WFEA Spring Conference In Fabulous Leavenworth April 20-22, Icicle Village Resort, Leavenworth Learn How to Sell Sponsorship, Produce Events and Run a City Events Department Using an Eight Step Process Featuring Outstanding Presenters and Over 30 Different Sessions • Jim Andrews, A-Mark Partnership Strategies, LLC, Formerly with IEG • David Doxtater, Founder and President of the Workshop • Leigh Morgan, CEO of Imaginal Leadership Strategies, former COO of the Gates Foundation
Monday, April 20 Super Monday Pre-Conference Workshop* *Requires Separate Registration Attendance is good for CLEP (Certified Live Event Planner) credit. 9:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. All Held in the Tumwater Ballroom See Green: 50 Revenue Generating Ideas for Your Festival and Event Slide down our rainbow as we deliver your pot of gold! Need ideas for creative sponsor inventory and revenue generation? New programs, initiatives, campaigns, activation. We’re kicking off Super Sponsorship Sunday with FIFTY ideas that you can incorporate into your festival or event. From trends to digital media, unique experiential marketing, branded items and more – we’ve curated a list of things we’ve seen and implemented. You don’t need luck, you need this interactive session! Bruce Skinner, Washington Festivals & Events Association Music and Your Event Whether you’re producing a small or a large event, there have been numerous changes when it comes to booking entertainment. Learn what changes have been made and what is important to look for in the ever-changing event music landscape. Erika Olsen, Winthrop Rhythm and Blues; Kari Chance, Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts How to Produce an Amazing Live Event That Makes Everybody Talk How much will management change and what will the future hold? Have people, and the world, changed so much that everything you thought you know was out of date? While these questions could generate dozens of discussions, this session will offer ideas on how to navigate today. Daniel Baldacci, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Phil Megenhardt, Boldhat Productions Bruce Skinner, WFEA Executive Director WFEA Spring Conference Keynote: The Six Steps in the Sponsorship Sales/Solicitation Process 3:00 p.m. Enchantments Ballroom • Identifying and Packaging Your Rights and Benefits • Prospecting • Proposals • Pricing • Establishing Agreements • Setting Up Both Parties for Success Jim Andrews, Founder & CEO, A-Mark Partnership Strategies, LLC Round Tables 4:00 p.m. Enchantments Ballroom
Opening Reception – Network With Your Fellow Event Producers 5:30 p.m. Tumwater Ballroom Hospitality Suite – Networking After Hours 8:00 – 11:00 P.M. Room #803 Presented by: Western Display Fireworks After a full day of conference sessions at the Icicle Village Resort, keep the energy going or simply unwind at our After-Hours Social Room. Hosted by Joe Allan Muharsky and Terri Muharsky, this relaxed evening space is the perfect spot for attendees to connect, create, and hang out once the daily schedule wraps. Whether you want to take the stage or try your hand at something new, drop in at your leisure and enjoy: Musical Mingling: Join a lively piano sing-along or jump into attendee-driven karaoke. A full karaoke setup—including the display, mic, speakers, and an extensive song library—along with a keyboard are provided. Creative Corner: Tap into your artistic side with oil pastel mini-projects. Learn a simple q-tip blending technique to create your own masterpiece. Absolutely no experience is needed, and all art supplies (pastels, q-tips, paper, and surface coverings) are ready and waiting. With Joe and Terri hosting throughout the evening to keep the good times rolling, it's a great, low-pressure way to network and recharge for the next day of the conference. Tuesday, April 21 Throughout the conference, there will be four different tracks for attendees – 1. Production & Programming, 2. Sponsorship, 3. City Event Professional and 4. Festival of Trees. We are pleased to offer a track for the many city event professionals that are attending the conference, as well as Festival of Trees organizers. Any registrant doesn’t need to follow a track unless they choose to do so – you can attend any session that you want! Tuesday Opening Ceremonies 8:00 a.m. Tumwater Ballroom
Keynote: The 8 Steps of a Successful Production and Programming Plan Tumwater Ballroom 8:10 a.m.
