Speakers

Aaron Thomas drives Columbus’s entertainment identity, serving as the executive responsible for booking and national touring development across Nationwide Arena, the Schottenstein Center, Mershon Auditorium, and Ohio Stadium, positioning Columbus as a competitive, must‑play market for top artists and large‑scale productions. In addition to his venue‑side strategy, Aaron is deeply skilled in promoter and agency relationship management, maintaining strong industry partnerships that are essential to securing premium tours, negotiating routing opportunities, and ensuring Columbus is consistently in the conversation for major national runs.

His career is built on more than 15 years of venue management and live‑event production experience, beginning in audio engineering before advancing into production leadership for arena and stadium‑level concerts. He spent nearly a decade as Production Manager and later Director of Production at the Schottenstein Center, overseeing large touring shows, systems integration, labor relations, logistics, and high impact event execution including major concerts at Ohio Stadium.

Today, as Chief Entertainment Officer for CASE, Thomas leverages his deep industry networks, production expertise, and strong promoter/agency relationships to bring world‑class entertainment to Columbus. Alongside his professional work, he serves as a Board Member for Musically Fed, a nonprofit that redirects unused backstage catering to food‑insecure individuals-demonstrating his belief in using entertainment as a platform for community impact.

Abhijeet Patel is a Senior Solutions Architect at Amazon, where he leads technical partnerships to bring voice-first, task-completion experiences to life on Alexa+ across domains such as live event ticketing, travel, and local booking. His work centers on voice commerce, enabling customers to go from discovery and search to checkout through voice. With over two decades of experience bridging engineering and business strategy, he designs agentic AI experiences shaped by direct partner feedback. A hands-on technologist and team builder, he is passionate about the potential of large language models to change how people find and book real-world experiences. Before Amazon, he spent over a decade in financial services as a technical lead and engineer, modernizing enterprise systems to be cloud-native and AI-ready.

Adam Haskin is Senior Vice President Technology, Engineering & Security at Oak View Group. He leads enterprise infrastructure and information security strategy, engineering standards, and the long-range technology roadmap across the company’s venue portfolio.

Throughout his career he led technology delivery for several dozen stadium and arena projects, including SoFi Stadium, Allegiant Stadium, CFG Bank Arena, and Dickies Arena. With more than 18 years of experience spanning converged networks, fiber, data centers, and all venue technology systems, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to venue development and operations.

Populous Senior Principal and Americas Regional Board Member, Adam Stover stands at the forefront of innovation in the firm’s interior design, women’s professional sports and professional arena markets. Over the past two decades, Adam has been instrumental in shaping design work spanning hospitality, public spaces, brand and sponsorship activation, and custom furniture and product design. A visionary leader and trusted advisor, Adam has left an indelible mark across all six major professional sports leagues, leading landmark interior design projects that fuse fan experience with revenue generating innovation.

Andrew Kesel is the Director of Architecture at Generator Studio and one of the firm’s five partners. With two decades of experience in sports, public, and multi-use projects, he plays a pivotal role in nearly all of Generator’s sports and entertainment work. Andrew leverages his design versatility to seamlessly transition from big-picture concepts to the detailed exploration of technical projects, with sustainability and inclusion as core design principles. As a LEED BD+C professional for more than 15 years, he serves as a steward for clients seeking to maximize sustainability goals on projects while being mindful of timelines and budget constraints.

Andrew’s extensive portfolio includes key contributions to the Kansas City Current’s CPKC Stadium, a multi-phase renovation of the St. Louis Blues’ Enterprise Center, and multiple NHL training facilities, like the Kraken Community Iceplex and Centene Community Ice Center. Currently, Andrew is working closely with the Houston Rockets on Toyota Center Reimagined, a transformation of the downtown Houston arena designed by Generator Studio.

Ashlee Stokely is Head of Stadium, Operations & Experience at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, where she oversees the full guest and operational experience, including event operations, facilities, guest services, security, and transportation.

Ashlee believes communication is the foundation of every successful event, and that a memorable experience takes every department working toward one goal. It’s a philosophy rooted in the organization’s culture of putting the collective ahead of any individual — high impact, low ego — and a shared mantra to always expect to be world class.

Before Nissan Stadium, Ashlee spent 6 years at Bridgestone Arena. She also spent 7 years in music television production and many years as a local radio personality, experience that keeps her deeply connected across the Nashville music industry.

As part of the co-leadership guiding the transition, Ashlee is counting down to the new Nissan Stadium opening in April 2027, working to make sure every guest has an unforgettable experience as the new stadium comes to life.

Brittany Johnston is Director of Programming at tvg hospitality, overseeing booking and programming for The Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville, Alabama, while helping shape booking strategy for new tvg venues nationwide. A core member of The Orion’s 2022 opening team, she helped build the venue’s identity and programming from the ground up. The Orion has since earned national recognition, ranking #10 worldwide among amphitheaters by tickets sold and #8 by gross ticket sales in Pollstar’s 2026 mid-year report.

Previously, Brittany worked at Wasserman Music (formerly Paradigm Talent Agency), gaining experience across all phases of the touring process. Her background on both the agency and venue sides gives her a well-rounded perspective on live music, combining strategic programming, strong industry relationships, and an understanding of what artists and audiences need for impactful live experiences.

For over 25 years, Bryan Bedford has been transforming consumer, content and technology industries around the world. Throughout his career in the IT, services, sports, media, and retail technology, Bedford has launched & scaled industry-changing technologies and services in high growth businesses’ including mobile, content and customer experience focused areas. Bedford is also very active as an industry speaker discussing tech, media, retail, sports, the future of customer experience as often as he can. In his current position with Cisco Systems, a blue-chip technology firm, Bedford serves as Director of Consumer Industries (Retail, Hospitality, Sports, Media and Entertainment) and Business Solutions team within Cisco’s US Commercial sales organization.  Bedford’s team drives innovation, enablement, new offers and drives the programmatic line of business sales and scaling efforts for the sales organization.

Before joining the team at Cisco, Bedford served as XOS Digital’s Vice President of Sales & Business Development focused within the Sports & Media industries spearheading all facets of external business development for the firm including forging strategic “go-to-market” partnerships with major manufactures, technology companies and industry leaders including working with nearly every major professional and college sports program throughout North America. Bedford’s time at XOS Digital included record revenue growth, expansion of the sales/marketing force, net new product/solution launches and drive towards additional profitability.  Prior to joining XOS Digital, Bedford was groomed in the sports & media world and spent time working for three sports teams in various roles (Sales, Coaching, Marketing) over a 7-year period including time on staff at TCU (Texas Christian University), Southern Nazarene University, and for the Oklahoma RedHawks Baseball Club.

