VENUETECH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Technical Services - Harris Center for the Arts
Wiley (he/him), a graduate of PCPA's technical theater conservatory, has established a history as a designer, technician, and producer across notable West Coast theaters, including Sacramento Music Circus, Phoenix Theatre, 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Rep, and Intiman Theatre. His versatile contributions span scenic design, carpentry, technical direction, and production management, showcasing a comprehensive skill set honed on diverse stages. He has worked on over 300 productions including pre-broadway runs of Aladdin and Here Lies Love and over 10 world premieres including Come From Away, The Great Leap, and Lizard Boy.
In addition to his theater endeavors, Wiley orchestrates one-off streaming events and has produced engaging online shows like Tim's Live, That Show, and The Great Leap with the Portland Chinatown Museum. This foray into the digital landscape reflects Wiley's adaptability and innovative spirit, seamlessly translating his theatrical expertise to captivate audiences in the virtual realm.
Wiley has moved back to his hometown of Roseville CA, to be closer to his family and is happy to bring his contributions to Harris Center for the Arts as the director of technical services.
Job Titles:
- Member of the VenueTech Staff
- Theatre Manager
- Vice President & Center Manager - Harris Center for the Arts, Folsom, CA
Amber Shaver became a member of the VenueTech staff in 2006 in Eureka, CA, one year prior to the Grand Opening of the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts. As Assistant Manager, she participated in developing all management systems for this lovely historic restoration project, which has gained regional and industry notoriety for its impact on the local economy and the quality of life in Humboldt County. With a strong background in marketing, including public relations, advertising and sales, and exceptional customer service training and skills, Amber quickly rose to the position of Theatre Manager in 2007.
Prior to working at the Arkley Center, Amber worked in sales and customer service positions in Provo, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; Salem, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. She received the 2003 Lead Generator of the Year Award from TrendWest Resorts in Las Vegas and created the first concierge program for the Resort. During her tenure as Theatre Manager of the Arkley Center, Amber developed a talented staff, a remarkable cadre of volunteers, a concierge quality Box Office customer service program and an exceptional reputation for quality management.
In February of 2011, Amber relocated to Downey, CA as Theatre Manager for the Downey Civic Theatre. In 2022, Amber started her new position of Vice President and Center Manager of the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom, CA, the newest client in VenueTech's management division.
Job Titles:
- Technical Director - Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre
- Technical Director for the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre
Annie has over two decades of experience in the theatrical and film industries. She began performing in plays, musicals, operas, concerts, and national television commercials at a young age and was also member of the Screen Actor's Guild. Annie transitioned to technical production in 2000 at Solano Community College and began working as a stage manager for numerous companies in Solano and Sacramento Counties and as an assistant lighting and sound designer. VenueTech hired Annie in 2002 as a stage technician, and later as lighting engineer and sound operator, at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre while going to school to earn her B.A. in English-Literary and Film Theory and her M.A in Theatre Arts from California State University, Sacramento. At Sacramento State, she served as a graduate assistant giving lectures in theatre and film studies and graded exams. As a chronic student and to further her leadership skills as a production manager and technical director, she has returned to school and will receive her M.B.A. in the summer of 2018.
Annie became the Technical Director for the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre in 2016. Her strong background in theatre and various events from local and professional concerts to large musicals and symphonies, has given her a great understanding and versed experience in theatre and technical production. Annie has earned technical design nominations and awards for her lighting, set, and sound designs as well as for her acting and stage direction. As a Vacaville native, she enjoys working with her community and volunteers her design skills for the local high school and community theatre groups in her spare time. To add to her theatre work experience, she also has front of house work experience as a house manager and as box office staff. Additionally, Annie was the Managing Director for the Gaslighters Theatrical Company in Solano County and now serves on the Board of Directors for the Creative Arts Collective (Network) as well as the technical consultant for the Harbor Theatre in Suisun. Because of her diverse theatrical and events background, Annie has a profound consideration for performers, singers, technical and theatre production staff, and community groups.
