CENTRIFUGE MEDIA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Account Services
Born and raised in the great state of Pennsylvania, Adrienne moved to North Carolina in 2008 chasing adventure, new opportunities, and southern sunshine.
Upon graduation from Meredith College with a degree in Mass Media Communications, she joined Centrifuge Media as an Account Coordinator in July 2012. Since then, she ascended through several positions at CMI, including Senior Account Coordinator, Senior Account Manager, and Account Supervisor. She currently serves as Associate Director of Account Services.
Adrienne oversees Centrifuge's talented team of Event Coordinators and Account Managers. Her duties span from assigning planning teams for new projects to ensuring quality and consistency across internal and external platforms, managing our evolving travel schedule, and even planning a few meetings of her own. Adrienne helps keep CMI a well-oiled machine, running at a steady pace.
During her tenure, Adrienne has planned over 600+ programs and traveled domestically and internationally to interface with clients and oversee project execution. Due to her steadfast work ethic, passionate attention to detail, and extensive knowledge of the pharma, biotech, and life science meeting arena, she has earned the reputation of a preferred and trusted client consultant.
Job Titles:
- Office Manager / AP Coordinator
Amy Schaller is a ‘glass half full' kind of gal and is the ultimate optimist with her bright smile! (There's lots of smiles around this place, can you tell yet?) Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Amy brings her bright and welcoming disposition to everyone who walks in the front door at Centrifuge Media.
Before joining the CMI team in January 2011, she worked within the telecommunications industry for 13 years as an Office Manager, as well as AP/AR Coordinator.
Amy first began working for Centrifuge part-time as an Office Manager. In 2018, Amy transitioned to full-time, continuing in her role as Office Manager and incorporating a new position as Accounts Payable Coordinator. Her responsibilities include handling a wide-range of administrative, technical, financial and executive-support tasks. As an experienced administrative professional with a demonstrated history of working in the media production industry for over a decade, the Centrifuge teams values her knowledge and attention to detail.
Ashton's favorite part about design is making client's ideas and stories come to life, and that is exactly what she does here at Centrifuge Media.
Ashton lived in Orange County, CA, and Wilmington, NC prior to landing in Raleigh in 2014. She graduated from UNCW with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies, where she developed her strong passion for graphic design. Since then, she has created engaging and impactful visual designs for hundreds of clients in a wide array of industries and on many different platforms. After working remotely for 8 years, this social butterfly is thrilled to be a part of the talented team and exciting event life at Centrifuge Media.
Job Titles:
- Senior Technical Director
Brandon Goldthwaite is one of two Senior Technical Directors (STDs) at Centrifuge and is the ‘Lead Video Engineer' on staff. That's not an official title but stands true, he says.
Brandon leads the CMI team in production and engineering for live and virtual events, often training our crew in the technical needs and requirements for our work - hello, TriCaster! His journey with CMI began, like many, as a freelancer in 2006. He went on to join the team full-time in March 2016.
His background is in radio, which started from the time he was born (yes, you read that right) until just out of high school. He ‘grew up in a radio station,' recording voice overs for national commercials as a child before getting involved in engineering, producing and editing commercials for national air-play. Brandon also proudly organized a team of researchers to determine what was hot and what was not with new music to send out over the airwaves. From radio, he went on to become a certified studio/audio engineer, then inadvertently went into hotel A/V. A demand for video engineering & projectionists eventually lead Brandon down that path. And here he is today!
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- Business Partner
As CEO and sought-after business consultant, mentor, speaker coach and visionary producer, Brian splits his time between traveling the globe to meet with clients and at Centrifuge headquarters to lead and develop his ever-expanding in-house team.
Prior to launching Centrifuge Media, Inc. (CMI, as we sometimes call it) in 2005, Brian spent substantial time in medical marketing and education. In this prior career, he attended healthcare and life science meetings, which exposed him to underwhelming and disjointed event production throughout the industry. He quickly realized few agencies understood or addressed the unique needs of biotech, pharmaceutical and life science leaders. Upon identifying this gap, Brian recognized and seized the opportunity to fill it. Through his vision, leadership and execution, Centrifuge came to life!
Since its conception, Brian has strategically developed a team to simultaneously provide the highest level of customer service and a cutting-edge approach to event communications, production design and creative solution development.
At the heart of Centrifuge's year-over-year growth and success is Brian's steadfast commitment to meeting and exceeding client expectations. As a product of this pursuit, he developed and continues to expand the in-house creative, production, performance and communication strategy capabilities that have transitioned CMI from a primarily audio-visual company to a globally recognized Strategic Event Communications Agency.
