PREMIER EVENTS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Venue Concessions Manager

Job Titles:

• Kitchen Manager - Chastain Park Amphitheatre and Center Parc Stadium

Job Titles:

• Venue and Staffing Operations Manager
• Venue Director

With 24 years of bar management and event experience to her credit, Desi Wheeler is an experienced professional in the event and entertainment business. She has held Bar Management positions at Applebee's, the Atlanta Softball Country Club, Smith's Olde Bar and Tanners. While attending Georgia Perimeter College, Desi began working as a bartender for Premier Events at the Cotton Club on Peachtree Street. A few years later she assumed the role of lead bartender and was training all new staff at the venue. Desi's relationship with Premier Events grew as she took on other bar service positions with the company's other venues such as Chastain Park, The Tabernacle and The Roxy. By 2002, she began to work with festivals and events and was soon the lead bartender for all of the venues and events at which she worked. In this role, Desi managed all hiring, scheduling and management of concessions staff for all of Premier Event's projects which included events such as Music Midtown and The Green Concert at Piedmont Park. In 2008, Desi became the Concessions Manager for the company's Chastain Park operations while also managing staffing for all festival projects for the company. In 2012, she was promoted to her current position of Venue and Staffing Operations Manager where she oversees operations for Chastain and other venue concession project as well as staffing for all Premier Events projects. Her attention to detail, ability to multi task and friendly outgoing personality are well-matched for her position and make her a valuable Premier Events team member. Desi has ServSafe and TIPS training certifications. Desi balances her career with a rich and fulfilling role as a wife and new mom. She also enjoys hiking, camping, traveling and caring for her pets. She is active in her community supporting causes which include Humane Society, ASPCA and Breast Cancer Awareness.

Job Titles:

• Venue Concessions Manager

Job Titles:

• Assistant Operations Manager - Concessions
• Warehouse Manager & Assistant Operations Manager

Doug was born and raised in Georgia, specifically the town of Douglasville which he swears was named after him. Aside from living in Kentucky for four years, metro Atlanta has always been home. Doug first joined Premier Events as a barback from 2001-2004. He has worked in the hospitality industry for most of his life working as a bartender and barback at Taco Mac and other area restaurants and clubs. The music lover also worked in concert production for Clear Channel at several iconic Atlanta music venues including the Tabernacle, The Roxy, and Lakewood Amphitheatre. He rejoined the Premier Events team part-time in 2013 and in 2014 was promoted to Warehouse Manager. In his free time Doug enjoys playing softball, music of all genres and volunteering at the Men's Extension of Marietta.

Job Titles:

• Partner - Business Manager

Since 1984, Jonathan Rawls has worked in the events management business. He started out with the ultimate college job, selling concessions at Braves games as a fundraiser for his Oglethorpe University fraternity. As luck (and hard work) would have it, Jonathan was not only asked to expand locations and coordinate other groups working within the stadium, but he also got to work alongside his fraternity brother Rob Frazer, who would later become one of his partners in Premier Events. Having been in the business for more than 20 years, Jonathan specializes in concessions - an integral portion of event management. When Lakewood Amphitheater opened in 1989 he was able to get a contract to recruit, train and manage the entire concessions staff at the amphitheater just two weeks prior to the opening. That same year, Lakewood was voted one of the Best New Outdoor Concert Venues of the Year in the U.S. After Lakewood, Jonathan headed to Chastain Park Amphitheater and within one year he was hired as concessions manager for that facility. In 1995, he and Rob formed Premier Events, a full-service events management business. Jonathan thrives on the unpredictably of events, and loves that no two events that are alike, saying that it, "keeps you on your toes to be creative with each one." He thinks the best parts of working in events management are being outside, and seeing others have a good time. Jonathan loves creating pleasurable experiences for both the crowd and also developing great groups of people to work with as part of the Premier Events team. Jonathan has always worked well under pressure, also working as a paramedic while in college. He maintains his state license, and has volunteered with the county emergency management agency for more than 30 years. Not one to like being in the spotlight, Jonathan plays a pivotal, behind the scenes business role and loves keeping up on the latest technology to further streamline events. He is proud of the fact that Premier Events is big enough to get the job done, yet small enough to care about each individual client and treat them as if they are the only client on the roster.

