Bill Charney is one of North America’s most respected consultants in board leadership and governance.    He provides governance training to boards wishing to clarify roles, expectations and accountability for their organizations, with a primary emphasis on nonprofits and governmental agencies.

One great strength Bill brings to WFEA is the breadth of perspectives from his own experience.  He has an MBA in Organization Management from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he first became immersed in the events industry.   As Director of the University of Colorado Program Council, Bill directed contemporary entertainment programming, including stadium concerts by The Who, the Grateful Dead, Simon and Garfunkel, and more.

Bill then founded and served for nine years as the highly successful CEO of Denver’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival.   During that time, he saw and experienced Boards from both the CEO perspective, and as a leader serving on various nonprofit boards, including the IFEA Board of Directors, which he chaired in 2002. 

Especially well regarded for his expertise in assisting boards with understanding and implementing the Policy Governance® principles, Bill co-authored, with Miriam Carver, The Board Member’s Playbook, a groundbreaking resource for board decision-making.   Bill is a contributing author to Wiley’s Board Leadership governance journal.

Bill has been an invited speaker throughout the U.S., as well as in Scotland, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, Holland and Singapore.  While his conference workshops are highly rated, Bill’s primary focus is working with and helping individual boards.   Within the events industry, his client list includes the Northwest Washington Fair, Coconut Grove Arts Festival, California’s Orange County Fair & Event Center, and Exhibition Park in Alberta, Canada.

Phil Megenhardt, Creative Director/President – Bold Hat Productions

Phil Megenhardt founded Bold Hat Productions in 1997 with the vision of celebrating community through events. In an environment where client goals come first, creative energy is channeled in ways so that events come off with ease.  Phil has produced large-scale community festivals, corporate, municipal, and company-owned events.

While Phil’s background is in sales and marketing, he got his start with community events through Seattle Tilth, the Fremont Public Association (Fremont Fair), and the Pike Place Market Foundation. He created Fremont Oktoberfest, which recently celebrated its 14th anniversary and attracts 100,000 visitors to the Fremont Neighborhood annually. Phil currently serves on the Fremont Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Stephanie Allestad, – Chocolate on the Beach Festival

Stephanie (The Chocolate Lady) founded the Chocolate on the Beach Festival in 2007 as a fundraiser for the Museum of the North Beach to assist with building a new museum and to increase tourist revenue for the local community. In 2011, the festival has developed into a monetary grant provider for various volunteer groups and organizations on the North Beach of Grays Harbor County, WA.

Allestad is a member and community liaison for Grays Harbor Fire District #8.  She is also the leader of the North Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and a volunteer member of the Mount Rainer Chapter of Red Cross where she established the North Beach Community Center as a shelter partner.  When she’s not handing out chocolate or Tsunami warning magnets, she is a DJ for her local volunteer radio station, KXPB.

Jon Cox, – Vi ce President/Parade Chair - Capital Lakefair

Michael Campbell, Executive Director - Washington First Robotics

Michael began his event management career as the General Manager of Portland International Raceway after a career as a professional race car driver. A few years later, he became the General Manager of Seattle International Raceway before forming his own event production company in 1976. During a ten year run, Campbell Sports created and produced a wide range of events including rodeos, professional tennis events, the Kingbowl, a sand castle building contest on Alki Beach as well as the popular World Indoor Paper Airplane Championships in the Kingdome.

He moved to London in 1986 to become the Managing Director of ProServ where he produced professional tennis and golf events before returning to Seattle when he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress from the 8^th District. A year later, he became President of the Sports and Events Council of Seattle/King Country.

After a six-year run helping gain approval for Safeco Field and what was to become CenturyLink Field, he was tapped to become the President of the Northwest Marine Trade Association where he oversaw the Seattle Boat Show and a number of other boating events over the course of the next 10 years.

In 2010, Michael took his current position with Washington FIRST Robotics where he is responsible for producing 50 robotics competitions for students (K-12) through the state of Washington.

Michael currently serves on the Seafair Foundation Board as well as His Deal, a men’s ministry located in Seattle. His long-time passions are sailing, politics, reading and current events. Michael lives in Seattle with his wife Debbie, the owner of Tip Top Creative.

Corey Lopardi, Presaident - Pardiman Productions

Corey has been involved in marketing and media production since 1994.   In 2003 he founded Pardiman Productions a digital marketing company located in Olympia, WA, and in 2011 created the weekly online video magazine Discover Thurston which promotes the events, attractions, and businesses of Thurston County.

