MARINA MAROSTE
Communications and Social Media Manager
Staples Center & Microsoft Theater, LA
UNIVERSITY: California State University Chico with a degree in Music Industry and a minor in Marketing.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: In 2005, I started working as a receptionist for AS Presents, which was the on-campus booking company. I worked my way through the program from receptionist to head talent buyer for the 1,000-capacity venue where we booked everything from Minus The Bear to Ziggy Marley. It gave me a great opportunity to work with agents, managers and artists from a young age.
HOW YOU GOT YOUR JOB: I feel like I am one of the rare cases in the entertainment industry where I didn’t get it through a person that knew a person, but I actually just applied online through AEG.
MENTORS: My professional mentors would be, Cara Vanderhook and Allison Alfano, as well as Dwight Frey from AS Presents. I also have my parents and older sister, Summer, who mentor me every single day and remind me how far you can get in life with a positive attitude.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I was the drummer in an all-girl rock band in high school. We were lucky to play some great venues like The Palace (now Avalon) and Roxy.
(213) 742-7327
JON DORMAN
General Manager
Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, Calif.
HOMETOWN: I grew up in Apopka, Fla., a little northwest of Orlando. Apopka was best known for its indoor foliage industry.
UNIVERSITY: Univ. of Central Florida in Orlando.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Standing at the main entrance when the doors open for any event. From picking out the guests that are coming to their first live event to seeing people super excited about seeing a favorite artist, or greeting season ticket holders who’ve been to the building hundreds of times, I always get a rush.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED: From John Christison showing me the proper way to mop, to Joanne Grant telling me to always carry a pen (because she never did) to Bill Becker telling me, “make sure the lights work and there’s toilet paper in the restrooms,” I’ve been blessed with a lot of great advice and wisdom in 28 years in the business. But the best is from my mom — “Trust in God and be kind.” It works.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT: My three most cherished memories were all live events: the birth of my daughter, getting married to Peggy — an Italian Catholic — in a wedding similar to the wedding scene from “Goodfellas,” and an Atlanta Braves night game with my father when I was very young.
IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR A DAY, WHERE WOULD YOU GO: Any golf course, if it’s just a day. If I had more time, I’d go home. Living and working in California when my wife and family are in Florida is tough.
(661) 852-7302
URI GEVA
Founder and CEO
Infinity Sports & Ent., Bryan, Texas
HOMETOWN: Tel Aviv, Israel and College Station, Texas
UNIVERSITY: Texas A&M University
HOW YOU GOT YOUR JOB: I started Infinity Sports & Entertainment 17 years ago in my parents’ garage.
BASEBALL: I’m the proud owner of Brazos Valley Bombers, a summer collegiate baseball team that has been ranked in the top 30 for attendance eight years running and has won the Summer Ball Conference 2010 largest attendance growth. My favorite part about owning the team is the ability to create memories of a lifetime.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE THE JOB YOU DO: Coaching soccer.
IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR THE DAY, WHERE WOULD YOU GO: The beach.
SPORTS ALLEGIANCES: Other than my own team, my favorite soccer team growing up was Hapeol Tel-Aviv, and I still follow them to this day, Texas A&M athletics and the New England Patriots. My wife thinks Tom Brady is hot, so for 14 years I’ve been watching the Patriots play football and have become a fan.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I was a rock station radio DJ through college.
BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED: Follow your passion. And I’ve been doing it ever since.
(979) 985-5198