Bedford resides in Oklahoma City, OK and is married to his wife Desiree’ and has two daughters Tessa and Sadie.

Chad Gregory is currently the Senior Vice President of Operational Excellence for Legends Global. With 24 years of leadership experience in the hospitality industry, Chad provides high-level operational oversight and strategic support, ensuring best-in-class execution. His extensive background in food and beverage operations, coupled with his strategic leadership approach, has contributed to the success of numerous large-scale venues and entertainment destinations. 

Before joining the team, Chad served as Corporate Vice President of Food & Beverage at United Parks and Resorts, where he oversaw more than $400 million in combined F&B revenue across 12 parks. In this role, he was responsible for driving operational efficiencies, enhancing guest experiences, and leading large teams across multiple locations. Prior to that, he spent 13 years with Levy as Regional Vice President, managing over $250 million in F&B revenue across 21 professional league stadiums, arenas, zoos, collegiate facilities, athletic facilities, and amphitheaters. His ability to optimize operations and implement innovative strategies has made a lasting impact across the industry. 

Chad holds an Associate of Arts in General Education from Pima Community College, earned in 2001. 

Chris Cline is the senior vice president of product management at 24/7 Software, where he leads product strategy, innovation, and execution across the company’s platform.

He is focused on listening to customers, simplifying the user experience, and applying AI and emerging technologies to solve real operational challenges. Chris is passionate about creating intuitive solutions that help venue teams operate more efficiently, safely, and confidently. Before joining 24/7 Software, Chris held product and technology leadership roles at Grevvy, Limble CMMS, and KnowBe4.

During his six years at KnowBe4, he helped scale the company into a global, multi-product cybersecurity platform serving more than 70,000 customers through its initial public offering and subsequent private equity acquisition. Chris brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling B2B software across cybersecurity, maintenance and operations, healthcare, and workflow automation

Christen Greene (she/they) is a live entertainment executive with more than 20 years of experience across artist management, global touring, festivals and venue operations. She spent more than a decade leading Onto Entertainment, where among others the roster included multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated artists The Lumineers and acclaimed poet, performer and activist Andrea Gibson.

Along the way she led more than 20 world tours, from clubs and theatres to sold-out arenas and major international festivals. Greene is also the founder and executive producer of South Sound Block Party, an independent destination music festival in Olympia, Wa which recently wrapped its fifth and final year.

Courtney Carter drives strategic revenue growth for MLS’ Seattle Sounders FC and NWSL’s Seattle Reign FC. She led the Megan Rapinoe jersey retirement R15E campaign, securing Google Pixel’s first club-specific deal and a media partnership with Goal.com. Courtney specializes in creating innovative sponsorships, memorable fan experiences, and content that leverages venues to drive engagement and commercial success.

With a deep expertise in blending culture and commerce, she builds partnerships that turn cultural moments into profitable ventures through storytelling and impactful experiences. Most recently, she helped lead the Seattle Soccer Celebration, a first-of-its-kind floating stage and pitch on Elliott Bay honoring Seattle’s culture and community throughout FIFA World Cup 2026, and secured key 2025 Seattle Reign FC partnerships with Trupanion, Paula’s Choice, and CVS. Before her current role, Courtney founded Carter Media Group, representing cultural icons like Selema Masekela, Liza Koshy, and Ghetto Gastro, producing intellectual property, television, film, and product businesses.

Her earlier experience includes marketing and sales roles at ESPN, Soccer United Marketing (SUM)/Major League Soccer, and Madison Square Garden. As the global commercial lead on several high-profile projects, she contributed to significant revenue growth and successful collaborations in sports.

Craig Newman is a 25-year veteran of the live entertainment industry and talent representation. As an agent with Paladin Artists, he represents a diverse roster of artists, attractions, and touring productions while helping develop new live entertainment properties.

Newman’s current roster includes A.J. Croce, WAR, Micky Dolenz, The Fab Four, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert, Chris Hansen Live, Chef Robert Irvine, Illusionist Rick  Thomas, Mini Pop Kids, Synthony, and beginning in 2028, The Fifth Element In Concert.

Dan Griffis is the President of Global Partnerships for Oak View Group, where he currently leads all revenue across the company including OVG’s 400+ managed venues and all OVG domestic arena development projects in Seattle, New York, Austin, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Savannah, Phoenix and Baltimore.

Dan helped launch OVG in October of 2015 with Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff and has since built one of the highest performing teams in the industry – a team that has been nominated 7 straight times by the Sports Business Journal for best in Sales, Consulting and Client Service and was very proud to win that award in 2021.

OVG Global Partnerships has sold over $6B in sponsorship deals including an unprecedented number of Naming Rights deals to 40 venues – including Climate Pledge (Amazon) Arena, UBS Arena, Caesars Superdome, Grand Casino Arena, Enmarket Arena, Starbucks Community Iceplex, Benchmark International Arena, Inter & Co Stadium and Moody Center.  In addition to naming rights, OVG’s Global Partnerships team has successfully sold many NBA and NHL Jersey Patches, League partnerships, founding, presenting and arena level team sponsorships, award show sponsorships, museum/arts sponsorships and more.

Before his time at Oak View Group, Dan was a marketing officer at Target Corporation and was the “Curator of Pop Culture” for the Target brand for many years running marketing across fashion, sports, entertainment, CSR, electronics, grocery and home.  He also spent a decade as the head of marketing and sales for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams and started his career at KPMG and Grant Thornton as a management consultant and profitability expert.

Dan earned a dual degree with honors in history and economics from The College of Wooster and an MBA with high distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Dani Stern, Sr. Director – Product Management for Commercial Real Estate, Honeywell Building Technologies, leading the CRE vertical including the Sports and Entertainment sub-vertical globally. He oversees a team of  engineers, product managers, quality assurance, cyber security experts, and UX researchers while driving strategic initiatives for world-class venues including professional sports stadiums, arenas, and entertainment facilities.

In addition to product leadership, Dani is responsible for global strategy within the Sports and Entertainment vertical, new product introductions, market expansions, and customer discovery with top-tier venues worldwide. He works closely with venue operators, facility managers, and technology leaders to develop AI-driven solutions that enhance fan experiences, optimize operations, and drive revenue growth.