Job Titles:
- Box Office Manager - Harris Center for the Arts
Ashley is the Box Office Manager at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom, CA. Ashley began working for VenueTech at the Downey Theatre as a Volunteer in 2011 and quickly worked her way to become the Volunteer Coordinator and House Manager just a year later. Ashley's hard work, dedication and passion for the arts drove her to excel in all aspects for Front of House operations. She was promoted to Box Office Manager in 2018 at the Downey Theatre and has since relocated to the Harris Center for the Arts and manages a professional box office with over 150 events per year. In addition to her Box Office Managing responsibilities, Ashley has assisted in coordinating Downey's signature annual event, the Downey Dia de los Muertos Art Festival, which hosts over 40,000 patrons each year.
Prior to the founding of VenueTech, John Lind spent 20 years in municipal government administration after earning a Masters degree in Public Administration from University of San Francisco. Throughout his career John has been actively involved in the management and development of convention, recreation, performing arts and entertainment facilities, including his position as Stadium Director at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. In this position, as well as in his work as the Manager of many convention centers, recreation centers, sports facilities, theatres and other public venues, he has gained valuable experience in the areas of venue management, business development, event production and the management of capital improvement projects.
The restoration of numerous historic structures, the development of performing and visual arts facilities, the administration of a $30 million renovation of Candlestick Park and the management of the stadium during the 1989 San Francisco Earthquake and World Series rank as the personal highlights of his career.
For the past thirty years John has developed strategic financing plans, feasibility studies, business plans, restoration plans, fund development campaigns and operating systems for a wide variety of community organizations, including municipal government and nonprofits, reflecting his commitment to the concept of blending community service with responsible business practices.
In addition to managing entertainment and arts venues ranging from 300 to 70,000 seats, John has a career specialization in the area of cultural development having written his Masters Thesis on Developing Cultural Growth in Small Communities.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Lead VenueTech Consultant
Judy is the lead VenueTech consultant on facility management projects and the leader of VenueTech's management team operating public, private and nonprofit sector venues. With a Master of Science degree from University of California at Davis and more than three decades of experience in facility management, public administration and event production, Judy provides a wealth of experience and knowledge to her position of Executive Vice President of VenueTech, which she has held since 1998. As past CEO of the California Mid-State Fair and Deputy General Manager of Cal Expo, in Sacramento, she has extensive experience in the management of public facilities and the production of public events.
Judy's experience ranges from producing events lasting one evening to eighteen consecutive days; from free community concerts to 16,000 reserved seats; and from fundraising dinners for one hundred guests to events with nearly one million total attendance. She is as comfortable working with small groups of community volunteers as she is with industry professionals like Alan Jackson, Michael Bolton or James Taylor, just a few of the major concerts she has produced. Judy is a respected Talent Buyer with numerous agencies throughout the United States. She is well versed in talent contract negotiation, concert production, facility management, arts programming, operations, financial controls, marketing, grants and sponsorships.
Job Titles:
- Chief Legal Officer
- Vice President
Kathleen's career spans 27 years experience as Chief Legal Officer and executive with responsibility for all organizational legal affairs, including insurance and risk management (including captive programs) in the security, financial & insurance and technology industries with annual sales from $50 Million to $3 Billion. As an executive for major corporations her expanded role included sales, marketing, human resources and operations. As CLO for organizations with 50,000+ employees from the 1980's to present day, Kathleen has created, expanded and managed human resources throughout the advent of state and federal claims based upon sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence in the workplace as well managing human resources departments with objective to establish optimal employer-employee relations.
Kathleen's experience extends to mergers & acquisitions for privately held and publically traded organizations including technology acquisitions and mergers in excess of $1.5 Billion. She is an expert in technology transactions for software and hardware/chip, trade secret and patented technology. She offers expertise in the establishment and scaling of legal departments within the corporate environment to provide value added legal services where prevention and training provide the foundation as best practices to avoid and manage risk in today's world, while achieving revenue objectives.
