law, media, psychology, diversity, inspiration, and motivation, which I try to draw upon in my work.
I’ve had the good fortune to do pioneering work with the best agencies and brands in the world on memorable and award-winning projects for audiences in venues all around the world and I am excited for the next opportunity.