Dani is passionate about a deep persona-led approach to solving customer pain points and working with key customers to understand business outcomes better while spending ‘time on the ground’ at customer facilities – from NHL Rinks through NFL stadiums and NBA arenas.

Dani is originally from Israel and holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Prior to Honeywell, he spent six years leading IOT products in the smart buildings world across commercial real estate, education, airports and high-traffic venues.

Dani Crain is a seasoned parking and mobility executive with more than a decade of experience spanning consulting, operations, business development, and technology. Over the course of her career, she has built a reputation for developing innovative, technology-driven solutions that improve operational performance, enhance the customer experience, and create value for clients and partners.

Before entering the parking and mobility industry, Dani successfully founded and operated her own consulting business in Denver for four years. She subsequently transitioned into parking and mobility, where she has spent the past seven years leading complex operations and implementing technology solutions across municipal, commercial, residential, and venue environments.

Dani joined OVG Parking & Mobility in November 2022, where she has played a key role in advancing parking operations, client relationships, business development, and technology strategy. Prior to joining OVG, she served as Regional Manager at Interstate Parking, where she launched and managed multiple municipal, on-street, off-street, and residential parking programs throughout Colorado. She also held a Market Development role with Flash Parking, helping organizations across the Mountain West implement digital parking technologies and modernize their parking programs.

Known for her strategic approach, entrepreneurial mindset, and ability to bridge operations, technology, and client strategy, Dani is passionate about creating smarter, more seamless mobility experiences and helping organizations maximize the potential of their parking assets.

When she’s not traveling across the country working with clients and partners, Dani enjoys reading, discovering new places, and unwinding with a good glass of wine—always recharging for the next adventure.

David founded ABI in 1990 to implement accounting, payroll and HRIS systems and quickly grew tired of the finger pointing that followed every system problem. His fix was to bring the missing pieces in-house: networking, hardware design, support. Clients stopped hearing “that’s the other vendor’s issue.”

That instinct produced ABI MasterMind^® in 1998, now the workforce management system of choice for the public assembly industry. In three of every four major league North American professional sports venues, at least one company working the building already runs it including operations, food service, staffing, cleaning, security, often several at once. Beyond arenas and stadiums it’s in theatres, amphitheatres, performing arts and convention centers, festivals and motorsports, higher education: more than 1,000 venue operations and roughly two million event and non-event staff records.

Across 45 years in business, David has worked with organizations ranging from $1 million to $115 billion in size, at local, regional, national and international levels. There is no outside investment or debt. ABI still self-hosts on company-owned equipment in Class A data centers, and only offers clients exactly one tier of support: 24/7/365.

Ask him what the labor data looks like across a thousand buildings — he’ll probably have a story about yours.

Declan Weir is a New York–based strategy and infrastructure leader with experience across North America and APAC. A qualified urban planner, he’s advised public and private sector clients on major-event and infrastructure challenges—from Formula 1 Grands Prix and the Australian Open to UBS Arena, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Declan specializes in complex venue and event mobility—aligning competing interests across government, operators, and investors to deliver reliable transportation and operations outcomes in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. At Stantec, he leads Venue and Event Mobility Planning pursuits across North America.

Denis Sullivan is Vice President, International Routing & Tours at Feld Entertainment, where he leads the booking strategy and execution of the company’s international touring business. With more than 30 years of experience in live entertainment, his career has spanned artist management, talent agencies, sports entertainment, and family entertainment, including leadership roles with WWE, the Harlem Globetrotters, and The Kurland Agency. Originally from Cork, Ireland, Sullivan has negotiated and managed live events in over 70 countries across six continents, building long-term partnerships throughout the global entertainment industry.

Eddie Clemens is the Global Head of Music Tour Marketing at leading global talent, entertainment, sports and advisory company, UTA. Based in UTA’s New York office, he oversees a growing staff of 16 across the New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and London offices. His current roster consists of Bad Bunny, Burna Boy, Don Toliver, FOALS, Forrest Frank, Guns N’ Roses, Jamiroquai, Jonas Brothers, Karol G, Laufey, Lil Wayne, Paramore, Rauw Alejandro, Sammy Virji, Steve Lacy, Young Thug, ZAYN and more.

Clemens joined UTA in 2015 when the company acquired the world’s largest independent booking agency, The Agency Group (TAG). He was brought on as the Director of Tour Marketing at TAG in New York to start, develop and run a previously non-existent Tour Marketing division, and was quickly promoted to SVP of Marketing. Prior to his time at TAG, Clemens worked in Live Tour Marketing at AEG where he handled tour marketing initiatives for clients in the northeast and Canada including Bon Jovi, Justin Bieber, Rod Stewart, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Rod Steward, Tina Turner, and many others.

Clemens was named to Variety’s 2019 New Leaders list, and he was nominated for the Pollstar Awards in the “Marketing/PR Executive of the Year” category in 2019 and 2023.

Emily Lindahl is a sustainability strategy & communications expert. She joined Oak View Group in 2023. Since joining Emily has developed OVG’s global sustainability plan – Future Positive – and works across the company to develop sustainability targets, implement sustainable operations practices, and create partner aligned opportunities.

Prior to joining Oak View Group, Emily was a Partnerships Director at Futerra – a sustainability strategy and communications agency with clients ranging from Gap, The Nature Conservancy, Formula1, and Harvard University. She has also worked in impact consulting and for an ocean conservation non-profit. Emily holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Lafayette College.

Gary Hutchinson brings a wealth of experience in the sports and entertainment sectors. An accomplished professional, Gary has worked with a diverse range of rights holders, including high-profile organizations such as Sunderland AFC, where he served as a board executive, as well as The Football Association and Wembley Stadium. With an extensive network of promoter and agent relationships, he excels in end-to-end diary management for both music and non-music events. His comprehensive understanding of the market allows him to curate compelling event schedules that resonate with audiences while generating maximum returns for venues and stakeholders alike. Gary’s expertise lies not only in concert booking services but also in creating robust commercial partnerships that optimize revenue streams.

Over the past decade, Gary has applied his sales, booking, and operations acumen to a variety of high-profile clients. Notable collaborations include Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunderland AFC, Coventry Stadium and Arena, and Aston Villa FC, as well as international venues such as Etihad Arena and Zayed Sports City Stadium. In these roles, he focused on unlocking non match day revenues, enhancing event profitability, and strategically positioning venues to attract a wider array of entertainment options, from concerts to larger-scale events. Gary’s ability to think creatively and strategically has been instrumental in securing some of the most sought-after acts and events in the industry, such as Beyonce, Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen, helping venues transform into vibrant cultural hubs.