Kathleen received her B.A. in Political Science from California State University, her J.D. from Golden Gate University. She is a member of the California State Bar in good standing; a long time member and early supporter of the worldwide Association of Corporate Counsel. Kathleen has served as Director of non-profit boards. As an adept and sought out public speaker, Kathleen has throughout her career actively organized and participated in lectures, training and presentation of work papers and conferences providing timely and useful information to the public, the legal community and client groups nationwide.
Job Titles:
- Theatre Manager - Downey Civic Theatre, Downey, CA
Kimberly joined VenueTech in October 2015. She started her career in entertainment with The Walt Disney Company in 2007 and achieved positions within Disney Performing Arts, The Disney University, and Disney's Youth Education Series after graduating from the Disney College Program internship. This work helped hone her skills in event management, operation, and production and provided a firm Guest Service foundation from which to build. Throughout her time with VenueTech she has held positions as Lead House Manager and COVID Compliance Officer for the Theatre. She was promoted to Theatre Manager in 2022.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Vice President
- Heritage Theatre Manager
Kristyn Jacobson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific. She started her career in the event production business as Director of Events and Administration for the Downtown Stockton Alliance in 1998. Kristyn came to work for VenueTech in 1999 as the Marketing Manager of the Stockton Fox Theatre, was promoted to Theatre Manager in 2001, and moved to the Heritage Theatre in Campbell, California in 2002 to prepare for the Grand Opening of that historic restoration project.
In her position as Heritage Theatre Manager Kristyn developed the rental business to include local and regional arts organizations, schools, promoters of ethnic arts events, and clients in the government and business sectors. She secured over 150 rental dates by the third full year of Theatre operations. Kristyn also develops the annual operating budgets and sets financial goals for the Theatre in addition to her day-to-day responsibilities of hiring and training staff, supervising the daily operations, managing the in-house marketing and producing the annual Season of national touring artists.
In 2012 Kristyn was promoted to Vice President of VenueTech and assumed responsibility for several areas of administration of the company, as well as providing additional operational support for staff assigned to our team of Theatre Managers. In 2022, Kristyn was promoted to Senior Vice President of VenueTech and plays a significant role in the recruitment, onboarding, personnel management, employee benefits, training, payroll, oversees human relations functions, and reports directly to Executive Vice President Judy Barkett in the performance of her duties as Vice President.
Job Titles:
- Festival Manager and Media Relations - Downey Civic Theatre
Lee Wade joined VenueTech in 2013 to assist Theatre Manager Amber Shaver in the establishment of The Downey Dia de Los Muertos Art Festival.
Lee was a co-founder and Executive Producer at Events Marketing, Inc., obtaining sponsorships for and publicizing over 100 "Sky Shows"- spectaculars of fireworks, lights and music-that were staged at the nation's best fairs and festivals such as The Kentucky Derby Festival, LincolnFest in Springfield, IL, and The Taste of Minnesota, and over 50 Mariachi Festivals, that were performed at California's top State and County Fairs.
Job Titles:
- Theatre Manager - San Ramon Performing Arts, San Ramon, CA
Lin Dennis joined the VenueTech team in 2004 working part-time as a House Manager at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell, CA. She grew up attending theatrical performances with her grandmother in San Francisco and her love of those experiences has stayed with her. After leaving her full-time position in the tech industry her appreciation for the arts evolved as she became more involved in a variety of performing arts venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Lin's patron service experience spans from box office & event staff management at small, intimate venues such as the Carriage House and Lillian Fontaine Garden Theatres at Montalvo in Saratoga to premium suite customer service at venues such as Levi Stadium in Santa Clara with over 60,000 guests attending sporting events (including Super Bowl 50), concerts & special events. Her work with various promoters, event management organizations and audiences at The San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, SAP Center, The Mountain Winery and Shoreline Amphitheatre have developed her understanding of the event business, its challenges and opportunities. Working to manage events so that each guest and client has the best experience possible is something that Lin strives to achieve each time the venue doors open.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management, Lin became the Theatre Manager for the San Ramon Performing Arts theatres in 2015 where she now manages the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center and the Front Row Theatre in hosting nearly 50,000 patrons each year. Lin manages the Theatres' rental clients, the annual professional Presenting Series of performances, as well as supporting the program needs of both the City of San Ramon and the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. The Front Row Theatre and Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center have developed a solid reputation of managing events with professionalism and successful customer support under her direction.