Job Titles:

• Operations Manager
• Operations Manager - Concessions

While originally from Cedar Rapids Iowa, Kevin Sigler has called Atlanta home since 1982. Kevin attended University of Georgia but transferred to Georgia State University where he obtained a B.S. in Psychology. He has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry holding positions as Front of House Manager, Bar Manager and Bartender at several Atlanta area restaurants including Atkins Park, La Paz and Chateau Elan. Kevin started working at Premier Events five years ago, working as a barback and as part of the site crew. In 2015, he accepted the full-time position of Operations Manager where he manages the company's beverage concessions operations, event operations staff as well as serving as liaison with event beverage sponsors and distributors. Kevin is an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Blackhawks, enjoys concerts especially puck rock, snowboarding, plays guitar and is newly engaged to Heather Guerrero.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner - Event Management Projects

Laura Valente has a passion for building great events. From concept to implementation, she has mastered many facets of events including overall event management, marketing, talent buying, sponsorship development and more. An Atlanta native, she has always been deeply fueled by the entertainment industry. As a concert-going teenager, she was fascinated by everything that was going on to make the show happen, beyond the stage, and her curiosity led her to where she is today. Laura's more than 20-year career has spanned an impressive client roster, working with some of the biggest names in the industry. Her career started early as several college internships at local concert venues solidified her passion for producing concerts and events. Upon graduating from college, she landed a position with Concert/Southern Promotions which was later bought by Clear Channel (now Live Nation). During this time, she played an instrumental role in the re-development of the Roxy Theatre, Cotton Club and Atlanta's Music Midtown Festival. In 2001, Laura became the Vice President of Mad Booking & Events and headed up the companies Atlanta operations. She managed projects such as the weekly summer concert series events On the Bricks (Atlanta, GA), Dancin' in the District (Nashville, TN), Memphis in May (Memphis), DC Sessions (Washington, DC) which featured artists such as Kanye West, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Avril Lavigne and The Black Eyed Peas. The company also produced a number of corporate events and tours such as the Virgin College MegaTour and Volvo All Access Tour. In 2006, she founded her own events management company, Pure Entertainment, Inc. which offered event consulting services for festivals such as Taste of Atlanta, Atlanta Dogwood Festival and more. In 2009, Laura decided to merge Pure Entertainment with Premier Events, a company she'd worked alongside for years on many events. Premier Events had a strong reputation for successfully managing event concessions and with the additional of Laura to the team, the company expand their services to include event management, marketing and talent buying thereby offering their clients a one-stop event consulting solution. Laura believes that events are all about being creative enough to develop an idea and then juggling the millions of details to execute those concepts. She is skilled at thinking strategically to ensure that all the elements of an event fit seamlessly together as well as motivating and effectively communicating with a team to make it happen.

Job Titles:

• Event Manager

Job Titles:

• Festivals Concessions Manager

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner - Business Development - Concessions

Although Rob Frazer earned a communications degree from Oglethorpe University, he would never have guessed that post-graduation, he would actually make his living communicating in the ways he does today. Rob is one of the founding partners of Premier Events and he knows how crucial good communication is in order to create successful events. Rob started as a barback at Chastain Park Amphitheater during college and today has grown into one of the most respected names in the industry. While trying to please a broad spectrum of people scares most, it doesn't Rob. He recognizes that events can speak to a wide variety of audiences - no matter what the demographic or type of event. Not only does he have a comprehensive knowledge of concessions, sponsorship and event logistics, but he also has the ability to foster relationships with vendors and facilities which can play a critical part in a smooth running event. Rob experienced the exhilaration of meeting the challenges in the events industry during his first projects The Arts Festival of Atlanta and the first concert he worked at Chastain Park Amphitheater. But, it took him working Music Midtown in 1995 to solidify the direction of his career. That's when Premier Events was born and there was no turning back. His light bulb moment however, came a couple years later, when Rob saw Bob Dylan perform at Music Midtown. Knowing he had a small part in making that happen, he realized there was nothing he'd rather be doing. Rob's passion for working events is evident with everyone he encounters. Rob loves the energy and excitement of being a part of something so big, with so many moving parts. Over the years he has faced every possible challenging event situation. It is this experience and his ability to make quick decisions that makes him a successful event producer and asset to his clients.

Job Titles:

• Event Manager

Born and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta, Sara still loves everything they city has to offer. She has over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry as front and back of house manager and bar manager. Getting her first taste of small events while organizing dinners and seminars at local restaurants, she knew it was the career path for her. Prior to her position at Premier Events, Sara was creating exciting events and cocktails for Fernbank Museum of Natural History's adult after hour programing. In her spare time, you will find Sara spending time with her family, singing along at concerts, and trying the newest craft beers.

Job Titles:

• Venue Manager - Georgia Freight Depot

Job Titles:

• Venue and Staffing Manager

Job Titles:

• Sales Coordinator
• Sponsorship and Business Development

Steph was born and raised in Manchester, England then moved to south Florida with her parents when she was 15. After relocating to Atlanta after college and falling in love with the city, she now calls it home. As someone who has always loved the entertainment industry and the secrets behind successful events, Steph knew it was something she wanted to do as a career, especially after attending many events and festivals in Atlanta. Steph was born and raised in Manchester, England then moved to south Florida with her parents when she was 15. After relocating to Atlanta after college and falling in love with the city, she now calls it home. As someone who has always loved the entertainment industry and the secrets behind successful events, Steph knew it was something she wanted to do as a career, especially after attending many events and festivals in Atlanta. In her spare time, Steph loves to do yoga, run down the Beltline, support Atlanta United, socialize with friends, and give all of her love to her Maine Coon cat, Leo.