Tracy Moran, CSEP, CTA
CAPA - Columbus Association for the Performing Arts
Strategic Projects Director
How long have you been with your Company?
Just over a year, I was brought on to help CAPA celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2019 with a series of events
What do you do?
Develop and execute monthly 50th Anniversary events to highlight CAPA and it’s community impact, from free community events to a special Hamilton night for CAPA friends, about 25 events over the year. After 2019, I’ll be working on a variety of events and projects for the organization
What do you like best about your position?
Being surrounded by a creative environment and people – I work in the Ohio Theatre building! My favorite theatre in town!
Why did you join ILEA?
I joined in 2000, 19 years ago, back when I was in events, but not yet surrounded by ‘my people’. My first meeting was at the Ohio (Historical Society) History Connection and I joined on the spot, this was a group of my people, they got it, they shared about their event knowledge and asked about mine and I knew this was the group for me.
What do you find most helpful being a member of ILEA?
Wow – so many things. But the most helpful is the connections. I now have connections and friends all over the world because of ILEA. Any ILEA member can pick up the phone or send an email to any ILEA member, worldwide, and say ‘Hey, I’m with ILEA Columbus and need some direction for something in your city…’ You’ll always get an answer – we truly are a community.
Why did you get your CSEP?
The CSEP (Certified Special Events Professional) certification raises the bar of Event Professional. Whether you’re a planner, AV team, caterer, photographer, entertainment or rental company – the CSEP is about raising all event professionals to the highest level, highlighting their experience and comprehensive knowledge of all event elements, not just the one they’re responsible for.
In a world of ‘pop-up planners’ (oh I planned a friend’s wedding so I’m a professional planner) I wanted to validate to myself, my employers, my colleagues that I am well rounded in events industry knowledge and have the breadth of experience to work confidently with peers and vendors on all levels. It can set you apart.
When you're not working, how do you like to spend your time?
Anything water based – love the pool, the beach, you name it. And of course, wining and dining with friends
What’s your hidden talent?
Hmmm, I was a synchronized swimmer at Ohio State and can still do some tricks 😊
Also – I make killer deviled eggs (family recipe)
What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?
Well, I started at Ohio State as a pre-physical therapist major – HA see how that worked out? Should have thought more about the math and science piece…
What's one thing about you that surprises people?
That I teach water aerobics.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Every position/company you work for serves a purpose. Whether it is a skill you learn, a person you meet, or an experience you have - there is a purpose. You will go through 5-7 ‘jobs’ before you find your right place and the right thing. Be patient and learn. (thank you Annie Vian at Qfm96)
Erica Cornell
The Greater Columbus Sports Commission
Event Coordinator
How long have you been with your Company?
Full-time, two years this June! I was an intern for a year prior.
What do you do?
The Greater Columbus Sports Commission helps showcase Columbus by bringing sporting events to the city! My role is service our annual and support our events department with other larger events travelling to Columbus.
What do you like best about your position?
Working with a multitude of sports, events, championships and being able to engage the community with those events.
Why did you join Ilea?
My supervisors are on the board 😊. That, and I wanted to learn more about the event industry within Columbus!
What do you find most helpful being a member of ILEA?
The networking and learning opportunities. I love going to a new organization each month and learning about their contribution to the event industry.
When you're not working, how do you like to spend your time?
I usually spend my time catching up with family and friends, reading a book, try out a new homemade recipe (preferably something Italian), crafting and spend as much time as I can outside! Whether that be walking, running, biking, skiing or playing tennis.
What’s your hidden talent?
It’s not necessarily a talent, but I love creating homemade greeting cards for others.
What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?
Being an actress and starring in the Star Wars movies.
What's one thing about you that surprises people?
I was a cheerleader in high school. And I loved it 😉
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Only you can make you happy.
Emily Nunn
Metro Cuisine Catering & Special Events
Event Manager
2019-2020 ILEA Columbus President
Why’d you join ILEA and how has it helped you professionally & personally?
I was just starting out in the events industry and a colleague invited me to an ILEA mixer. It was an absolute blast and opened my eyes to all the impressive outlets outside my little world. I couldn’t wait to get started! I asked if I could sign up as a member to my boss the next day. In the years since I have grown professional confidence, worked with industry leaders, and created meaningful friendships. It's been a life changing investment all around.
What should members be excited about this year that hasn’t been as present in the past?
Starting with our Member “Launch” party (love a good punny theme :) next week, we have really dedicated our year to celebrating our members and all the amazing ways they contribute to our chapter and organization. I want every single member to know how valued they are and stay true to this mission all year long. They give us so much and I want this year to be an exercise in giving back. I can’t wait to share all of our exciting plans!
What is one of your favorite moments as a member of ILEA?
My first ILEA Live conference in New Orleans. It's one of my favorite cities and getting to experience it through the amazing events and professionals at the conference was an all-time high. It really showcased the scope of our organization and inspired me to step up my game. I mean - we had our own Second Line parade! It was AMAZING.
What do you think is the most important aspect of ILEA to a new or prospective member?