In addition to his booking services, Gary has held several board-level roles, where he has supported economic growth and regeneration in his home region of North-East England. With a keen eye for identifying and nurturing talent, Gary continues to make significant contributions to the landscape of sports and entertainment, ensuring that each event he oversees leaves a lasting impact on audiences and communities alike.

Gavin Gough is the Associate Athletics Director for Facilities, Operations and Capital Projects at the University of Utah, where he oversees the operation and development of Utah Athletics’ venues. His responsibilities include venue operations, capital projects, event management, facility maintenance, fan experience, technology, broadcast production, and long-term facility planning.

Gough has helped lead several of Utah Athletics’ major venue initiatives, including the expansion of Rice-Eccles Stadium, the development and opening of America First Ballpark, and planning for the future of the Jon M. Huntsman Center. He works across the university and with external partners to maximize the value and functionality of Utah’s athletics facilities.

As college athletics continues to change, Gough is focused on how university venues can play a larger role in the business of athletics. That includes finding new ways to use facilities, build partnerships, generate revenue and create better experiences for fans, while continuing to serve student-athletes and the community.

Gina Rotolo is a senior sports and entertainment executive with more than 17 years of experience leading  franchise launches, venue operations, live entertainment strategy, and commercial growth initiatives across professional sports and entertainment organizations.

She currently serves as Vice President of Marketing & Business Services for Oak View Group, where she helped launch Acrisure Arena, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, one of the American Hockey League’s most successful expansion franchises, and the new Coachella Valley Lakers, the G League affiliate of the NBA Lakers which will debut in November 2026. Brought into the organization during its formative stages for her game-changing approach to organizational growth and commercial strategy, Rotolo played a key role in building the operational and commercial infrastructure supporting the arena, hockey and basketball franchises, a community iceplex, and affiliated nonprofit foundation.

Her leadership responsibilities span sponsorship development, ticketing strategy, communications, broadcast and media partnerships, fan engagement, event commercialization, and integrated business operations tied to organizational budgets approaching $25 million. She also serves as a key liaison across ownership groups, league leadership, corporate executives, and municipal stakeholders.

Under her leadership, the organization achieved league-leading performance in sponsorship revenue, exceeding $16 million, while also leading the AHL in season ticket sales, creating award-winning marketing, fan engagement & creative campaigns along with establishing community initiatives focused on education and career pathways for local youth. The franchise earned league recognition across marketing, sponsorship, broadcast/media, sales, and fan engagement categories.

Before joining Oak View Group, Rotolo held senior leadership roles with MGM Resorts International, where she oversaw entertainment marketing, artist relations, and business development initiatives across a global portfolio of venues and live entertainment properties. During her tenure, she contributed to the launch and positioning of major entertainment venues, including T-Mobile Arena, Park Theater, and The Theater at MGM National Harbor, while supporting large-scale programming, multi-venue residency development, and strategic entertainment partnerships.

Earlier in her career, she served in executive leadership roles with AEG and BBVA Compass Stadium, helping support the launch and commercialization of the Houston-based MLS-specific venue, which also served as home to NWSL and NCAA programs. Her work focused on event programming, strategic partnerships, booking operations, and revenue development across sports, concerts, festivals, and live entertainment events.

Throughout her career, Rotolo has consistently been drawn to organizations undergoing growth, expansion, or operational transformation. Her leadership style blends commercial awareness with operational discipline, allowing her to build scalable structures while maintaining a strong focus on audience engagement, organizational alignment, and long-term business performance.

Today, she is recognized as an executive capable of leading complex sports and entertainment organizations through periods of growth, commercialization, and operational evolution. Her background across franchise launches, venue operations, sponsorship growth, and integrated business leadership positions her well for senior leadership opportunities across professional sports, entertainment, and multi-venue organizations.

Greg Farley is the Director of Strategic Energy Programs for MD Energy Advisors, a customer service company that delivers energy solutions.  He is a 20-year veteran of energy and sustainability work in higher education: across three campuses representing public, private, and 2-year institutions, he developed and installed solar PV, wind energy, battery storage and microgrid deployment, high-performance buildings, ESPC and Energy-as-a-Service agreements, and more. He also served as Professor and Endowed Teaching Chair at Chesapeake College (MD), where he won multiple awards for teaching. He is co-editor, with Jennifer Chirico, of Thinking Like an Island: Navigating a Sustainable Future in Hawai‘i (University of Hawai’i Press, 2015). A biologist by training, he holds degrees from Duke University and Florida State University.

Greyson Rubin is a Senior Associate and Architect at Populous and an emerging leader within the firm’s convention center practice. His work includes notable projects such as the BMO Centre in Calgary, Alberta; the ongoing transformation of the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas; and numerous visioning and conceptual design studies for convention centers across North America.

As a LEED- and WELL-accredited professional, Greyson brings a keen eye for inclusive and sustainable design to every project. He actively collaborates with global industry leaders, bringing a deep understanding of industry trends and forward-thinking ideas for the next generation of convention centers. He also plans and executes Populous’ annual Imagine That workshop and contributes to the firm’s publication, Rethinking the Way We Gather, an industry-leading perspective on the design of the convention center of the future

Ian Roberts is the co-founder and CEO of Hive, a leading AI-powered marketing platform for live events. In 2014, Ian co-founded Hive with his friend Patrick Hannigan while they were students at the University of Waterloo. What began as a tool to crowdfund concerts in their college town has grown into a powerful technology platform helping promoters, festivals, venues and artists better understand and engage their audiences. Today, Hive is used by more than 1,500 live event organizations worldwide and integrates with 40+ ticketing partners, including Ticketmaster. The platform has helped drive nearly $700 million in ticket sales and is backed by Y Combinator and Frontier Growth. Ian’s mission is to help more people discover and attend live events that create a genuine sense of connection and community. He lives in British Columbia with his wife and two children.

Jason Michael Ford holds more than 25 years of experience as a project team leader and expert in baseball, stadium, and training facility design. Jason’s dedication to client relationships is reflected in his consistently collaborative work process, ultimately resulting in projects that are delivered on time and in budget.