While Corey’s background is in marketing and media, he is also very involved in community events, and is serving for his second year as chair of the Pacific Northwest Mushroom Festival, and also the Puddle Jump 5k/10k. In 2012 he was awarded the Olympia Lacey Tumwater Visitor & Convention Bureau “Tourism Partner of the Year” award. Corey currently serves as President Elect of the Hawks Prairie Rotary Club.

Bruce Skinner, President- Skinner & Associates

Jon Stone, Festival Division Executive Director - One Reel

Jon has been involved in event production since 1988, working in diverse areas such as cultural events, festivals, concerts, nightclubs, theater and fine arts installations. Since 1992 he has worked in a variety of roles for One Reel, including key leadership positions at Bumbershoot, Teatro Zinzanni and the Summer Nights concert series. He directed One Reel’s production department for six years before assuming the role of Executive Director in 2010. Jon currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Washington Festivals and Events Association, is a business advisor to the Rat City Rollergirls, and is a member of the Seattle Music Commission, chairing the Youth and Education Committee.

Craig Cooke, President - Pacific Rim Talent, Inc.

Stephen can often be found on the “campaign trail” working to build relationships and create repeat clients. It’s hard to not get caught up in his passion and excitement for all things audio-visual!

Prior to founding Pyramid Staging & Events, Stephen spent the past nineteen years working for several reputable companies within the corporate events and meeting industry.

Some highlights include:

Stephen has a BA from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University and is proud to call the Pacific Northwest his home.

He is currently pursuing his MBA at Pacific Lutheran University.

Jeff Evans, Artist

A full-time pro since 1998, Jeff Evans is consistently one of the busiest entertainers around, performing over 250 shows a year for events in Washington and beyond.  One of those few acts that is equally at home performing for children as adults, Jeff is seen by thousands of kids each week at school assemblies, libraries, fairs, and festivals.  And, many Fortune 500 companies call on Jeff to perform for their banquets and events.  Boeing, Microsoft, Pepsi Cola, and R. E. I. are just a few of his repeat clients.  Learn more at www.amazementproductions.com.

Jurcan specializes in sales and marketing in the sports and events industry. 

For almost 15 years she has been a part of several major events, including Super Bowl XLII, 2001 MLB All Star Game, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and BCS National Championship Game, international soccer and more. Melissa has created and/or consulted on sales and marketing campaigns for various companies, including: Seafair (Seattle’s Summer Celebration), the University of Phoenix Stadium & Qwest Field & Event Center (NFL/Multipurpose event venues of which she was part of the opening team), Global Spectrum (one of the nation's leading facility management firms), Tacoma Rainiers (AAA Seattle Mariners), Village Theatre, and several Seattle-area restaurant/event venues, amongst others.

Currently, Jurcan serves as the Director of Sales & Marketing at Seafair. She oversees the sponsorship department as well as the branding, publicity and communications tactics for the festival and the foundation.

She is serving on the International Special Events Society (ISES) International Board of Governors. Recently, she completed a two-year term as ISES Vice President of the Western Region. In 2008 she earned the Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) designation, the hallmark of professional achievement in the special events industry. She was awarded the ISES Spirit of Excellence J. Robert Graves Pioneer Award in 2007 for her efforts in expanding the growth of the society.

Jurcan serves on the editorial advisory board for Northwest Meetings & Events Magazine. She is a regular contributor to industry publications and participates in several speaking engagements throughout the year. She is also an active member of the Public Relations Society of America.

Melissa graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Communications.

Pete Moran, President/CEO - Rezin Sports & Marketing

A native of Salem, Va., Moran learned at an early age to appreciate athletics. During high school he played tennis and participated on the two-time state championship team, as well a two-time state runner up playing the number three seed. Also at this time, he spent every weekend working as a ski instructor at Wintergreen Resort.

During college, Moran continued following his passion in the sports arena and worked his way up from a certified instructor to staff trainer at the Snowshoe Mountain Ski School, as well as interning in the marketing department. Following college, Moran worked as marketing manager for Intrawest at Snowshoe Mountain and it is here he met Shane McConkey, former world extreme skiing champion, sponsored by Red Bull. Shortly after meeting McConkey, Moran accepted the position as marketing manager for Red Bull North America and launched the energy drink in West Virginia and areas in Virginia and Maryland. In 2003 he moved to the West Coast as marketing manager for Washington State. Working with the team, Moran repositioned Red Bull back to number one in the energy drink category. He then took the position of sports marketing manager for the Northwest, followed by the Western region.

In 2008, Moran formed Rezin Sports Marketing, which focuses on talent management, brand development, scene integration and experiential marketing. For the last three years, the company has produced the Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience at Seafair Weekend. Rezin Sports Marketing has expanded the partnership this year to include being a part of Seafair's sponsorship department.

