I didn’t set out to build a career in event and facility management—but looking back, every step led me here.
It started in 1998 when I volunteered at a music festival, working in artist transportation. I didn’t have a grand plan; I just wanted to be part of something exciting. Not long after, I was asked to supervise that department—still as a volunteer—but that role gave me my first real taste of leadership and logistics in live events.
In 2006, the company behind that festival hired me full-time. I coordinated volunteers and supported operations, learning the nuts and bolts of how festivals run—from early planning to final teardown. I got to see firsthand how critical every moving part is, especially the people making it all happen.
Later on, I took a job with another company and stepped into the role of Executive Producer for the Boots and Hearts Music Festival. I was there for three years, overseeing one of Canada’s largest country music events. That experience pushed me to a new level—managing complex builds, massive teams, and tight schedules while staying focused on the audience experience.
After that, I shifted into being a production manager for a local promoter, taking charge of concerts, tours, and festivals. It was a constant balance of logistics, crew management, and adapting on the fly. That pace, that pressure—it suited me.
Then in 2016, I was lured into the county fair world. I’ll admit, it wasn’t on my radar. But once I got in, I realized how much the fair industry shared with the world I came from—just with deeper community roots. It blended everything I enjoyed about live events with something more grounded and long-term. It wasn’t just about the headliner anymore—it was about creating a space where people could come back year after year and feel like they belonged.
Since then, I haven’t looked back. This wasn’t the career I planned, but it’s absolutely the one I was built for.