As a Market leader for Populous, Jason oversees many professional and collegiate baseball projects, using his expansive understanding of the sport and culture to create unparalleled athletic experiences for players and fans alike. He has worked on dozens of iconic ballparks across the U.S., playing a vital role in the design and delivery of many landmark projects, including Petco Park, Citizens Bank Park, ONT Field, Atrium Health Ballpark, Covenant Health Park, Victory Field, Dudy Noble Field, Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark and Condron Family Ballpark.

Josh is Booking Manager for the First Interstate Center for the Arts with the Spokane Public Facilities District, where he brings music, comedy, Broadway, and other live entertainment to Spokane. Josh partners with promoters and buys direct while also focusing on local programming to build a diverse calendar of events for the Spokane community.

J.R. Lind has been a journalist for more than 20 years, covering everything from local government to big business to sports (including, one time, pigeon racing). He joined Pollstar and VenuesNow as Senior Writer in 2022. A Middle Tennessee native and Navy veteran, he is now based in Los Angeles. At Pollstar and VenuesNow, he is often called upon to cover the financial, regulatory, governmental and legal issues that face the live events industry.

Juan Pablo García Castro, 54, is a distinguished Guatemalan real estate professional with more than 25 years of experience in the development and execution of major projects. He began his career at Corporación Multiinversiones, where he led more than 10 large-scale residential, office, and commercial developments, coordinating multidisciplinary teams from concept through execution and commercialization. In 2016, he founded FACTOR, a real estate advisory and development company that supports investors and developers throughout the entire project lifecycle, including feasibility studies, design, construction, and commercialization. Under his leadership, FACTOR has participated in more than 40 completed projects across multiple real estate segments. In 2024, Juan Pablo expanded his role as a developer, leading three residential projects and the development of Guatemala’s first major event arena, envisioned as a regional destination for concerts, entertainment, and sporting events. Recognized for his strategic vision, leadership, and commitment to innovation, Juan Pablo continues to contribute to Guatemala’s real estate industry through projects focused on quality, sustainable value, and positive community impact.

Julie Rinaldi is a Principal and Senior Architect at Populous. With two decades of experience across North and South America, Australia, Asia and the Middle East, Julie brings a global perspective to the design of live entertainment venues and the evolving ways people experience them.

Her work spans concert halls, amphitheaters, arenas, stadiums and entertainment districts, with a focus on the entire experience, from arrival to the performance and everything that happens beyond the ticketed event. Her approach considers the diverse needs of audiences, artists and touring teams, recognizing that venues are not only places of performance, but environments that need to support a wide range of people, needs and experiences.

Julie works closely with operators, promoters, developers, artists, cities and communities to create venues that respond to changing expectations and provide more welcoming, intuitive and inclusive experiences for everyone who moves through them.

Kaity Dychala is the Director of Game Presentation & Live Events for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), where she leads the strategic vision and execution of the league’s in arena experience, live events and fan engagement initiatives across all 12 markets.

In her role, Kaity oversees league wide game presentation strategy, standards and programming while partnering with teams, venues and cross functional league departments to create innovative, high impact experiences for fans. She also leads the planning and execution of major league events and initiatives, helping establish the PWHL’s identity and approach to live entertainment as the league continues its rapid growth.

With a career spanning sports, live entertainment and event production, Kaity brings a unique perspective to building fan first experiences that connect audiences to the sport, athletes and communities. She is passionate about creating the next generation of women’s sports experiences and helping shape the future of professional women’s hockey.

Kelly McGrath is in her 26th season with Minnesota Sports & Entertainment and her fourth as Vice President and General Manager of Grand Casino Arena. She oversees the arena’s day-to-day operations, event strategy, and support of the Minnesota Wild, MLV Minnesota Forge, PWHL Minnesota Frost and other major events.

McGrath played an integral role in bringing the PWHL Minnesota Frost to the organization and securing Grand Casino Arena as the primary host site for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. She has also led successful bids with organizations including the NCAA, MSHSL, USA Hockey, U.S. Figure Skating and USA Gymnastics, generating millions of dollars in economic impact for the region.

A respected leader in the live events industry, McGrath is a 2024 Event and Venue Market Conference Hall of Fame inductee, 2023 Venues Today Women of Live Honoree, 2020 Women of Influence Honoree and 2019 WISE Twin Cities Woman of Inspiration. She serves on the WISE Advisory Board.

Kevin Devore is a Senior Principal and Technology Practice Director at ME Engineers, bringing 23 years of experience in technology design and integration. His expertise includes technology master planning, ICT infrastructure, high-density wireless (Wi-Fi), distributed antenna systems (DAS), electronic security, and the coordination of technology systems with building architecture. Kevin is committed to integrating advanced, innovative technology into sports and entertainment venues to enhance connectivity, security, operations, and the overall fan experience.

Kosha Irby serves as Chief Operating Officer at All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he directs business operations, live events, and event production for one of the world’s fastest growing and most disruptive entertainment properties.

Bringing over two decades of leadership across sports, media, and live entertainment, Kosha specializes in translating high-octane live production into deeply engaged, loyal global fandoms while executing large-scale operational strategy.

In addition to his executive leadership at AEW, Kosha advises global brand and event clients on high-impact marketing, community impact, and fan engagement strategies—spanning major sports tournaments, music festivals, and corporate summits.

Before AEW, Kosha was at Clemson University, where he served as Chief Marketing Officer within the athletic department, and he has previously held positions with the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football as President, Professional Bull Riders (PBR) as Chief Marketing Officer, and WWE as Regional Director of Live Events.

Laura Alexander is Vice President of OVG Lexington and a visionary executive with extensive experience in convention centers, arenas, and live entertainment venues. Recognized nationally for her leadership and innovation, she has built a career centered on driving financial growth, developing exceptional teams, and creating meaningful experiences for guests and communities. Her expertise spans operations, sales, marketing, event development, and strategic venue management, making her a respected leader in the live events industry.

Laura Chiplin is Major Stadium Events & UEFA EURO 2028 Director at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, responsible for the strategy, commercial development and delivery of the Stadium’s major non-football events programme, as well as leading the venue’s preparations for UEFA EURO 2028. Since joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2018, Laura has played a central role in establishing Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as one of the world’s leading multi-use sports and entertainment venues. She leads the strategy and commercial development of the Stadium’s major events programme, focused on attracting world-class content, growing the scale and diversity of the events calendar, and maximising the Stadium’s potential as a year-round destination for sport and entertainment.

