Full Conference Schedule

Super Monday Pre-Conference Workshop*

(applies credit toward CLEP Certification)

Monday, April 20

9:00 – 2:30 p.m.

*Requires Separate Registration

9:00 – 10:15 a.m.

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

10:30 – 11: 45 

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

1:00 – 2:30

How to Produce an Amazing Live Event That Makes Everybody Talk

Learn how to think of your event differently, and to change paradigms to take your event to the next level. Hear about how organizers from cities of all sizes stage some of the best events in the world, continually growing their events.

Daniel Baldacci, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phil Megenhardt, Boldhat Productions

Bruce Skinner, WFEA Executive Director

Main Conference

Monday, April 20

Jim Andrews, Founder & CEO,

A-Mark Partnership Strategies, LLC

Monday Keynote:

The Eight Steps in the Sponsorship Sales/Solicitation Process

Monday, April 20

3:00 p.m.

• Identifying Your Rights and Benefits

• Packaging Your Rights

• Prospecting

• Proposals

• Pricing

• Establishing Agreements

• Setting Up Both Parties for Success

• The Evolution of Sponsorship

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Affinity Group Round Tables

• Senior Event Professional Managers

• Sponsorship

• Production

• Festival of Trees

• City Event Professionals

• Parades

• Music Festivals

• The Effective Use of AI

6:00 p.m.

Dinner With An Expert

8:00 p.m.

Hospitality Room Opens

Main Conference

Tuesday, April 21

Tuesday Keynote:

The 8 Steps of a Successful Production and Programming Plan

8:30 a.m.

• Producing and Programming A Successful Event
• Developing a Team
• Safety and Emergency & Crisis Management
• Live Production Track, Essential Supplies and Expertise
• Obtaining the Right Equipment and Managing Vendors
• Revenue, Technical Direction and Budgeting
• Managing Alcohol, Contracting and Insurance
• Permits, Signage and Tying It All Together

David Doxtater

Founder and Producer,

The Workshop

9:45 a.m.

Sponsorship, Step 1: Sponsorship Then and Now

Jim Andrews, A-Mark Partnership Strategies, LLC, Melissa Jurcan, Compass One at Amazon

Production and Programming, Step 1: Producing and Programming a Successful Event

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.

Kristen Rosello McVey & Katie McKellar, The Workshop

City Event Professionals, Step 1: Technology for Events: What’s Working, What’s Not, What’s Next 

• Permitting software
• Event management platforms
• AI use in cities
• Internal + external system connectivity
• What peer cities are actually doing

Kiah Patzkowsky, City of Seattle; Jonathan Thompson, Eproval

Festival of Trees, Step 1: Growing Festival Revenue

10:45 a.m.

Sponsorship, Step 2: Identifying and Packaging Your Rights and Benefits

Jim Andrews, A-Mark Partnership Strategies, LLC

Production and Programming, Step 2: Developing a Team

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

• Site maps, route maps, TCP’s
• Predetermined routes and footprints
• Cost containment strategy

Amy Lindsey, City of Spokane; Kiah Patzkowsky, City of Seattle

Festival of Trees, Step 2: What Events Are Right for You

Expo Speed Dating Networking Luncheon

11:45 – 1:45 p.m.

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.

Sponsorship, Step 3: Prospecting Potential Partners and Determining Their Needs

Riley Stockton, Spokane Hoopfest; Kathy Kramer, Central Washington Fair

Production and Programming, Step 3: Safety and Emergency & Crisis Management

• Working with partners to make events safe
• What barriers should you use to avoid a catastrophe?

Frank Sebastian, Emergency Management Group; Omar Vargas, Meridian Rapid Defense Group

City Event Professionals, Step 3: Tools to Help You Connect With City Departments and Event Organizers

Festival of Trees, Step 3: Growing Your Gala

3:00 p.m.

Sponsorship, Step 4: Creating Compelling Sponsorship Proposals and Pitches

John Thorburn, Boldhat Productions, Amy Lindsey, Riverfront Spokane

Production and Programming, Step 4: Live Production Tracking and Essential Supplies and Expertise

Alby Allen, Ballard Seafoodfest; Ryan Schroeder, City of Tacoma Parks and Recreation Department

City Event Professionals, Step 4: Vendors, Food Service & Contracting: The Right Fit for Your Event 

• Vendor selection by event type
• Food trucks and mobile units and how to work with them
• Sustainability practices, waste and power solutions
• Contracting basics
• Equity considerations

Scott Alexander, Alexander Party; Chris Riffle, Silver Ridge Law

Festival of Trees, Step 4: Revenue Producing Ideas

4:00 p.m.

Sponsorship, Step 5: Determining Fair Market Value

Tawnia Linde,  Clark County Event Center; Kristi Ellefson, WaFd Bank

Production and Programming, Step 5: Getting the Right Equipment and Managing Vendors

Phil Megenhardt, Boldhat Productions; Eddie Redman, Grand Event Rentals; Danny Nelson, Hero Event Support

City Event Professionals, Step 5: Getting City Departments on the Same Page

Ashley Young, City of Tacoma; Jeff Ozimek, City of Poulsbo

Festival of Trees, Step 5: How to Sell Sponsorship to Your Event

Free Evening

8:00 p.m.

Hospitality Room Opens

Main Conference

Wednesday, April 22

Wednesday Keynote:

The Power of Gathering in Uncertain Times

8:30 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.

Sponsorship, Step 6: Establishing Mutually Beneficial Agreements

Jim Andrews, A-Mark Partnership Strategies, LLC, Cari Dixon, Washington State Fair

Production and Programming, Step 6: Revenue, Technical Direction and Budgeting

Eric Corning, FIFA Seattle Organizing Committee; Joe Muharsky, Teamatorium

City Event Professionals, Step 6: What Barriers Will Work With You

• How to use city departments in producing events
• Revenue generation
• The value of these events to a city

Mark Hendrickson, City of Kent; Chuck Denney, City of Tumwater; David Wells, City of Bonney Lake

10:30 a.m.

Sponsorship, Step 7: Setting Both Parties Up for Success

Lori Lancaster, Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo

Production and Programming, Step 7: Managing Alcohol, Contracting and Insurance

Beth Lehmann, Washington State Liquor Control Board

City Event Professionals, Step 7: Community Notification & Business buy-In: How Much Is Enough?

Sean Douglas, City of Vancouver

11:30 a.m.

Sponsorship, Step 8: Why Sponsors Sponsor What They Do

Donya Alward, First Fed; Howie Ruddell, Ruddell Auto Center

Production and Programming, Step 8: A Conversation Between Event Professionals and City Event personnel – Permits and Working With Your City

• How cities and events can best work together

David Doxtater, The Workshop; Kiah Patzkowski, City of Seattle