As an active philanthropist, Brian and his family are passionate about supporting local charities and encourage volunteerism within the Centrifuge ranks. For the past 10 years, Centrifuge has maintained the title sponsorship of the MeFine Foundation Gala, which raises money to support local families of children experiencing a medical crisis.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Event Operations & Internal Support
Chris Dahnke is known for his passion, perseverance, and character - along with his sometimes ‘wrong age group' references. (But we still love him!)
Chris joined the team in July 2014 and serves as Centrifuge's Executive Director of Event Operations & Internal Support. In this leadership role, Chris focuses on enhancing global processes and procedures carried forth by our Account Managers, Project Managers, and Event Coordinators. Chris' commitment to execution excellence and his extensive background in life sciences has proven instrumental in developing new client relationships and strengthening current partnerships.
Prior to joining the CMI team, Chris spent 20 years dedicated to the Pharma and Life Science industries. After graduating from Ohio University with a double degree in English and Education, his skillset and natural drive led to, and bolstered, a 10-year career at a medical publisher in New York City contributing to journals featuring a variety of therapeutic categories, including CNS, Anesthesiology, Gastro/Endo and Pharmacy.
After moving to Raleigh, North Carolina, Chris began working for an advertising agency dedicated to the life sciences. There, he spent another decade contributing to a number of campaigns, websites, and learning systems for a variety of major pharmaceuticals in the arenas of IBS-D, UC, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, medical devices for asthma management, postpartum hemorrhage, and PICC lines.
Job Titles:
- Warehouse Manager
- As Centrifuge 's Warehouse Manager until His Passing in Late 2020
- in Memorium Warehouse Manager
Dana McKisson served As Centrifuge's Warehouse Manager until his passing in late 2020.
He was an integral part of our workforce and an even better friend. His work was largely behind the scenes, and he was an invaluable part of the Centrifuge mission since joining the team in 2016.
If you've worked with us for any kind of event over the last several years - know that Dana helped make it possible with his creative logistical mind.
We will miss the warmth and positivity he brought to our team. Dana was known for bouncing around from office to office, sparking up friendly conversations about cars, sports and family. He was a light, a confidant and a hard worker.
We will be thinking of his family as they grieve this loss. To leave your condolences or to plant a tree in Dana's honor, please go here.
Job Titles:
- Employee
- Senior Project Manager
Fausto joined the CMI team in February of 2019 after graduating from Mars Hill University with a degree in Business Admin.-Management and Marketing, where he proudly played collegiate baseball and feverishly worked towards perfecting the art of fly fishing; he says to not worry and that he did make it to class.
Seeking an opportunity to work under a Project Manager, Fausto jumped on a job with Centrifuge. He was intrigued by the events industry, but at the time was more so interested in working with a tight-knit group, and for a company that traveled often - much like a baseball team.
After getting his feet wet as an Event Coordinator, he developed a love for the nature of the events industry, where every project is unique. It also wasn't long before he was promoted to Project Manager. In this role, he handles the logistics behind meetings and events of varying sizes, working with AV partners, venue contacts and industry SMEs to deliver the best to clients. He is also known for furniture and cameras - you'll have to ask him about that if you want to know more.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Client Services
Keegan Girouard joined the CMI team in June of 2021. Serving as a Senior Event Coordinator, he gets a chance to be involved in all aspects of project planning.
Keegan is a Pennsylvania native and proud graduate of Penn State University, where he studied Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management. During his studies, he quickly recognized his passion for working within the events space.
Following graduation, he spent four years in roles focused on facility and event management. During this time, Keegan noticed his love for event work spilled into both the production side, as well as the day-to-day interaction and collaboration with clients to create a one-of-a-kind experience.
Job Titles:
- Communication Strategist
- Communications Strategist
Kristen Wolfe joined Centrifuge Media as a Communication Strategist in February of 2022.
Job Titles:
- Creative Operations Supervisor
Lauren Dearmore lives by three standards: positivity, optimization, and Oxford commas.
As the Creative Operations Supervisor, she oversees a team of designers and the overall creative project management at Centrifuge Media to ensure project success. She advises clients and internal teams on the best strategic approach for their needs. She optimizes processes, fosters communication, builds budgets, and offers creative direction.
Lauren is also responsible for onsite branding, interactive workshops, and immersive training experiences. With a background in advertising and publishing in higher ed, Lauren knows how to capture your audience's attention and deliver your message. She is always asking how we can innovate and push beyond what's been done before to deliver what's next.