The Stadium has hosted some of the biggest names in music, including Beyoncé, BTS, Lady Gaga, Imagine Dragons, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott and Stray Kids. This includes Beyoncé’s landmark residencies at the Stadium, with five sold-out Renaissance World Tour shows in 2023 followed by six Cowboy Carter Tour shows in 2025. Alongside music, Laura’s portfolio includes major international sporting events. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has become an established destination for world-class boxing, hosting events featuring Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Chris Eubank Jr., as well as elite rugby including Saracens’ annual Showdown and the EPCR Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Finals.

Laura’s role also includes leading Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s preparations for UEFA EURO 2028, which will see the Stadium host five matches, including a Round of 16 fixture. Her role focuses on ensuring the venue is fully prepared to deliver an seamless tournament experience for fans, teams and partners. Previously, Laura led the Club’s Visitor Attractions and Major Stadium Events business, overseeing Stadium Tours and The Dare Skywalk and spearheading the creation of F1 DRIVE – London, the world’s first in-stadium electric karting experience developed in collaboration with Formula 1®. She led the project from concept through to launch, with the F1 DRIVE concept subsequently expanding internationally to Las Vegas. With more than 15 years’ experience across major events, culture, visitor attractions and live entertainment, Laura previously held roles at leading London institutions including the V&A Museum and the Barbican. Her work has focused throughout on developing commercially successful experiences, building strategic partnerships and transforming venues into destinations that engage audiences beyond their core purpose

Loren Supp is a Senior Principal and Head of Design, Western U.S. at Populous, where he leads design excellence across the firm’s Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland studios. In this role, he oversees design quality across the region while playing a hands-on role guiding major projects from concept through completion.

Supp brings more than two decades of experience leading complex, high-profile projects across a wide range of typologies, including sports and entertainment venues, professional training facilities, major airports and cultural destinations. His portfolio includes landmark projects such as Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the Seattle Seahawks’ Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

He is recognized for combining big-picture design vision with disciplined project leadership, and for advancing the integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and parametric design, into architectural practice.

Luke Tingle, Project Executive for Daktronics, is an LED Industry Executive with 20+ years in the Sports and Spectaculars divisions delivering turnkey solutions that include manufacturing and construction management for LED display systems. His background includes Project Management, Engineering, Sales and Business Development across North America and International markets.

Luke first joined Daktronics as a student at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, (location of Daktronics Headquarters) managing college and professional projects in the Great Lakes region. After graduating college, he spent a year with Electrical Contractor, Berg Electric in San Diego, CA, where he met his now wife, Holly. Upon returning to Daktronics, Luke joined the international market where he oversaw projects across Asia Pacific & Australia/New Zealand, and eventually moving to Sydney, Australia, in 2010 to help open the Daktronics local office. During his time in International, Luke worked across all Daktronics business units including Live Events, Commercial, Spectaculars and Transportation. Luke and his wife returned to San Diego, CA, (Carlsbad) in 2014, where he oversees projects across North America. They have two children, Hayden (11) and Jake (9).

Luke’s most recent projects include Crypto.com Arena, SAP Center, Intuit Dome, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels, Honda Center & ocV!BE, LA Galaxy, Tennessee Titans new Nissan Stadium, NYCFC new Stadium, LSU Football, UCLA, University Southern California, and CU Boulder football, just to name a few.

Mark Donnelly is Executive Vice President, Development & Operations at Oak View Group International, where he leads the company’s international development initiatives, including the landmark Co-op Live arena in Manchester, which has rapidly established itself as a leading music arena. Joining OVG in February 2019 and growing OVG’s international business as Chief Operating Officer, Mark has brought nearly three decades of operational and financial leadership across the media, entertainment, and leisure sectors.

At OVG, Mark has led new arena projects in Cardiff and currently Dublin, whilst also consulting with international clients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Diriyah Gate Arena) and Italy (AS Roma Stadium).

Prior to OVG Mark has played a pivotal role in the delivery of several iconic venues, including The O2 in London, St George’s Park, and Wembley Stadium. As part of the AEG team, he was instrumental in the construction and successful launch of The O2 in 2007, later serving as its Managing Director.

Following his tenure at The O2, Mark spent a decade in senior roles across the sports industry, including at The Football Association, the Lawn Tennis Association, and Queens Park Rangers Football Club. His work spanned stadium and training ground operations, infrastructure development, and commercial and residential projects.

Mark began his career at KPMG, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant, before joining Ginger Media Group. There, he was part of the leadership team that, under Chris Evans, built and sold the business to Scottish Media Group.

Mike Hayes joined United Talent Agency in 2025 alongside his roster that includes The Go-Go’s, Belinda Carlisle, Matt Maltese, L7, KennyHoopla, Soft Play, Take That, The Army, The Navy, VILLANELLE, Manic Street Preachers, and iDKHOW. Hayes most recently served as the Senior Vice President of Global Music at IAG and was formerly with ICM Partners for nearly 17 years.

Michael Sciortino is the General Manager of UBS Arena, a role he’s held since joining in July 2020. He was instrumental in the meticulous planning and successful opening of the arena in November 2021, and today he oversees all day-to-day operations, from the front-of-house guest experience to back-of-house needs and facility maintenance.

A passionate advocate for environmental stewardship, Michael has spearheaded the venue’s sustainability initiatives. Under his leadership, UBS Arena achieved carbon neutrality for Scope 1 & 2 emissions two years ahead of schedule and launched the “Sustainable Brilliance, Community Resilience” platform. He guided the arena through the LEED Certification process to become a LEED v4 Certified venue and implemented a zero-waste program that earned TRUE Silver Zero Waste certification. His tireless efforts have positioned UBS Arena as a leader in sustainability within the sports and entertainment industry, and in April 2025, he was honored with the inaugural Billie Eilish Award for Sustainability from Pollstar.

Before his time at UBS Arena, Michael served as the Vice President of Operations for the Golden State Warriors, where he guided the opening of the state-of-the-art Chase Center in San Francisco in September 2019. He was responsible for the facility’s daily operations and all necessary back-of-house functions.

His extensive career also includes more than eight years heading up facility and event services at Madison Square Garden, five years with the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum, and three years with the Buffalo Bisons Triple-A baseball team, where he began his career.