Job Titles:
- Production Manager and Technical Director - Harris Center for the Arts
Luis Del Arroz has been with VenueTech since its inception in 1989 and brings an extensive event production background to the management team as he provides a practical, hands-on approach to the business which could only be offered by someone producing hundreds of events per year. His work with VenueTech includes the development of technical and production plans, event planning strategies, lighting and stage systems, and sound reinforcement design.
Luis has an extensive background in the development of production specifications for community centers, theatres, major concert venues, special events and corporate trade shows. He also holds the position of Production Manager for Wilson Events, producing concerts at numerous fairs and festivals each year; he is the Production Manager and Technical Director for major cruise lines, Technical Director for the Fresno Grand Opera, and he is Tour Manager for national recording artists. He has worked in the production of live theatre, opera, ballet, headliner concerts, major consumer shows and corporate trade shows, including work with Microsoft, Intel and others.
Luis has produced some of the biggest names in the concert industry, such as Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Josh Groban, and Andrea Bocelli, to name just a few. He is equally capable and qualified to produce a High School Band concert. Luis is responsible for VenueTech's concert production management and the supervision, training, and mentoring of all of VenueTech's on-site technical staff. He is also the Production Manager and Technical Director at the Harris Center for the Arts.
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager - Harris Center for the Arts
Lynne Skaggs joined VenueTech in 2022 after serving as a volunteer usher and ticket agent during the reopening of the Harris Center. With a Master of Business Administration degree and a rich career in the non-profit sector and federal service, Lynne brings effective team management for organizational development. As the Operations Manager, Lynne oversees the daily tasks of the theater management and works with customers at all levels of the business.
Lynne is committed to improving the customer experience by applying the principle of excellence with ease. She is active in community programs that provide food to her neighbors, advocates for disability services for veterans and promotes wellness activities. Her love of theater dates back to attending community theater with her family.
Job Titles:
- Theatre Manager - Campbell Heritage Theatre, Campbell, CA
Monica Payne is a Bay Area resident who enjoys music and performing arts. Monica graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelors of Music in Percussion Performance and a Minor in Special Education. In addition to performance, they have worked as a behavioral interventionist for children with autism as well as a children's music instructor. Monica loves live theatre and is an avid arts enthusiast.
Job Titles:
- Theatre Manager - Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, Vacaville, CA
Rachel Morgan joined VenueTech in January 2013 as Box Office/House Manager at Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre (VPAT) and quickly progressed to become the Theatre Manager by February of 2014.
Rachel has a Master of Science in Sport Management from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. Her background in ticket operations, live event operations and customer service translate seamlessly to the day-to-day operations as a Theatre Manager.
Job Titles:
- Technical Director - Campbell Heritage Theatre
- Technical Director at the Heritage Theatre
Stephen Milligan serves as VenueTech's Technical Director at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell, California. He started his career as a theatre technician and lighting designer ten years ago working in night clubs around the Bay Area, honing his technical skills and developing management experience.
Steve has been the Lighting Designer for national touring artists such as Maroon 5 and Evanesence, among many others. Starting with VenueTech as a Lighting Designer in 2004, Steve quickly demonstrated his ability to work with clients and supervise staff, as well as care for and manage a valuable and complex facility. For the past two years Steve has held the position of Technical Director for the Heritage Theatre and also has served as Production Manager for special events.
Job Titles:
- Technical Director - Downey Civic Theatre
Steven has been involved in the performing arts for nearly two decades. He was active in the Cal State Dominguez Hills Theatre Department as a staff Theatre Technician from 2000 to 2015. Steven worked as the Technical Director and later also assumed the role of Theatre Manager at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts. In 2014 Steven came to work for VenueTech at the Downey Theatre and was promoted to Technical Director in July 2018. In 2019, he took over as the Theatre Manager and production manager for the three performing arts venues at California State University, Dominguez Hills. In 2022 Steven returned to VenueTech as the Technical Director for the Downey Theatre.