Matt Reyes joined Centrifuge Media in April 2012 as a Project Coordinator.
He's a 2011 graduate of UNC - Chapel Hill, where he studied Economics and worked on the technical side of events. Over the years, he's worked in several areas of the event industry, ranging from project management and in the warehouse, to his current role as Finance & Program Profitability Manager. Matt is known as the Swiss Army Knife of Centrifuge with such a diverse background within the company.
In his current role, he combines experience in planning meetings, technical understanding and attention to detail to make sure Centrifuge is providing what's needed to execute meetings of any size. He's also a firm believer that spreadsheets can be used for quite literally anything!
Melanie has been with the company since day one (actually, several months before that) and says she feels fortunate to have a front row seat to the company's growth and evolution since its origination in 2005. Melanie has been right there as Centrifuge blossomed from a primarily A/V production company into a world-renowned, full-service strategic communications agency for events and meetings with clients in the pharma, life sciences and bio tech sectors.
After working in medical education ‘lifetimes ago,' Melanie and her business partner, Brian Rivers, saw an opportunity to launch an audiovisual event production company to fit the needs of these specific industries - 16 years and a lot of development later… here we are!
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director of Event Services
Job Titles:
- Senior Technical Director
Shane Stokes is one of talented two Senior Technical Directors (or STDs as you may hear from time-to-time, just to be clear) at Centrifuge. His primary role is running audio for our events, however, as a technical director he wears several hats. Like many of the amazing folks on the CMI team! For Shane, his role can range from helping plan events, working with vendors, training, loading in shows and keeping up with new and updated technology.
Shane's love of music and drums led him to school for audio recording, which later brought him into the audio sector of the live events industry. After many years of freelancing as an Audio Engineer, he came on full-time with Centrifuge in January of 2015.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Creative Services
As Executive Director of Creative Services, Steve leads our team of graphic designers, presentation designers, motion designers, video producers, and animators. His 25+ year career in design and media production has spanned traditional graphic design, digital media, video production, animation, creative direction, and project management. He also founded and operated a digital design agency for 10 years before a successful exit.
Steve's work has won design awards such as a Gold Wallie Award from the Carolinas Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society, and eHealthcare Leadership Awards. He was also named a Top 50 Entrepreneur by Business Leader Magazine and won a Piedmont Business Ethics Award by the Society of Financial Professionals.
Steve is a certified Kansas City Barbecue Society judge and loves spending time on his (wife's) Traeger, smoking anything (on the Traeger). He is a long-time drummer and enjoys most music made before 2001, excluding country. He is also an avid Halloween fanatic, so when you drive by that over-the-top, crazy Halloween house, it's probably his. And, if the picture didn't give it away yet, Steve belongs to the Star Wars fandom - although he's still not happy about The Last Jedi.
Job Titles:
- Designer
- 3D Event Designer
As a Senior Project Manager, Tanner Highland works with vendors, venues, and contractors to bring our client's visions to reality.
Prior to joining Centrifuge Media in June 2019, Tanner worked in college athletics for six years, with roles focused on event and facility management. It was in this career field that he first started working with large sound systems, LED video screens, and projectors - and really enjoyed it.
During Centrifuge's transition to virtual events due to COVID-19 in 2020, Tanner became one of the lead CMI team members to manage the virtual platforms that are necessary to execute successful virtual meetings.
Job Titles:
- Centrifuge 's Operations Manager
- Operations & Logistics Manager
Will Sanders is Centrifuge's Operations Manager and is one of CMI's longest tenured team members. He first joined the company in February 2008 as the Warehouse Manager.
In his current role, Will oversees the IT infrastructure, inventory asset tracking and event logistical procedures, along with procurement of new technology and logistical financial forecasts and invoicing.
Even as far back as middle school, Will recalls a fascination with the audiovisual world. He was immersed in A/V through his school's media center, learning about closed circuit TV and delivering overheads and projectors to teachers in their classrooms. It makes sense that Will went on to attend Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina and major in Mass Communications. His fondness for technology eventually led him to a career in the audiovisual industry in the early 2000's, when digital tech was just starting to take shape.
He loves the technology behind TV and movie magic and the behind-the-scenes technical production that it takes to execute a live event. Ultimately, Will's passion and commitment garnered the attention of CMI. He says he enjoys working at Centrifuge because the emphasis is put on the talented men and women behind-the-scenes who make everything come to life!