About the event

Come join us in Myrtle Beach, SC, for Live Your Fest Life, Best Life – 2+ days of education, networking, and idea sharing, with a healthy dose of music, fun, and memories thrown in! We're excited to announce our keynote by Rachel Cooke of Lead Above Noise ( - Leading Through Uncertainty and Change. This year, our educational sessions are graded by track level, so we can make sure to have educational offerings for all experience levels in our industry. Whether you're brand new or an old pro, we'll have something designed with your skills and needs in mind. So check out the different educational levels and find what fits for you! We'll also have: *15+ hours of pure educational content *3+ hours of artist showcase presentations *4 hours of dedicated tradeshow time *15+ hours of socials and networking time *The Kaleidoscope Awards Gala *Discounts on local experiences for your time in Myrtle Beach outside of the conference (so come early or stay a little longer!) Vendors - make sure to apply through the Exhibitor section (don't buy just a regular ticket)! General attendees can just purchase the ticket appropriate to their situation. And announcing, for the first time - SINGLE DAY ATTENDANCE TICKETS! Hotel reservations link: Want to join SFEA and get member pricing to attend our conference? Do it here!

Dates

Feb 19, 2023 · 7:00 PM - Feb 22, 2023 · 10:30 AM(GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

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Location

South Carolina, United States

9800 Queensway Blvd,, Myrtle Beach,, South Carolina 29572, United States

Directions

Event highlights

Rachel Cooke, Lead Above Noise

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Rachel Cooke is the founder of Lead Above Noise, a company born from a belief that work should simply work better. 

We enter the workforce, fueled by newness and enthusiasm and hope, and somewhere down the line, we hit a roadblock. Well-meaning leaders unintentionally, but routinely, stifle debate and innovation, and team members grow weary and lost. But complex problems don’t always require complex solutions. Sometimes, the answers are simple. Sometimes, a fuel fill-up is right around the corner.

Danielle Hernandez, Event Safety Alliance

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For more than 25 years, Danielle Hernandez has enjoyed working in many aspects of the live events industry. She is the Director of McAlister Auditorium, a 1900 seat proscenium performance space at Furman University in Greenville, SC.  At Furman, she is responsible for ensuring a safe environment for staff, performers and patrons ranging from young children to senior citizens. Throughout her career she has become more and more focused on safety in the performance industry, which led her to the Event Safety Alliance. The joy of finding her people has led to increased involvement in the organization, training and in promoting safety both at local and national levels.  Danielle is on the Board of Directors for the Event Safety Alliance, the South Carolina Theatre Association, is a member of the ESTA Event Safety Working Group, and leads the ESTA task group creating an ANSI standard for Communications at live event productions.

Julie Beck, NCAF&E

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The North Carolina Association of Festivals & Events is a 501(c)(3) organization and serves as a year-round forum for Festival and Event coordinators, key volunteers, and vendors to the industry.

Kurt Faustin, The Dropout Academy

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Kurt Faustin is a father, entrepreneur, and success strategist that is bridging the gap between wellness and performance by focusing on emotional intelligence and mental health. He has worked with outlets from Harvard University, Chase Bank, Boston Pre-Release Prison, City of Boston, and was a writer for HuffPost and Forbes’s website. 

He was recently selected by the city of Boston's Mayor to join their first Black Men and Black Boy's Commission. He discovered his own philosophy and principles that's backed by science to improve performance while empowering one to make a permanent change within their mindset.

Spencer Ingle, Eventeny

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Spencer Ingle is a Software Sales Specialist at Eventeny and a Charlotte native. He has spent the last 5+ years in sales and event management, with a focus on growth and customer relations.

Outside of work, Spencer spends most of his time golfing, hunting, fishing, or with his wife and two dogs.

Michael Bleau, EventHub

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As Co-founder and CEO of EventHub, Michael works with hundreds of the largest festivals, fairs, marathons, and sports properties across the US and Canada. EventHub is a two-fold platform, with a marketplace that matches upwards of 50,000 buyers with event sponsorship and booth opportunities, and a tool-suite that streamlines sponsor and vendor management. He has led dozens of keynotes and panels on event marketing, sponsorship, and production at shows across the country.

Greg Fuson, ChandlerThinks

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Greg has been helping clients understand their market through research for more than 25 years. He has managed studies for a number of national brands including Coca Cola, Starbucks, Walgreens, Lowes, Cisco Systems and the County Music Association just to name a few. His true passion however, is in travel and tourism including festivals and events. Greg has managed studies for over 160+ destinations across the US and Canada, helping them understand and develop their brand along with conducting numerous economic impact studies for festivals and events from Suwanee Fest in Suwanee, GA to the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Arts Festival in Franklin, TN to the Seven Peaks Music Festival in Colorado. 

Greg and the Chandlerthinks team were recently awarded, for the second straight year, the Power of Research Award given by the Southeast Travel and Tourism Research Association. Greg is actively involved in the Southeast Tourism Society and is a past board member and board chairman of the Southeast Festivals and Events Association. When not working with clients, Greg speaks on a regular basis on the topic of place branding, tourism and festival and event economic impact.  

Needless to say, Greg understands data collection.

