Celebrating 2024’s Stars Behind the Scenes in the Live Events Industry
At Tixr, we believe that the soul of live events isn’t just in the music, the lights, or the adrenaline — it’s in the people behind the scenes who make it all possible.
From sports to nightlife, there’s one core element of every live event: the passionate professionals dedicated to creating the experiences that connect us, move us, and stay with us long after the final buzzer sounds and curtain falls.
Reflecting on 2024, we’re honored to have collaborated with some of the most talented teams in the industry, whose vision and dedication continue to inspire us. Their successes are a testament to the power of partnership, and we’re proud to work alongside them to create, innovate, and grow together.
Through our "Stars Behind the Scenes" LinkedIn series, it’s our privilege to celebrate a few of these incredible individuals throughout the year, and how they use Tixr to craft unforgettable live experiences. Check out our full list of 2024 honorees.
“He's the first to volunteer to take on a new challenge and often comes to the team with new ideas to make our events fun and successful.”
Kevin Mellmer manages marketing at Noise Pop Industries.
Kevin plays a vital role in the success of Noise Pop Festival, NP Presents, and Mill Valley Music Festival in the San Francisco Bay Area. He oversees all marketing efforts, including email campaigns, social content, ticketing configurations, and partnerships, while also contributing to broader projects that ensure each event’s success.
“Kevin brings so much to the Noise Pop team,” says Michelle Swing, CEO of Noise Pop. “He is constantly offering fresh, creative ideas for how we can improve our marketing efforts, and puts a creative, authentic spin on all of the content he posts on our channels. He's the first to volunteer to take on a new challenge and often comes to the team with new ideas to make our events fun and successful.”
Ariel Young, Client Success Lead at Tixr, adds, “Kevin has become a Tixr pro! He always asks if there's a better way to build something if he's unsure, is willing to try out new features and releases, and catches on quickly.”
“I often refer to Dee as our 'air traffic controller'; the one navigating all the details, data, and information to safely land the shows.”
Dee Annis is the Associate Talent Buyer at MOKB Presents/HI-FI in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dee is instrumental in bringing MOKB Presents/HI-FI shows to life, skillfully juggling talent buying, ticketing, and event finances. Her experience developing processes and systems has driven seamless tech rollouts, keeping the team aligned and setting a high standard for event coordination.
“I often refer to Dee as our 'air traffic controller'; the one navigating all the details, data, and information to safely land the shows” shares Josh Baker, CEO/Co-Founder of MOKB Presents/HI-FI. “One part talent buyer, one part ticketing, one part show settlements and financials. She is no doubt the ‘glue’ of our organization, holding everything together!”
When it comes to Tixr, Dee oversees the full spectrum of box office operations and essential integrations, quickly adapting to platform enhancements and ensuring that every show runs smoothly from planning through execution.
“She’s an incredible asset to our team and makes us better every day.”
Mattie Schaffer is the Senior Events Manager at the Los Angeles Times in LA.
Mattie is a key player in the success of LA Times’ signature events, primarily Los Angeles’ beloved annual Festival of Books, where she supports programming, social media, ticketing, and event production. She’s skilled in managing complex tasks and described by her team as a strong decision-maker.
“Mattie is indispensable when it comes to putting together the Festival of Books and makes her positive presence felt across everything else she touches,” noted Jordan Harris, VP of Events at the LA Times. “She’s an incredible asset to our team and makes us better every day.”
“Mattie started learning the ins and outs of Tixr’s platform and built one of the most complex events I’ve seen almost entirely on her own. Dream client, for sure,” said Evan Rowe, Client Success Lead at Tixr.
“He is constantly expanding his knowledge to make the ticketing and concert experience for our guests the best it can be.”
Mark Wolff is the Dillon Amphitheater’s Customer Experience Coordinator.
Mark is the go-to expert for the amphitheater's ticketing needs, managing everything from ticket builds to onsite box office operations. His dedication to mastering our system and his strategic approach to every challenge have made him an invaluable team player.
Suzanne Phillipson, Marketing and Communications Manager for the Town of Dillon and the Dillon Amphitheater, shares, “Mark is an integral part of the Dillon Amphitheater’s success. Since joining the team, Mark has taken ticketing and run with it. He is constantly expanding his knowledge to make the ticketing and concert experience for our guests the best it can be.”
“When Mark reaches out to me, I know we are going to have a strategic, higher-level conversation above and beyond routine ticketing functionality,” added Angela Jensen, Client Success Manager at Tixr. “Mark is also incredibly personable and level-headed, taking on massive shows with ease.”