Oscar Aréliz has been a journalist for two decades, covering local and professional sports teams in Los Angeles before reporting on government and education. He joined Pollstar in 2022 and has covered the post-pandemic boom of the live industry as well as the growing influence of Latin music and LATAM markets. In addition to covering artists and the live business, Oscar is called upon to cover venues across the globe, especially those in the U.S. and Latin America.

Paz Aparicio has led Madrid’s Movistar Arena since 2014 as General Manager, overseeing the programming and strategic development of one of the world’s busiest live entertainment venues. Hosting an average of 230 events annually and welcoming 2.5 million spectators each year, the arena has consistently ranked among the Top 5 venues worldwide according to Pollstar and has become Europe’s leading arena for ticket sales.

Beyond her work managing one of the most active arenas in the world, Paz has promoted key initiatives for the live entertainment industry, including the creation of the Spanish-Speaking Association of Entertainment Arenas (AHAE), which brings together venues across the Spanish-speaking world. She also represents Movistar Arena in several leading industry associations and contributes to the sector’s development through communication and thought-leadership projects.

Sam Kalscheur, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a Senior Associate and Senior Project Manager with Perkins&Will’s Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment practice. A licensed architect with 15 years of experience, Sam specializes in creating and transforming sports and entertainment venues around the needs of the teams, operators, athletes, and fans who bring them to life.

His experience spans renovations to active professional sports venues, new arenas, and large-scale entertainment districts, including work at Ball Arena in Denver, Spectrum Center in Charlotte, the New Augusta Arena in Georgia, DOVA Arena in Rancho Cordova, and The Ranch Events Complex in Northern Colorado.

Sam brings a pragmatic, collaborative approach to venue design, balancing memorable experiences and strong design ideas with the operational, technical, budget, and schedule realities required to bring complex projects to life.

Samantha Holloway is the owner and managing partner of One Roof Sports and Entertainment, the parent brand of the Seattle Kraken, Climate Pledge Arena, and One Roof Foundation.

Samantha sits at the intersection of ownership, business, and infrastructure, helping shape how team, community, and fan experience work together. Her approach is grounded in the belief that great organizations are intentionally built with discipline, long-term vision, and a deep understanding of the people they serve.

A technology entrepreneur and investor, Samantha built her career as a startup founder and operator, developing a reputation for understanding growth, customer acquisition, and long-term business building from the ground up. She brings that founder’s mindset to sports, pairing operational rigor and data-driven thinking with a strong sensitivity to the customer, in this case, the fan.

Samantha is Partner and Co-Founder of Hat Labs and 2nd & Fillmore, General Partner of Wildcat Partner Holdings, and a minority investor in the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. She serves on the board of the Space Needle and is a member of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer. Samantha and her husband Greg live in Seattle and have two children.

Sara Dean is an SVP at THE·TEAM, representing a diverse roster of acclaimed and emerging artists across pop, alternative, R&B and rock. Her clients include Aloe Blacc, Bruno Major, Joji, Lauren Sanderson, Madeline The Person, Maude Latour, Medium Build, Mollie Elizabeth, Neoni, Rio Romeo, Sarah Kinsley, The Temper Trap and Yellowcard.

Sarah Pittman has been a music journalist with concert trade publication Pollstar for more than 15 years. She was promoted to senior editor in 2021 and helps oversee production of the weekly magazine. Her work focuses on the live industry, from profiling festival executives to cover features on up-and-coming artists. Pittman’s moderating experience includes a fireside chat about women in the live festival space during 2022’s Women In Music Summit, as well as two panels at NIVA’s 2025 conference. She is passionate about telling other people’s stories, especially highlighting women making moves in the music business.

As Chief Programming Officer & Head of Entertainment at HBSE, Sean Saadeh oversees entertainment booking across several of the country’s leading venues, including Newark’s Prudential Center, Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, and the soon-to-be-reopened Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City. Leveraging 25+ years of experience in entertainment hub cities like San Diego, Phoenix and the New York area, Sean has demonstrated drive to expand, improve, and diversify the industry across HBSE’s portfolio.

Since joining HBSE in 2015, Sean has cemented New Jersey’s status as a premier destination for top performers around the globe. At Newark’s Prudential Center, he continuously leads the venue to new heights in one of the most competitive entertainment markets in the world, helping the venue reach tenth on Pollstar’s annual list of 200 arenas worldwide.

Notable highlights from the past 18 months include UFC 316 in June 2025 and UFC 302 in June 2024, which marked the highest-grossing event ever held at Prudential Center, recording a gate of $7.3 million and generating $26.8 million in economic impact for the Newark metropolitan area. In March 2024, Zach Bryan also played two sold out shows at the arena, setting a new record for attendance. Sean also recently brought March Madness back to Newark, hosting the NCAA East Regional Final.

Sean is committed to booking a wide array of talent that best reflects the great fans and diverse communities of New Jersey. While having already established the arena as the North American Capital of K-Pop and Northeast Hub for Latin music, Sean is also focused on building Prudential Center’s profile as a must-play stop for all Hip-Hop and R&B tours, as well as its portfolio of country music, comedy, and family shows.

Alongside his duties at Prudential Center, Sean is responsible for identifying and executing unique live event opportunities at multiple other HBSE-owned properties, including the soon-to-be-reopened Loew’s Jersey Theater.

Beyond the tri-state area, Sean also has been growing HBSE’s entertainment footprint across the Northeast at Northwest Stadium, formerly FedExField, in Landover, Maryland — a massive step in scaling HBSE’s stadium-scale capabilities. Since joining on in February 2024, he has rapidly activated the venue with an impressive, record-breaking 2025 summer line-up. The slate of concerts was the most attended summer concert series in the venue’s history. These slate of events broke several other records, including:

• The most live events (7, tied with 2018)
• The most concerts in stadium history (6, previous record was 4)
• The most unique headliners (6, previous record was 3)

He advises on venue construction projects for the new stadium in Washington, DC for the Commanders and the new arena being built in Philadelphia for the Sixers while contributing to the renovations efforts at Prudential Center furthering his expertise to elevate these venues’ entertainment offerings.

Through record-breaking achievements and visionary leadership, he is transforming HBSE’s portfolio into one of the most dynamic and influential in the world, elevating HBSE as a dominant force in the global live entertainment industry.

Spenser Genesy is Group Director of Food & Beverage at tvg, where he leads food and beverage strategy across the company’s growing portfolio of live music venues and hospitality concepts.

His work spans new venue development, concepting, openings, operations, commercial strategy, and brand partnerships. His focus is making food, beverage, and hospitality a meaningful part of the venue experience, while giving each venue its own identity and sense of place.

