SHEILA FRANCIS
Director, Event & Venue Communications
Monumental Sports & Ent., Washington, D.C.
HOMETOWN: I was born in Detroit, but I grew up in Gaithersburg, Md. and Coral Springs, Fla.
UNIVERSITY: Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Octagon Athlete Representation in McLean, Va. I worked in their men’s tennis and track & field divisions.
HOW YOU GOT YOUR JOB: I worked with someone at Octagon who had interned here. They had an opening as an Event PR coordinator and the rest is history.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: The ability to be creative and work with great people on live events and shows. I’ve met some really great people in this industry and am proud to have had the chance to work with them and also call them close friends. I also enjoy the writing aspect of working in PR.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I’ve been coaching a high school swim team during the winter months for the past seven years. We practice at 5:30 a.m. five days a week and then I come in to my real job. Makes for some long days, but it’s a blast and lots of fun to do.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED: Sometimes you need to “toot your own horn.”
(202) 628-3200 x6042
ZAUNDRA BUTLER
Senior Digital Media Specialist
Spectra Ticketing & Fan Engagement, Irvine, Calif.
HOMETOWN: Costa Mesa, Calif.
UNIVERSITY: California State University, Fullerton.
HOW’D YOU GET YOUR JOB: I started as an intern and I loved what I was doing so I kept taking on more work and responsibility to work my way up.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Working with all of our wonderful clients at various venues. It’s a great community to be in.
MENTORS: Kim Damron, our COO. I look up to her, not only for her professional achievements, but also her amazing outlook on work/life balance.
WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP: A fashion designer.
SPORTS TEAMS: L.A. Dodgers and the Anaheim Ducks.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I got a degree in Fashion Design before studying advertising.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED: You may never be “ready,” so you just have to go for it.
GUILTY PLEASURE: Buffalo wings.
PET PEEVE: I hate being late.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT: The Dallas Cowboys winning on the road in Seattle. CenturyLink Field is amazing and Seahawks fans are intense. The staff saw my husband’s Cowboys jersey and immediately handed us earplugs!
IF YOU COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Endless amounts of energy…is that a superpower?
(949) 823-1638
DAN ROZENBLUM
Live Music Agent
Circle Talent Agency, Los Angeles
HOMETWON: Baltimore, but I spent most of my time growing up in Orlando.
UNIVERSITY: Florida State University
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: I was in a band, and we wanted to tour, so I figured out how to book tours for my own band. At the same time I was trading shows with others touring bands so I started being a promoter, which ultimately ended up with me opening a DIY space in town. We supported the local scene and supported touring bands. At some point I was also a DJ on the college station, as well as running the metal radio show each week. That’s really how I started meeting other folks from labels, radio promo folks and, somehow, I ended up also managing a local record shop. We had a great scene in Tallahassee at that time, and it was a supportive community.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I really love creating tour packages. I like diverse bills.
MENTORS: It’s changed over the years, but two folks that I really admire for different reasons would be Tim Borror and Bruce Solar.
WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP: A psychologist.
FREE TIME: I’m obsessed with surfing and anything I can do with my family.
PET PEEVE: People who do not reply all.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED: Don’t worry about what other people think. ‘You do you.’
(323) 424-4970