The Penn State Alumni AssociationWhat’s been happening: After graduating with a degree in Speech Communication/Broadcast Option, I began my career in the music industry as an assistant to Mark Rothbaum & Associates, Inc., management for Willie Nelson, Miles Davis, Kris Kristofferson, Shelby Lynne and Emmylou Harris. Thirteen years later, I became the executive director of The Charles Ives Center of the Arts, now the Ives Concert Park, a 5,500-seat venue located on Western Connecticut State University's Westside campus in Danbury, Conn. I streamlined their programming efforts by bringing in larger shows like Kenny Loggins and Traffic as well as producing the first Duracell Jazz Festival, a two-day event modeled after the Newport Jazz Festival with George Benson, Dave Brubeck, the Rippingtons and others. Next I founded Pearl Productions, now 13-years-old, with a focus on sponsorship opportunities for venues, events and artists such as the Maui Music Festival, Gathering of the Vibes and the Magic School Bus touring company but quickly branched out to assist not-for-profit venues and charity events with their programming needs. Today I still make my home in Connecticut with my two daughters and continue both programming and sponsorship work through Pearl Productions. |