Prior to joining tvg, Spenser built his career in hospitality, working across restaurants and bars before spending more than five years with Soho House, where he led beverage operations across the West Coast. His move into live music has brought that hospitality background into a new setting, applying the same care and attention given to food, beverage, and hospitality in great restaurants and bars to the live music experience.

Stephen Chilton is an Arizona based concert promoter, and owner of The Rebel Lounge in Phoenix, producing events under the moniker Psyko Steve Presents. For over two decades, Psyko Steve Presents has developed new artists and continued supporting them as they grew into globally celebrated acts including Frank Turner, Geese, Bleachers, Mitski, and The Maine. In 2019, Psyko Steve Presents was named “Best Promoter” by the Phoenix New Times in their annual Best Of Phoenix issue.

In 2025, Adrian Fontes, Secretary of State of Arizona, proclaimed December 15, 2025 as officially “Psyko Steve Day in the State of Arizona” in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Psyko Steve Presents. Chilton opened The Rebel Lounge in Central Phoenix in 2015, with partner Chuckie Duff. The 300 capacity concert venue is in the building that once housed long-standing rock venue The Mason Jar. In 2024, Billboard Magazine recognized The Rebel Lounge as the “Best Venue Under 500-Capacity” in their Top Music Venues list, a recognition that places it alongside some of the world’s most iconic music venues.

As a small club The Rebel Lounge really specializes in emerging talent and developing acts, hosting early tours for acts like Chappell Roan, Charley Crockett, TV Girl, Alex G, and Men I Trust. Psyko Steve Presents over 700 concerts a year across Arizona and New Mexico. PSP produces festivals like 8123 Fest curated by the band The Maine, and the 2025 edition of M3F Festival, 2022’s ZONA Music Festival. PSP produces concerts in various venues of all sizes throughout Arizona, ranging from small clubs like their own space The Rebel Lounge, Valley Bar, and Crescent Ballroom, to venues like The Van Buren, Celebrity Theatre, Arizona Financial Theatre, and Mesa Amphitheater. In March 2020, Stephen Chilton co-founded the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), a trade association representing over 3000 of the best independent venues and promoters in all 50 states.

Chilton was one of the original five board members, and the organization’s first Vice President. Chilton helped create and lead he organization’s public campaign #SaveOurStages. The #SaveOurStages campaign directly led to Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) authoring and passing the Save Our Stages Act, a truly bi-partisan bill that created the $16.25 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) crafted by the SBA to rescue venues and promoters nationwide during the Covid-19 pandemic. Chilton completed his time on the NIVA board in summer of 2023.

Thayer Lavielle is the Managing Director of The Collective at THE·TEAM, a global platform she launched in 2019 to drive greater investment in women across sports, entertainment, and music. She leads a global, cross-functional team operating across eight regions, working with brands, leagues, teams, and governing bodies to translate industry-shaping research into actionable commercial tools—ranging from investment frameworks and go-to-market strategies to partnership models and fan engagement playbooks. Under her leadership, the team’s work has helped unlock almost $1B in new investment supporting women as athletes, creators, executives, and fans. Her work has been recognized across the industry, including honors as a 2026 TBJ Women in Business honoree, 2025 Adweek Most Powerful Women in Sports honoree, a 2024 WISE Greater Raleigh Woman of Inspiration, a 2023 Colgate University Trailblazer of Distinction, and a 2019 Sports Business Journal Game Changer.

Tim O’Connor is VP of Product at Momentus Technologies, the leading platform for venue and event management, powering nearly 4,000 venues worldwide. Over the past six years he’s led the build of Momentus’s AI product line, most recently MAX for Sales. Tim spends much of his time with venue and event executives directly, tracking how the industry is thinking about this new generation of AI-driven tools, the problems they’re being asked to solve, and the scrutiny leaders are applying before adopting them.

Landry has decades of experience spanning wireless infrastructure, enterprise architecture, technology innovation and is a recognized technology strategist and wireless pioneer. Landry has a tenured history of successful execution of vision and strategies in the areas of IT and wireless communications infrastructure. He was instrumental in solutions that include public venue wireless architecture and innovation including So-Fi, Allegiant, Syracuse Dome, and The Sphere. He led the NFL Coach-Coach innovation, design and deployment of redundant sideline cellular communications at all NFL stadiums. He led the Superbowl private cellular systems for FOX Sport and CBS Sport Broadcast Operations. He validated broadcast camera operation over private cellular at the BIG East Tournament, and established operations innovation over cellular including Point-of-Sale, PTT and Intercom radios, wireless digital signage, AI-based threat detection and emotion sensing, and more.

Entertainment industry veteran Wendy Pearl’s background as a journalist and publicist provides her with a unique perspective from both sides of a pitch. Currently a senior writer for Pollstar, Pearl’s background includes posts as a music director at a country radio station in North Carolina, a reporter for CNN’s Miami bureau and nearly a decade as a journalist and columnist with The Miami Herald, where she participated in the paper’s Pulitzer-winning coverage. Pearl has worked in publicity and artist development in Nashville at Sony Music and Asylum Records, where she worked with industry trailblazers from Emmylou Harris to Maren Morris and Miranda Lambert.

She ran the PR department at cable network TNN and worked on numerous music specials and syndicated programs before joining the Country Music Association in 2000, where she had media oversight of the acclaimed CMA Awards and CMA Fest for 17 years. In 2017, she launched Wendy Pearl Public Relations with clients including the Academy of Country Music, CMA, the Georgia Music Foundation and RodeoHouston before returning to her reporting roots with Oak View Group’s signature trade publication in 2022.

Wesley Elizabeth Cullen is an international live events and venue executive with 25+ years of experience launching businesses, developing venues and building partnerships in new and growing markets.

As Managing Director for Latin America at Oak View Group, she developed and now leads the company’s regional growth across sports, live entertainment and venue services. She launched OVG’s Hospitality division in Mexico, growing the business across 12+ venues and more than $120M in revenue, serving major festivals, Formula 1 and some of the region’s leading stadiums and entertainment venues. Her work also includes supporting the development of Central America’s first modern arena in Guatemala and, most recently, helping launch OVG Hospitality in Spain.

A fluent Spanish speaker with experience spanning venue development and operations, touring, hospitality, premium experiences and brand strategy, Wesley specializes in opening new markets and connecting global expertise with local opportunities.