Moran received his Bachelor of Arts degree in recreation management and tourism with a minor in marketing from Davis and Elkins College.

Steve Remington, CFEE, Executive Director - Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, University of Idaho

Steve Remington currently serves as the Executive Director of the LionelHampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho.Mr. Remington has thirty years experience in the events industry including havingserved as president and executive director for Minnesota’s St. Paul WinterCarnival and Oregon’s da Vinci Days. He is a co-founder of the PortlandWaterfront Blues Festival and the Oregon Truffle Festival, a high-end culinarytourism event, and served for six years as President and Managing Director ofDowntown Events Management, Inc., in Eugene, Oregon, where he wasresponsible for all aspects of non-profit festivals and events production indowntown Eugene, including the city's annual Eugene Celebration. He is a pastChair of the International Festivals & Events Association Foundation and is a1997 graduate of the Purdue University/IFEA Certified Festival & EventExecutive program. He has taught event management as an adjunct facultymember for Arizona State University’s Hospitality and Tourism program, theUniversity of Oregon’s Arts and Administration graduate program, and iscurrently teaching at University of Idaho. He was a regular workshop presenterfor the UO’s Festival & Event Management Certificate Program for 5 years.

Robin Kelley, CFEE, Director of Festivals - Issaquah Chamber of Commerce/Salmon Days

Jana Ball is a Senior Account Executive at MSR, Mobile Stage Rentals for the Stageline Group.  A graduate in Business Administration, Ball began working in the world of event marketing tours.  As a Tour Manager, she had to navigate daily the intricate web of permitting for events.  With this knowledge, she now works with MSR with both end user and operator clients on a daily basis.  A significant part of that job entails ensuring that clients always have the most up to date information on the Stageline stages to help ensure permit approval for events all over North America.

Pierre Rompre', Director of Sales/Rentals-Stageline Group

As the Director of Sales and Rentals for the Stageline Group, Mr. Pierre Rompré has been with the company for over 5 years and has proven to be a valuable asset to the team. With a degree in Industrial Engineering, the Group benefits from his deep knowledge and concern with constant optimization. Pierre deals daily with the issues of safety in regards to Stageline’s stages, with both Stageline owners and MSR clients.  He has spearheaded the complete revamp of the engineering documents and presentations that help the Stageline Group keep relevant on all of the current staging safety requirements.

George Sharp, Executive Director-Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Visitor & Convention Bureau

Prior to his new appointment, George has worked with and for communities and economic development organizations at the local, regional, and state level to enhance business growth and promote economic sustainability. George’s career has included stints as: marketing manager for Department of Commerce International Trade and Economic Development Division, Washington state tourism development manager, Bellingham Chamber of Commerce membership and marketing director, Pullman Chamber of Commerce executive director, Pullman Chamber of Commerce Visitor and Convention director, director of the National Lentil Festival, and owner of the Cougar Land Motel, Cougar Cafe, and Balloons Etc.   George has been recognized at the local, state and international level for leadership and creativity.  He is a recipient of the United Way of Pullman Red Feather Leadership Award, Marshall A. Neill Outstanding Pullman Citizen of the Year Award, Washington State Tourism Awards for Best Cooperative Advertisement and Best Festival Marketing Campaign, International Festival and Events Association Gold Pinnacle Award for Best Public Service Announcement, and Silver Pinnacle Award for Best Radio Advertisement, and was inducted into the Pullman Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame.

Ryan Ingalls, Operations Manager - Boeing Classic

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Dr. Hart Hodges, Director - Center for Business & Economic Research, WWU

Dr. Hodges is the director of the Center for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) and an Associate Professor of Economics at Western Washington University . Prior to coming to Western Washington University , Hart spent several years with an economic consulting firm in Alaska and before that was a financial analyst for the City of Portland, OR. Hart has also served as the Natural Resource Damage Assessment economist for the U.S. Department of the Interior and was a research associate at World Resources Institute in Washington , DC . Hart received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington , his Masters in Environmental Management from Duke University , and his BA from Williams College .

He started his career at Western Washington University in 2000 and was appointed director of the Center for Economic and Business Research in 2001. His research interests include health economics, local economic development, and environmental economics.

The Center for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) is one of several outreach centers at Western’s College of Business and Economics. CEBR connects academic research with applied business needs… making data understandable and providing support to various government and economic development agencies. The CEBR also provides data to area businesses, prepares local economic forecasts and conducts research on topics such as border crossings, business growth, changes in wages, and other topics.