Kristin Edwards - Director of Special Events, City of Winder (GA)

Kristin Edwards is a seven-time SFEA Kaleidoscope Award winner from her tenure at the City of Duluth to include Event Director of the Year in 2021 and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion award in 2022. Edwards took a short break from festival planning to complete her Master’s in Business Administration from Kennesaw State University while planning networking events for the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. Now at the City of Winder as the Director of Special Events, Edwards is working to revitalize the community with a plethora of diverse and inclusive events that the city has never seen before.

Haley Tinkle, Downtown Vision Jacksonville

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Haley Tinkle is an award-winning, event planning expert with nearly a decade of experience. Tinkle is the Director of Events at Downtown Vision Inc.: the business improvement district in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. She has grown her department with three core events: First Wednesday Art Walk, Third Thursday Sip & Stroll, and Jax River Jams, two fundraisers, the #DTJax Awards and the #DTJax Gala and three new promotional events: Halloweek, Small Business Saturday, and Dashing through Downtown. Tinkle oversees and plans all of the events, from conceptualization to implementation. Her award winning events bring together Jacksonville, known as a city of neighborhoods, to the heartbeat of the city, Downtown.

Along with her work in Downtown Jacksonville, she owns and operates Haley Wright Photography, which specializes in portraits and weddings. Then, with her husband, they operate an event venue management company and are blessed to manage two beautiful and historic venues in Jacksonville. When she's not bustling around town, she's cuddling her five fur babies or packed up the '86 Bronco to tow the '82 Shasta Camper all over the state of Florida.

Wright Tilley, Explore Boone / Watauga County Tourism Development

Wright Tilley is the Executive Director of the Boone & Watauga County Tourism Development Authorities. He is also an adjunct instructor in the Hospitality Management program at Appalachian State University.

Wright has more than 32 years of work experience in the tourism and festival & events industries. He previously worked for the Macon GA International Cherry Blossom Festival, the Jekyll Island Authority, and RCS Productions.

Wright is a past Chairman of the World Board of Directors of the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) and a past Chairman of the IFEA Foundation Board. He is also a past Chairman of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association and previously served on the Southeast Tourism Society Board of Directors. Wright currently volunteers on the High Country Host board, and the Appalachian Summer Festival Advisory Board in Boone.

Wright has a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a master’s degree in recreation and tourism management from the University of Florida. He has also earned the Certified Festival and Event Executive designation from the IFEA & Purdue University.

Bill Frey, Illuminating Design

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Illuminating Design started in 2004 and has established itself as an industry leading in artistic lighting working on many of the large lighting displays around the southeast.  They have worked on many of the largest holiday displays in the southeast as well as are a leader in the projection mapping industry.  Creating what has not been seen before is where Illuminating Design thrives.  The bigger the challenge the bigger the opportunity to create something amazing. At Illuminating Design, we bring your design to light.

William Hamilton, Hamilton Creative Solutions

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Cool as a cucumber, tactfully aware, and creatively poised; Co-owner of Hamilton Creative, William Hamilton considers himself a problem solver in creative marketing outreach. William’s diverse background and skill set brings a unique approach to interpersonal relationship building between clients and their target audience, and his company’s ability to offer a highly collaborative approach to project management and accessibility.
Having studied film and Graphic Design at Washtenaw Community College and Secondary Education at Eastern Michigan University, William eventually found himself teaching Middle School Social Studies at West Middle in Ypsilanti, Michigan before relocating to Savannah, Georgia in 2007. William ultimately landed a career as a Fire Engineer with the City of Savannah Fire Department and completed his Bachelors of Science in Occupational Safety and Health/ Fire Science.

In 2014, William and his wife Stephanie founded Hamilton Creative, a boutique marketing agency located in Savannah, GA that offers email marketing, graphic design, videography, social media management, blog and content writing and creative marketing services locally and nationwide.

William Hamilton is a husband, father of three beautiful children, lover of life and fine sushi.

Evan Goetz, Tybee Post Theater

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Evan Goetz serves at the Executive Director of the historic Tybee Post Theater on Tybee Island, GA. The Tybee Post Theater is a presenting venue that hosts over 150 events per year. Events include first-run movies, concerts, theater, comedy, and dance. Evan has held previous positions at the City of Rock Hill (Arts Marketing Manager), Blumenthal Performing Arts (Broadway Marketing Manager), and Armstrong State University (Arts Marketing Manager). Evan's believes that an innovative and collaborative approach to promoting and advancing the arts start with the mission and the desire to make that mission accessible.

Showcase Dinner at Crooked Hammock Brewery

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Join us for a night of live entertainment, a photo booth, delicious food, games, and networking.

Thank you to our sponsors!!!

Diamond:
Classic Tents & Events
Shatterproof Media
Royal Restrooms
Illuminating Design
RCS Productions

Gold: Magnolia Displays

Silver:
Eventeny
PT Productions
360 Festivals

Bronze: 
AMI Graphics
K2 Creative

Promo items discount from K2 Creative!

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If you are attending the SFEA Conference and are bringing swag, make sure you check K2 Creative's offerings before you order. They are giving SFEA 2023 Conference attendees the following discount:

• Promo products: Free 1 color setup on new orders
• Banner: $90 6’ x 3’ full color banner w/ hem and grommets
• Business cards full color/2-stuffed: 1000 for $58

Reference: SFEA2023 when placing order

General Attendance

Price: $0.00-575.00

Member (Non-Exhibitor) Registration

Sale Ended

$475.00

NON-REFUNDABLE