402 EVENTS - Key Persons
Growing up, Alex's favorite hobby was planning themed parties. Needless to say, he's always loved events. A professional theatre artist prior to the pandemic, he decided to pivot when venues went dark, earning his Event Planning Certificate from Emory University and an MA in Arts Leadership & Management from Wichita State University. A multidisciplinary artist, Alex approaches event planning with a distinctive blend of creativity and logistics, creating meaningful connections with every event. With his strong eye for design, he is passionate about helping clients bring their visions to life. In his free time, you can find Alex songwriting at his piano, exploring new cities, or sipping on a martini.
Job Titles:
- Lead Production Assistant
Austin is accommodating, kind, and focused, three traits highly valued in the events industry and at 402 Events. From the simplest tasks to the most elaborate custom setups, Austin is there to work on whatever needs to get done. When he's not in the rafters hanging drapes or setting tables to perfection, you can find Austin at the gun range getting some rounds in, or visiting his family on their beautiful farm. If you want to have a lively conversation with Austin, subjects like true crime and American History never fail.
Kel is the "Ron Swanson" of the company. As Production Manager, he is the man behind the incredible feats of lighting, draping, and custom builds. Kel however is a true jack of all trades, and there isn't a project or a problem that he can't MacGyver a solution for. When he isn't in his office or on-site at events, he enjoys golfing with friends and bowling. If he had one superpower he would choose cross-species linguistics. Anything else you'd like to know about Kel is, "on a need to know basis."
Job Titles:
- Event Design & Sales Manager
Madeline is the heart and soul behind what makes every event breathtakingly beautiful and individual. Her background is in floral art and design, but her attention to detail and aesthetic goes far beyond. Madeline works closely with every client to fully understand the vision and scope of the event before diving into the minutiae. For Madeline, no element is unimportant or too small. From designing custom built hanging installations to the exact way the napkins are folded, she tackles every project with creativity and care. If she isn't researching and forecasting upcoming trends, Madeline can be found drinking espresso martinis with the gals.
Job Titles:
- Event & Human Resources Manager
Event coordinator, iced coffee aficionado, cat mom. As both the human resources and event manager, Marley is all about people and interpersonal relationships. She approaches every event and project keeping the people behind the event at the forefront, and focuses on the special, intimate moments that make it uniquely yours. Marley's passion is in the details. From building out a highly detailed timeline to making sure your favorite beverage is in your hand at every moment, she endeavors to make your special event flawlessly smooth. Her cats, Ripley and Jonesy, would describe her as loud, energetic, and never home because she works so much.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Production Manager
Nick, aka NickyFresh, is the definition of calm, cool, and collected. His talents as Assistant Production Manager extend far beyond his abilities with lights and drapes, but dive into creative problem solving and meaningful relationships with venues and clients alike. In the past, Nick has managed warehouses and employees, and his favorite aspect of events is seeing bare spaces come to life. When Nick isn't in the office, he is out taking photos of nature or on the golf course. If you think a hot dog is considered a sandwich, then you have something in common with Nick.
Shayla graduated from UNL with a degree in Pre-med Mathematics. She is currently a full time Commercial Auto Senior Underwriter at National Indemnity Company, but has finally found her true passion of helping plan, coordinate, and organize any event that comes her way. She will be by your side every step of the way making sure every little detail is covered! In her free time, she loves planning for the future, renovating her house, and spending time with her boyfriend, Aaron, and adorable dog Lady.
Job Titles:
- Events Director / CEO
- Owner & Events Director
Steven's journey with 402 Events is a true coming of age story. His genuine love of events was ignited in his youth, helping his late uncle with custom holiday lighting for events. It later expanded in his high school and college days, where he was known to throw crazy parties for some of his closest friends. In 2016 Steven took his passion for events to the professional stage, and started 402 Events. With a true entrepreneurial spirit, 402 Events started out in the basement of his dad's office, where the inventory was small and the employee list even smaller. Since then, 402 Events has grown to include a multitude of custom production rentals and more than 20 team members. Outside of work, he is married to his beautiful wife Kati and has two dogs, Reuben and Nala. His favorite word is "epic" and will use it to describe memorable experiences, unreal design projects, really good cheesy potatoes, or just about anything for that matter. Steven approaches every project with a vigor like it's his own event, and every client like he has known them for years. His passion, his experience, and his enthusiasm shine through in every event and interaction.