Our organization’s dedication to education. There are plenty of networking opportunities that a professional can explore, but the standards ILEA imposes really sets us apart. There are so many amazing resources set up by ILEA Headquarters and taking advantage of those will really help you grow as a professional and get the most from your membership.
What are YOU most excited about this year in ILEA?
Getting to work with this amazing board. These individuals come from a wide variety of fields and various years in the industry and this will bring such a diverse yet unified voice to lead our chapter. I am so blown away by their dedication and professionalism. They inspire me to work as hard as possible to make this the best year ever for ILEA Columbus.
Ken Sprague
Hamburg Fireworks Display Inc.
President
How long have you been with your Company? I have been with Hamburg Fireworks Display Inc. for over 40 years.
What do you do?” I lead my Company by staying informed and participating in the industry, by implementing, directing and sharing that information and experiences with my Company and employees, which in turn results in making my Company grow.
What do you like best about your position? I love seeing my Company grow from my passion for the fireworks industry and the excitement it brings to people.
Why did you join Ilea? I joined Ilea because I believe it would provide an outlet for me to share what my Company and what we do best, “FIREWORKS”.
What do you find most helpful being a member of ILEA? Networking with other professionals is one of the most helpful benefits of being a member of ILEA.
When you're not working, how do you like to spend your time? When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, friends and riding my motorcycles.
What’s your hidden talent? A hidden talent that I have is; that I am a knowledgeable carpenter and motivator.
What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid? When I was a kid, I dreamed of being a professional football player.
What's one thing about you that surprises people? The things that surprises people about me, is that I have a hard time saying “NO” and I demand perfection.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? The best piece of advice I have ever been given is; “If you can raise the level of effort and performance in those around you, you are officially a Leader”.
Jim Riley
Ohio History Connection
Business Ventures Manager
How long have you been with your Company? 23 years
What do you do? I oversee 4 different units at the Ohio History Center and Ohio Village including External Events, Retail Operations, Distribution Center, and Vending Services.
What do you like best about your position? It's never dull or boring. Working in a non-profit museum environment that is open to the public has many challenges especially with events. Even after as many years as I have worked here there are new and exciting challenges that need to be tackled.
Why did you join Ilea? Originally I joined to connect to the event vendors in the city. I started off as the Event Coordinator here and coming from the hotel operations side of hospitality I wasn’t connected with many of the event professionals in the city. One of my vendors, Pat Holstein of POSH events, recommended ILEA as a good way to connect.
What do you find most helpful being a member of ILEA? I truly feel that the long standing relationships I have developed as well as professional development I have experienced in this organization are priceless. I soon realized that ILEA was a way for me to grow as a leader and get exposed to an industry and profession that I had come to love. Through my 13 years on the Columbus board, the International committees, and now serving on the International Board of Governors, I have connected with so many event professionals from across the world. I have learned techniques for doing a better event to being a better person and the value of being a true event professional.
When you're not working, how do you like to spend your time? My “spare time” now is usually spent with my hubby working on our new house and playing with our two golden retrievers.
What’s your hidden talent? I am an artist at heart which is probably why I love designing and working on events. If you have been to my office you may have seen some of my work on the walls from paintings to photography.
What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid? I probably didn’t dream of it but hospitality management was in my blood pretty early on. I started supervising the bussers at the restaurant I worked at when I was 17 and took over the banquet department at 18 through college. I was hoping to get out of it with a psychology degree but it kept pulling me back.
What's one thing about you that surprises people? Did I say already I was on the Columbus board for 13 consecutive years yet? That usually is the one that gets most people in ILEA. Personally, I was an only child for 13 ½ years and then my parents had my brother so I quickly became the built in babysitter.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? I was told by someone who had been in the industry for many years that in events you will always have to prove you know what you are doing. Our industry is often misunderstood that anyone can do it. Don’t let that be an obstacle. Let that be the challenge to make them see the magic we pull off because of what and who we know. We are event professionals. Even in the most stressful times of an event…make it happen with a smile.
Diana Marshall
Director of Catering - Marriott Columbus University Area
Concord Hospitality Enterprises
How long have you been with your Company?
I have been working at Concord Hospitality Enterprises for 2.5 years. I was fortunate to spend my first year with the company opening the Marriott Columbus University Area. Since the hotel’s opening date in August 2017 I have had the privilege of being a part of the hotel’s growth and success.
What do you do?
As the Director of Catering I am responsible for overseeing the hotel’s catering team. We handle all of the coordination of the hotel’s events and are responsible for the catering sales. I work to maintain guest satisfaction and exceed guest’s expectations. In addition to overseeing the planning of events and catering sales, I monitor the catering budget, develop promotional offers and work beside our Food and Beverage Director to create different menus and upselling opportunities.
What do you like best about your position?
I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to see my department and the hotel as a whole grow from the ground up. I feel blessed to have such a strong team to work with who all have the same goal: to be the best. I enjoy being able to act as a leader and play a role in the development of my team. Every day presents a new opportunity to learn and I love that!
Why did you join Ilea?
I joined ILEA because I wanted to expand my network and become more connected with other event professionals in our city.