“She has grown our private event side and takes exceptional care of all artists and events… Madyson is an absolute blessing to our venue.”
Madyson Polozola serves as Event Director and Marketing Director for Cook’s Garage.
Madyson's positive attitude and knack for juggling multiple responsibilities keep Cook's Garage events and campaigns running smoothly. Her dedication and teamwork shine through in every aspect of her work.
“Madyson is a perfect fit for Cook's Garage,” commented Mistie Cook Kahl, Co-owner of Cook's Garage. “She has grown our private event side and takes exceptional care of all artists and events coming through Cook's while managing various other aspects of the venue and restaurant. Madyson is an absolute blessing to our venue.”
Luke Cahill, Director of Partnerships, Music at Tixr, remarks, “I love working with Madyson because she takes the initiative to solve problems on her own, she’s incredibly responsive, and she’s instrumental in managing complex on-sales with top-level co-promoters.”
“I'm particularly impressed by her open-mindedness and her exceptional knack for organizing and putting into action all the information she's given.”
Angeline Chase Priefer leads ticketing, credentials, and box office management for Park City Song Summit.
A relative newcomer to the Park City Song Summit team, Angeline’s extensive festival background has already elevated the multi-day music and wellness event’s ticketing operations in myriad ways. Stepping in to lead ticketing, credentials, and box office management for 2024, Angeline’s collaborative approach streamlines processes, engages fans, and contributes to overall outstanding customer satisfaction for the event.
Angeline’s account manager at Tixr describes Angeline as resourceful, imaginative, and incredibly proficient, joining a new team and learning a brand new ticketing system. “I'm particularly impressed by her open-mindedness and her exceptional knack for organizing and putting into action all the information she's given.”
Those who cross her path rarely forget her infectious smile and passion for her work. Her new boss sure didn’t! “I met Angeline years ago in passing and am so happy our paths crossed again when they did,” says Julia Rametta, Vice President at Park City Song Summit. “She is an amazing addition to our team and we are so excited to experience the 2024 event with her leading our ticketing team.”
.webp)
“Chris’ organization and attention to detail is paramount to circumventing problems.”
Chris Bolton is a versatile and dedicated Administrative Coordinator at East Coast Music Association.
A compassionate, attentive team member who's (quite literally) a jack of all trades, Chris wears many hats at ECMA. He plays a major role in keeping things moving and organized, managing all data collection, research, and software implementation, while also building and managing events on the Tixr platform.
When ECMA transitioned to Tixr, it wasn’t long before Chris mastered our feature set like a pro and took the lead on ticketing management. “He's a quick learner who's really positive about Tixr and engaged right from the start,” attests Rhea Heath, Client Success Manager at Tixr. “Soon after [training], he was setting up events independently and using our features effortlessly!”
His adaptability, willingness to grow, and diligence in his role have also continued to streamline ECMA’s operations and helped foster stronger membership relations along the way. “As Administrative Coordinator of a large-scale, multi-faceted event, Chris’ organization and attention to detail is paramount to circumventing problems,” attests Kathryn Herbert, CEO of East Coast Music Association. “He’s always understanding where teammates are coming from in difficult situations and supporting our members, especially those from underrepresented communities.”
“Matt significantly boosted festival attendance through targeted digital advertising and strategic partnerships, enhancing the festival's visibility and reputation.”
Matt Whitlock is the marketing powerhouse and talent buyer for Northern Nights Music Festival.
Kind-hearted, intelligent, and an all-around cool person to work with, Matt is the driving force behind Northern Nights’ marketing and booking. From before the opening act begins to after the final encore, he’s always pushing boundaries to guarantee packed crowds and fan engagement.
Andrew Borgelt, Northern Nights Music Festival’s Co-Founder, credits “boosted festival attendance” to Matt’s targeted digital advertising and strategic partnership initiatives, which he believes “[enhanced] the festival’s visibility and reputation.” According to Borgelt, Matt even took the initiative to build “an onsite media team to give us year-round content and create a stronger community around the event.”
On top of Matt’s marketing and talent-buying duties, he somehow finds time to be a Tixr early adopter, geeking out with Tixr Client Success Manager Edwin Lopez on newly released features. “His use of Rewards, carousels, payment plans, and the campground seating chart has made [the fan experience on Tixr] look phenomenal,” said Edwin. Over time, Edwin’s working relationship morphed into more of a friendship with Matt who he describes as a “kind-hearted, intelligent, and cool person to work with.”
Follow Tixr on LinkedIn to get to know future “Stars Behind the Scenes.”