David Doxtater, Founder and Producer, The Workshop 9:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions Sponsorship, Step 1: Sponsorship Then and Now Tumwater Ballroom Panel Participants: Jim Andrews, A-Mark Partnership Strategies, LLC, Bruce Skinner, WFEA Enchantments Ballroom Learn the essential steps to producing a successful event, from paperwork and pre-production planning tools to site planning theory, drawings, renderings, and site visualization. Whether you're new to the field or looking to sharpen your process, deep dive into where to start and how to approach your next event. Panel Participants: City Event Professionals, Step 1: Technology for Events: What’s Working, What’s Not, What’s Next Wedge Mountain Room
Kiah Patzkowsky, City of Seattle; Jonathan Thompson, Eproval 10:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions Sponsorship, Step 2: Identifying and Packaging Your Rights and Benefits Tumwater Ballroom Panel Participants:Jim Andrews, A-Mark Partnership Strategies, LLC Production and Programming, Step 2: Developing a Team Enchantments BallroomPanel Participants: Beth Pratt, Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce; Kari Chance, Juan de Fuca Festival City Event Professionals, Step 2: Reducing the Number of Surprises for Event Organizers Wedge Mountain Room
Amy Lindsey, City of Spokane; Kiah Patzkowsky, City of Seattle Festival of Trees: Growing Non-Gala Festival Revenue Room 803Lindsay Fox, Olympic Medical Center Foundation Network Supplier Lunch: EXPO Speed Dating 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Tumwater Room Discover the latest trends in our industry. 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 of the different suppliers. 2:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions Sponsorship and Festival of Trees, Step 3: Prospecting Potential Partners and Determining Their Needs Tumwater Room Panel Participants:Kathy Kramer, Central Washington Fair Production and Programming, Step 3: Safety and Emergency & Crisis Management Enchantment Room
Frank Sebastian, Emergency Management Group; Omar Vargas, Meridian Rapid Defense Group City Event Professionals, Step 3: Townhall: Cost Recovery and Containment Wedge Mountain RoomPanel Participants: Jeff Ozimek, City of Poulsbo & Sean Douglas, City of Vancouver 3:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions Sponsorship, Step 4: Creating Compelling Sponsorship Proposals and Pitches Tumwater Room Panel Participants:John Thorburn, Boldhat Productions, Amy Lindsey, Riverfront Spokane Production and Programming, Step 4: Live Production Tracking and Essential Supplies and Expertise Enchantment RoomPanel Participants: Alby Allen, Ballard Seafoodfest; Ryan Schroeder, City of Tacoma Parks and Recreation Department City Event Professionals, Step 4: Vendors & Contracting: The Right Fit for Your Event Wedge Mountain Room
Festival of Trees: Selling Sponsorship Room 803 Bruce Skinner, Washington Festivals & Events Association4:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions Sponsorship, Step 5: Determining Fair Market Value Tumwater Room Panel Participants:Cari Dixon, Washington State Fair Production and Programming, Step 5: Getting the Right Equipment and Managing Vendors Enchantment RoomPanel Participants: Phil Megenhardt, Boldhat Productions; Eddie Redman, Grand Event Rentals; Danny Nelson, Hero Event Support City Event Professionals, Step 5: Vendors, Food Service & Contracting: The Right Fit for Your Event Wedge Mountain RoomPanel Participants: Ashley Young, City of Tacoma; Jeff Ozimek, City of Poulsbo Festival of Trees: Festival of Trees Wrap Up Room 803Lindsay Fox, Olympic Medical Center Foundation Dinner With An Expert Tables are pre-assigned, if you have not registered and would like to join us, please visit us at the registration table and we will get you assigned a spot. 5:30 p.m.JJ Hills Restaurant & Bar at the Icicle Village Resort On Tuesday night of the conference, April 21, we will be holding “Dinner With an Expert” – you can sign up to go to dinner with these professionals who are adept at producing events, raising money, selling sponsorship, etc. You will be responsible for your own dinner and you will share the cost of the expert’s dinner with the other participants at your table. This $59 registration fee will be to cover your dinner and your share of the cost of the expert's dinner. You’ll be able to ask the Expert any questions that you want. Categories: Grants, Sponsorship & Marketing, Non-Sponsorship Revenue; Marketing; Operations; Production; Music & Entertainment; Working with Your City; Festival of Trees. Hospitality Suite – Networking After Hours 8:00 – 11:00 P.M.Room #803 After a full day of conference sessions at the Icicle Village Resort, keep the energy going or simply unwind at our After-Hours Social Room. Hosted by Joe Allan Muharsky and Terri Muharsky, this relaxed evening space is the perfect spot for attendees to connect, create, and hang out once the daily schedule wraps. Whether you want to take the stage or try your hand at something new, drop in at your leisure and enjoy: Musical Mingling: Join a lively piano sing-along or jump into attendee-driven karaoke. A full karaoke setup—including the display, mic, speakers, and an extensive song library—along with a keyboard are provided. Creative Corner: Tap into your artistic side with oil pastel mini-projects. Learn a simple q-tip blending technique to create your own masterpiece. Absolutely no experience is needed, and all art supplies (pastels, q-tips, paper, and surface coverings) are ready and waiting. With Joe and Terri hosting throughout the evening to keep the good times rolling, it's a great, low-pressure way to network and recharge for the next day of the conference. Wednesday, April 22 Keynote: The Power of Gathering in Uncertain Times Tumwater Room 8:15 a.m. This interactive fireside chat will explore the reality — and illusion — of polarization in the US, and what leaders can do to bridge divides in ways that foster connection and understanding. WFEA’s vision and its commitment to organizing places where people come together, unite, celebrate, and share community is a vital epicenter for nurturing community. Leigh Morgan,; CEO, Imaginal Leadership Strategies 9:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions Sponsorship, Step 6: Establishing Mutually Beneficial Agreements Tumwater Room Panel Participants:Cari Dixon, Washington State Fair Production and Programming, Step 6: Revenue, Technical Direction and Budgeting Enchantment RoomPanel Participants: Eric Corning, FIFA Seattle Organizing Committee; Joe Muharsky, Teamatorium City Event Professionals, Step 6: Producing Your Own Events Wedge Mountain Room
Mark Hendrickson, City of Kent; Chuck Denney, City of Tumwater; David Wells, City of Bonney Lake 10:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions Sponsorship, Step 7: Setting Both Parties Up for Success Tumwater Room Panel Participants:Lori Lancaster, Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo Production and Programming, Step 7: Managing Alcohol Enchantment RoomPanel Participants: Beth Lehmann, Washington State Liquor Control Board City Event Professionals, Step 7: Community Notification & Business buy-In: How Much Is Enough? Wedge Mountain RoomPanel Participants: Sean Douglas, City of Vancouver 11:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions Sponsorship, Step 8: Why Sponsors Sponsor What They Do Tumwater Room Panel Participants:Donya Alward, First Fed; Howie Ruddell, Ruddell Auto & Liberty Bay Auto Production and Programming & City Event Professionals Step 8: A Conversation Between Event Professionals and City Event personnel – Permits and Working With Your City Enchantment RoomHow cities and events can best work together Panel Participants: Kristen Rosello McVey, The Workshop; Kiah Patzkowski, City of Seattle |
