Allie Thomas
Event Services Manager
Cox Business Center, Tulsa, Okla.
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP: Tulsa
UNIVERSITY: Oklahoma State University
HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB YOU HAVE NOW: After college, I moved to Wisconsin and worked for the Milwaukee Bucks in the game entertainment and events department. When I was ready to make my next career move, and return to my hometown, there was an opening in the event services department at the Cox Business Center.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: Definitely the people. We have an amazing team at the Cox Business Center and I truly love working with my colleagues, clients and the vendors.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF NOT THIS: I would pursue my dream of opening a breakfast bakery.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I write the same task on multiple to-do lists so I get the satisfaction of crossing it off several times.
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” My middle school basketball coach told our team this and it has stuck with me ever since.
IF YOU COULD HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Time. I would love more hours to spend with friends and family.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT: The Dixie Chicks in 2000. I was in third grade and I remember being awestruck by the atmosphere, the energy and the experience.
(918) 894-4350
Jason Bitsoff
Senior VP, Global Partnerships
Feld Entertainment, Sarasota, Fla.
HOMETOWN: Cincinnati
UNIVERSITY: Transylvania Univ., Lexington, Ky.
HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB YOU HAVE NOW: I was introduced to Jeff Meyer at Feld Entertainment by Len Perna at Turnkey Sports & Entertainment.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: The opportunity to engage in conversations with my colleagues and clients on things that are completely new every day.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS: Own an entertainment advisory agency focused on driving new revenue internationally.
MENTOR: Craig Leipold, owner and chairman, Minnesota Wild. He was the previous owner of the Nashville Predators. Craig encouraged discussion on his various businesses and experiences with me. He stood next to me for new business pitches, as well as the tough conversations with clients. I value his integrity and pragmatic approach.
WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO WHEN YOU GREW UP: The CEO of a professional sports team.
DREAM ONE-DAY ESCAPE: Sailing and scuba diving in the British Virgin Islands.
BEST ADVICE: Mike Shannon, president of Feld Entertainment, encouraged me to build a strong team around me. He said the key objective should be to eradicate myself from my current role by building my team to fill those tasks. Then I would be available to take on the next new role.
IF YOU COULD HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Time with my family.
(941) 721-1233
Bailey Vaughn
House Manager
Orpheum Theatre, Wichita, Kan.
UNIVERSITY: Friends University, Wichita
HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB YOU HAVE NOW: I always wanted to work at the Orpheum. One day I came across the house manager position, applied, and then while attending a film at the theatre I ran into the director and introduced myself. The rest is history.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Interacting with the volunteers. A large part of my job is to schedule, communicate and recruit the volunteers. We’ve quickly become a close unit.
MENTOR: My current director, Barney Byard. He’s an endless source of knowledge and an example of where I want to be in this business.
AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO: If becoming a mermaid fell through, I had dreams of owning my own vintage clothing store.
MOST EMBARRASSING SONG ON YOUR iTUNES: “Toxic” by Britney Spears.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU: Growing up, I did synchronized swimming.
BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: Nothing changes if nothing changes. Anything is possible in life, you just have to be motivated and driven with a vision to get where you are going.
(316) 263-0884