What do you find most helpful being a member of ILEA?
The connections! As an event planner we receive a lot of requests for different vendor referrals and it has been very helpful to have a network that I can rely on. I also enjoy the educational opportunities.
When you're not working, how do you like to spend your time?
If I’m not working I am on my yoga mat either teaching or taking class. I am a member of the Junior League of Columbus and enjoy participating in volunteer events and professional development opportunities with the organization. My husband and I enjoy hiking, spending time with our families and taking trips whenever we can.
What’s your hidden talent?
I love to dance! I trained in ballet and other forms of dance my whole childhood. I was fortunate to tour in Europe and danced with the Department of Dance at The Ohio State University.
What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?
To dance and perform on Broadway!
What's one thing about you that surprises people?
I’ve been skydiving.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I have been given a lot of good advice throughout my life. While it is hard to nail down the very best, some of the most memorable that I think of often are “Never say no to yourself” and “Show up. Show up for yourself and show up for others.”
Melinda Alonso, CMP, CSEP
Event Manager
The Ohio State University Alumni Association
How long have you been with your company?
I’ve been with The Ohio State University Alumni Association for 19 years. I am very thankful to work with amazing colleagues that inspire and challenge me and I am thankful for the amazing clients that we serve at the Longaberger Alumni House.
What was your proudest professional moment in the last year?
In July 2018 I earned my Certified Special Event Professional designation. This was a proud moment for me because it was a personal goal I set for myself and it took two years of preparation for me to succeed. I would encourage any of our industry colleagues to work towards earning a professional designation.
When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time?
When I’m not working I’m enjoying time with my family which means I’m yelling at our seven year old son to get off his X-box and do his homework.
What’s one thing about you that surprises people?
One thing that may surprise people is that I enlisted and served in the United States Navy for nine years following high school. I am very thankful I had that opportunity and I’m grateful to my fellow veterans for their service as well.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Here is the best work advice I’ve been given: Lock the door. This was a response to a safety concern and it was a cost effective immediate solution. This now serves as a reminder that sometimes the simple solution is the best one.
The best life advice I’ve been given: Never eat an entire box of prunes all at once.
Peter Bell
Founder/President
Bell Tree Productions
How long have you been with your Company?
“I started Bell Tree Productions in March of 2014, so we will be celebrating our five year anniversary later this year.”
What do you do?”
“As any small business owner can tell you, especially one working in live events, my job changes depending on the task at hand. Besides handling day-to-day operations, I spend much of my time collaborating with clients and other event professionals providing them with superior and cost effective audio-visual solutions. Throughout the course of an event, my team and I spend our time setting up, operating and striking the audio, lighting and video systems we are provide for the occasion. Along with live audio-visual production, Bell Tree also offers full photography and video services. When I am not working on advancing, designing or running live events, I can often times be found working at our editing bay in the office.”
What do you like best about your position?
“The best part about my position, outside of working with my fantastic staff, is that it gives me the flexibility to work in many different venues and event spaces. Each venue is unique, and presents a new set of challenges to navigate through. The ability to maneuver through different obstacles, while still producing an exceptional end product is the most rewarding experience of any project I am working on.”
Why did you join Ilea?
“I joined ILEA for a number of different reasons, but my main purpose was to help provide better service to my clients. Often times clients approach me with audio-visual needs, but are also looking for other event professionals to help execute their event. Being able to direct a buyer to a person whom I trust will provide him or her with excellent service outside of my area of expertise is important to me. ILEA provides me an opportunity to talk with caterers, florists and venue managers who I may not have yet met, who are a perfect match for a clients needs.”
What do you find most helpful being a member of ILEA?
“I really enjoy that ILEA provides an avenue for other like minded professionals to congregate through their events, share knowledge among ourselves and discuss upcoming projects we are working on.”
When you're not working, how do you like to spend your time?
“I am a big Blue Jackets fan and love going to games down at Nationwide Arena. I’m still waiting for that playoff series win and hoping that this year is the year!”
What’s your hidden talent?
“Building carpentry projects. Growing up as a kid my Dad, when he wasn’t seeing patients in the Emergency room or teaching, loved to do projects. When I say ‘carpentry projects’ I’m not talking about building a bookcase or lopsided spice racks; these were full-scale construction projects. My brothers and I spent many a summer day working with Dad on building sheds, a chicken coop and renovating an old ice house. I learned so many invaluable skills from spending that time with my Dad. I don’t think many kids, with parents outside of the construction industry, can say that they built and shingled an entire roof with just their Dad and seven year old Brother. I was nine at the time.”
What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?
“Rocket Scientist, that lasted until I learned that I was awful at physics, apparently physics are important when it comes to rocket engineering. Who knew?”
What's one thing about you that surprises people?
“That I haven’t been to New York City. I have toured all over the world; in my early twenties was a tour/production manager for a couple different bands. I traveled all over Europe and have been to just about every major city in the United States, yet somehow I have never made it to New York City... Yet”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“If you are sitting in a room of people and consider yourself to be the smartest person in it, then you need to find a new room.”
EMAIL: peterbell@belltreeproductions.com